Big Guns (pinball)
 | |
| Manufacturer | Williams |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 1987 |
| System | Williams System 11B or 11A |
| Design | Mark Ritchie, Python Anghelo |
| Programming | Bill Pfutzenreuter |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo |
| Music | Chris Granner |
| Sound | Chris Granner, Brian Schmidt |
| Production run | 5,250 |
Big Guns is a 1987 pinball machine designed by Mark Ritchie and Python Anghelo and released by Williams.[1]
Design
The player has to rescue a queen from King Tyrant and his warlords. The game takes place in outer space, although it has a mix of medieval fantasy elements involved, such as trolls. A description on the machine reads:
"Here, in the deepest of space, inside this fortress, our noble Queen is held captive, kidnapped by King Tyrant and his warlords.
"So, once again, in the eternal struggle of good against evil, we, the brave and the free, must launch the greatest invasion in the known history of the universe, to fight and crush our enemies, for the future of our federation - and our fair lady's honor - rides on these big guns."[2]
This is the first pinball machine to use catapults.[3]
The game includes a pachinko style playfield in the backbox,[4] with the backbox four inches taller than on other Williams machines of the time.[5]
A June 1988 revision in the software increased takings at some locations by 20%.[6][7]
Reception
Play Meter found the game to be the best pinball machine at the 1987 AMOA show.[8] The November issue featured the game as its cover story.[9]
References
- ^ Joosten, Jonathan (2016). "Big Guns". Pinball Magazine. No. 4. pp. 68–73. ISBN 978-90-816266-5-1.
- ^ EP 0294923, Ritchie, Mark D & Joos, Joseph, "Catapult play feature for a pinball machine.", published 1988-04-13, issued 1988-12-14
- ^ "The Flipside Profile: Mark Ritchie" (PDF). The Flipside. Vol. 2, no. 1. 1992. pp. 8–9. Archived from the original on 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
- ^ Ciaravino, Joe (2024). "Cocaine Cats & Pinball Sex: Part II of The Unauthorized Hagiography of Python Anghelo". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ^ "News - Williams revises Big Guns software". Play Meter. Vol. 14, no. 7. August 1988. p. 37.
- ^ "Big Guns software revision" (PDF). Williams Electronics Games. June 9, 1988.
- ^ Harris, Steve (December 1987). "Player's Picks". Play Meter. Vol. 13, no. 12. pp. 84–86, 127.
- ^ "An inspiration of dedication". Play Meter. Vol. 13, no. 11. November 1987. pp. 1, 20–23.
External links