Cyclone (pinball)
1988 pinball machine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyclone is a pinball machine released by Williams Electronics in 1988. It features an amusement park theme, Coney Island, and was advertised with the slogan "It'll blow you away!".[1] It is unrelated to the 1950s Gottlieb pinball machine of the same name.[2]
| |
| Manufacturer | Williams |
|---|---|
| Release date | February, 1988 |
| System | Williams System 11B |
| Design | Barry Oursler |
| Programming | Bill Pfutzenreuter |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo |
| Mechanics | Joe Joos |
| Music | Chris Granner |
| Production run | 9,408 |
Design
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Cyclone was the second machine from Williams, after Comet, depicting an amusement park. The final game in the amusement park themed trilogy was Hurricane in 1991.[3] The game is the first Williams pinball machine produced after 1985 which doesn't have multiball.[4]
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan both appear in the backglass shown riding the rollercoaster.[5]
A revolving mystery wheel is placed in the backbox - with rewards ranging from Zilch to 200k added points, Extra Ball, and Special.[6] This wheel was designed by mechanical engineer Joe Joos.[7] A ferris wheel on the playfield sometimes carries the ball for a portion of its rotation.[1]
The playfield features boomerang, comet, spookhouse, and cyclone shots. Images on the moving ferris wheel depicts a young couple kissing as it turns. The art on the side of the backbox features an asian type dragon, and on the side of cabinet a carnival type design.[8]
Some of the voices were recorded by pinball designer Mark Ritchie.[9]
Sound bites from the game were used in the song "Carousel" by the band Mr. Bungle on their self-titled album.
The skillshot mechanism was patent protected.[10]
Reception
Play Meter said it was a worthy follow-up to Comet,[11] and while not the best game from Williams is still a "solid effort".[12]
Cyclone was more popular than Comet.[13]
At the AMOA awards Cyclone won the award for most played pinball game of 1989.[14]
Digital versions
FarSight Studios released Cyclone for The Pinball Arcade in 2015,[15] and it was available until June 30, 2018, when all Williams tables were removed for purchase due to licensing issues.[16]