Defender

Defender, created by MM Computer Games (trading as ManilaMatic) of Roma, Italy in 1987, is an entry in the world of solid-state electronic pinball running on the ManilaMatic System 80B Combi platform. As one of a handful of ManilaMatic titles from this period, it holds a place among the lesser-known Italian pinball manufacturers of the 1980s, showcasing the country's smaller-scale pinball production alongside more prominent European makers.

The gameplay features of Defender are characterized by an Adventure - Fantasy theme, which was a common thread for the manufacturer. Its playfield layout is known to be the same as Premier's 1987 'Arena,' suggesting shared design elements, though it's unclear from available images whether Defender also used LEDs in its skill-shot lane as Arena did.

The artwork and design of Defender are intriguing largely due to their obscurity. The ManilaMatic trade name and Italian origins add a layer of cultural interest, as these smaller manufacturers were not typically associated with mainstream pinball production during the 1980s. While little is known about this machine's history, its rarity and the shared playfield connection to Arena make it an interesting topic for further research among pinball enthusiasts.