Space Invaders

Space Invaders pinball, released by Bally in 1979, represents a pivotal moment in arcade gaming history as it capitalized on the massive success of Taito's Space Invaders arcade game. The timing of this pinball machine was strategic, launching during the peak of Space Invaders fever, when the video game was dominating arcades worldwide.

The machine featured distinctive artwork that closely mimicked the iconic pixelated aliens from the video game, translated into pinball form. It incorporated innovative features for its era, including electronic sound effects that mimicked the video game's familiar audio, and a unique rotating target bank that represented the descending alien invaders. The playfield design included multiple banks of drop targets, pop bumpers styled as defensive bunkers, and a special 'missile launcher' mechanism.

As one of Bally's early solid-state machines, Space Invaders pinball showcased the transition from electro-mechanical to electronic systems in pinball design. It featured digital scoring displays and sophisticated sound capabilities that weren't possible in earlier EM machines. The game proved to be a commercial success, with approximately 11,400 units produced, making it one of Bally's better-selling titles of the era.

The historical significance of Space Invaders pinball extends beyond its commercial success, as it represented one of the earliest examples of a video game license being adapted into pinball form. This cross-media adaptation helped establish a template for future licensed pinball machines, demonstrating how popular video game properties could be successfully translated to the pinball format.