Joker Poker
About This Machine
The Joker Poker, designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison, was manufactured by Gottlieb in June 1978. It arrived at a pivotal moment for the company: Gottlieb also released a solid-state version of Joker Poker the same year, making this EM edition one of the company's last electro-mechanical releases before its transition to solid-state technology.
Gameplay is built around three flippers, two pop bumpers, a slingshot, and an array of drop targets - including 3-bank, 4-bank, and 5-bank varieties. The '10' and 'J' drop targets share the same reset coil, adding a layer of strategy to target shooting. With options for 3 or 5 ball play and an end-of-ball bonus, Joker Poker offers a challenging experience, with a maximum displayed score of 199,990 points per player. Its soundscape of three chimes and a knocker is typical of late-1970s EM machines.
Joker Poker's card and gambling theme is rendered with the bold colors and lively artwork typical of Gottlieb's late-1970s output. Production is well documented: 820 units were built in total, with 136 sold domestically and 684 exported, making it a relatively well-recorded example of Gottlieb's EM-to-solid-state transition.
Images (38)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Cards/Gambling
- Model Number:
- 417
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (3), Pop bumpers (2), Slingshot (1), 3-bank drop targets (2), 4-bank drop targets (1), 5-bank drop targets (1), Standup target (1). The "10" and "J" drop targets are reset by the same coil. End-of-ball bonus. 3 or 5 ball play. Tilt penalty: ball in play or game over (operator option). Maximum displayed point score is 199,990 points per player. Replay wheel maximum: 15 Sounds: 3 chimes, knocker.
Credits
- Designer:
- Ed Krynski
- Artist:
- Gordon Morison