Criss Cross

Bally's 'Criss Cross' from 1958 represents a classic example of late 1950s electro-mechanical pinball design, emerging during a period when pinball was establishing itself as a mainstay of American entertainment culture. The machine exemplified the innovative mechanical engineering that characterized the era, featuring the increasingly popular multi-player format that was becoming standard in the industry.

The gameplay of Criss Cross was built around a pattern-completion concept, where players aimed to light targets in intersecting configurations - hence the name. The playfield likely featured the standard components of the era: pop bumpers, kickout holes, and rolling targets, all designed to create engaging gameplay within the technological constraints of electro-mechanical systems. The scoring system utilized the familiar step-up units and mechanical reels common to machines of this period.

While not necessarily a revolutionary title in Bally's lineup, Criss Cross represented the solid manufacturing and design principles that helped establish Bally as one of the leading pinball manufacturers of the era. The machine's release coincided with the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball, when these games were fixtures in bars, bowling alleys, and arcades across America.