Cyclone (pinball)

Cyclone
ManufacturerWilliams
Release dateFebruary, 1988
SystemWilliams System 11B
DesignBarry Oursler
ProgrammingBill Pfutzenreuter
ArtworkPython Anghelo
MechanicsJoe Joos
MusicChris Granner
Production run9,408

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]

Design

A photo of a Cyclone pinball machine

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]

See also

  • Comet - a pinball machine by Williams released in 1985 featuring an amusement park theme
  • Funhouse - another pinball machine by Williams released in 1990 featuring an amusement park theme

References

  1. 1 2 "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Cyclone'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  2. ↑ Hasse, Gordon (November 1999). "Gottlieb's Harbor Lites". GameRoom. Vol. 11, no. 11. p. 10.
  3. ↑ Marquardt, Dan (2009). "PINBALLS INFLUENCED BY RIVERVIEW AMUSEMENT PARK". Pinball News.
  4. ↑ Kurtz, Bill (July 1989). "Pinball Corner". GameRoom. pp. 17–18.
  5. ↑ Ciaravino, Joe (2024). "Cocaine Cats & Pinball Sex: Part II of The Unauthorized Hagiography of Python Anghelo". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  6. ↑ "Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Cyclone". pinball.org.
  7. ↑ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium, 1982 to present (Rev. and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Pub. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
  8. ↑ "CYCLONE PINBALL BY WILLIAMS 1988 at WWW.PINBALLREBEL.COM". www.pinballrebel.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  9. ↑ Granner, Chris (December 2003). "Chris Granner scoring the silverball". GameRoom (Interview). Interviewed by Brendan Bailey. p. 15.
  10. ↑ US 4861037, Oursler, Barry, "Pinball runway and scoring feature", published 1988-09-01, issued 1989-08-29
  11. ↑ Harris, Steve (April–May 1988). "Player's Picks". Play Meter. Vol. 14, no. 4. pp. 10, 134, 136, 142.
  12. ↑ Harris, Steve (July 1988). "Player's Picks - the impact of home video games". Play Meter. Vol. 14, no. 6. p. 86.
  13. ↑ Kurtz, Bill (April 1990). "Pinball Corner". GameRoom. Vol. 2, no. 4. p. 10.
  14. ↑ "Stars turn out for a memorable night". Play Meter. Vol. 15, no. 10. October 1989. pp. 56–57.
  15. ↑ Cunningham, James (2015-02-21). "The Addams Family is Live, Creepy, Spooky in The Pinball Arcade". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  16. ↑ Lawson, Aurich (2018-05-08). "The Pinball Arcade is losing its classic tables; grab them while you can". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
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