Big Game

Big Game, manufactured by Rock-ola Manufacturing Corporation in July 1935, holds a significant place in the early history of pinball. This single-player hunting-themed game is credited as the first game with "synthesized" sound, described in US Patent No. 2,103,870, applied for by David C. Rockola in August 1935 and granted in December 1937. Seen at the time as a gimmick, the feature was soon dropped from Rock-ola's games, but it stands as a genuine milestone.

The machine offered 1-cent play, or 8, 9, or 10 balls for 5 cents, and its playfield featured 22 trap holes, two Free Play holes, and a ball kicker that replaced the outhole. Hole values greater than 500 points light corresponding values on the backglass. A particularly memorable touch is the "trigger hole": landing a ball there illuminates a rifle flash on the backglass while a simulated rifle shot sounds, produced by a dashpot-and-magnet arrangement in the lower cabinet acting as a knocker. Landing a ball in both Twin Return holes returns both balls to the player for replay, while the Lost Trail holes are ordinary trap holes with no special significance.

Big Game's backglass includes light animation and a tilt light, ensuring the merchant could see from behind the counter whether the game had been tilted, since the free games listed on the score card were actually location cash payouts. The compact cabinet measures 39 1/2 inches long, 19 1/2 inches wide, and 9 1/2 inches high, and the whole machine is powered by five dry cell batteries. Its combination of clever engineering and hunting-lodge charm makes it a fascinating piece for pinball historians.