Lethal Weapon 3 (pinball)

Last updated
Lethal Weapon 3
LW3 promo.jpg
Manufacturer Data East Pinball
Release dateAugust 1992
SystemDataEast/Sega (Version 3)
DesignJoe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula
ProgrammingKristina Donofrio
ArtworkMarkus Rothkranz
MechanicsJohn Lund
Music Brian L. Schmidt
Sound Brian L. Schmidt
Production run10,350

Lethal Weapon 3 is a pinball machine produced by Data East Pinball in 1992. [1] It is based on the movie of the same name, which was the most popular film in summer 1992. By 1994, it was Data East's all-time most successful pinball machine. [2] The game was designed by Markus Rothkranz. [3]

Contents

Development

Richard Donner, who directed the film series had a past relationship with Data East. In 1991, he had the company produce a custom Joel Silver pinball machine that he gifted to the film producer. [4] Danny Glover, Mel Gibson, and Joe Pesci all recorded custom voice call-outs for the game. [5]

The game featured a Generation 3 FullView dot matrix display, which was larger than the current industry standard, and displayed digitized movie clips. [1] The game also featured a hidden leveling system, in which players "grab hold of the Data East gun handle and eliminate bad guys in one of three video crime simulator shoot outs". [1]

The game was designed to appeal to both novices and experienced players. [6]

There is a choice of three background music tracks - a version of C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man", and an original composition by Brian Schmidt. [6]

Playfield and layout

The lower part of the playfield shows a large Uzi with insert lights. [6]

Gameplay

Unlike video modes in most other games, the Uzi video mode is played with the ball still on the main playfield. [6]

Release and reception

Lethal Weapon 3 received positive reviews. [7] The game was noted as part of a larger shift from original themes to movie-themed pinball machines. [8] [9] A reviewer for The Flipside found the theme to be well integrated, and the manufacturers best pinball machine to-date; only minor issues were found, such as the unreliability of the skill shot. [6] By 1994, it was Data East's all-time most successful pinball machine. [2]

Data East provided six Lethal Weapon 3 games for attendee's to play at the movie's Los Angeles premiere in May, 1992. [5] However, the completed game was not available for release until several months later. [10] [11] Joe Pesci also owns a Lethal Weapon 3 pinball machine. [12]

Other versions

Data East was one of the few commercial pinball companies that manufactured custom pinball games. Two custom machines based on Lethal Weapon 3 were produced, Aaron Spelling and Michael Jordan; both designed by the same design team as for Lethal Weapon 3.

Michael Jordan

Seven machines were manufactured to raise money for charity, with the first two raising over $35,000 at an auction for the Michael Jordan Foundation. [13] The programming for the sound and display chips was customized; different versions of the cabinet and backbox exist, including a unique machine with light blue cabinet, [13] and another in a red cabinet. [14]

Aaron Spelling

A single bespoke machine was manufactured, commissioned by Aaron Spelling's wife, Candy, as a present. The playfield and backglass show Aaron, Candy, and their two children. Voices were added, including Candy saying "I like pink champagne on ice", and their daughter Tori saying "I love you daddy". [15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Data East's Lethal Weapon 3". Cash Box . LV (45): 25. July 4, 1992. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Data East Introduces New Dot Matrix Display". Cash Box . LVIII (11): 30. November 12, 1994. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Fogelman, Bea (1999). The FilmMakers. iUniverse. p. 6. ISBN   9781583485897.
  4. ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (1993-08-01). "Hollywood's Big-Bang Theorist". The Los Angeles Times. p. 210. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  5. 1 2 "The Hollywood game". Chicago Tribune. 1992-04-22. p. 32. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Baumgarten, Steve (1992). "Playing the Field - Lethal Weapon 3" (PDF). The Flipside. Vol. 1, no. 1. pp. 4–6.
  7. ↑ Diamond, Dominik (1993). Gamesmaster: the official book. Channel 4. p. 17.
  8. ↑ "Buzzers and bells". The Tampa Tribune. 1993-08-16. p. 63. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  9. ↑ Henry, Tom (1993-08-29). "A Passion for Pinball". The Blade. p. 82. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  10. ↑ Mowatt, Todd (1992-09-05). "Gamer's guide will tune you in". Niagara Falls Review. p. 64. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  11. ↑ Rodios, Jack (1992-12-13). "Australian Convention '92 deemed "the best ever"". Play Meter. p. 102. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  12. ↑ Ryan, Matt (2021-02-04). "Tour Joe Pesci's Hilariously Over-The-Top Lavallette Mansion". 92.7 WOBM. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  13. 1 2 Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 146. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  14. ↑ Jordan, Michael (1993). Vancil, Mark (ed.). Rare air : Michael on Michael (2nd ed.). p. 113. ISBN   9781892866011.
  15. ↑ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 147. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
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