Rodeo
About This Machine
The Rodeo, manufactured by Sega Enterprises, Ltd. in 1976, marks a notable transition point for Sega: it's the earliest solid-state (SS) pinball machine the company made, following years of producing electromechanical games. The game's flyer carries a 'scripted' Sega logo style used only until mid-1976, and lacks a printed manufacture date, helping pin down its production year.
Rodeo offers a western-themed two-player experience, with 2 flippers, 3 pop bumpers, 6 rollover buttons, 3 standup targets, 2 kick-out holes, a spinning target, a right-outlane ball return gate, and an up-post between the flippers. Its centerpiece feature is a trio of drop targets - called Rodeo Targets - that are controlled by the game's CPU rather than the ball: they drop and 'jump up' automatically about every five seconds, independent of player action, and each advances a horse score that functions as an outhole bonus, affected by a center multiplier of up to 4x.
The game runs on Intel i4040 CPU boards for digital scoring and electronic sound, and its playfield glass lifts up in a metal frame for servicing. A later 4-player version with a different playfield layout was released by Sega in 1979.
Images (11)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Horses - Rodeo - Western
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), Rollover buttons (6), Rodeo drop targets (3), Standup targets (3), Kick-out holes (2), Spinning target (1), Right outlane ball return gate, Up-post between flippers, Your Number match feature. Horse score (lites 300 to special) is advanced by hitting a Rodeo Target. The horse score functions as a outhole bonus and is affected by a center multiplier x1 to x4. The spinning target is decorative only, as it is not connected to any switch thus scores nothing for the player. Playfield glass and its metal frame raise up to service the playfield. Drop-down cabinet. The three drop targets are known as Rodeo Targets on this game and they drop and later "jump up" automatically, under control of the CPU. They do not drop when hit by the ball. The player cannot make these targets change position, up or down. The targets do not change position simultaneously, and each changes its position approximately every five seconds.