Expo

Expo, designed by Norm Clark with artwork by Christian Marche, was released by Williams Electronics on October 21, 1969. This two-player electro-mechanical game (Williams model 366) is notable for its mechanical backbox animation and its backglass spinner - kinetic touches that made the backbox part of the show, a specialty Williams embraced in this era.

The playfield offers plenty to shoot at: two flippers, five pop bumpers, two slingshots, three standup targets, and a kick-out hole. The layout is full of clever ball-routing details, including a left drop lane with a detour gate, a left outlane mini-post, ball return gates on the upper right and right outlane, and an up-post between the flippers to save otherwise-lost balls.

A small mystery attends the game's artwork: at least one known backglass carries alternate coloring, using purple in several areas where all other observed examples use red - possibly a sign of an early production variation. For collectors of late-1960s Williams games, Expo is an appealing package of Christian Marche art and busy, gate-laden EM gameplay.