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Special Force Girls

Manufacturer: Bally Wulff, of Germany (1986-1987)
Year: 1986
Date: August, 1986
Type: Solid State Electronic (SS)
Players: 4

About This Machine

Special Force Girls is a 1986 solid-state pinball machine released by Bally Wulff of Germany in August 1986. It is the same game as Bally Midway's 1986 U.S. release 'Special Force,' designed by Dennis Nordman with software by Rehman Merchant and sound by Neil Falconer, but fitted with a different backglass for the German market. According to Nordman, Bally Wulff imported the machine from the USA and replaced the original backglass because its military artwork was considered too militaristic for the German market; the new artwork was created by Tony Ramunni and Mychael Gerstenberger and screen-printed at Bally Wulff's own facility in Berlin.

Gameplay features two flippers, three pop bumpers, and a set of drop targets (three in-line plus two solo targets). A signature feature is a helicopter-themed whirlpool element that spins the ball in a circular motion, accompanied by the sound of helicopter blades — a nod to the game's action theme, softened for the European release.

As a rebadged import rather than an original Bally Wulff design, Special Force Girls is chiefly notable to collectors for its distinct backglass art and its documented backstory of transatlantic localization within the pinball industry.

Images (4)

Technical Details

MPU:
Bally MPU A084-91786-AH06 (6803)
Notable Features:
Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Drop targets (3-in line, and two solo ones). Ball in helicopter whirlpool simulates circular action accompanied by sound of helicopter blades.

Credits

Designer:
Dennis Nordman
Artist:
Tony Ramunni, Mychael Gerstenberger
Software:
Rehman Merchant
Sound:
Neil Falconer