Terminator 2: Judgment Day (pinball)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
ManufacturerWilliams
Release dateJuly 1991
SystemWilliams WPC (Dot Matrix)
DesignSteve Ritchie
ProgrammingDwight Sullivan
ArtworkDoug Watson
MechanicsCarl Biagi
MusicChris Granner
SoundChris Granner
VoicesArnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator)
AnimationJohn Vogel, Scott Slomiany
Production run15,202
Not to be confused with Terminator 2: Judgment Day (arcade game).

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 pinball machine designed by Steve Ritchie and released by Williams Electronics. It is based on the motion picture of the same name.

Overview

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A restored Terminator 2 custom pinball machine

The table is the first Williams WPC machine designed to feature a dot-matrix display. But due to the long design phase, Gilligan's Island is the first manufactured with a DMD. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the first game to feature an autoplunger (replacing the traditional plunger) with a trigger mechanism,[1] as well as a ball-firing cannon (dubbed, "Gun Grip Ball Launcher")[2] and a metallic T-800 skull.[3][4] Terminator 2 is also the first game to feature a video mode, a mini video game featured on the DMD. Arnold Schwarzenegger provided voices for the game.[5] Some playfield design elements were based on Ritchie's 1980 classic, Firepower. The T-1000 is not in the artwork, with the exception of a small image of actor Robert Patrick because of pre-release secrecy of the movie. The character is only in the display animation because when the DMD programming was finalizing the liquid metal character was already public knowledge.[6]

It is the first game to introduce a ball saver due to some balls when launched immediately draining down the left outlane.[7]

The game has mono audio.[8]

At the "Terminator 2: Judgment Day Convention" on June 30, 1991 one of these games was given away to the winner of a tournament played on it.[9]

Layout

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The major features of this game are the same as the 4th and final table in the classic 1992 Commodore Amiga game Pinball Dreams, called Nightmare,[10] or Graveyard on other platforms. These include the left and right runs which allow you to advance up the central ladder to activate huge scoring opportunities.

Gameplay

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The game has 2 flippers, each controlled with a button on the side of the cabinet.

Reception

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In a look at 3 new pinball machines Play Meter called it more than a good game, a licensing coup working to coincide with the release date of the film.[11] Sinclair User gave the pinball game a 93% score.[12]

Digital version

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day was formerly available[13] as a licensed table for The Pinball Arcade until June 30, 2018, but removed due to the WMS license expiration.

Legacy

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The ball saver introduced in this game was used in most future games, but one of the lead software developers at Williams, Larry DeMar felt it was overused.[7]

2003's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines from Stern has a very similar playfield design and rulesheet.

References

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  1. ^ USD 335150, Biagi, Carl A & Ritchie, Steven S, "Trigger handle switch for pinball type games", published 1991-09-11, issued 1993-04-27 
  2. ^ US 5186462, Biagi, Carl; Ritchie, Steve & Sullivan, Dwight, "Oscillating ball cannon", published 1992-02-25, issued 1993-02-16 
  3. ^ "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'". www.ipdb.org. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  4. ^ Crable, Noah (January 15, 2025). "It's Payback Time: Learn to Play the 1991 Classic Pinball Machine, Terminator 2". www.kineticist.com. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  5. ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
  6. ^ "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Terminator 2: Judgment Day". August 24, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "PINBALL EXPO 2003". Pinball News. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  8. ^ "Terminator 2: Judgment Day". The International Arcade Museum. Retrieved 13 Oct 2013.
  9. ^ "Williams helps Hollywood welcome "Terminator 2"". Play Meter. Vol. 17, no. 9. August 1991. p. 13.
  10. ^ Dillon, Tony (April 1992). "Pinball Dream review". CU Amiga. No. 26 (April 1992). United Kingdom: EMAP. p. 47. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  11. ^ Yager, Tom (September 1991). "And the beat goes on (prime-time preview)". Play Meter. Vol. 17, no. 10. pp. 128–140. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Cook, John (18 November 1991). "Coin Ops". Sinclair User. No. 118 (December 1991). United Kingdom: EMAP. pp. 62–3.
  13. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (2013-09-28). "The Pinball Arcade adding Terminator 2 table". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
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