Space Station (pinball)
front of advertising flyer | |
| Manufacturer | Williams Electronics |
|---|---|
| Release date | December 1987 |
| System | Williams system 11B |
| Design | Barry Oursler |
| Programming | Ed Boon |
| Artwork | Tim Elliot |
| Music | Brian Schmidt |
| Sound | Brian Schmidt |
| Voices | Steve Ritchie (Mission control) |
| Production run | 3,804 |
Space Station is a 1987 Williams pinball machine designed by Barry Oursler.
It is the sequel to 1984's Space Shuttle by the same designer, and a few features from that game are used in this.[1]
Design
The backglass is dominated by the space station, which also shows three space shuttles, and an astronaut. The game is subtitled pinball rendezvous on the backglass. A variety of astronauts and shuttles are shown on the playfield.[2] The shuttles are called "Defender" and "Liberty".[3]
In the playfield artwork underneath the diverter assembly in the lane that goes to the right ball lock is a monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey.[4]
This is the first game that Brian Schmidt composed all the music and sound effects for.[5]
Layout
A wireform from the plunger lane leads to a small upper playfield with 1-2-3 rollovers. Below these are U-S-A rollovers and three pop bumpers. The game has no inlanes, and includes a kickback mechanism in the left outlane. Seven S-T-A-T-I-O-N targets are on the left side of the machine, and two more banks of targets spell S-H-U-T-T-L-E. The revolving space station mechanism at the top right of the machine can redirect balls to lock them in place. The only ramp on the machine leads to this mechanism; in front of the entrance to this ramp is a drop-target.[6]
Gameplay
The game is controlled with two flippers, and has a manual plunger.[3]
The game is based on docking two space shuttles with the space station by completing 1-2-3 and locking balls, and then scoring jackpots by redocking them.[2][7] The general illumination changes from white to green during multiball,[8] called "condition green".[9]
Similar to the feature in Space Shuttle, hitting the drop target in front of the right ramp followed by the ramp awards "stop & score" points.[7]
Completing the S-T-A-T-I-O-N or S-H-U-T-T-L-E targets awards the player one of the rewards shown on the center of the playfield.[2]
After the players last ball is lost, a time-limited bonus ball can be played.[7]
Reception
Play Meter called it "a fine addition to the Williams line".[2]
Digital versions
Space Station released on October 20, 2020, for Pinball FX3 as part of Williams volume 6.[10] A remastered version released for Pinball FX on June 30, 2022.[11]
In popular media
The game was used in the debut single of Imani Coppola, "Legend of a Cowgirl".[12] It was also briefly used in Fargo (1996), and Big Daddy.[9]
References
- ^ Horowitz, Ken (2023). From pinballs to pixels: an arcade history of Williams-Bally-Midway. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4766-8937-1.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Steve (February 1988). "Players picks". Play Meter. Vol. 14, no. 2. pp. 81, 84.
- ^ a b "Space Station rules & strategies". www.jeff-z.com. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ "playfield photo". jeff-z.com. May 8, 2008.
- ^ "DigiPen's Pinball Hall of Famer Brian Schmidt on His 30-Year-Game Audio Odyssey | DigiPen". www.digipen.edu. 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ Space Station operations manual (PDF). Williams Electronics Games. January 1988.
- ^ a b c "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Space Station' Images - back of advertising flyer". www.ipdb.org. Williams Electronics Games. 1987. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (Revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
- ^ a b Rossignoli, Marco (2004). Pinball snapshots : Air Aces to Xenon. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. pp. 196–199. ISBN 9780764321092.
- ^ "Pinball FX3: Williams Pinball (Volume 6) – PS4 Review – PlayStation Country". 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ Crable, Noah (May 29, 2025). "Review: Williams Pinball Volume 6 on Pinball FX". Kineticist. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ ImaniCoppolaVEVO (2013-10-09). Imani Coppola - Legend of a Cowgirl (Video). Retrieved 2025-08-20 – via YouTube.
