Galaxy

The Stern Galaxy, designed by pinball pioneer Harry Williams and released in January 1980, is a four-player solid-state game with an outer space theme, running on Stern's M-200 MPU with software by Rob Quinn. It carries one genuinely notable technical distinction: Galaxy has computer-controlled general illumination, and it may be the first pinball machine ever to feature it.

The gameplay offers a well-rounded test of shot-making: two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, four star rollovers, three standup targets, a 4-bank of drop targets, a spinning target, and a kick-out saucer, plus a kickback lane and dual inlanes on both sides. Bob Timm painted both the backglass and playfield while at Ad Posters - his signature hides at the bottom of the center blue galaxy on the backglass - though, as Timm himself explained, cabinet art in those days was handled separately at the cabinet maker.

Stern's records for Galaxy are detailed: 4,947 full games were built between January 16 and March 19 of 1980, plus 183 knock-down games, for a total of 5,130 units. The game was also manufactured under license in Australia as LAI's 1980 'Galaxy'. With its Harry Williams design pedigree and its possible lighting first, Galaxy is a solid representative of Stern Electronics' early-1980s output.