The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man pinball machine, released by Bally in 1978, perfectly captured the zeitgeist of late 1970s popular culture by bringing the hit television series to the arcade floor. This machine represented a significant moment in pinball history as it was among the early solid-state games produced during the industry's transition from electro-mechanical to electronic systems.

The machine's artwork and design elements heavily featured Lee Majors as Colonel Steve Austin, the show's bionic protagonist, along with imagery reflecting the sci-fi action series. The playfield incorporated various targets and features themed around Austin's bionic abilities, including his enhanced strength, speed, and vision. The backglass artwork typically showcased the iconic slow-motion running pose familiar to fans of the television series.

As one of Bally's solid-state machines, it featured electronic sound effects and digital scoring, marking a technological leap forward from earlier electro-mechanical games. The gameplay incorporated multiple drop targets, pop bumpers, and various special scoring features that tied into the bionic theme. The machine helped establish licensed theme games as a viable commercial strategy in pinball design, paving the way for countless future media tie-ins.

Production numbers for The Six Million Dollar Man were relatively modest by late 1970s standards, making it a sought-after collector's piece today. The machine's release coincided with the final season of the television series, serving as both a celebration and swan song for one of the decade's most influential science fiction shows.