Heat Wave

Heat Wave, designed by Steve Kordek with artwork by Art Stenholm, was manufactured by Williams in July 1964, with a confirmed production run of 1,800 units (1,125 for the USA and Canada and 675 for export). This single-player electro-mechanical game carries a beach and swimming theme, a fitting subject for its summery name.

Heat Wave boasts an impressive array of gameplay features, including two flippers, five pop bumpers, two slingshots, seven rollover buttons, two swinging targets, and one drop target. The machine's mechanical backbox animation, featuring a thermometer whose temperature rises, adds an extra layer of visual interest. The game could be set for three or five ball play, the maximum displayed score is 9,999 points, and the replay wheel records up to 20 replays.

The game used a Plastikote finish on the playfield and a distinctive reverse wedge head. An interesting production detail: the backboxes were made with either of two color combinations facing the player, one with a blue base color framed in white, and the other with a white base, a blue diamond along the bottom, and a red "spear" on each side. Heat Wave sold to distributors for $330.00.