Petaco

The Petaco, manufactured by Juegos Populares, S.A. of Madrid, Spain in 1984, is an intriguing addition to the world of solid state electronic (SS) pinball machines. As a product of one of Spain's pinball manufacturers, it holds an interesting place in the country's relatively small pinball manufacturing history. Its unique blend of gameplay features and design elements makes it an interesting specimen for collectors and enthusiasts.

One of the standout aspects of the Petaco is its 3 or 5 ball play option, allowing operators to choose the level of challenge. The machine's feature set includes two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, two 3-bank drop targets, two messenger balls, two standup targets, and a spinning target. What sets the Petaco apart is its use of a constantly spinning LED "wheel" on the backglass for a random number match feature. Its Z80-based "Master Unit" and "Sound Input-Output Unit" are housed in the lower cabinet, with the LED displays and some control logic in the backbox; all game settings are made via slide switches near the coin door.

The theme, centered on music and people, is straightforward but effective in conveying the game's atmosphere. Unfortunately, very little information is available about the machine's designer or any interesting trivia surrounding its creation. Nonetheless, the Petaco remains an interesting discovery for those seeking to explore the lesser-known corners of pinball history, sharing its playfield layout with SLEIC's 1994 'Sleic Pin-BALL.'