Pinball

Pinball is the arcade format that predates almost every other video game. Mechanical pinball machines have existed since the 1930s (gravity + bumpers + flippers). The flipper was invented in 1947 by D. Gottlieb & Co., turning pinball from a luck-based gambling device into a skill game. By the 1980s pinball cabinets were everywhere, and they’re still being manufactured today by Stern and others.

How to play

• Z or A = left flipper. / or L = right flipper. Tap to flick the ball upward.
• Space (held) charges the plunger. Release to launch.
• Coloured circles are bumpers. Hit them for points and rebound.
• 3 balls per game. Ball drains off the bottom = lose a ball.
• When all 3 balls drain, game over.

Beginner strategy

• Time the flipper. Hold flipper button until ball contact, then release.
• Aim for repeat bumper hits. Bumpers throw the ball back. Bouncing between centre bumpers scores hundreds.
• Use side rails. Angled rails reflect falling balls back to bumpers.
• Half-charge plunger. A precise launch is useful for setting up bumper hits.
• Nudge mentally. Anticipate ball trajectories.

Intermediate strategy

• Bumper combos. Get the ball stuck bouncing between 2 bumpers — score multiplies.
• The “save”. Catch a ball heading down with a precisely-timed flipper.
• Ball control. Stop the ball on the flipper edge for aimed shots.
• Loop the playfield. Strong upward shots loop around back to the flippers.
• Multi-ball strategy. Real pinball has multi-ball events. Manage chaos.

Advanced strategy

• Nudging. Pinball cabinets allow slight tilt to nudge balls. Too much = tilt warning + lost ball.
• Modes and missions. Modern pinball has narrative missions with bonus scoring.
• The Wizard’s mode. Top scoring achievement on many machines.
• Top scores (real pinball). Top pinball players score in millions and billions on professional machines.
• Tournament pinball. Pinball has an active competitive scene with championship leagues.

Why digital pinball is hard

The physics is what makes digital pinball feel “right” or “wrong.” Real machines have gravity, ball mass, surface friction, flipper inertia, inelastic collisions. Get any wrong and the game feels arcade-y but not pinball-y. The best digital pinballs (Visual Pinball, FX3) run physics at 1000+ Hz to capture the feel.

Pinball history

• 1700s — early bagatelles: tabletop precursors.
• 1930s — first commercial pinball.
• 1947 — flipper invented: Gottlieb’s “Humpty Dumpty” introduces flippers.
• 1950s-60s — pinball golden age: arcades nationwide.
• 1970s — solid-state electronics: Bally Stern leads. Scoring complexity explodes.
• 1980s-90s — flagship machines: Williams, Bally, Data East compete with story-driven pinball.
• 2010s — revival: Stern Pinball, Jersey Jack lead modern manufacturing.

Common mistakes

• Spamming flippers. Random flipper activation wastes ball control.
• Missing the plunger. Wild plunger throws are unpredictable.
• Not nudging. Slight nudges save balls in real pinball.
• Chasing scores blindly. Bumper hits are good, but mission completion is better.

FAQ

• Q: When was pinball invented? A: 1930s commercial pinball. The modern game began in 1947 with the flipper.
• Q: Is pinball luck or skill? A: Both. Flipper timing and angle control are skills; ball drains can be random.
• Q: What’s a tilt warning? A: Real pinball machines detect excessive nudging. Too many tilts = lost ball.
• Q: Can I make money playing pinball? A: Tournament pinball has prize pools. Most prizes are modest.

For other arcade games, try Breakout, Space Invaders, Asteroids, or Centipede.