The Party Zone
| Company type | Pinball machine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arcade games |
| Founded | August 1991 |
| Founder | Dennis Nordman (designer), Jim Strompolis (programmer) |
| Products | Solid-state pinball machine |
| Parent | Midway Games (Bally label) |
The Party Zone is a solid-state pinball machine introduced in August 1991 by Midway Games under the Bally label. The design was led by Dennis Nordman, with programming by Jim Strompolis. This model features a single playfield and includes Captain B. Zarre as well as characters from earlier pinball titles. It represents the second release following the sale of Bally-Midway to Williams, while still maintaining the "Bally" branding.
Design
The music selection function was derived from the jukebox feature found in Party Animal and was incorporated here due to advancements in sound technology.
Heritage
The artwork on both the backglass and playfield highlights characters from previous games assembled at the Cosmic Cottage:
- The Party Animal from Bally Midway's 1987 title Party Animal
- The Party Monsters originating from Midway's 1989 game Elvira and the Party Monsters
- The Party Dude featured in Midway's 1990 release Dr. Dude And His Excellent Ray
- A Trog caveman character from Midway's 1990 arcade game Trog is positioned next to the skeleton within the Party Monsters group.
Digital version
FarSight Studios made this table available as an officially licensed addition to The Pinball Arcade during its fourth season; however, it was removed on June 30, 2018, after the Williams license expired.
On December 4, 2018, The Party Zone was launched on Pinball FX3, offering optional animation features. A remastered version was released on Pinball FX on March 31, 2022. Subsequently, a virtual reality edition for Pinball FX VR was introduced on May 15, 2025, which included an animated Captain B. Zarre alongside the table. Due to licensing limitations, the tracks "Come Fly with Me," "Purple Haze," and "Feelings" were omitted, leaving only "Pinball Wizard" available.