The Phantom of the Opera (pinball)

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The Phantom of the Opera
PhantomoftheOperaPinball.jpg
Manufacturer Data East
Release dateJanuary 1990
SystemDataEast/Sega Version 2
DesignJoe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula
ProgrammingLonnie D. Ropp
ArtworkPaul Faris
MusicKyle Johnson
Production run2,750

The Phantom of the Opera is a pinball machine released by Data East in 1990. The game is based on the 1910 French novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, [1] but not based on the 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber or movie of the same name. [2] The game was designed by Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula. [3]

Contents

Design

The game started to be designed in November 1988, just as the book was being re-issued, and a month before The Phantom of the Opera miniseries was announced. [4]

The main feature of the game is the organ ramp. [5]

The music begins with a version of Bach's Tocatta and Fugue in D minor and then progresses to "up-tempo variations". [6]

Artwork

The artwork for the machine was produced by art designer Paul Faris, [7] working as a freelancer. [8] The artist had free reign to create images based on his interpretation of the book, unlike many other Data East pinball machines where the choice of artwork was restricted by a licensor. [9] Gary Stern and Ed Cebula are both shown on the backglass; [4] Faris' daughter is the model for the character Christine Daaé. [8] The Phantom can be unmasked to reveal his true face on the backglass. [3] This uses special printing changing the opacity of the ink, and a lighting technique designed by Paul Faris to provide "visual removal of the mask". [10]

Gameplay

The main goal of the game is to open the secret passage below the organ, to unmask the Phantom and activate a three ball multiball. [6]

On the last ball of a game, the player can double their score by shooting the catwalk ramp. [11]

Reception

Play Meter found it to be a challenging game with artwork too gory for the taste of the reviewer, rating it at 2.5/5. [12] In a following issue the designer explained some of the details in the artwork including the hanging figure of Joseph Buquet. [13]

Digital versions

The Phantom of the Opera was released as a licensed table for The Pinball Arcade in 2014, [14] and Stern Pinball Arcade in 2016. [15] Data East logos are removed due to licensing issues.

Legacy

This game is credited with making Data East pinball profitable enabling the company to survive. [16] [17]

References

  1. ↑ "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Data East 'Phantom of the Opera'". Ipdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  2. ↑ "Pinball Archive Rule Sheet: Phantom of the Opera". pinball.org. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  3. 1 2 "Data East's Phantom of the Opera". Cash Box . LII (33): 12. March 10, 1990. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Pinball designers: the faces behind the games". Play Meter. Vol. 16, no. 7. June 1990. p. 64.
  5. ↑ Mole, Eddie (2011). "EDDIETORIAL: THE TOMMY FACTOR". Pinball News. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  6. 1 2 Wolf, Scott (July 1990). "Arcade Action". Game Player’s. Vol. 2, no. 7. p. 32.
  7. ↑ Rossignoli, Marco (2011). The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game and Its History (3rd ed.). Schiffer Publishing. p. 182. ISBN   978-0-7643-3785-7.
  8. 1 2 Faris, Paul (August 12, 2007). "TOPcast Show 48" (audio). time 2H 4M.
  9. ↑ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. pp. 121–122. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  10. ↑ "Backglass artistry". Play Meter. Vol. 16, no. 7. June 1990. p. 71.
  11. ↑ The Phantom of the Opera (PDF). Data East Pinball. 1990. p. 4.
  12. ↑ Wolfe, Tim (June 1990). "Player's Perspective". Play Meter. Vol. 16, no. 7. pp. 124–125.
  13. ↑ Kaminkow, Joe (August 1990). "Letters". Play Meter. Vol. 16, no. 9. p. 22.
  14. ↑ "Pinball Arcade: Season Four Pack". Kotaku. 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  15. ↑ Cunningham, James (2016-12-03). "Review: Stern Pinball Arcade". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  16. ↑ Horowitz, Ken (2025-08-25). "History of: Sega Pinball Part 3 – Sega-16" . Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  17. ↑ Pinball News (2025-10-16). The Early Years at Data East & Sega Pinball - Pinball Expo 2025 - Pinball News (Video). 64.75 minutes in. Retrieved 2025-12-19– via YouTube.


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