Dragon

The Europlay Dragon is a rare and intriguing electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine produced in Italy in 1979. Notably, it reuses the backglass and playfield art from Gottlieb's 1978 'Dragon,' with the playfield signed "Mike 79" by artist Michele "Mike" Martinelli and the upper playfield and card holder marked "New Europlay." This makes it an interesting case study in how pinball art and designs crossed borders between manufacturers during this period.

One of the standout features of the Dragon is its extensive array of playfield elements. The machine boasts three flippers, two pop bumpers, a slingshot, and an impressive assortment of stand-up and drop targets, including a 5-bank, a 3-bank, and a 2-bank of drop targets, plus a spinning target. This diverse range of interactive components creates a challenging gameplay experience. The inclusion of a "biri-biri" electric-shock feature adds an extra layer of novelty to the gameplay.

Visually, the Dragon is characterized by its fantasy theme, a common motif in pinball design during this period. The wedge-shaped headbox and colorful artwork contribute to the machine's distinctive appearance, while the seven-digit scoring display with dummy zeroes adds a touch of nostalgic charm. As a lesser-known EM machine built on borrowed Gottlieb artwork, the Europlay Dragon offers a fascinating opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to explore how pinball designs were shared and adapted internationally.