Black Rose (pinball)
| Company type | Pinball machine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arcade games |
| Founded | July 1992 |
| Founder | John Trudeau, Brian Eddy |
| Products | Pinball game |
| Parent | Midway (Williams) |
Black Rose is a pinball game crafted by designers John Trudeau and Brian Eddy, manufactured by Midway, a division of Williams, and marketed under the Bally brand in July 1992. The theme is rooted in the Golden Age of Piracy, spotlighting the Black Rose as a pirate captain, though this character is not modeled after any real historical individual.
Design and layout
At the heart of the machine lies a rotating cannon that propels the ball when activated by a fire button located on the lockdown bar. This mechanism draws inspiration from those seen in Big Guns and Taxi. Initial prototypes featured a transparent plastic window extending from the cannon to the backglass, but this element was removed due to visibility challenges and durability concerns. In the final iteration, the cannon’s end elevates to align with the playfield level when loaded, from where it launches the ball. Aligning this mechanism during production proved difficult and it remains exclusive to this model.
While black-colored pinballs were contemplated, standard silver balls were ultimately utilized.
Significant playfield elements include a pirate’s cove dead-end positioned at the lower left that returns balls, three distinct ramps—one being a whirlpool ramp with a looping wireform—and a side ramp that intermittently uncovers Davy Jones' locker. Near the center are nine standup targets arranged in three clusters. The longest wireform stretches across the length of the playfield and becomes accessible by striking the broadside target at the rear; this wireform reliably channels the ball back to the right flipper.
Gameplay
The central objective involves sinking ships, with scores escalating incrementally for each vessel sunk. Players can trigger a 2- or 3-ball multiball by spelling L-O-C-K through rollovers or hitting the pirate’s cove, enabling collection of letters for S-I-N-K S-H-I-P, which is prominently displayed on the playfield. Completing this sequence allows firing at Davy Jones’ locker using the upper flipper to load the cannon, then sinking a ship by hitting the broadside target.
When SINK SHIP is inactive, players may receive rewards from the locker, beginning with a mode where rapid broadside shots double the score with each successful hit.
From the broadside target, seven brief modes or scoring chances are accessible, including a 2-ball multiball and three pirate-themed video mini-games:
- Walk the Plank – evade a shark and reach a deserted island
- Knife Throw – toss a knife to detonate a barrel
- Swing from the Riggings – swing on a rope to land on an enemy ship
This machine was pioneering as the first pinball game to incorporate three video modes. Additionally, repeatedly hitting the whirlpool ramp grants an extra ball.
Digital versions
Black Rose was featured in Williams Pinball Classics (2001), developed by Encore for Microsoft Windows.
It was licensed for inclusion in The Pinball Arcade on various platforms starting April 2014 but was withdrawn on June 30, 2018, due to licensing complications affecting all Williams titles.
The game debuted on Pinball FX3 on December 4, 2018, incorporating enhanced animations such as a compass directing toward the ball. A remastered edition was released for Pinball FX on March 31, 2022.
Black Rose: Skull & Bones
In 2023, Cardona Pinball introduced a conversion kit that includes upgraded CPU and sound boards, a new translite, an LCD screen, and enhanced software.
The gameplay unfolds aboard the vessel Black Rose, captained by Maria Cortez De La Mancha. Players can engage in six primary modes, with the mutiny wizard mode becoming accessible after completing these along with several additional side modes. It is important to note that this edition omits the three video modes found in the original game's rule set.
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