Olympics

The Olympics pinball machine, manufactured by Gottlieb in 1962, is a notable electromechanical (EM) game built around an Olympic Games sports theme. Designed by Wayne Neyens with art by Roy Parker, it showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of its era.

What sets Olympics apart is its use of flippers, pop bumpers, passive bumpers, slingshots, and standup targets, which create an engaging and unpredictable gameplay experience. The machine's maximum displayed point score of 1,999 points adds to the excitement, as players strive to accumulate as many points as possible while navigating the game's challenging obstacles.

Interestingly, the backglass originally named Buenos Aires as one of the 'Olympic Cities,' but at some point in production this was changed to Caracas - both versions exist among surviving games, and some units even mix a 'Caracas' backglass with a 'Buenos Aires' playfield.

The artwork on this machine is characteristic of the period, with stylized depictions of Olympic sports. While little information is available about its original release or notable owners, the Olympics pinball machine remains an intriguing relic from Gottlieb's early-1960s output, offering a glimpse into the evolution of the game's design, mechanics, and artistic expression.