Four Kings

The Four Kings pinball machine, manufactured by Grand Products Incorporated and released in August 1986, is a novelty "bat game" that departs from traditional pinball gameplay. This solid-state electronic game was the manufacturer's first to use their patented "Velocity Ball" system, which propels balls at high speed around the outer diameter of the playfield using air power. Players guide a control arm and trigger release to strike moving targets, adding an extra layer of challenge and strategy.

The Four Kings' design revolves around a card-themed gameplay experience: the game ends when a player completes a 5-card poker hand or when time runs out. This mechanic combines elements of both pinball and poker, making it an intriguing two-player addition to any collection.

Grand Products introduced Four Kings at the 1986 American Coin Machine Exposition before its release later that year. With a playfield advertised at 35 inches in diameter and a 45-inch-tall cabinet, and its air-powered Velocity Ball propulsion, Four Kings stands as a distinctive example of novelty pinball experimentation from the 1980s.