Minizag

The Minizag pinball machine, released by Italian manufacturer Zaccaria in 1975, represents an interesting chapter in European pinball history. As one of Zaccaria's early electro-mechanical offerings, it showcased the company's growing ambition to compete with American manufacturers in the global pinball market.

The Minizag featured a compact playfield design, which was particularly well-suited for European locations where space was often at a premium. Its name 'Minizag' likely referred to both its smaller size and the zigzagging path players needed to navigate to reach high scores. The machine incorporated classic electro-mechanical components, including mechanical score reels and relay-based logic systems typical of the era.

While not as widely distributed as contemporary American machines, the Minizag helped establish Zaccaria's reputation for building reliable and entertaining pinball machines. The game's design reflected the European aesthetic of the 1970s, with artwork and features that appealed to both casual players and pinball enthusiasts. Though production numbers are not well documented, the Minizag is now considered a relatively rare collector's item, particularly outside of Europe.