Tic & Toc

The Tic & Toc, manufactured by Europlay of Italy in 1974, is a billiards-themed pinball machine. As an electro-mechanical (EM) game, it predates the solid-state machines that would soon dominate the industry, and its playfield design resembles Gottlieb's 1969 'Mini Pool', though with drop targets instead of stationary ones. Artist Michele "Mike" Martinelli contributed to its design, and it is one of relatively few pinball machines to feature Italian-language callouts on the backglass and playfield, such as "Palle in gioco" (Balls to play) and "Punti" (Score).

Gameplay-wise, the Tic & Toc offers two distinct modes selectable by the operator: Add-a-ball play, where players can accumulate points with each ball added (maximum 999,990 points, with the knocker sounding when a ball is added), and 5-ball novelty play, which allows for higher-scoring opportunities (maximum 19,999,990 points, with the knocker sounding every 10,000 points). The machine's mechanics are rounded out by flippers, a single pop bumper, four slingshots, twenty standup targets, and a unique 7-bank drop target. Its sound effects include three chimes and a knocker.

According to information from Dario Morlacchi, whose father Luciano Morlacchi was an operator involved in its creation, Tic & Toc was built using leftover parts from Europlay's underperforming 'Sky Star' (a copy of Gottlieb's 'Sky Dive'), with new artwork suggested by Morlacchi. The game proved so successful that Europlay produced an additional run using all-new parts, making it a notable turnaround story in early 1970s Italian pinball manufacturing.