Time Warp (pinball)

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Time Warp
ManufacturerWilliams
Release dateSeptember 1979
SystemWilliams System 6
DesignBarry Oursler
ArtworkConstantino Michell
Production run8,875

Time Warp is a 4 player Solid State Electronic pinball machine from September 1979 produced by Williams.[1][2][3][4][5][6] A total of 8,875 units were produced.[7]

Description[edit]

The table features a variety of mythological and historical themes. The inclusion of Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man on the backglass may be the only depiction of male nudity from a pinball machine manufacturer.[7] The artwork is by Constantino Michell, whose hidden signature can be found on the back of the glass, behind the glove of the time wizard.[8]

It features electronic sound, with the background sound increasing in pitch and intensity as more points are accumulated, making it seem as though the machine is about to explode if the ball stays in play long enough. The pitch and intensity of sound return to normal at the commencement of a new ball.[9]

Banana Flippers[edit]

It is notable for being only one of two pinball machines (Williams' 1978 Disco Fever being the other) to ever use curved "banana flipper bats,[10] which made the ball easier to trap.[11] Other notable features are the five pop bumpers which is unusual in a standard width game according to PinWiki.com.[12] The 'Banana' (or curved) Flippers were standard on many but not all Time Warp units. According to Barry Oursler, the game's designer, approximately the last 2000 of Time Warp's production came with normal flipper bats.[12]

Marketing[edit]

According to TNT Amusements INC, this was the first time Williams Electronics, Inc. used color coordination advertising.[13]

The Marketing slogan was "Where future and past collide, the action is unreal!" ...the profit time bomb[14].

Time Warp Pinball from 1979

In pop culture[edit]

The Time Warp machine is featured in the Carlo Verdone film Troppo forte.[15] The "Time Warp" pinball machine is also seen in the 2000 American metafiction horror film Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2[16] The Time Warp is also addressed in the comic book "Death Save" by Rune Ryberg[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Eiden, Heribert, 1962- (1997). Pinball machines. Lukas, Jürgen. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. Co. p. 155. ISBN 0-7643-0316-3. OCLC 37897076.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Shalhoub, Michael. (2004). The Pinball compendium : 1970-1981. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. p. 153. ISBN 0-7643-2074-2. OCLC 56388177.
  3. ^ Kurtz, Bill. (1991). Slot machines and coin-op games : a collector's guide to one-armed bandits and amusement machines. Secaucus, N.J.: Chartwell. p. 59. ISBN 1-55521-731-1. OCLC 24993976.
  4. ^ Pacak, Mike (1997). Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Books (three volumes). the pingame journal (1997).
  5. ^ The complete pinball book : collecting the game and its history (Rev. 3rd ed.). Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. 2011. p. 297. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7. OCLC 682892311.
  6. ^ Inc., Williams Electronics (1979). Williams Time Warp Manual. Game No. 489. September 1979. Williams. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ a b "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Time Warp'". www.ipdb.org. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  8. ^ Rossignoli, Marco. (2011). The complete pinball book : collecting the game and its history (Rev. 3rd ed.). Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7. OCLC 682892311.
  9. ^ Rossignoli, Marco. (2011). The complete pinball book : collecting the game and its history (Rev. 3rd ed.). Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7. OCLC 682892311.
  10. ^ Rossignali, Marco (2011). The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game & Its History. Schiffer Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 9780764337857.
  11. ^ Rossignoli, Marco. (2011). The complete pinball book : collecting the game and its history (Rev. 3rd ed.). Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7. OCLC 682892311.
  12. ^ a b "Time Warp - PinWiki".
  13. ^ TNT Amusements, TNT Amusements. "#526 Williams TIME WARP 1979 Pinball Machine with Banana Flippers! TNT Amusements". YouTube.
  14. ^ "Time Warp Pinball Machine (Williams, 1979) | Pinside Game Archive". pinside.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  15. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Verdone (Troppo forte) - Il rapporto col flipper è come n'amplesso. YouTube.
  16. ^ "Pin sighting screen shots". Pinball in the movies.
  17. ^ "Death Save by Rune Ryberg".

External links[edit]