Krull

Krull, designed by John Trudeau for D. Gottlieb & Company, was intended as a licensed pinball tie-in to the 1983 Columbia Pictures fantasy film Krull. This solid-state widebody machine was produced under Gottlieb's ownership by Columbia Pictures Industries, but it never went into full production -- only a small confirmed run of 10 prototype units was built. One prototype reportedly had a transparent playfield, built by Ed Krynski, but it was judged too expensive to produce.

Krull's design is notable for its three-level playfield, featuring seven flippers, six pop bumpers, three slingshots, a 4-bank drop target, and two kick-out holes, with 3- or 5-ball play options. The bottom playfield is viewed through a reducing lens, an unusual visual trick that added depth to the multi-level layout.

The backglass artwork is credited to Keith Parkinson, though the playfield artist remains unconfirmed -- other artists sometimes associated with the game, including Larry Day and Margaret Hudson, have each said they were not responsible for it. As an unreleased prototype, Krull is a rare and sought-after piece among collectors interested in Gottlieb's System 80A era.