Popeye Saves the Earth
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| Manufacturer | WMS Industries |
|---|---|
| Release date | May 1994 |
| System | Midway WPC (DCS) |
| Design | Python Anghelo, Barry Oursler[1][2] |
| Programming | Mike Boon[1][2] |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo, Pat McMahon, John Youssi[1][2] |
| Mechanics | Zofia Bil Ryan[1][2] |
| Music | Paul Heitsch[1][2] |
| Sound | Paul Heitsch[1][2] |
| Voices | Tim Kitzrow[3] |
| Animation | Scott Slomiany, Eugene Geer |
| Production run | 4,217 units |
Popeye Saves The Earth is a 1994 widebody pinball game designed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler and released by WMS Industries under the Bally label. It is based on the Popeye comic/cartoon characters licensed from King Features Syndicate.[4]
It is one of WMS' SuperPin line of widebody games; the tenth and final collaboration between Anghelo and Oursler.[5] The playfield artwork was by Pat McMahon and Anghelo, and the backglass was designed by John Youssi.[4] It uses the DCS sound system.[6]
Most of the games sold outside the United States.[5]
Story
The game was set in the current day, with a middle-aged Popeye living on an island from residual cheques of his time as a cartoon star. Olive Oyl collects seashells on the beach, and Swee'Pea is nearly 30 years old and has a masters degree in marine biology. Wimpy still has a hamburger addiction.[5]
Bluto has formed an oil company, Brutus Oil, which was responsible for a large oil spill on Popeye's island.[7][8]
Layout
The game has an upper playfield.[9]
Gameplay
The player launches the ball into a roulette style device.[10][9]
Reception
Play Meter enjoyed the return to a cartoon theme, even with no movie tie-in.[11] Cash Box International couldn't see the reason for the choice of theme, and found the game to be slow.[12] At a seminar at Pinball Expo on October 27, 1995, it was "unanimously agreed" as being the worst game of recent memory.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Popeye Saves the Earth [Model 50022]". Gaming History. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "Popeye Saves the Earth". Kineticist. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ IGN staff (February 16, 2000). "Breaking into the Industry: Tim Kitzrow". IGN. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The Pinball Compendium: 1982 to Present (Rev. and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Pub. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
- ^ a b c Ciaravino, Joe (February 15, 2024). "Part III of The Unauthorized Hagiography of Python Anghelo: Yes, The Part With The Pinball Sex". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "Popeye shoves off". Coin Cascade. May 1994. pp. 6–7.
- ^ Anghelo, Python. Ciaravino, Joe (ed.). "Popeye Description". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ Anghelo, Python. Popeye proposed theme (PDF).
- ^ a b Popeye Saves The Earth operations manual (PDF). Midway Manufacturing Company. January 1994.
- ^ US 5356141, Oursler, Barry; Bil, Zofia & Anghelo, Python, "Roulette scoring device", published 1993-11-12, issued 1994-10-18
- ^ Reeves, Greg (June 1994). "Player's Perspective". Play Meter. Vol. 20, no. 7. pp. 115–116.
- ^ "Popeye". Cash Box International. March 1994. p. 66.
- ^ Bueschel, Richard M. Encyclopedia of Pinball: Whiffle to Rocket, 1930-1933. p. 243. ISBN 9781889933009.
External links
- Popeye Saves the Earth at the Internet Pinball Database