Circus / Acrobat TV

Pop balloons to score points in Circus / Acrobat TV, a single-player ball and paddle game released in 1977 by Exidy and later Taito. Players control a clown balanced on a teeter-totter, using an analog spinner to launch the clown upwards toward a wall of colorful balloons. Successfully bouncing the clown into the balloons earns points; yellow balloons are worth the least, while blue balloons provide the highest reward. Clearing entire rows of balloons awards bonus points and special advantages. The game’s unique gameplay relies on precise timing and careful control of the teeter-totter to hit the targets. Circus was notable for its early use of a microprocessor to manage its game logic, distinguishing it from earlier arcade titles that relied on discrete circuits. The original cabinet featured striking red balloon side art and a large monitor bezel depicting a circus scene. A black and white monitor with a color overlay gives the balloons their distinctive hues. Scoring is based on the color of the balloon popped, with increasing point values for yellow, green, and blue targets. Clearing rows of each color also grants significant bonus points.