Navajo
About This Machine
The Navajo, manufactured by AMI s.p.a. of Italy in 1976, is a notable electro-mechanical pinball machine built on Gottlieb-style logic while using AMI-labeled coils. Artist Michele "Mike" Martinelli is credited for its Native American theme, rendered across a backglass measuring roughly 60 by 56 centimeters. A one-player version of the same game was released by AMI as 'Big Hunt,' identical in playfield and rules but with a higher scoring scale.
The Navajo supports 3- or 5-ball play for up to four players and features two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, a 4-bank drop target, six standup targets, and a spinning target. Unusually, the spinning target scores no points on its own — its only purpose is to change the value of the game's "Star" award. A ball diverter in the upper-right playfield stays up under spring tension unless triggered by the spinning target, at which point it opens access to a kicker lane.
Other details reflect careful late-EM engineering: a digital credit meter (configurable for 3 to 9 maximum credits), a choice of five selectable replay levels, and a non-disableable match feature. No individual designer is separately credited for Navajo, but Martinelli's artwork and the game's inventive spinning-target mechanic make it a distinctive example of mid-1970s Italian EM design.
Images (17)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Native Americans
- Notable Features:
- 3 or 5 ball play. Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), 4-bank drop targets (1), Standup targets (6), Spinning target (1), Upper right kicker lane, Right side dual inlanes. The spinning target doesn't score any points; its only purpose is to change the "Star" value. The ball diverter in upper right playfield is always under spring tension and is always up, unless a ball comes at it from the spinning target, then it allows access to the kicker lane. Maximum displayed point score is 99,990 points per player. Tilt penalty: ball in play. Digital credit meter maximum: 9 The operator can select only one replay level for all players: 60,000 points, 70,000 points, 80,000 points, 90,000 points, or 100,000 points (flipping over the maximum score). The digital credit meter, located in the upper left backglass area, has manual option plugs allowing the maximum credit display to be fixed anywhere from 3 to 9 credits. The Ball In Play count uses silkscreened numbers appearing below the digital credit meter. The match feature cannot be disabled.
Credits
- Artist:
- Michele "Mike" Martinelli