Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers pinball machine, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1984, represents a fascinating period in pinball history when manufacturers were increasingly incorporating popular literary and cultural themes into their designs. Based on Alexandre Dumas' classic novel, this solid-state machine captured the swashbuckling adventure and romantic elements of the source material.

The machine's playfield design likely featured sword-fighting themes, castle elements, and character artwork depicting Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan. As was typical of early-1980s Gottlieb machines, it would have incorporated multi-ball play, various skill shots, and advancing bonus multipliers to keep players engaged. The solid-state technology allowed for more complex scoring rules and sound effects compared to earlier electro-mechanical games.

While not one of Gottlieb's most famous titles from this era, The Three Musketeers represented the company's continued efforts to diversify their themed machines beyond the typical science fiction and sports titles that dominated the market. The machine arrived during a challenging period for the pinball industry, as video games were beginning to dominate the arcade scene, making any pinball releases from this era particularly interesting to historians and collectors.