Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Here we have a 1976 Gottlieb Pioneer pinball machine in action. Pioneer is the two-player version of the more plentiful four-player Spirit of 76. These games share the same playfield design and rules.
Pioneer is pretty fun. Completing A-B-C-D-E and the drop target banks lights the saucer to collect double bonus, score the extra ball or award the special (replay). The "C" can only be spotted at the top centre lane while the other letters can be spotted at the top, side or lower lanes, so an accurate plunge at the beginning of each ball becomes important when trying to complete the sequence. The lack of slingshots above the flippers also makes the playfield design somewhat unusual.
Even though it's simple, the game is still challenging and enjoyable. The shots to the top are satisfying and the drop banks are arranged in a way that allows the player to hit a target on one bank while rebounding the ball into a target on the other bank. Once the saucer is lit, it's challenging to actually aim for and hit it to achieve the award.
Pioneer was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. Honestly, those two were involved in nearly every Gottlieb in the 70's. For more information on this game, see here:
ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1802
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Special thanks to my friend Julia Massey for allowing me to use her music for my outro. Check out her band Warren Dunes here:
warrendunesband.com
Do you need your pinball machine serviced in Southern Ontario? Send us a message via londonpinball.ca
Follow London Pinball on Instagram and Facebook:
instagram.com/cooke_pinball
facebook.com/londonpinballcanada
Visit the London Pinball Parlour at Forked River Brewing Company!
45 Pacific Court, Unit #4 in London, Ontario.
forkedriverbrewing.com
Visit Speed City Records:
speedcityrecords.com
Subscribe to the Pinball Shenanigans Youtube channel:
youtube.com/@UCEplPElLI9WWWd6xUmjAObw
Here we have a 1976 Gottlieb Pioneer pinball machine in action. Pioneer is the two-player version of the more plentiful four-player Spirit of 76. These games share the same playfield design and rules.
Pioneer is pretty fun. Completing A-B-C-D-E and the drop target banks lights the saucer to collect double bonus, score the extra ball or award the special (replay). The "C" can only be spotted at the top centre lane while the other letters can be spotted at the top, side or lower lanes, so an accurate plunge at the beginning of each ball becomes important when trying to complete the sequence. The lack of slingshots above the flippers also makes the playfield design somewhat unusual.
Even though it's simple, the game is still challenging and enjoyable. The shots to the top are satisfying and the drop banks are arranged in a way that allows the player to hit a target on one bank while rebounding the ball into a target on the other bank. Once the saucer is lit, it's challenging to actually aim for and hit it to achieve the award.
Pioneer was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. Honestly, those two were involved in nearly every Gottlieb in the 70's. For more information on this game, see here:
ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1802
----------
Special thanks to my friend Julia Massey for allowing me to use her music for my outro. Check out her band Warren Dunes here:
warrendunesband.com
Do you need your pinball machine serviced in Southern Ontario? Send us a message via londonpinball.ca
Follow London Pinball on Instagram and Facebook:
instagram.com/cooke_pinball
facebook.com/londonpinballcanada
Visit the London Pinball Parlour at Forked River Brewing Company!
45 Pacific Court, Unit #4 in London, Ontario.
forkedriverbrewing.com
Visit Speed City Records:
speedcityrecords.com
Subscribe to the Pinball Shenanigans Youtube channel:
youtube.com/@UCEplPElLI9WWWd6xUmjAObw
