Chronicles the development of pinball machines from the 1930s through the late 1960s, featuring exclusive interviews with some of the greatest designers in the industry. Hundreds of pinball machines from Gottlieb, Bally, Genco, Williams, United, and others are showcased, along with descriptions of the games, special features, historical significance, release dates, names of designers and artists, and current values.

Eagerly anticipated, this update of the highly regarded third book from pinball author Michael Shalhoub includes over 900 color photos and covers the most recent period in pinball history, from 1982 through 2011. Each chapter is devoted to a specific year and features descriptions, release dates, and historical background on the games released that year from manufacturers Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Data East, Stern, Sega, and others. Current values are listed for each machine shown in the book. Interspersed with the games are stories and interviews with many of the legendary designers and artists who created them. Readers will gain fascinating insight into the planning that went into the games, how the designers and artists got their start in the industry, behind-the-scenes tales of life in the pinball world, and more. "Michael Shalhoub's Pinball Compendium is a great documentary of our business," says designer Steve Ritchie of the second book in the trilogy. Along with its two companion volumes (the first covering the 1930s-1960s and the second covering 1970-1981), this book is a must-have for all who love the sights and sounds of the world's great pinball machines.

Chronicles the history of pinball games from 1970 through 1981, one of pinball's most prolific eras. Hundreds of pinball machines from Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Chicago Coin, and other manufacturers are showcased, along with descriptions, special features, historical significance, release dates, designers, and current values. Also features exclusive interviews with some of the pinball's greatest designers and artists. A wonderful reference and a tribute to all who were part of pinball's fascinating history.

Pinball games have long been regarded as the twentieth century's ultimate coin operated amusement, touching the lives of generations of players in numerous cultures. This visual chronicle, with examples from the game's beginnings to the present day, focuses in particular on the years from 1958 to 1998. It showcases fifty fascinating pinball games, each with its own chapter outlining the special features. Covered in detail are cultural influences, design and artistic trends, historical connections, collectibility, values, and unique game rules. Over 800 full color photographs display whole machine shots, close-ups of backglasses and playfields, and ball's-eye-view images. They put the pinball enthusiast right into the action! This beautiful book is an essential reference for the libraries of pinball collectors and aficionados everywhere.

"This book takes a long look at the history and development of pinball from its beginnings in the 1930s to the present day. It covers such aspects as style, design, artwork and systems of play and introduces the artists, designers and players to help capture an insight into the elusive psychology of the game. But mainly it is a selection of colourful reproductions of playing decks, glimpses of a wide variety of machines, some new, some old, some ... historic ... complete with detailed descriptions of all the scoring features, specialties and idiosyncrasies"--Cover.

This comprehensive new book showcases the most desirable electro-magnetic pinball games ever built. Over 1,000 colour photographs, arranged in decades from the 1930s to the 1990s, display some of the most popular pinballs ever built. Also, rare photos show Gordon Hasse with some of the most sought-after and popular Gottlieb and Parker games. This book breaks new ground in documenting this classic era. It greatly augments the author's three earlier works on pinball history and rounds out the most up-to-date research in the field.

This fantastic book tells the detailed history of pinball games from the 1930s to the 1990s, including the evolution of all sorts of game features--from flippers and bumpers to sound, scoring, and tilt mechanisms--all immersed in the complex and magnificent artwork characteristic of pinball machines. Pinball manufacturing giants like Gottlieb, Williams, and Bally are well represented, in addition to several lesser-known and foreign manufacturers. With a listing of over 3,000 games built to date, statistics, updated pricing information, and over 900 color photographs (including close-ups, flyers, images of rare prototypes, and games never before seen in print), this is essential for the libraries of all pinball lovers. The pinball machine is here to stay--due in part to the exponential increase in the number of serious collectors and enthusiasts. What other modern amusement machine can boast a longevity of over 60 years, withstanding the test of time and ever-changing technology, while maintaining its instantly recognizable form? The rolling, bouncing silver ball, as unpredictable as the flip of a coin or even life itself, has kept up with cutting-edge advancements in electronics, mechanics, and even computers, to amuse and test the skill of players worldwide!

Describes pinball machines both vintage and contemporary and 50 games. Each chapter outlines a game's special features, historical background, game rules, graphic images, collectibility and current value.

Fifty vintage and contemporary pinballs are showcased, each with its own chapter outlining special features, historical information, game trivia, game rules, collectibility, graphic images, and current value. Over 600 full color photographs provide a complete visual of each game. Whole machine shots, close-ups, and ball's-eye-view images put enthusiasts right into the action. A must for pinball collectors, graphic artists, historians, and devotees of coin operated amusement games.

Pinball's history is America's history, from gambling and war-themed machines to the arcade revolution and, ultimately, the decline of the need to leave your house. The strangest thing about pinball is that it persists, and not just as nostalgia. Pinball didn't just stick around—it grew and continues to evolve with the times. Somehow, in today's iPhone world, a three-hundred-pound monstrosity of wood and cables has survived to enjoy yet another renaissance. Pinball is more to humor writer Adam Ruben than a fascinating book topic—it's a lifelong obsession. Ruben played competitive pinball for years, rising as high as the 80th-ranked player in the world. Then he had children. Now, mired in 9,938th place—darn kids—Ruben tries to stage a comeback, visiting pinball museums, gaming conventions, pinball machine designers, and even pinball factories in his attempt to discover what makes the world's best players, the real wizards, so good. Along the way, Ruben examines the bigger story of pinball's invention, ascent, near defeat, resurgence, near defeat again, and struggle to find its niche in modern society.