Joker

The Joker pinball machine, manufactured by Playmatic of Barcelona, Spain in 1974, is a fascinating example of Spanish electro-mechanical pinball. Playmatic was one of the notable European manufacturers of the era, and this four-player game with a playing-card theme shows the company's take on classic EM design. A one-player version was also produced under the same name.

The Joker's gameplay is built around two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, a standup target, and a kick-out hole. Its most distinctive feature is its aerial spinning posts: non-motorized posts that spin and score points when struck by the ball, adding an extra layer of challenge as players aim their shots. The game offers 3 or 5 ball play, with a maximum displayed score of 99,990 points per player, and its sound package consists of three chimes and a knocker.

Interestingly, surviving examples show two distinct color variants: on one, the backglass Joker lady is green and blue with green elfin figures and a shamrock-green playfield; on the other, she is green and orange with butterscotch-yellow elfins and a pea-green playfield. The reason for the two versions is unknown. As a relatively uncommon Spanish EM, the Joker offers collectors a glimpse of pinball's development outside the United States.