Car Hop
About This Machine
Car Hop, designed by Jon Norris and released by Premier Technology (Gottlieb) in January 1991, was one of only six "street level" games — an experiment by Gottlieb to build simpler, single-level machines without ramps, slightly smaller and cheaper than their standard lineup. Its automotive and food theme, with art by David Moore, Constantino Mitchell, and Jeanine Mitchell, gives it a distinctive drive-in diner feel.
Gameplay on Car Hop is built around three flippers, two 5-bank drop targets, two kick-out holes, and a single drop target, with no pop bumpers. Two 20-digit alpha-numeric blue Futaba displays handle scoring, and the backglass features light animation styled as a thermometer.
A standout feature is the choice, at the start of each game, between 'modern' and 'nostalgia' modes — the latter emulating electromechanical-era games with lower scoring and synthesized chime sounds. Along with its four other street-level siblings, Car Hop's simplified format didn't sell particularly well, making it a relatively uncommon example of Gottlieb's early-1990s lineup.
Images (18)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Automobiles - Cars - Food
- Model Number:
- 725
- MPU:
- Gottlieb System 3
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (3), 5-bank drop targets (2), Kick-out holes (2), single drop target. No pop bumpers. Light animation on backglass (thermometer). Uses two 20-digit, alpha-numeric (with commas), blue Futaba displays. At start of game, player can choose between 'modern' or 'nostalgia' modes. Nostalgia mode imitates electromechanical games by awarding lower levels of points and using synthesized chime sounds.
Credits
- Designer:
- Jon Norris
- Artist:
- David Moore, Constantino Mitchell, Jeanine Mitchell