Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Here's a 1974 Williams Star Pool pinball machine in action.
The years between 1971 and 1975 seem to be a bit of an odd period for Pinball. The major manufacturers were still trying to forge their own unique path once the 3" flipper took over from the shorter 2" flipper and playfield layouts became more standardized. Williams, Bally and Gottlieb battled for supremacy, but a quick glance through the games made in this era will reveal few major standouts and a large number of stinkers (Hi-Lo Ace, Darling and Magnotron are among the worst from each). In 1975-76, though, in the period immediately prior to the solid state era, all three manufacturers hit their stride and released games that would take the pinball world by Storm. Games like Royal Flush, Grand Prix and Wizard were hugely successful and revealed what Pinball could be. Why am I writing all of this history on a video about Star Pool? Because this is one of those games that just isn't quite there yet. It's drab and basic and has too much space and few actual goals. It lands firmly in the netherworld of pinball between the unique and innovative designs of the 60's and the truly great themes and features of the late 70's. It's about as basic a pinball machine as you can get.
The spinning disk in the centre of the playfield 'should' be fun to hit, but it just doesn't really work from a physics point of view and it gets in the way most of the time (See Triple Action for another game with the same gimmick) . The drop targets are easy to spot and require little actual skill; a lucky bounce is more likely to hit the upper drops than a banked shot on the left or right side. The gate adds a bit of fun to the lower playfield, but it can be taken away after being earned by hitting the side banks. And that's it. The billiard aspect of the game is irrelevant as the rack is simply the bonus ladder. It's hardly Bally's Eight Ball, that's for sure.
So is it fun? Sure it is. It's not amazing, of course, and the replay value likely isn't there. But it's fun enough for a bit. The flippers are DC powered and offer plenty of oompf. The bumpers move the ball well. The lackluster artwork is quintessential mid-70's from Williams and Christian Marche (the seasoned pinball aficionado can identify his artwork from a mile away). And the design is everything that can be expected from Steve Kordek. But compared to what came just a couple of years later from every manufacturer, there isn't much comparison.
For more information on Star Pool, see here:
ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2352
Here's a 1974 Williams Star Pool pinball machine in action.
The years between 1971 and 1975 seem to be a bit of an odd period for Pinball. The major manufacturers were still trying to forge their own unique path once the 3" flipper took over from the shorter 2" flipper and playfield layouts became more standardized. Williams, Bally and Gottlieb battled for supremacy, but a quick glance through the games made in this era will reveal few major standouts and a large number of stinkers (Hi-Lo Ace, Darling and Magnotron are among the worst from each). In 1975-76, though, in the period immediately prior to the solid state era, all three manufacturers hit their stride and released games that would take the pinball world by Storm. Games like Royal Flush, Grand Prix and Wizard were hugely successful and revealed what Pinball could be. Why am I writing all of this history on a video about Star Pool? Because this is one of those games that just isn't quite there yet. It's drab and basic and has too much space and few actual goals. It lands firmly in the netherworld of pinball between the unique and innovative designs of the 60's and the truly great themes and features of the late 70's. It's about as basic a pinball machine as you can get.
The spinning disk in the centre of the playfield 'should' be fun to hit, but it just doesn't really work from a physics point of view and it gets in the way most of the time (See Triple Action for another game with the same gimmick) . The drop targets are easy to spot and require little actual skill; a lucky bounce is more likely to hit the upper drops than a banked shot on the left or right side. The gate adds a bit of fun to the lower playfield, but it can be taken away after being earned by hitting the side banks. And that's it. The billiard aspect of the game is irrelevant as the rack is simply the bonus ladder. It's hardly Bally's Eight Ball, that's for sure.
So is it fun? Sure it is. It's not amazing, of course, and the replay value likely isn't there. But it's fun enough for a bit. The flippers are DC powered and offer plenty of oompf. The bumpers move the ball well. The lackluster artwork is quintessential mid-70's from Williams and Christian Marche (the seasoned pinball aficionado can identify his artwork from a mile away). And the design is everything that can be expected from Steve Kordek. But compared to what came just a couple of years later from every manufacturer, there isn't much comparison.
For more information on Star Pool, see here:
ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2352
