Big Indian

Big Indian, designed by Ed Krynski and manufactured by Gottlieb in 1974, is a strong example of the American West and Native American themes that were popular on electromechanical (EM) pinball machines of the era. A four-player game with a confirmed production run of 8,030 units, it was one of Gottlieb's bigger sellers of the period; a two-player version of the same design was released as Gottlieb's 1974 'Big Brave'.

The playfield features two flippers, two pop bumpers, and two slingshots, along with a 5-bank of drop targets, three star rollovers, two standup targets, and a vari-target, all feeding an end-of-ball bonus that rewards careful play. The artwork by Gordon Morison is characteristic of Gottlieb's distinctive style during this era, with vibrant colors and detailed Native American motifs.

The game also carries a curious naming history: it was called 'Chief' prior to production, then renamed 'Big Injun', under which sample games were built. According to the Encyclopedia of Pinball, Native American employees at Gottlieb's wiring and assembly plant in South Dakota objected to that name, and it was changed again to 'Big Indian', stalling production for three months. Today the game remains a familiar and well-regarded entry in many EM collections.