Middle Earth

Middle Earth, designed by Gary Slater and manufactured by Atari in 1978, is a four-player, widebody solid-state machine with a fantasy theme. It was part of Atari's push into solid-state electronic pinball in the late 1970s.

Middle Earth boasts an array of features that make it a standout in gameplay and design. Its four flippers are offset in two slightly staggered pairs, while two pop bumpers, two slingshots, two 5-bank drop targets, five standup targets, two spinning targets, and a horseshoe lane provide multiple pathways for scoring. Score displays are mounted on a playfield card holder rather than in the backbox, and the backglass is illuminated by standard household 7-watt nightlight bulbs — an unusual choice for the time. All playfield components use slide connectors instead of soldered wiring, apparently to ease assembly and repair.

IPDB documents multiple playfield variations produced during Middle Earth's run, including changes to the position of the upper-left flipper, adjacent artwork, and paint details between pre-production, flyer, and production units — evidence of ongoing refinement during manufacturing. With art by George Opperman, Middle Earth remains a distinctive widebody fantasy title from Atari's brief but notable run in pinball.