Champion (Replay Model)
About This Machine
The Champion Replay Model, manufactured by Nordamatic of Verona, Italy in 1975, is a rare and intriguing addition to any pinball collection. As one of Nordamatic's earliest games, produced in the first year of the company's 1975-1979 run, it offers a glimpse into the company's early design work. The Champion's sports-themed playfield, featuring a bowling-inspired layout, showcases the creativity that defined EM pinball machines of the era.
What sets the Champion apart is its complex scoring system, which rewards strategic thinking and precise gameplay. Players must navigate a web of flippers, slingshots, standup targets, and kick-out holes to achieve high scores. The "X" rollovers and targets are particularly noteworthy, as they create a dynamic where each hit lights up the WOW table, leading to potential 100,000, 500,000, or 1,000,000-point awards depending on the spinning target's last rotation. Exceeding 9 million on the dedicated millions score reel lights a silkscreened 10,000,000 Super Score indicator on the backglass.
The Champion's design and art, credited to Michele "Mike" Martinelli, are equally notable, with its backglass featuring a separated million-point score reel to highlight big scores. The sound effects, including three chimes and a knocker, round out the experience. With only limited information available on this replay model (as opposed to the more common add-a-ball version), the Champion Replay Model remains a rare piece in the world of pinball collecting.
Images (17)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Sports - Bowling
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (8), Kick-out holes (2), Spinning target (1), Star rollover (1). Wedge head. Sound: 3 chimes, knocker The "X" targets and "X" rollovers light one at a time and only when a lit one is hit does another one light up. Hitting a lit "X" target or rollover lights up an "X" on the playfield WOW table. Scoring the star rollover lights the green target to score an "X" on the WOW table when hit. Unlit kick-out holes score one "X" or, when lit, can score two or three "X's" depending on the last rotation of the spinning target. Completing the WOW Table lights WOW targets to score 100,000 or 500,000 or 1,000,000 depending on whether the spinning target lit the bowling lane multiplier for 1, 5, or red. Kick-out holes now score 100,000 points when unlit, or 200,000 or 300,000 when lit. To highlight the potential million-point awards, the backglass separates the million-point score reel from the other score reels. Exceeding 9 million on this reel lights a silkscreened 10,000,000 Super Score indication on the backglass.
Credits
- Artist:
- Michele "Mike" Martinelli