NBA Fastbreak (pinball)

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NBA Fastbreak
NBA Fastbreak flyer.jpg
ManufacturerWilliams Electronics Games
Release dateMarch 1997
System WPC-95
Design George Gomez [1]
ProgrammingTom Uban
ArtworkKevin O'Connor [2]
MechanicsTom Kopera [1]
MusicKevin Quinn
SoundKevin Quinn
VoicesTim Kitzrow
Production run4,414 units (confirmed)

NBA Fastbreak is a 1997 pinball machine released by Williams Electronics Games (under the Bally brand name). [3]

Contents

Two machines could be linked together for competitive play. [4] Another machine based on NBA, and called NBA, was released by Stern in 2009, this also had the artwork by Kevin O'Connor. [5]

Development

NBA Fastbreak was one of the last machines released by Bally. [6] The game was designed in a record time of about six months. [7] The design was intended to mirror the experience of playing basketball. [8]

Gameplay

Single machine

The game begins with the player selecting one of 29 NBA teams. [9] The scoring is like the real NBA, unlike typical pinball scoring. [10] The objective of NBA Fastbreak is to get to Trophy Multiball by completing six tasks, win a championship ring, and score as many points as possible along the way. [11] The six tasks are:

When all the tasks are completed, Trophy Multiball automatically starts (if the player loses the ball before it starts, it will start on the next ball). The player then has unlimited balls for about 20 seconds. The center ramp is lit for 2 points and the goal is to outscore the "other team". If the player wins, a championship ring is awarded. [10] [12] [13]

Linked machines

When two machines linked together are played, a single player plays on each machine. Both players have unlimited balls, with drains not counting. The game is timed, and the winner is the player to score the most baskets. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 "NBA Fastbreak (1997) Pinball Machine by Bally Manufacturing Co". Kineticist. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  2. ↑ Horowitz, Ken (2023-04-27). From Pinballs to Pixels: An Arcade History of Williams-Bally-Midway. McFarland. ISBN   978-1-4766-4796-8.
  3. ↑ Ruben, Adam. Pinball Wizards: Jackpots, Drains, and the Cult of the Silver Ball. United States, Chicago Review Press, 2017. 54.
  4. ↑ US 5890715,Gomez, George A; Uban, Thomas W& Kopera, Thomas M,"Linkable pinball machine",published 1997-12-03,issued 1999-04-06
  5. ↑ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 298. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  6. ↑ Vain, Syl (2022-04-27). "NBA Fastbreak pinball machine | Bally | Review". Pinball Mag. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  7. 1 2 Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. p. 227. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  8. ↑ "NBA Fastbreak". NBA Today. 1 (1): i. 1997-03-01 – via IPDb.
  9. ↑ "NBA Fastbreak Pinball". www.pinball.com. 1997. Archived from the original on 2003-04-15. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  10. 1 2 McFatter, James; Alsheimer, Colin (2025-05-30). "Swish! Learn How to Play Bally's 1990s Basketball Tribute, NBA Fastbreak". Kineticist. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  11. ↑ US 5806851,Gomez, George; Kopera, Thomas M& Uban, Thomas W,"Interactive play for a pinball game",published 1997-03-11,issued 1998-09-15
  12. ↑ "Bally: NBA Fastbreak explore the playfield". www.pinball.com. 1997. Archived from the original on 2003-02-12. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  13. ↑ "NBA Fastbreak (1997) Pinball Machine by Bally Manufacturing Co". www.kineticist.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
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