Playtime

Playtime, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company in October 1968, is a solid two-player electro-mechanical (EM) machine with a Nightlife - Women theme, designed by Al Schlappa, Jerry Koci, and John Gore. Its design and gameplay features offer a good look at late-1960s EM engineering, well before the solid-state era that would begin in the mid-1970s.

Playtime's gameplay is characterized by its extensive use of flippers, pop bumpers, slingshots, and kick-out holes, which create a fast-paced, dynamic experience for players. The addition of rollover buttons and standup targets adds an extra layer of challenge and reward. A standout feature is the ball saver post that rises up to block the exit between the flippers, known as an up-post -- a clever design element that requires players to think strategically about their shots. Hitting playfield targets advances Top Score reels in the backglass, and if the ball drains when all three reels match (e.g., 1-1-1), the game awards 500 points, with operators able to configure it to award a replay instead.

The machine's theme, Nightlife - Women, is a nod to the era's cultural fascination with nightlife and entertainment. An add-a-ball version of this game was also released by Chicago Coin the same year.