King Kong

The King Kong pinball machine, designed by Jerry Armstrong and released by Data East Pinball in April 1990, is a title from Data East's early solid-state era. With only nine confirmed units produced, it is an especially rare find today, and it showcases the company's ability to create engaging gameplay experiences during this period.

King Kong features three flippers and three pop bumpers, characteristic elements of many solid-state games from the era. Art was handled by Kevin O'Connor, with music and sound by Brian Schmidt and software by Rehman Merchant; Fred Young also contributed voice characterizations to the game.

The artwork on King Kong is striking, with a focus on the titular giant ape and other iconic elements evoking the King Kong franchise. The machine's design and theme lean on that nostalgia, while its gameplay mechanics make it an enjoyable challenge for experienced pinball enthusiasts. As one of Data East's early-1990s titles, King Kong is an interesting piece for understanding the company's solid-state output during this period.