| Pin*Bot | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Williams |
| Release date | October 1986 |
| System | Williams System 11A |
| Design | Python Anghelo, Barry Oursler |
| Programming | Bill Pfutzenreuter |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo |
| Mechanics | Joe Joos, Jr. |
| Music | Chris Granner |
| Sound | Chris Granner, Bill Parod |
| Voices | Barry Oursler (Pin*Bot) |
| Production Run | 12,001 |
Pin*Bot is a pinball machine released by Williams in October 1986. It was designed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler.
Contents |
In this pinball game, the player attempts to navigate throughout a representation of the solar system toward the Sun. The first planet is always Pluto. In order to move from planet to planet, the player must knock down three drop targets in quick succession, or hit a specially marked target when it is lit. Each planet reached gives you a 20,000 point bonus at the end of the ball. A bonus is achieved if the target planet is reached during game play, this planet is chosen at random at the start of each game. Another bonus is achieved at the end of the game when the player reaches the Sun.
At the center of the playfield is a 5 by 5 grid. Lighting up the grid causes a visor to lift, revealing the robot's eye sockets. Lighting the grid can be done in one of two ways, either hitting the target corresponding to a linear array on the grid that cycles vertically left to right then horizontally from the bottom up. This can only be done on the first shot at the grid targets, if the shot is missed then the lights have to be lit individually with the grid targets. Locking the first ball makes the robot say "Partial Link-up." Locking balls in both sockets causes the robot to say "Now I see you," after which a bonus multi-ball play begins. Re-locking a ball makes Pin*Bot announce, "Shoot for Solar Value," allowing the player to shoot the free ball up the left ramp to collect a jackpot. The jackpot value increases 50,000 points every time a ball has traveled up the ramp, and carries over from one game to the next until it is collected. In addition the act of the ball traveling up the ramp triggers the ejection of the locked ball in Pin*Bot's visor, to continue collecting the solar value jackpot a ball has to be re-locked after every jackpot, and if one of the balls are lost you're back to square one and have to open the visor again. Regardless of the situation playing the ball up the left ramp and into the mini playfield increments the bonus multiplier, from 2x up to a maximum bonus of up to 5x which takes effect after the current ball is lost. The multiplier resets after each ball.
An enhanced simulation was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. A simulation of the original Pin*Bot is also playable on Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection.
Pin*Bot was followed by two sequels: The Machine: Bride of Pin*Bot (released in 1991) and Jack*Bot (released in 1995).