Bally Eight Ball
Manufactured November 10, 1977
Currently on location @ Stony Creek Brewery
Eight Ball was a revolution in the Bally lineup of pinball machiens. It was the first step into the Solid State “SS” era. Meaning it included circuit board. This was the first time Bally used on board memory in game play. It allows the game to remember what targets a player already made and setup the playfield to let the player continue trying to achieve all of their needed targets from ball to ball.
In the bottom of the playfield you will notice a rack of balls.
Solid balls are the targets needed for the 1st and 3rd player. Stripe balls are targets needed for the 2nd and 4th player.
One full rack is available for the first two players. Then the 3rd and 4th player will get a different rack. This is where the memory feature comes into play. After the 1st and 2nd player take their turn, the rack is reset for the 3rd and 4th player to use. After the 4th player takes their turn, the rack returns to the targets 1st and 2nd player already made.
Game Rules
The game rules are very simple, even a novice player can pick them up on the first game. Each player must hit all 7 balls via their corresponding targets. One target on either side of the lower playfield and four targets via rollovers at the top center of the playfield.
If you complete all of your top center roll over balls (1-4 or 9-12) the center “Bank Shot” value arrows come on, one will be lit at a time and alternate each time a pop bumper, slingshot or spinner is hit. By hitting one of these arrows, it will also increase the candy cane to the next level.
The right swoop shot along the arrows, will hit the spinner on its way in. Either awarding 100 or 1,000 points depending on if it is lit or not. This is your best way to continue to try and achieve all of your top roll over targets.
One a player hits all seven targets, the eight ball lights up. When you make the eight ball and complete your portion of the rack a few things happen. First, the right out lane special light comes on. Award for this can be set to a free game, an extra ball or just a bunch of points.
Second, the left out lane ball save light comes on (if not on already)
Third and most important, on your next ball, the Super Bonus light will be on. When you finish the next ball, you will have an extra 24,000 points added. You also have a fresh rack on the next ball along with this Super Bonus.
You will however miss out on the Super Bonus if you complete the rack on your final ball of the game. If you make an extra ball on your final ball along with completing a rack, you will have a Super Bonus for your extra and final ball.
The candy cane loop on the right is a way to crank up your bonus multiplier as well as winning an extra ball.