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Pinball (video game)
Encyclopedia
Pinball is a 1984 arcade game
created by Nintendo
. The game is designed to simulate a game of pinball
. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System
later that year. In 1985 it reached North America as one of 18 launch title
s. The Nintendo Entertainment System version added an alternating two-player mode. It was later re-released as an e-reader Card game, and is also playable as an unlockable mini-game in Doubutsu no Mori for the Nintendo 64
and Animal Crossing
on the Nintendo GameCube
. It is available on the Wii
's Virtual Console
.
to represent the traditional pinball table and one for a bonus mode. Play begins when the player launches a ball with the plunger from first screen—the bottom of the pinball table—through the top of the screen to the second screen. Play will move to the first screen if the ball falls through the bottom of the top screen and will return to the top screen if the ball is hit back through the space at the top of the first screen. The player controls the flippers on either screen to deflect the ball to keep it from falling off the bottom of the lower screen.
Pinball also had a secondary Breakout
-like mode, which the player reaches by hitting the ball into a bonus hole that takes the player to a bonus stage where they control Mario
carrying a platform. The object of this mode is to rescue Pauline (previously seen in Donkey Kong
). The player achieves this by bouncing the ball off Mario's platform and hitting various targets, the destruction of which also earns them points. When the blocks under her are all gone, she will drop. Catching her on Mario's platform earns the player bonus points, but allowing her to hit the ground causes the player to lose.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
created by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
. The game is designed to simulate a game of pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
later that year. In 1985 it reached North America as one of 18 launch title
Launch title
A launch game, or launch title, is a video game released to consumers synchronously with the release of its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Several of these games are also packaged with the console...
s. The Nintendo Entertainment System version added an alternating two-player mode. It was later re-released as an e-reader Card game, and is also playable as an unlockable mini-game in Doubutsu no Mori for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing
The Animal Crossing games have garnered positive response. The first three games are among the best-selling for their respective consoles. Animal Crossing has sold 2.321 million copies; Wild World 10.79 million; and City Folk 3.38 million...
on the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. It is available on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
.
Gameplay
Pinball is a game where the player controls the paddles of a virtual pinball machine. The game has two screensElectronic page
An electronic page is a term to encompass the grouping of content between basic breaking points in presentations or documents that originate or remain as visual electronic documents. This is a software file and recording format term in contrast to electronic paper, a hardware display technology...
to represent the traditional pinball table and one for a bonus mode. Play begins when the player launches a ball with the plunger from first screen—the bottom of the pinball table—through the top of the screen to the second screen. Play will move to the first screen if the ball falls through the bottom of the top screen and will return to the top screen if the ball is hit back through the space at the top of the first screen. The player controls the flippers on either screen to deflect the ball to keep it from falling off the bottom of the lower screen.
Pinball also had a secondary Breakout
Breakout (video game)
Breakout is an arcade game developed by Atari, Inc and introduced on May 13, 1976. It was conceptualized by Nolan Bushnell and Steve Bristow, and influenced by the 1972 arcade game Pong, also by Atari. The game was ported to video game consoles and upgraded to video games such as Super Breakout...
-like mode, which the player reaches by hitting the ball into a bonus hole that takes the player to a bonus stage where they control Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
carrying a platform. The object of this mode is to rescue Pauline (previously seen in Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
). The player achieves this by bouncing the ball off Mario's platform and hitting various targets, the destruction of which also earns them points. When the blocks under her are all gone, she will drop. Catching her on Mario's platform earns the player bonus points, but allowing her to hit the ground causes the player to lose.
See also
- List of Nintendo Entertainment System games
- RollerballRollerball (video game)Rollerball is a video game produced by HAL Laboratory, Inc. in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System four years after its initial release on the MSX. It is designed to be played by one to four players, in turn...
(1984) - Family PinballFamily Pinballis a Family Computer video game that was originally released in 1989.There are several gameplay options like regular pinball for up to four players, nineball where balls have to be knocked into a Bingo pattern, battle pinball , and "sports pinball" where the pinball game becomes more like a soccer...
(1989) - Pinball QuestPinball QuestPinball Quest is the name of a Nintendo Entertainment System video game released in 1990 by Jaleco. The game is based on the popular arcade game pinball. The role playing aspect of the game makes it unique from other sport/game based video games of the time.-Gameplay:The game is short, with six...
(1989) - Pin*Bot (1990)
- High SpeedHigh Speed (video game)High Speed is a pinball simulation video game developed by Rare Ltd. for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and published by Tradewest in 1991. High Speed employs the game engine that Rare Ltd. previously developed for Pin*Bot ....
(1991)