Pioneer

The Pioneer, designed by Ed Krynski with art by Gordon Morison, was released in 1976 by D. Gottlieb & Company as a 2-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine with an American History theme — a departure from the more common sci-fi or fantasy themes of the time.

The Pioneer boasts a solid array of features typical of Gottlieb's late EM output: dual flippers, three pop bumpers, five star rollovers, and two 4-bank drop targets create a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience. The machine's use of left and right dual inlanes adds to the excitement, allowing players to navigate the ball through a complex series of paths. It also features a half-moon credit window and an end-of-ball bonus, with no slingshots on the playfield.

A 4-player version of this game was released the same year as Gottlieb's 'Spirit of 76', and a special add-a-ball 2-player edition, 'New York', was produced to celebrate New York State's 1976 lifting of its long-standing pinball ban. With 3,733 units confirmed produced, the Pioneer remains an interesting piece of mid-1970s Gottlieb history for collectors.