Seattle's only Interactive Pinball Museum & Free-play Arcade!
Seattle's only Interactive Pinball Museum & Free-play Arcade!
Date of Manufacture: August 6, 1969
Number Produced: ~800 units
Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation
Creators:
Game Type:
Other Versions: King Rex
Rating: 5/10
Fun Rating: 6/10
The King Tut pinball machine emerged during a time when the fascination with Ancient Egypt was at a cultural high. The late 1960s saw an upswing in Egyptomania, driven by archaeological discoveries and popular culture's embrace of Egyptian themes. Bally sought to capitalize on this trend by creating a machine that featured the iconic imagery of King Tutankhamun's death mask and other Egyptian motifs.
The game offered standard features of the time, such as pop bumpers, rollovers, and a straightforward scoring system. However, unlike some of Bally’s more innovative machines, King Tut did not introduce groundbreaking mechanics, which limited its longevity and popularity among players seeking more engaging challenges.
Despite this, the machine is valued as a historical artifact that reflects Bally’s strategy during a period when the company was solidifying its identity in the competitive pinball market. It also serves as a visual testament to the artistry of pinball design in the late 1960s.
The release of King Tut coincided with a cultural fascination with Ancient Egypt, spurred by exhibitions and increased global interest in archaeological discoveries. Bally capitalized on this trend, adorning the game with vibrant Egyptian motifs, including Tutankhamun's iconic death mask. The artwork on the backglass and playfield aimed to immerse players in the mystery of ancient times.
Despite its thematic richness, King Tut struggled to make a lasting impact due to its limited gameplay innovations. While aesthetically appealing, the machine's features mirrored other Bally titles of the late 1960s, offering a straightforward experience with standard flippers, pop bumpers, and a lack of dynamic scoring opportunities. This simplicity was typical of the era but led to criticism as the pinball industry evolved toward more complex gameplay in subsequent years.
While King Tut did not introduce significant new technologies, it showcased Bally's commitment to thematic coherence and aesthetic appeal. The playfield and backglass designs stand out for their vivid colors and intricate Egyptian details. The inclusion of straightforward rules and reliable mechanics ensured accessibility for casual players, a common goal for pinball machines of that era.
The primary goal in King Tut is to maximize your score by completing rollover targets, hitting pop bumpers, and utilizing the playfield features to achieve high-point combinations.
Rollover Targets
Pop Bumpers
Bonus Multiplier
Drop Targets (if applicable)
Pinrepair. “Pinball Repair Guide.” Pinrepair, www.pinrepair.com. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Internet Pinball Database. “King Tut.” IPDB, www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1373. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Vintage Arcade. “King Tut Pinball Machine.” Vintage Arcade, https://vintagearcade.net/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
“Bally King Tut Pinball Machine.” Internet Pinball Machine Database (IPDB), www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1376. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
“1969 Bally King Tut.” Pinside Pinball Database, www.pinside.com/pinball/machine/king-tut. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
“Bally Pinball History.” Pinrepair.com, www.pinrepair.com/bally/. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
Flower, Gary, and Bill Kurtz. Pinball: The Lure of the Silver Ball. Chartwell Books, 1988, p. 69.
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