Cirqus Voltaire
| Company type | Pinball machine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arcade games |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | John Popadiuk |
| Parent | Williams Electronics Games (Bally brand) |
Cirqus Voltaire is a pinball machine released in 1997, crafted by designer John Popadiuk and produced by Williams Electronics Games under the Bally brand. The game’s circus motif invites players to perform a series of feats to earn a place in the circus. Notable design elements include a neon light positioned along the right ramp return, a pop bumper that emerges from the playfield, and a magnet installed on the left ramp which captures and redirects balls into locking mechanisms. The centerpiece is the Ringmaster, a head that rises up to mock players.
Design
This model marked the first Williams/Bally pinball machine without a mechanical replay-knocker; instead, the knocking sound effect is digitally prerecorded and emitted through speakers. Additionally, it was the second machine to move the dot-matrix display (DMD) from its traditional location in the backbox to inside the cabinet, reducing player distraction—a concept that would be fully developed later in the Pinball 2000 platform.
Modes
Players encounter nine "marvels" arranged in a 3x3 matrix spelling out C-I-R-Q-U-S. Completing all marvels unlocks the "Join the Cirqus" wizard mode, accessible by shooting either the left or right orbit.
- Juggler – Achieve three shots into the left orbit to light locks; three additional shots lock balls and initiate Juggler Multiball.
- Side Show – When lit, shooting the left orbit grants a random reward.
- Ringmaster Frenzie – Defeat the Ringmaster twice to activate Frenzie Multiball.
- Menagerie – Strike left-side targets multiple times directly or via hitting a captive ball.
- Defeated All Ringmasters – Defeat Ringmaster four times to trigger Special Multiball.
- Highwire Multiball – Light "Lock" targets adjacent to the left ramp, then shoot the ramp three times to lock balls and start Highwire Multiball.
- Spin – Hit spinner targets around the Ringmaster to illuminate S-P-I-N letters; completing all letters awards this marvel.
- Boom! – Activate V-O-L-T letters by hitting rollover targets; this temporarily enables a third pop bumper whose hits count toward extra balls.
- Acrobats – Shoot the right ramp or orbit four times.
The Ringmaster
Positioned beneath the playfield, the Ringmaster consists of a flat circular base with a concealed magnet above three W-O-W standup targets. After striking these targets three times, the magnet captures the ball as the Ringmaster rises and taunts players before flinging it unpredictably while a brief ball saver is active. Hitting both the Ringmaster and nearby standup targets five times causes him to rise further, exposing a hole; shooting the ball into this hole defeats him.
Prior to initiating Join the Cirqus, each Ringmaster defeat triggers a multiball mode in this order:
- Ringmaster Frenzie – Completing this mode earns the Frenzie marvel.
- Ringmaster Razz – The first activation lights an extra ball.
- Ringmaster Special – Completion rewards the "Defeated All Ringmasters" marvel.
- Ringmaster Battle – This mode appears only if "Defeated All Ringmasters" is not yet completed; it features a ball saver. Players must light five diamonds by hitting either the Ringmaster or standup targets while lights fade over time or upon ball drain. Success awards an extra ball and disables the Ringmaster until Join the Cirqus begins; failure allows another attempt.
After Join the Cirqus is activated, subsequent defeats of the Ringmaster restart Frenzie and follow this same sequence. If during play the Ringmaster propels the ball into the Highwire Multiball lock, it counts as a "Sneaky Lock" toward that multiball mode.
Multiball
This game features eight distinct multiball modes that can be combined or played simultaneously:
- Highwire Multiball – three balls in play
- Juggler Multiball – three balls in play
- Neon Multiball – three balls (awarded randomly through Side Show)
- Strike-an-Arc Multiball – two balls (triggered by repeatedly shooting the left ramp)
- Ringmaster Multiballs (each with two balls):
- Frenzie
- Razz
- Special
- Battle
When multiballs are stacked, four balls enter the playfield. After all but one ball have drained, players have a brief opportunity to shoot the left ramp to activate "Voltaire's Multiple Jackpots," which grants one jackpot for each active multiball mode.
Join the Cirqus
Upon gathering all nine marvels, players can initiate Join the Cirqus by shooting either orbit. This mode unfolds in four stages, during which all other features are disabled. After completing each of the first three stages, flippers and targets temporarily deactivate and all balls drain before advancing.
1. Spell C-I-R-Q-U-S: A three-ball multiball requiring players to hit six key shots—both orbits, left ramp, Menagerie, Ringmaster loop, and W-O-W targets—in any sequence. 2. Unmask Voltaire: A three-ball multiball where players alternate shots between the Ringmaster and left ramp four times, concluding with a fifth shot on the Ringmaster. 3. Meet the Cirqus: Begins with a single ball; players must successfully hit six lit shots to orbits and the Ringmaster loop, earning an additional ball per successful hit up to a maximum of three balls. 4. Party Multiball: A four-ball multiball with all major shots lit to award jackpots.
If all balls drain during any of the initial three phases, that phase restarts upon the next ball launch. The final phase concludes once only one ball remains on the playfield.
Digital versions
Cirqus Voltaire was offered as an officially licensed table in The Pinball Arcade until June 30, 2018, when the WMS license expired. Subsequently, Zen Studios secured the license and released an authorized digital edition as downloadable content for Pinball FX 3 and as an unlockable table within the Williams Pinball mobile application for both iOS and Android. A remastered edition was launched for Pinball FX on May 26, 2022.
Unofficial recreations are accessible via Visual Pinball on Windows.