Overview
Tales of Arabian Nights returns for an authentic pinball experience.The Pinball Arcade is a virtual pinball collection developed and published digitally by FarSight for iOS (on February 9, 2012) and Android devices (on February 10, 2012). Along with new tables, it received releases on numerous platforms over the years and was made free-to-play.
It contains numerous recreations of real-world pinball machines, both original and licensed, from some of the most prominent pinball manufacturers throughout history (including Gottlieb, Stern, Williams, and Bally). Similar to the studio's previous Pinball Hall of Fame collections (Gottlieb Collection and Williams Collection), each table is recreated with pinpoint precision, including the ability to modify internal settings (the "operators menu") of each table. Custom pinballs and challenges (both normal and "Wizard") also make a return.
The game was later digitally released for the Xbox 360 (published by Crave on April 4, 2012), both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita (on April 10, 2012), Mac (via the Mac App Store on April 16, 2012), Ouya (on June 25, 2013), both PC and Mac (via Steam on November 4, 2013), PlayStation 4 (on October 17, 2013), Xbox One (on November 25, 2014), Wii U (on April 21, 2016), and Nintendo Switch (on April 6, 2018).
The game received a Stern-focused spin-off in 2016, titled Stern Pinball Arcade. This spin-off was later discontinued, merging with the standard game on July 1, 2018. Due to licensing issues, the Williams and Bally tables can no longer be purchased.
The PS4 version was also released in retail format (with Season 1 tables included) in North America (by Alliance Digital Media on December 17, 2013) and Europe (by System 3 on February 21, 2014), with a second retail release (titled The Pinball Arcade: Season 2, with Season 2 tables included) in Europe (by System 3 on January 30, 2015).
The 360 version of the game is known for being the only version of the game that was removed from their platform's online marketplace (in July 2013, after Crave filed for bankruptcy). After years of issues related to the bankruptcy fallout, the 360 version was relaunched on May 12, 2015 by Alliance Digital Media. As it was removed from the marketplace yet again (in March 2018), there is no way to purchase it.
Tables
Base versions of the game include Mary Shelly's Frankenstein as a free table, with all other tables sold in packs. Along with limited trials for each table, the game includes a "Table of the Month" promotion that temporarily unlocks a single table for free access (with an advertisement at each subsequent game start).
Prior to July 2018, the game included numerous tables from Bally and Williams and were sold as "seasons" (see "Tables (Legacy)" below). Due to licensing issues, those tables were removed and the Season Pass system re-worked. Players who owned any of the removed tables are still given full access to them (with continued support).
Gottlieb Pack 1
These tables were originally manufactured by Gottlieb and can only be bought as a bundle for $9.99.
Gottlieb Pack 2
These tables were originally manufactured by Gottlieb and can only be bought as a bundle for $9.99.
Gottlieb Pack 3
These tables were originally manufactured by Gottlieb and can only be bought as a bundle for $8.99.
Gottlieb EM Pack
These tables were originally manufactured by Gottlieb and can only be bought as a bundle for $8.99.
Stern Pack 1
These tables were originally manufactured by Stern (with some exceptions) and can only be bought as a bundle for $19.99.
Stern Pack 2
These tables were originally manufactured by Stern (with some exceptions) and can only be bought as a bundle for $19.99.
Stern Pack 3
These tables were originally manufactured by Stern and can be bought as a bundle (for $14.99) or individually (for $9.99 each)
Alvin G. and Co. Pack
These tables were originally manufactured by Alvin G. & Co. and can only be bought as a bundle for $7.99.
Other
- Doctor Who: Master of Time - A reworked version of the 1992 Bally table Doctor Who. It is the first and only pinball machine for this platform that is not a simple recreation of an existing machine and is sold standalone for $9.99.
Tables (Legacy)
The earliest versions of the base game could only be purchased and included one table by each of the four manufacturers (Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Black Hole, and Theatre of Magic), with all the other tables sold in packs of 1-2 tables (or "season passes" consisting of 10-15 tables). Later versions were free-to-download and only contained Tales of the Arabian Nights.
After June 30, 2018, all Bally and Williams tables were no longer offered for sale. Players who own the tables (including those included in the retail release) will still have full access to them (including Tales of the Arabian Nights, if the Core Table pack or the Season One pack are purchased).
DLC availability varies between platforms - as a general rule, new content comes to Steam and handheld devices before it arrives on home consoles. As of May 12, 2018, platform availability includes the following:
- iOS, Android, PC, Mac (Steam), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch - Seasons 1-7
- Xbox One - Seasons 1-7 (up to Ghostbusters: Premium Edition)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita - Seasons 1-6
- Mac (App Store) - Seasons 1-6 (up to Gladiators)
- Wii U - Seasons 1-5 (up to Judge Dredd)
- Xbox 360 - Seasons 1-4 (up to The Addams Family)
Core Tables
Season One
- The Machine: Bride of Pin•Bot (Williams, 1991) / Medieval Madness (Williams, 1997)
- Funhouse (Williams, 1990) / Cirqus Voltaire (Bally, 1997)
- Gorgar (Williams, 1979) / Monster Bash (Williams, 1998)
- Black Knight (Williams, 1980) / Creature from the Black Lagoon (Bally, 1992) - The latter machine has been altered due to music licensing issues.
- Taxi (Williams, 1988) / Harley-Davidson: Third Edition (Stern, 2004)
- Elvira and the Party Monsters (Bally, 1989) / No Good Gofers (Williams, 1997)
- Big Shot (Gottlieb, 1973) / Scared Stiff (Bally, 1996)
- Twilight Zone (Bally, 1993) - Received a Kickstarter campaign to secure licensing for the recreation.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (Williams, 1993) - Received a Kickstarter campaign to secure licensing for the recreation.
- Genie (Gottlieb, 1979) and Attack from Mars (Bally, 1995)
Season Two
- Firepower (Williams, 1980) / Dr. Dude and His Excellent Ray (Bally, 1990)
- Central Park (Gottlieb, 1966) / Cactus Canyon (Bally, 1998)
- Space Shuttle (Williams, 1984) / White Water (Williams, 1993)
- Centaur (Bally, 1981) / Pin•Bot (Williams, 1986)
- Whirlwind (Williams, 1990) / The Champion Pub (Bally, 1998)
- Flight 2000 (Stern, 1980) / Goin' Nuts (Gottlieb, 1983)
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Williams, 1991) - Received a Kickstarter campaign to secure licensing for the recreation.
- Haunted House (Gottlieb, 1982) / Tee'd Off (Gottlieb, 1993)
- Victory (Gottlieb, 1987) / Class of 1812 (Gottlieb, 1991)
- El Dorado: City of Gold (Gottlieb, 1984) / Cue Ball Wizard (Gottlieb, 1992)
Season Three
- Fish Tales (Williams, 1992)
- Black Rose (Williams, 1992)
- Black Knight 2000 (Williams, 1989)
- WHO Dunnit (Bally, 1995)
- High Speed (Williams, 1986)
- Junk Yard (Williams, 1996)
- Lights...Camera...Action! (Gottlieb, 1989)
- High Roller Casino (Stern, 2001)
- Diner (Williams, 1990)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (Williams, 1993)
Season Four
- Phantom of the Opera (Stern, 1990) - Originally manufactured by Data East. Altered to remove Data East branding.
- The Party Zone (Bally, 1991) - Altered due to music licensing issues.
- Earthshaker (Williams, 1989)
- Starship Troopers (Stern, 1997) - Originally manufactured by Sega. Altered to remove Sega branding.
- The Addams Family (Bally, 1992) - Received a Kickstarter campaign to secure licensing for the recreation. Altered due to licensing issues. Certain backers also received the exclusive "Special Collectors Gold Edition" version.
- Cyclone (Williams, 1988)
- Jack•Bot (Williams, 1995)
- Xenon (Bally, 1980)
- Red and Ted's RoadShow (Williams, 1994)
- Safe Cracker (Bally, 1996)
Season Five
- The Getaway: High Speed II (Williams, 1992)
- F-14 Tomcat (Williams, 1987)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Stern, 1995) - Originally manufactured by Sega. Altered to remove Sega branding.
- No Fear: Dangerous Sports (Williams, 1995) - Altered due to licensing issues.
- Judge Dredd (Bally, 1993)
- Fireball (Bally, 1972) / El Dorado (Gottlieb, 1975)
- Hurricane (Williams, 1991)
- Rescue 911 (Gottlieb, 1994)
- Last Action Hero (Stern, 1993) - Originally manufactured by Data East. Altered to remove Data East branding.
- TX-Sector (Gottlieb, 1988)
Season Six
- Indianapolis 500 (Bally, 1995) - Altered due to licensing issues.
- Frank Thomas' Big Hurt (Gottlieb, 1995) - Altered due to licensing issues.
- Eight Ball Deluxe (Bally, 1980)
- Doctor Who (Bally, 1992) - Received a Kickstarter campaign to secure licensing for the recreation.
- Bone Busters Inc. (Gottlieb, 1989)
- Centigrade 37 (Gottlieb, 1977) / Jacks Open (Gottlieb, 1977)
- Doctor Who: Master of Time - A reworked version of the original Doctor Who machine. It is the first and only pinball machine for this platform that is not a simple recreation of an existing machine.
- Gladiators (Gottlieb, 1993)
- Al's Garage Band Goes On A World Tour (Gottlieb, 1992) - Originally manufactured by Alvin G. & Co.
- Cactus Jack's (Gottlieb, 1991)
- Swords of Fury (Williams, 1988)
Season Seven
- Paragon (Bally, 1979)
- Wipe Out (Gottlieb, 1993)
- Firepower II (Williams, 1983)
- World Champion Soccer (Bally, 1994) - An altered version of World Cup Soccer, removing all references to the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to licensing issues.
- Fathom (Bally, 1981)
- Ghostbusters (Stern, 2016)
- Spanish Eyes (Williams, 1972) / Wild Card (Williams, 1977)
- Pistol Poker (Gottlieb, 1993) - Originally manufactured by Alvin G. & Co.
- Sorcerer (Williams, 1985)
- Banzai Run (Williams, 1988)
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