Star Wars Episode I is a 1999 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...

 game released by Williams

Williams (gaming company)

WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...

 and the second (and last) machine to use the Pinball 2000

Pinball 2000

Pinball 2000 is the last pinball hardware and software platform developed by major pinball manufacturer Williams, and was used in the machines Revenge From Mars and Star Wars Episode I before Williams exited the pinball business on October 25, 1999...

 hardware platform. It is based in the Star Wars

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

film The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...

.

Last game manufactured by WMS industries (Williams and Bally labels) before the announcement to close their doors on October 25, 1999. The jet bumper rule of the 1.4 software reminds players of that date. (The number of points for spelling Jar Jar is 19,992,510; This is the date 25-10-1999, the same day WMS announced the closing of their pinball branch).

The game was also available as a conversion kit for Revenge From Mars

Revenge From Mars

Revenge from Mars is a 2000 pinball machine manufactured by Midway . It is the sequel to Attack from Mars, that also has the same theme....

 which included a Star Wars Episode I playfield, game ROMs, manual, cabinet decals, translite and a manual plunger.

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to become a Jedi

Jedi

The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...

 Spirit. To reach the Spirit level one must battle through Youth, Knight, and Master levels, fighting Darth Maul

Darth Maul

Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He is one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz....

 in a light saber battle at each level. To get to the duel one must spell "J-E-D-I" by completing the various modes started at the Holoprojector or being randomly awarded a letter through various other means. The included modes are:

• Ground Battle
• Sub Escape
• Hangar Escape
• Jar Jar
  Jar Jar Binks
  Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character from the Star Wars Saga , and the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His primary role was to provide comic relief, but many reacted negatively to his character...
  
   Juggling
• Podracing
• Space Battle
• Sith
  Sith
  -Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
  
   Droids
• R2-D2
  R2-D2
  R2-D2 , is a character in the Star Wars universe. An astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character throughout all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga...
  
   Astrodroid
• Queen
  Padmé Amidala
  Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the Star Wars science fiction franchise. She first appeared on film in the 1999 feature film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the young queen of the planet Naboo. In subsequent prequel trilogy films, Padmé represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate...
  
  ’s Game
• Jedi Musical Chairs
• Watto
  Watto
  Watto is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, featured in the films The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. He is computer-generated and played by voice actor Andy Secombe. He is a mean-tempered, greedy Toydarian, and owner of a second-hand goods store in Mos Espa on the planet...
  
  ’s Chance
• Destroyer Droids
• Gungan Battle

Multiball

Multiball is started by putting a ball into each of the saucers (Mos Espa Market and Watto’s Junk Shop). If more than one player is playing it is possible to “steal” the other players multi-ball prep work. It's also possible to shoot the active ball into a saucered ball so both come flying back. Useful in a multiplayer game, less so in a single player (and absolutely horrible if it happens during a Jedi Battle).

When multiball is started, the center target lights up for a 1,000,000 jackpot. If 2 (or 3 if the ball saver is still running) balls drain without making the first jackpot one will be offered the opportunity to restart the multiball by shooting either saucer. Note that the restarted multiball is only two balls, but allows to hit the skill shot again.

The pattern for jackpots:

• Center target only – 1,000,000 points
• Left and Right ramps – 1,000,000 points each
• Center target, Left and Right ramps – 1,000,000 points each with a Super Jackpot awarded for the last of the three 5,000,000 points.

After one has lost two of the three balls in play, the multiball ends and the saucers go dark. To relight the saucers one needs to hit either saucer once for each multiball that has been started. So to lock the ball in the Junk Shop for the second multiball, one first needs to hit either the Junk Shop or the Market once first.

External links

• IPDB listing for Star Wars Episode I
• Recent Auction Results for Star Wars Episode I
• The making of the Star Wars: Episode I pinball machine is profiled in Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball (DVD movie/documentary) (official web site)