Four Million B.C.

Four Million B.C. is a sought-after electro-mechanical pinball machine from 1971, designed by Ted Zale with artwork by Dick White for Bally Manufacturing Corporation, and produced in a confirmed run of 3,550 units. An early dinosaur-themed game, it blends prehistoric spectacle with the mechanical ingenuity Zale was known for, including his signature zipper flippers.

At its core, Four Million B.C. boasts an impressive array of gameplay mechanics: two zipper flippers, three pop bumpers, two mushroom bumpers, two slingshots, three rollover buttons, and two standup targets. A standout feature is the kick-out hole with its motorized Flash Bonus, offering variable awards, and the game supports multiball play with two or three balls, unusual for an EM game and adding an extra layer of excitement. There is also a ramp skill shot, a left outlane kicker, and a ball return gate.

The upper right gate is particularly interesting, feeding the ball into a four-step captive ball alley before returning it to play, and this captive ball walker's progress carries over from game to game, adding an element of continuity between sessions. With a maximum displayed score of 99,990 points per player and backglass art that dinosaur-movie fans might find familiar, Four Million B.C. remains a challenging and rewarding piece of early-1970s Bally design.