Episode 54 - Pinball Metamorphosis: The System 11 Era Pt.2
Podcast
Wedgehead Pinball Podcast
46 min
Summary
System 11 Era Part 2: Deep dive into 1989–1990 Williams/Bally releases with design, sales, and gameplay analysis.
Wedgehead Pinball Podcast second episode on the System 11 era covers games from 1989–1990, including Black Knight 2000, Transporter to Rescue, Police Force, Elvira and the Party Monsters, Bad Cats, Mousin' Around!!, Whirlwind, Game Show, Pool Sharks, Rollergames, Diner, Radical!, and Doctor Dude. The hosts discuss design credits, production numbers, gameplay mechanics, art packages, and collector appeal while reflecting on how these mid-cycle System 11 releases shaped the era.
Highlights
- Black Knight 2000 sold 5,700 units, a relatively low number for a sequel to the original Black Knight.
- Transporter to Rescue sold only 860 units, making it the lowest-selling game in this segment of System 11.
- Police Force was originally developed as a licensed Batman game based on the Tim Burton film, but Williams walked away from the licensing deal because they couldn't use the likenesses of Michael Keaton or Jack Nicholson.
- Dennis Nordman, the designer of Elvira and the Party Monsters, was injured in a motorcycle accident while riding dirt bikes with the Ritchie brothers and was hospitalized during the game's finalization.
- Radical! was made with only 1,300 units produced and sells for approximately $6,000–$10,000 on the secondary market.
- Rollergames was originally being developed as American Gladiators but switched to the Rollergames license.
- Bad Cats features 11 stray cats that Python Anghelo observed near his apartment close to the Williams building, each with names and backstories he documented on a card.
- Whirlwind is ranked #64 overall and is considered the #1 ranked System 11 game by some ranking systems, with 7,300 units sold.
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