Pinball: A game inspired by the 18th-century game called Bagatelle
Have you ever tried your hand at an arcade game? An arcade game is a type of video game that you can play in a place called an arcade by inserting coins. Most arcade games have now been converted into video games and can be played from the comfort of your home. One such popular arcade game is pinball which can now be played on your mobile too! Did you know that pinball was inspired by an 18th-century game called Bagatelle! The journey of pinball from an arcade game to a mobile game is fascinating indeed.
How do you play pinball?
Pinball involves a metal ball being launched onto a field with various targets and obstacles. The goal is to score as many points as possible while keeping the ball in play for as long as possible. The game begins after you insert coins or tokens into the machine. The ball is then launched onto the playing field. You have to use flippers located at the bottom of the machine to control the ball and hit various targets. The targets can be anything from bumpers that bounce the ball to ramps, which lead to higher scoring areas, to multiple lights and switches that score points. The score is then displayed on a scoreboard or display screen. If you want to score higher, all you have to do is add coins and continue the game! The game ends when the ball falls through the drain, or the player runs out of lives.
The origin of pinball
Lawn games, where balls are rolled into holes in the ground, were quite popular in 18th-century Europe. They were quickly transformed into parlour games that could be played on a table inside the house. One such tabletop game called ‘Bagatelle’ is the inspiration behind Pinball! In this game, a stick or plunger is used to propel the ball upwards. The ball then rolls down the incline, darting off pins and landing in pockets with varying scores. That is how Bagatelle laid the groundwork for the game we all enjoy today.
The journey of pinball
The electro-mechanical pinball machine was the first version of a pinball machine. The scoring was entirely done with wires! However, for a brief period in 1942, pinball was banned in New York because people were betting on the game’s outcome. It wasn’t until 1976 that pinball was proven in court to be a game of skill. And so, it was legalised again. Later, in 1947, Gottlieb, an American arcade game company, introduced flippers! This drastically altered the pinball gaming experience. The game now had six upward-facing flippers, which kept the ball in play for longer. And you know what that means: more chances to score! However, the true revolution came when circuit boards found their way into the machine. The games were known as solid-state pinball because they replaced the old wire relays. William and Bally, a pinball manufacturer company, pioneered electrical pinball which swept the world with its themed pinball machines.
Pinball in the video games era
Video games dominated the market in the 1990s. As a result, many arcades prioritised video games over pinball machines. But pinball did not lag behind. William and Bally released the first video-screen Pinball machine, called Pinball 2000! The machine sold well, but the company eventually closed down. However, several companies, including Stern and Jersey Jack in America, are still developing modern electronic versions of classic games. Although you can play Pinball on your phone anytime, if you visit an arcade and see a pinball machine, don’t pass the chance up! It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.