Shoot the Moon

Shoot the Moon, manufactured by Williams in November 1951, is a single-player electro-mechanical pinball designed by Harry Williams with artwork by George Molentin. It uses impulse flippers and has no slingshots, relying instead on five pop bumpers for much of its scoring action.

The gameplay experience centers on the impulse flippers, allowing for shot control, combined with the five pop bumpers that add unpredictability and excitement as players strive to maximize their scores. A notable feature is the backglass light animation depicting a rocket's ascent toward the moon, a charming visual touch tied to the game's spaceflight motif. The maximum displayed point score is 7,990,000 points.

The tilt mechanism is distinctive: rather than an automatic reset, tilt penalty is loss of the ball in play, and tilt is reset only when the ball passes through a rollunder wire at the bottom of the playfield below the flippers -- an extra bit of mechanical complexity for players to navigate.