Maverick The Movie

Maverick The Movie is a notable pinball machine that represents the end of an era for Data East's catalog. Released in September 1994, it was the last pinball machine produced by Data East before the company's pinball division was continued under Sega Pinball, Inc. Tim Seckel's design embodies a Wild West theme inspired by the 1994 film Maverick starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner, with Warner Brothers requiring changes to the playfield art so Garner's character would be seated at the poker table.

Gameplay in Maverick The Movie is characterized by its three flippers, which provide an ample playing field for players to explore. The machine boasts an impressive array of targets, including five-bank drop targets and stand-up targets, offering numerous paths to achieving high scores. A standout feature is the paddlewheel ball lock, which adds a unique twist to traditional ball control mechanics. The extra-large 192x64 pixel dot matrix display (DMD) in the backbox was the first of its kind, driven by a new 16-bit dot matrix controller.

Design-wise, Maverick The Movie stands out for its detailed artwork by Morgan Weistling, in his first venture into pinball art. The plunger handle is cleverly designed to resemble poker chips, complete with a DE stamp. As the final Data East pinball release, Maverick The Movie has become a notable find for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a piece of pinball manufacturing history.