Video Pinball

Video Pinball, released by Maibesa, S.A. of Spain, is an unusual entry in the database: despite its name, it is not a physical pinball machine at all. It is a video game that simulates a pinball playfield, complete with pinball-style rules and scoring, displayed on a screen inside an upright black cabinet with green trim. The control panel holds flipper buttons and a ball shooter, and may have been designed to be slightly movable by the player to simulate nudging, though this detail is unconfirmed.

The manufacturer's name "Maibesa" appears on the illuminated overhead marquee above the game's name, as well as on a sticker inside the recessed coin door area. Little else is documented about this solid-state, two-player title, including its exact release date or designer.

Collectors should take care not to confuse this Spanish machine with Atari's unrelated 1978 video game also called 'Video Pinball.' Beyond its novel format, few details about Maibesa's design team, release history, or reception have surfaced, leaving it a curious footnote for those researching pinball-themed video games rather than traditional pinball hardware.