Bowling Alley

Midway • 1978

Bowling Alley — Title screen
Title screen
Bowling Alley — Gameplay
Gameplay

Step up to the lanes with Bowling Alley, a straightforward sports simulation from Midway released in 1978. This single-player arcade game challenges you to knock down pins using a trackball controller, mimicking the familiar feel of real bowling. Before each game, choose between "regulation" and “flash” modes; the latter introduces a time-based scoring system for a faster-paced challenge. Gameplay revolves around precisely aiming your ball with the trackball and selecting either a straight or hook shot to increase your chances of striking. The display shows which player is currently bowling, and an external screen highlights score information in “flash” mode. Be mindful – sending your ball over the top of the screen results in a "foul shoot again" penalty! The game concludes with a winner declared based on final scores; achieving a perfect 300 in regulation mode or 7500 points in flash mode represents bowling mastery. Bowling Alley offers a simple yet engaging experience, capturing the essence of ten-pin bowling within an upright arcade cabinet.

Details

Manufacturer
Midway
Year
1978
Players
1
Genre
Sports / Bowling
Display
raster, rotated 90°
Emulation status
imperfect
MAME ID
bowler

Machine data derived from the MAME project.