The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition

The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition is a highly regarded pinball machine designed by Joe Kaminkow and Joe Balcer, released by Sega in March 1997. As a title from Sega's partnership with Lucasfilm, it brings space battles and characters from the original Star Wars trilogy to the playfield, and it remains a popular game among collectors and enthusiasts.

One of the machine's defining features is its use of themed shots and objectives. The X-wing shot is a standout moment, as players guide the ball across the playfield to "shoot down" the Tie Fighter, unlocking a 3-ball multiball mode. A separate Millennium Falcon multiball, heroic specialty shot sequences, and timed hurry-up challenges add further variety and replay value.

Visually, the machine's backglass and playfield art were created by Morgan Weistling, with Marc Raneses handling the screen print production and dot matrix animations. The backbox features a mechanical animation simulating a cannonball fired to ring a bell, adding a physical, interactive touch to the presentation. Players can also engage in trivia questions when Han Solo is "thawed" from carbonite. With its blend of licensed theming and mechanical showmanship, The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition remains one of the more memorable Star Wars-themed pinball machines.