Earthshaker! (pinball)
 | |
| Manufacturer | Williams |
|---|---|
| Release date | February, 1989 |
| Design | Pat Lawlor |
| Programming | Mark Penacho |
| Artwork | Tim Elliott |
| Music | Jon Hey, Chris Granner |
| Production run | 5,257 |
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 is activated will fall down but the team removed it due to cost savings.[1]
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] However, this was not patented by Williams so was available for other manufacturers to use in their designs.[4]
Description
The player assumes the role of an earthquake researcher and has to visit various zones along the California-Nevada border. During the game the two states split apart and become 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.[6]
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.
One of the modes on a 2017 pinball machine also designed by Pat Lawlor, Dialed In!, has a mode named after this machine.
Gameplay
Digital versions
Earthshaker! was released as a licensed Williams table in The Pinball Arcade for several platforms in 2014,[9] but was delisted with the loss of the Williams license on June 30, 2018.[10]
It was released alongside Banzai Run and Black Knight 2000 for Pinball FX on December 12, 2024.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Earthshaker'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
- ^ "Williams Shakes Up Pin Industry With Earthshaker — First Machine To Shake & Quake". Canadian Coin Box. Vol. 44, no. 2. April–May 1989. p. 49.
- ^ "#287 Williams EARTHSHAKER Pinball Machine - first machine with SHAKER Motor! TNT Amusements". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
- ^ US 4981298, Lawlor, Pat & Krutsch, John R, "Ball diverter playfield feature for pinball machines", published 1989-10-06, issued 1991-01-01
- ^ "Williams Earthshaker Pinball Moving Building Add On Kit". Basementarcade.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Earthshaker". Ppinball.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ Earthshaker! operations manual (PDF). Williams Electronic Games. March 1989.
- ^ Cunningham, James (2014-12-19). "It's Sunny Drive Time! Earthshaker added to Many Versions of The Pinball Arcade". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Lawson, Aurich (2018-05-08). "The Pinball Arcade is losing its classic tables; grab them while you can". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
External links
- Earthshaker! at the Internet Pinball Database