Meteor

The Meteor, designed by Steve Kirk and manufactured by Stern Electronics in 1979, is a standout example of early solid-state electronic pinball. Its outer-space theme and backglass artwork were licensed from the 1979 movie 'Meteor', derived from an advertising poster painted by space artist Robert McCall. The game was also the first to use Stern's SB-300 sound board.

One of the key gameplay features that makes the Meteor stand out is its comprehensive array of targets and bumpers. Players can interact with three flippers, one pop bumper, two passive bumpers, and two slingshots, as well as multiple star rollovers, drop targets, and spinning targets. The game's standout feature is its six-bank memory drop target, the only bank on the playfield with memory, adding a layer of strategy to the gameplay experience. A mini-post screw between the flippers, nicknamed the "Kirk Post" after designer Steve Kirk, is another notable detail.

With nearly 7,939 units produced (plus additional knock-down units built under license in Australia by LAI), the Meteor was a commercially significant title for Stern and remains a recognizable entry from the early solid-state era.