Star Wars Episode I

Star Wars Episode I, released by Williams Electronics Games in June 1999, was the second game produced on Williams' innovative Pinball 2000 (PB2K) platform, following Revenge From Mars, and was also offered as a conversion kit for that game. Designed by John Popadiuk, it holds a poignant place in pinball history as the last game manufactured by WMS Industries under either the Williams or Bally labels before the company announced it was closing its pinball division on October 25, 1999 -- a date reportedly encoded into the game's jet bumper scoring rule for spelling "Jar Jar."

The game brought the Star Wars prequel's characters and settings to the playfield using the Pinball 2000 platform's combination of physical pinball mechanics and video-driven display technology. Kevin O'Connor, part of the design team, has said he portrayed Darth Maul himself in the game's video sequences, training in stick fighting so he could be filmed against a green screen for the character animations.

With 3,525 confirmed units produced, Star Wars Episode I is prized by collectors both for its connection to the beloved film franchise and for its historical significance as one of only two titles ever released on the short-lived Pinball 2000 platform, marking the end of an era for Williams and Bally pinball.