Go Girl!
About This Machine
Go Girl! is one of the most eccentric re-themed pinball machines on record: a 1995 conversion of Williams' 1989 title 'Earthshaker' into a camp send-up of drag culture, with only a single confirmed unit built. Concept, design, and mechanics were handled by Michael Brown, graphics and artwork by Rex Ray, and sound by m.c. Schmidt, with music and custom voice work delivered via compact disc and the software modified by Chris Walker; Earthshaker's original vibrating motor was removed for the conversion.
Players stand on a pair of 8-inch heels to play, and the machine incorporates a video camera and monitor in the backbox. The skill shot, 'spin the queen,' sends a Ken doll dressed in drag spinning in circles, while the backglass monitor shows drag queens cheering strong play and sassing weak play. The core objective is to knock down 'homophobe' drop targets to spell out 'GET IT GIRL' and lock balls for multiball; once two balls are locked, the player's face appears on the monitor with a chosen wig superimposed, selectable via the flipper buttons, and a further lock allows digital makeup and lipstick to be applied to the captured image, all set to a disco soundtrack.
With its mylared playfield, camera-driven personalization gimmick, and unapologetically campy premise built on repurposed Earthshaker hardware, Go Girl! stands as a singular, one-off oddity in pinball history and a cult favorite among collectors aware of its existence.
Images (3)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Camp Humor - Drag Queens
- Notable Features:
- Mylared playfield. Video camera and monitor in backbox. The player has to stand on a pair of 8-inch heels to play. Making the skill shot - "spin the queen" - causes a Ken doll dressed up in drag to spin around in circles. While the game is in action, the video monitor in the backglass shows images of drag queens cheering you on when you are doing well and sassing you when you are not. Your goal is to knock down the homophobe drop targets and spell "get it girl" to lock the balls in multi-ball. When two balls are locked, your face appears on the video monitor with any one of various wigs superimposed over it. Using the flipper buttons, you are able to scroll through a dozen different hairdos until you find one that you like. That image is captured and you play multi-ball. Locking the balls again allows you to digitally apply make-up and lipstick to your image. All the while, a disco sound track keeps the action going!