Safe Cracker
About This Machine
The Safe Cracker pinball machine, designed by Pat Lawlor and released by Midway (Bally) in 1996, stands out from its contemporaries with a playfield noticeably narrower and shorter than a standard pinball machine. Its backbox has doors that swing open to simulate a bank safe, revealing the backglass, which combines with lighting to create an interactive board-game-style display where the player acts like a bank robber.
Gameplay centers on completing objectives to earn tokens, dispensed from a token launcher in the backbox when specific goals are achieved -- twenty different tokens were issued (19 gold, 1 silver), though the flyer had indicated only ten. The game is time-based, adding urgency and strategy. With only 1,148 units confirmed produced, Safe Cracker is a distinctive and relatively uncommon WPC-95-era Bally title known for its unusual cabinet mechanics and board-game feel.
Images (41)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Cops and Robbers - Money
- Model Number:
- 90003
- MPU:
- Williams WPC-95
- Toys:
- Although the flyer indicates a quantity of only ten tokens were made, Bally issued twenty tokens, 19 gold, 1 silver.
- Notable Features:
- Safe Cracker has a playfield which is noticeably narrower and shorter than a standard pinball machine. The backbox has doors that swing open to simulate a bank safe, revealing the backglass. The backglass image and lights combine to provide an interactive board game where the player acts like a bank robber. The backbox has a token launcher, dispensing any of twenty different tokens when certain goals are achieved (see Rule Sheet in this listing). Time-based game. Actual measured weight: 279 lbs (includes legs and side wings).
Credits
- Designer:
- Pat Lawlor
- Artist:
- John Youssi
- Software:
- Matt Coriale, Dean Grover
- Music:
- Dan Forden
- Sound:
- Dan Forden
- Mechanics:
- John Krutsch, Carl Biagi
- Dots/Animation:
- Adam Rhine, Brian Morris