Surfing
About This Machine
The 1972 Surfing pinball machine from Sega Enterprises is a single-player electromechanical game notable for its unusual electromagnet-controlled ball return system. After the ball drops into the kick-out hole, it travels up a habitrail to an enclosed area of the playfield, where an electromagnet beneath the surface - energized for a variable, cam-controlled duration - influences its path toward a bonus area containing an extra-ball rollover.
Surfing's gameplay also features two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, four standup targets, a right outlane ball-return gate, and an up-post between the flippers. The machine can be set for 3 or 5 ball play, with a maximum displayed score of 99,990 points and a replay wheel maxing out at 25.
The game's beach-and-surfing theme is brought to life through colorful artwork and standup targets. As an early-1970s Sega EM title, Surfing offers an unusual and mechanically inventive take on ball-return systems that sets it apart from its contemporaries.
Images (13)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Beach - Boating - Happiness - Surfing - Swimming - Water - Women
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (4), Kick-out hole (1), Right outlane ball return gate, Up-post between flippers. The kick-out hole sends the ball to the top of a habitrail where it is released to an enclosed area of the playfield. The upper half of this area has an electromagnet under the playfield to influence the direction of the ball into the lower half where an extra ball rollover is located. The length of time in which the electromagnet is energized is variable, controlled by the random positions of the cams of the motor, and during this time the tens score reel continuously increments. Relay tester in lower cabinet for trouble-shooting. 3 or 5 ball play. Maximum displayed point score is 99,990 points. Replay wheel maximum: 25 Sound: bell.