Centaur
About This Machine
The Centaur, designed by Jim Patla and manufactured by Bally in October 1981, is a significant entry in the realm of solid-state electronic pinball machines. Patla said the game was inspired by the classic Bally's 1956 'Balls-A-Poppin', and Irv Grabel designed its multiball mechanism. The Centaur's unusual blend of fantasy and motorcycle themes sets it apart from other titles of its time, and 3,700 units were produced.
One of the standout features of the Centaur is its comprehensive gameplay. Players can enjoy 5-ball multiball action, interacting with pop bumpers, two 4-bank drop target banks, and a set of 4-in-line drop targets. A ball hitting the recessed red target in the upper right corner of the playfield is held there momentarily by a magnet under the playfield, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement. The game has speech with operator-optionable reverberation, using a "Say it Again" reverb card in addition to the "Squawk and Talk" speech card, and in Game Over mode, pressing either flipper button highlights each major scoring feature while the speech identifies it by name. Operators could also enable a two-tilt warning system and an attract mode that automatically shoots all five balls onto the playfield every 15 minutes.
The Centaur's artwork by Paul Faris is among the most distinctive of its era, rendered in a stark, striking style that perfectly captures the game's dark fantasy-motorcycle theme. Overall, the Centaur is a fascinating piece of pinball history that showcases the innovation and creativity of Bally's designers.
Images (44)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Fantasy - Motorcycles
- Model Number:
- 1239
- MPU:
- Bally MPU AS-2518-35
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (2), 4-bank drop targets (2), 4-in-line drop targets, 5-ball multiball. Ball hitting recessed red target in upper right corner of playfield is held there momentarily by a magnet under the playfield. Has speech, with operator-optionable reverberation. This game has the standard ball-in-play tilt or can be operator-optioned to have two tilts per game. This means if a player activates the tilt mechanism a first time, the word "Warning" lights up on the silk-screened backglass and remains lit while the game continues for that player without penalty. However, if this player tilts a second time, even on subsequent balls in play, the game ends. In Game Over mode, pressing either flipper button causes the playfield lights to highlight each major scoring feature, one at a time, while the speech card identifies that feature by name. An Attract Mode operator option causes all five balls to automatically shoot onto the playfield every 15 minutes to interact with the pop bumpers and slingshots until they drain. A similar option appeared on Mirco Games, Inc.'s 1975 'Spirit of 76'.
Credits
- Designer:
- Jim Patla
- Artist:
- Paul Faris
- Mechanics:
- Irv Grabel
ROM Files
- DownloadROMs19 KB
Documentation
Service Bulletins
- DownloadService Bulletin - Solenoid Expander (April 1983, see third page)411 KB