Junk Yard (pinball)

Last updated

Junk Yard
JunkYardPinball.jpg
Manufacturer Williams
Release dateDecember 1996
System Williams WPC-95
DesignBarry Oursler, Dwight Sullivan
ProgrammingDwight Sullivan, Graham West
ArtworkPaul Barker, Pat McMahon, Linda Deal (aka Doane)
VoicesTim Kitzrow
Production run3,013

Junk Yard is a pinball game released by Williams Electronics in 1996. The game uses the DCS sound system. [1] The game was advertised with the slogan "The meanest game in the whole darn town.". [2]

Contents

Design

The prototype differs from the production version. [3]

Description

The playfield of Junk Yard contains different toys e.g. a crane with a wrecking ball - a pinball hanging from a chain, [4] a toilet that flushes the ball and a doghouse with an attack dog. [2] [5]

The player assumes the role of an inventor who is locked inside a junkyard after it has closed for the night and must find a way to escape. [6] The goal is to collect pieces of junk and build various machines (shown on the blueprint in the center of the playfield), each of which enables a mode or mini-game when completed. Once all the modes have been played, the player can start one more mode involving a battle against the junkyard owner in outer space. [7] A devil and angel [8] give tips to the player on what to do. Slingshots are lit by controlled lights, so either the angel or devil can be lit. The game also contains modes featured in previous Williams pinball titles, such as the video mode from Attack from Mars . [9] [10]

The game uses an instrumental version of the song "Money (That's What I Want)" as its primary background music. [3]

Reception

Pinball Mag retro review. [11]

Digital versions

Junk Yard released for The Pinball Arcade in 2014, [12] and was available until June 30, 2018 when the Williams license expired. [13]

Zen Studios released a version of the table with optional additional animations announced for Pinball FX3 on October 9, 2018; [14] with a remastered version released for Pinball FX on March 31, 2022. [15]

References

  1. "Williams: Junk Yard". www.planetarypinball.com. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  2. 1 2 "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Williams 'Junk Yard'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. 1 2 Martinson, Per (2022-02-23). "Junk Yard — the untold story". Medium. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  4. US 5833236A,Oursler, Barry&Sullivan, Dwight,"Wrecking ball play feature for a pinball game",published 1997-08-28,issued 1998-11-10
  5. DeVincentis, Joseph. "Junkyard: Rulesheet". Professional and Amateur Pinball Association. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. "What's new". Play Meter. Vol. 23, no. 5. April 1997. p. 119.
  7. "JunkYard may hold gold". Time Out. March 1997. p. 34.
  8. Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 235. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  9. "Williams Junk Yard pinball game review". www.flippers.be.
  10. Junk Yard operations manual (PDF). Williams Electronics Games. January 1997.
  11. Nick_O (2023-02-25). "Junk Yard pinball machine | Williams | Review". Pinball Mag. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  12. Schulenberg, Thomas (2014-07-12). "Pinball Arcade's Season 3 tables reaching PSN, Addams Family Kickstarter coming". Engadget. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  13. Lawson, Aurich (2018-05-08). "The Pinball Arcade is losing its classic tables; grab them while you can". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  14. "Williams™ Pinball: Volume 1 on Pinball FX3 – Available NOW!". Zen Studios. 2018-10-09.
  15. "Pinball FX Early Access is here! Download for free today". Zen Studios. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2025-08-18.