By Steffen Klenk
When I was a kid, one of my favorite places to visit was the arcade. Even today, every time I walk into Jilly’s Arcade on the Ocean City Boardwalk, that nostalgic feeling comes back every time. The sound of kids’ laughter fills the air as you hear the “clink” of the air hockey table, win a perfect game at Skee-Ball and listen to the celebratory cheers rain down from the Cruisin’ auto races.
One of my favorite arcade games is still in existence: the Medieval Madness pinball machine. This game has it all. The original machine, designed by the Williams gaming company, was unveiled in 1997 and is revered as one of the highest-ranked pinball machines by gaming enthusiasts.
From the animated castle and motorized drawbridge, to trolls that will “block” you from entering the castle, this game has it all. To this day, I find myself reminiscing about the game’s featured music.
Pinball is a widely popular arcade game. The objective is to score as many points as possible within three rounds. You use the flippers on the left and right sides of the board to shoot the ball and hit your intended target. At the end of each game, you have a small chance at winning a free game by matching the last two numbers of your total score with the numbers that appear on the board.
Pinball’s earliest origins come from a variety of outdoor games that utilized rolling balls or stones on a grass course, such as bocce or bowls, and, eventually, ground billiards games.
One of the earliest tabletop versions of the game was invented in France during the reign of Louis XIV, which would eventually become a standardized version of bagatelle.
Did you know that the first coin-operated machines were known as “marble games?” David Gottlieb’s Baffle Ball was the first pinball machine to achieve success. Each machine sold for $17.50, and for one penny, the game would dispense anywhere from five to seven marbles.
With the introduction of electrification, more companies started manufacturing machines with solenoid, allowing the ball to propel out of a bonus hole.
Here’s an interesting fact: flippers weren’t introduced to pinball until 1947. Humpty Dumpty was the first machine to include player-controlled flippers, allowing the ball to stay in play longer. Not only can players increase their score, but it can be a great test of skill.
For many years, the pinball machine was banned in several cities across the United States. New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia originally prohibited the game under the assumption that children were being robbed of their hard-earned change. Large-scale raids were launched throughout the city, with machines ultimately being destroyed by sledgehammer.
The ban stayed in place until 1976 when Roger Sharpe stood before a Manhattan courtroom and testified that pinball was a game of skill and not a game of chance.
He played one of two machines and called out precisely what he was aiming for and proceeded to hit his intended target. It was after this move that committee members voted to lift the ban once and for all.
While many cities and small towns kept similar bans through the 1970s, Kokomo, Ind., lifted its ordinance on pinball machines in 2016. A similar ban in New Jersey took effect in 1942 and lasted several decades.
As technology has advanced, so has the modern-day look of the pinball machine. The introduction of microprocessors and circuit boards in the 1970s brought this popular arcade game into the age of electronic gaming.
Even with the advent of video games and newer, more exciting arcade games, there is something about pinball that remains fascinating. It is not only a part of our childhood, but remains a vital part of society today, with tournaments and leagues hosted by the IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association).
This year, 64 of the top pinball wizards in the world will compete for glory in the World Pinball Championship, in Fort Myers, Fla., May 26-29.
Whether you are walking around the Showboat Hotel with your Lucky Snake card or find yourself on the Ocean City Boardwalk with a pocket full of loose change, I hope you find some time this summer to relive this classic arcade game and pass along your enjoyment to others for a lifetime of lasting memories.
Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.
