Space Jam (pinball)

Space Jam
ManufacturerSega Pinball
Release dateDecember 1996
SystemSega WhiteStar
DesignJoe Kaminkow, Orin Day, Lonnie D. Ropp
ProgrammingLonnie D. Ropp, Orin Day
ArtworkMorgan Weistling
MusicBrian Schmidt
SoundBrian Schmidt

Space Jam is a 1996 pinball machine released by Sega Pinball, based on the film of the same name.

Design

This is the first game to use the "Sega Showcase backbox", which unlike most pinball machines is curved.[1]

The game includes custom speech, with the voices of Michael Jordan (himself), Bugs Bunny (Billy West), Daffy Duck (Dee Bradley Baker), Porky Pig (Bob Bergen), Tweety (Bob Bergen) and the Chicago Bulls stadium announcer (Ray Clay).[2][3] During development of the game, voice actor Fred Young recorded voices for the game. Warner Bros. did not approve his voices and they were never used.[4]

A version of this machine with modified controls using an air pressure tube was created for Christopher Reeve.[5]

Layout

On the right of the machine where the ball plunges to is a mini-playfield with a basketball hoop. On the left of the machine is a bank of five targets spelling S-P-A-C-E. Six red insert arrows point to the main shots on the upper playfield: left and right orbits, captive ball, left ramp leading to the upper basket, right ramp, and a shot leading into the "jump ball". Above the upper basket is a 2-digit display which can show a shot countdown. Near the top of the machine are three pop bumpers, and just below these are three drop-targets. Towards the middle of the machine is a saucer called the "wabbit-hole".[6]

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of Michael Jordan. The game tracks both a pinball game score, and a score for shooting baskets.[1]

In addition to a standard game, three other types of games can be played:

  • Team play, where players 1&3 compete together against players 2&4
  • League/tournament play, random and auto-percentaging awards change to fixed rewards
  • Wizard play, same as league play but harder[6]

Each ball begins with a skillshot where the player can collect an award by shooting the ball into the lower basket. The aim of the game is to light seven planets by achieving seven objectives including scoring a super jackpot during the main multiball. The player can then start "Final Jam" wizard mode by scoring a basket. This is a timed 5-ball multiball where the player attempts to collect as many jackpots as they can by scoring baskets.[6]

Reception

Over $5M worth of Space Jam was sold "sight unseen" to distributors by the time the machine released.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b "What's New". Play Meter. Vol. 23, no. 1. January 1997. p. 129.
  2. ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The Pinball Compendium: 1982 to Present (Rev. and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Pub. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
  3. ^ "Space Jam (Pinball) (1996)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "PINBALL EXPO 2006". Pinball News. 2006. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  5. ^ "Star Wars Trilogy pinball offered for handicapped". Play Meter. Vol. 23, no. 9. August 1997. p. 38.
  6. ^ a b c Space Jam manual (PDF). Sega. 1996. pp. 5–10.
  7. ^ Lazarus, George (1996-11-20). "'Space Jam' licensing more than dramatic". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  8. ^ DePaula, Nick (August 20, 2021). "Behind the brand power of the 'Space Jam' franchise". Andscape. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
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