Hot Shotz

Hot Shotz, designed by Dan Langlois with artwork by Greg Freres, was built by Bally in 1985 as a two-player, solid-state billiards-themed pinball machine. It never reached full production, however: after underperforming at test locations, Bally shelved the title, leaving only 6 confirmed units in existence, making it one of the rarest Bally machines ever built.

The game centers on two flippers, five captive balls, and five kick-out holes arranged around the playfield, creating a pool-inspired layout where shots involve releasing and re-directing the captive balls through the holes. This combination of elements gave Hot Shotz a gameplay identity distinct from typical flipper-and-target pinball layouts of the mid-1980s.

The cabinet and artwork carry a classic mid-1980s look built around a billiards/pool theme. Because so few units were produced and most were likely scrapped or repurposed after the test run, surviving examples of Hot Shotz are extremely scarce, making it a notable curiosity for collectors interested in prototype and test-market pinball machines.