Big Deal

Big Deal, designed by Steve Kordek and manufactured by Williams Electronics in 1977, comes from the final years of the electro-mechanical era, just as the industry was transitioning to solid-state electronics. The game holds a genuine place in Williams history: it marked the first time Williams used a bank of drop targets on one of its games, having previously placed drop targets apart from one another.

Gameplay-wise, Big Deal offers a solid array of features for its time, including two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, three standup targets, a 4-bank and a 3-bank of drop targets, and a horseshoe lane at the top right of the playfield that adds a distinctive twist as players navigate the ball through its curved path. An end-of-ball bonus rewards careful play, and the maximum displayed point score is 999,990 points per player.

The machine carries a classic cards-and-gambling theme, and its sound package consists of three chimes and a knocker. A confirmed 7,301 units were produced. Designer Steve Kordek is credited with many innovative pinball machines during his long career, and Big Deal remains an intriguing example of late EM technology.