Machine Description

The Terminator 2: Judgment Day pinball machine, released by Williams Electronics in late 1991, stands as one of the most successful movie-licensed pinball machines of its era. Designed by Steve Ritchie and featuring artwork by Doug Watson, this pinball masterpiece coincided with the theatrical release of the blockbuster film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, capitalizing on the movie's massive popularity.

The machine innovatively incorporated many elements from the film, including a prominent rotating T-800 endoskeleton target in the center of the playfield, gun-handle flipper buttons, and authentic speech samples from Arnold Schwarzenegger and other cast members. The game's signature feature was the 'Cannon Shot,' a unique upper playfield mechanism that launched balls at high speed toward targets, mimicking the film's intense action sequences. The dot-matrix display showcased elaborate animations and scenes from the movie, making it one of the early showcase pieces for DMD technology in pinball.

Gameplay revolves around completing various missions based on the film's plot, including 'Judgment Day,' 'Battle Multi-Ball,' and the challenging 'Payback Time.' The machine featured revolutionary sound design for its time, with digital stereo sound and a high-quality soundtrack that included Brad Fiedel's iconic Terminator theme. Technical innovations included the first use of Williams' DCS sound system in a pinball machine.

With approximately 15,500 units produced, T2 remains one of the best-selling pinball machines of the 1990s. Its combination of innovative features, compelling gameplay, and strong tie-in to the film franchise has made it a highly sought-after collector's piece. The machine's influence can be seen in subsequent movie-themed pinball designs, setting a high standard for how to successfully adapt a film property into pinball form.