Jersey Jack Pinball, based in the US, has reported that its first product, the Wizard of Oz pinball game, will begin shipping by late spring or early summer of this year. It was originally scheduled for release in December.
The game, with a theme and characters licensed from Warner Bros, is being produced in two series. A limited 1,000-piece edition, subtitled Emerald City, will be first off the line and a standard version will follow. Jersey Jack began taking orders for the limited-edition Emerald City model last year and had pre-sold the entire lot by July, although a few games may be available through distributors.
In recent years, pinball has become something of a novelty in commercial arcades. Company founder Jack Guarnieri explained that pinball today must be a game that retains its traditional authentic mechanical action while selectively incorporating the most appropriate new technologies to enhance the play experience. Instead of a static picture in the back head or backbox of the game, Wizard of Oz features a commercial 26ins LCD monitor to display custom animations, film clips and scores. The sound system delivers custom music and voice characterisations by professional actors.
The game features a wide body that provides room for designers to add "toys," ramps and lots of action. It is loaded with five flippers, four magnets, four pop bumpers and interactive widgets, one replicating Dorothy's house. The farmhouse is located on the upper Munchkinland playfield, so the player will have to make a loop shot around to get it spinning. When it drops, the feet of the Wicked Witch of The East pop out of its base.
