Kiss (pinball)
 Closeup of playing surface |
 A German version of KISS Pinnball |
Multiple actual and virtual Kiss-themed pinball games have been made over the past few decades, beginning with the Bally-made machine first conceived in January 1978.[1]
Pinball machines
In 1978 the first Kiss arcade pinball machine was introduced by Bally, and stayed in circulation well into the 1980s.[2] In 1978, Barry Imhoff declared, "there will be 20,000 Kiss machines."[3] In September 2006 it was announced that a new coin-op machine was in the works from Kiss licensee ICUP.[4]
Notable owners of Kiss pinball machines include Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails[5] and Marc DeLeon of The Mentors and Adema, along with Denver Post and Sports Illustrated hockey writer Adrian Dater.
At the Midwest Gaming Classic (MGC) In April 2014, John Popadiuk of Zidware revealed a Kiss pinball machine prototype. The prototype was the project of Popadiuk (Jpop) and his friend Tony Allison, and they hoped to strike a licensing deal with the band to mass produce the game. Popadiuk stated about the project: "it is an art piece (one off) and I am holding "no" use rights. We did not reproduce "any" kiss artworks but created all from scratch." Many images of this beautiful machine can be found at http://www.pinballinventor.org/games/kisspinball/main/wlester/main.html
Software
| Kiss (pinball) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Wildfire Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Global Star Software |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Release date(s) |
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In 2001, a Kiss Pinball game developed by Wildfire Studios and published by Global Star Software was released for the PlayStation.[6]
Gameplay
Concerning gameplay, "most of the game revolves around hitting targets to start KISS shows, then hitting more targets to complete the shows....Nudging the ball, which is accomplished by hitting the D-pad, simply causes the ball to jerk an inch or two in the direction you pressed."[7] The game "features two tables, Last Stop Oblivion and Netherworld."[7]
Reception
| Reception | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot declared, "KISS Pinball manages to mangle both the KISS license and the concept of video pinball to the point of being almost totally unrecognizable....KISS Pinball serves no useful purpose whatsoever. KISS fans will be disappointed by the distinct lack of KISS, and pinball fans will be disappointed by the distinct lack of pinball. Even at the low price of $9.99, this one is no bargain."[7] Paul Davidson adds that the "Kiss Pinball package for home computers and gaming systems wasn't exactly a smash success."[9]
References
- ↑ Cindy Page, "Making the Kiss Pinball Machine," Pinbally's Pinball Homepage (November 30, 2007).
- ↑ KISS Pinball Machine by Bally of 1978 at www.pinballrebel.com
- ↑ "Talent Forum Report: Merchandisers Plan Move For Battling Bootleggers," Billboard Vol. 90, No. 39 (Sep 30, 1978): 48.
- ↑
- ↑ Martin Huxley, Nine Inch Nails (Macmillan, 1997), 223.
- ↑ "KISS Pinball Review".
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeff Gerstmann,"KISS Pinball Review," GameStop (May 1, 2001).
- ↑ Kiss Pinball game review, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Future Publishing issue 73
- ↑ Paul Davidson, "Off his rocker, and other gossip," The San Francisco Chronicle (April 24, 2005): C-2.
External links
- IPDB entry for Kiss (Bally)
- IPDB entry for Kiss (Geiger-Automatenbau)
- Kiss at the Killer List of Videogames
