Creature from the Black Lagoon (pinball)
 | |
| Manufacturer | Midway |
|---|---|
| Release date | December 1992 |
| System | Midway WPC (Fliptronics II) |
| Design | John Trudeau |
| Programming | Jeff Johnson |
| Artwork | Kevin O'Connor |
| Mechanics | Ernie Pizarro |
| Music | Paul Heitsch |
| Sound | Paul Heitsch |
| Voices | Matt Booty, Paul Heitsch, Jeff Johnson, Allison Quant |
| Production run | 7,841 |
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a pinball machine designed by John Trudeau ("Dr. Flash") and released by Midway (under the Bally brand name). It is loosely based on the movie of the same name. The game's theme is 1950's drive-in theater. The pinball game was licensed from Universal Studios by Bally so that all backglass and cabinet artwork and creature depictions would resemble those of the original movie.[1]
Hologram
The centerpiece of the table's playfield is a holographic depiction of the titular Creature, illuminated and in motion during multiball play within its "Black Lagoon habitat" (the space beneath the playfield visible through a customized window). The green hologram was produced by Polaroid and is affixed to a metal plate that is divided into three sections which are designed so that the hologram appears to float. A cam behind one of sections presses against the back of the plate, gently bending the hologram's surface, so that the Creature appears to "ripple" as if underwater and to swipe at the player with its claw. A 2nd motor mounted in the bottom of the cabinet oscillates the light reflecting mirror, changing the direction of the light source and causing the image of the creature to slowly turn from side to side.
The modes
This game has five modes. They are started at the right lane. After the mode has begun, the ball is shot around the left lane.
Mega Menu: The four menu targets are lit. They are worth 5M, then 10M, then 15M, and finally 20M. Hit all four of them to complete the mode. This mode lasts 20 seconds.
Playground Award: The game picks from three modes at random. Modes marked with a dot are Playground Award modes.
- Unlimited Millions: The left ramp is worth 3M,6M,9M and so on until the timer expires. This mode lasts for 25 seconds.
- Fighter Jets: The bumpers are 1M a hit. This mode lasts for 25 seconds.
- Intermission: Both ramps are 5M a hit. This lasts for 15 seconds
Big Millions: The wizard mode. The right ramp is worth 5M, 10M, 15M and so on for 10 seconds.
Songs
There were five 1950's songs put in the game. These are:
- "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets
- "Get a Job" by The Silhouettes
- "Summertime Blues" by Eddie Cochran
- "Willie and the Hand Jive" by Johnny Otis
- "Red River Rock" (Johnny and the Hurricanes version)
All of the songs are synthesizer-based instrumental versions played by the game's sound hardware.
Digital versions
Creature from the Black Lagoon is available as a licensed table of The Pinball Arcade for several platforms. Due to licensing issues however only three of the five songs have been kept intact for this version. In addition to the three songs, two Easter Eggs which refer to Mortal Kombat are disabled since the game's Family Mode is permanently activated in the Pinball Arcade incarnation. This table is also included in Williams Pinball Classics (2001) for PC.[2]
References
External links
- Internet Pinball Database entry for Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Interview with the Creature from the Black Lagoon team, part 1 archived article at Wayback Machine
- Interview with the Creature from the Black Lagoon team, part 2 archived article at Wayback Machine