Star Trek

The Star Trek pinball machine, released by Data East Pinball in October 1991, is a licensed take on the science fiction franchise built around a distinctive mechanical backbox animation. Designed by Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula, with art by Margaret Hudson and Kevin O'Connor, this four-player solid-state machine is best known for its patented "Transporter Effect": a moving double layer of semi-transparent pictures in the backbox that simulates a transporter beam.

Gameplay includes two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, two 4-bank drop targets, an automatic plunger, a swinging target, a kick-out saucer, a ramp diverter, and 3-ball multiball. A mirror mounted at the back of the playfield gives players a better view of the top rollover, a technique later reused in games like Midway's Theatre of Magic.

Fred Young provided the voice heard saying "live long and prosper" at the end of the game. With 4,400 confirmed units produced between October 1991 and January 1992, this Star Trek stands out among licensed sci-fi pinball machines primarily for its innovative backbox animation technology rather than being an early entrant to the category.