Blackwater 100

The Blackwater 100 is an unconventional pinball machine released in March 1988 by Bally Midway Manufacturing Company - notably, the last game Bally introduced before the company was purchased by WMS Industries. This solid-state electronic game was designed by Dennis Nordman, who said it was inspired by Bally Midway's 1988 'Escape from the Lost World'; its name is licensed from the famous Blackwater 100 motorcycle race. Nordman and Greg Freres even went on location to record many of the sounds used in the game.

What makes Blackwater 100 truly distinctive is its structure: instead of the typical three single balls, the game gives three "Heats" of at least three balls each, and every play begins with 3-ball multiball. For each Heat, three balls must be loaded to the Starting Gate before the countdown begins. The playfield is equally unusual, featuring five flippers, a 5-bank of drop targets, two kick-out holes, no pop bumpers at all, and a multi-level layout that extends into the area behind and above the lower flippers. Blackwater 100 was also the first pinball machine to have the Buy-In feature, letting a player purchase extra Heats to extend the game.

From a design and art perspective, the Blackwater 100 is notable for its gritty motocross aesthetic, with artwork by Tony Ramunni evoking high-stakes off-road racing over rugged terrain. With a confirmed run of 3,000 units and one of the most unusual rulesets of its era, it remains a fascinating favorite among adventurous pinball enthusiasts.