Fireball (pinball)
| Industry | Pinball machine manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Pinball machines |
Fireball stands as a distinguished pinball machine crafted by Ted Zale and launched by Bally in 1972. It was one of the pioneers in adopting a contemporary sci-fi/fantasy outer space motif, with intricate side artwork created by Dave Christensen.
Description
Fireball brought several groundbreaking features to the pinball world, including a centrally located, perpetually rotating disc known as the "whirlwind spinner." It also introduced adjustable "zipper" flippers that alter the gap width in response to hits on specific bumpers, as well as trapped ball bonuses. These zipper flippers move inward or outward depending on which mushroom bumper—either blue or yellow—is activated, thereby influencing the flow of play. Additionally, the machine incorporated the "messenger ball," a captive ball that players could strike to target objects positioned behind it.
This machine was among the early adopters of multi-ball gameplay, releasing three balls after locking them in saucers named Odin and Wotan—both referencing fire deities—and subsequently hitting a target with the messenger ball.
The playfield and backglass were adorned with elaborate depictions of a flaming "fire man," surrounded by flames and celestial stars.
Cultural references
In 1977, Chip Carter obtained a Fireball machine during the presidency of his father, Jimmy Carter, which was subjected to Secret Service examination upon delivery.
Filmmaker Richard Linklater owned a Fireball, which appears in his cinematic works. The machine features prominently in his 2001 film Waking Life, where Linklater explores Dickian themes. Close-up shots of Fireball gameplay are also present in his 1993 movie Dazed and Confused.
The 1985 episode titled "Pinball" from the TV series Mr. Belvedere revolves around a "Firebomb" pinball machine, which is a variation inspired by Fireball.
Digital versions
In 2006, the table was included as part of the arcade game cabinet UltraPin.
Fireball was available as a licensed table in The Pinball Arcade, but it was removed from purchase on June 30, 2018, following the expiration of the Williams license.
Fireball Professional Home model
Building on the original’s popularity, Bally introduced a "Professional Home Model" in 1978 aimed at consumers. This version featured a modified design based on Bally's Hocus Pocus playfield and omitted a ball diverter gate.
Fireball II
Debuting in June 1981, Fireball II retained artwork by Dave Christensen but showcased an entirely new playfield configuration. It added the "little demon post," a player-controlled post situated between the flippers and operated via an extra button. The playfield also incorporated a captive ball feature reminiscent of Bally's earlier Doodle Bug.
Roger Sharpe reviewed it for Play Meter, awarding it a 2 out of 4 rating and describing it as an average game.
Fireball Classic
In February 1985, Bally released the electronic version titled Fireball Classic. While its playfield closely mirrored the original design, it did not include zipper-flippers. Roger Sharpe gave this version a 2/4 score in Play Meter, recognizing its nostalgic value and acknowledging how the original established Bally’s prominence in pinball manufacturing.
References
External links
- Fireball (home version) on the Internet Pinball Database
- Fireball II on the Internet Pinball Database
- Fireball Classic on the Internet Pinball Database