Earthshaker! (pinball)

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!
ManufacturerWilliams
Release dateFebruary, 1989
DesignPat Lawlor
ProgrammingMark Penacho
ArtworkTim Elliott
MusicJon Hey, Chris Granner

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][4][5]

Description

The player assumes the role of an earthquake researcher and has to visit various zones along the California-Nevada border.[6] 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.[7]

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.[5]

Digital versions

Earthshaker! is no longer available as a licensed table in The Pinball Arcade for any platform after June 29, 2018 - just before WMS license expiration on June 30, 2018.

See also

References
  1. "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Earthshaker'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  2. "#287 Williams EARTHSHAKER Pinball Machine - first machine with SHAKER Motor! TNT Amusements". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. "Earthshaker!". Brad.rhps.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  4. "Earthshaker Index!". Buccisarcade.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. "PINBALL". Mopinball.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  6. "Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Earthshaker". Ppinball.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  7. "Williams Earthshaker Pinball Moving Building Add On Kit". Basementarcade.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.


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