Earthshaker! (pinball)
Earthshaker! is a pinball game designed by Pat Lawlor and released by Williams Electronics in 1989. The game features an earthquake theme and was advertised with the slogan "It's a Moving Experience!"Some Prototypes have a Building that when the shaker motor was activated would fall down but the Team removed it due to pricing.[1]
Manufacturer | Williams |
---|---|
Release date | February, 1989 |
Design | Pat Lawlor |
Programming | Mark Penacho |
Artwork | Tim Elliott |
Music | Jon Hey, Chris Granner |
Earthshaker! was the first pinball machine with a shaker motor that causes the table to rumble along with the theme of the game.[2][3][4][5]
Description
The player assume the role of an earthquake researcher and has to visit various zones along the California-Nevada border.[6] During the game the two states split apart and becoming a rail for the ball.[5]
Sample games feature an "Earthquake Institute" building that sinks into the playfield. About 200 of these sample machines were produced before this toy was made stationary due to cost savings.[1] Some hobbyists re-add this feature in their custom pinball machines.[7]
The music and voices of the game are typical for its era, although the pinball machine is known for a female voice saying "Bitchin'!" which was unusual for its time. "Family" ROMs that censor the questionable language by omission was developed.[5]
Design team
- Concept: Ed Krynski, Lyle Rains
- Producer: Sam Comstock
- Artistic Director: Chuck Eyler
- Graphics: Sam Comstock
- Design: Pat Lawlor
- Programming: Mark Penacho, Ed Boon
- Game Design: Pat Lawlor
- Game Programming: Bob Flanagan
- Mechanics: Ed Krynski
- Software: Mark Penacho
- Artwork: Tim Elliot
- Animation: Ed Krynski
- Engineer: Pat McCarthy
- Technician: Cris Drobny
- Sound: Chris Granner
- Music: Chris Granner, Jon Hey
Digital versions
Earthshaker! is no longer available as a licensed table in The Pinball Arcade for any platform after June 29, 2018 - just before WMS license expiration on June 30, 2018.
See also
References
- "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Earthshaker'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
- "#287 Williams EARTHSHAKER Pinball Machine - first machine with SHAKER Motor! TNT Amusements". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "Earthshaker!". Brad.rhps.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "Earthshaker Index!". Buccisarcade.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "PINBALL". Mopinball.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Earthshaker". Ppinball.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "Williams Earthshaker Pinball Moving Building Add On Kit". Basementarcade.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.