Kingpin

The Kingpin pinball machine, designed by Mark Ritchie, was released by Capcom Coin-Op in December 1996 -- and holds a notable, somewhat bittersweet place in pinball history as the last game Capcom ever made. Ritchie had begun work on Kingpin before Flipper Football was even started, but Flipper Football was rushed to production ahead of it, making Kingpin the company's final release as Capcom's pinball division wound down and its staff were laid off through late 1996, with the remaining personnel terminated that December. Only 9 units are confirmed to have been produced. The game's theme centers on the classic rivalry between cops and mobsters.

What sets Kingpin apart from its contemporaries is its innovative gameplay features. One notable aspect is the "Sudden Death" mode, which activates at the end of the game: if a player makes the required shots, they continue playing; if they miss, the flippers die and it becomes the next player's turn. This mechanic adds an extra layer of tension and strategy to the gameplay experience. The game also features spinners at ramp entrances, providing satisfying shots throughout play.

The design and artwork of Kingpin reflect its cops-and-mobsters theme, with contributions from artist Stan Fukuoka, dot animators Denise Wallner and Kevin Loza, and a sound and music package by Chris Granner. Software was developed by Tony DeFeo and Steven King, with Bill Pfutzenreuter also contributing significantly to the gameplay code as the project wound down, though he went uncredited in the game's demo mode. Given its tiny production run and its status as Capcom's swan song in pinball, Kingpin remains a prized and historically significant find for serious collectors.