1985–1986 · Pinstar & Sonic
Gamatron
Deep blue and black starfield with scattered white stars, grey and cream futuristic city facade along the bottom with windows and doorways and red laser beams crossing the whole panel.
- Years
- 1985–1986
- Maker
- Pinstar & Sonic
- Type
- Solid state
- Display
- Alphanumeric
- Players
- 4
2 games under this title
Made by
- Design
- Harry Williams
- Design
- Steve Kirk
- Art
- Seamus McLaughlin
Vision analysis
On the playfield
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Playfield Standard
- black
- red
- yellow
- white
Fingerprint: Huge red rocket with yellow-white explosion burst against black starfield, second white-and-red angled rocket, red-yellow striped instruction band, circle of small round target windows, red starburst cluster of colored multiplier inserts, vintage 1970s space-exploration style
The most memorable feature is the huge red rocket with a sprawling yellow-and-white explosion burst, set against a black starfield of scattered star dots. A second white-and-red rocket is angled across the upper middle of the playfield, so rockets dominate the scene. The red-and-yellow striped instruction band reading about bonus rocket letter values runs straight across the mid-field. The lower centre has a distinctive ring of small round target windows set around a blue centre, feeding a red starburst of coloured X multiplier inserts. Two pink-rubber flippers and white rules cards in the lower corners frame the base.
Setting
- Outer space starfield with scattered star dots on black
- Rocket and explosion scene
- Modern silver apron at the base
Symbols
- Stars
- Rockets
- Explosion bursts
- X multiplier circles
- Orange arrow/lane markers
- Playfield rule cards
Notable shapes
- Red starburst of multiplier inserts below centre
- Circular target ring with blue centre
- Large diagonal rocket crossing the field
Art motifs
- Red starburst
- Striped instruction band
- Ring of round targets
- Flame plume
Themes
- Space
- Rockets
- Exploration
- Bonus multiplier
Text on it
- ALL TARGETS DOWN = BONUS ROCKET LETTER VALUE
- 25000
- ADVANCE
- SPELL
- QUARTER
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Large red rocket angled across the centre-left with a yellow-and-white flame burst behind it |
| Vehicle | Second white-and-red rocket or ship shape angled across the upper middle |
| Other | Large indistinct red form at the top-right edge of the playfield artwork |
A portrait-orientation pinball playfield shot head-on under glass, with a black background sprinkled with small star dots to suggest outer space. The colour scheme is dominated by black, red, yellow and white. Down the centre-left runs a large red rocket with a yellow-and-white flame/explosion burst behind it, and a second white-and-red rocket/ship shape angled across the upper middle. A red-and-yellow striped band cuts across the mid-playfield carrying the instruction line about bonus rocket letter values. In the lower centre is a circular ring of small round target windows arranged around a blue centre, and below that a red starburst cluster of coloured multiplier inserts marked with X values. Two flippers with pink rubber sit at the bottom, flanked by white rules/instruction cards in the lower corners. Round red pop-bumper caps are scattered across the upper playfield, and orange/yellow arrow and lane markings run up the left side. The artwork is airbrushed, glossy and hand-painted in a 1970s space-exploration style, with a modern silver reproduction apron and instruction cards added at the base.
On the backglass
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass Standard
- blue
- black
- grey
- red
Fingerprint: GAMATRON title in horizontal rainbow stripes inside white block face, colossal grey armoured robot from behind blown apart by yellow-red impact starbursts, four red laser beams stabbing from corners, grey futuristic buildings with magenta GAME OVER window, tiny running figures and smoke
The centrepiece is a colossal grey armoured robot seen from behind, its back blown apart by yellow-and-red impact starbursts as four thick red laser beams stab into it from opposite corners. The title 'GAMATRON' is unusually lettered in horizontal rainbow stripes - cyan through purple to pink - inside a white block face with a red outline. A busy strip of grey futuristic buildings with a magenta 'GAME OVER' window runs along the bottom, populated by tiny running figures and smoke puffs. Small floating craft with trailing yellow exhaust streak across the starfield behind the logo.
Setting
- Deep blue and black starfield with scattered white stars
- Grey and cream futuristic city facade along the bottom with windows and doorways
- Red laser beams crossing the whole panel
Symbols
- Four-pointed star flare on the script logo
- Yellow-and-red impact starbursts
- Red laser beams
- Seven-segment score digits
- Grid of square windows on the buildings
- Stars
Lettering
- Large chunky white block capitals with horizontal cyan/blue/purple/pink gradient bands and a red outline, plus a small orange-to-yellow italic script logo
Themes
- Space
- Robots
- Laser combat
- Futuristic city
- Science fiction battle
Title on it
- Gamatron
Text on it
- Pinstar
- GAMATRON
- MATCH
- 69
- CREDIT
- GAME
- OVER
- COPYRIGHT
- PINSTAR, INC.
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
- Another
- BGR
- restoration
- 2
- 3
- 4
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Robot | One enormous grey-and-silver armoured robot machine filling the centre, back to viewer, boxy segmented torso, cylindrical neck joint, glowing red eye slits, cyan-lit vents, being struck by laser beams and impact starbursts |
| Robot | Several small stubby hovering robots and pod craft scattered across the starfield, teal, yellow and magenta, with trailing exhaust |
| Man | Small white-suited figure running near the bottom centre-left, arms raised |
| Man | Small orange-and-white suited figure running near the bottom centre-right beside a smoke cloud |
| Alien | Small green-and-yellow insect-like creature with a domed shell near the left edge |
| Vehicle | Large teal and grey domed spacecraft hull at the lower right |
Full-width backglass panel bordered by a blue plastic frame, artwork hand-painted in a comic-book airbrush style against a deep blue and black starfield. Across the upper third sits a huge block-letter title 'GAMATRON' in chunky white capitals shaded with horizontal cyan, blue, purple and pink bands and a red outline; above its left half a small orange-to-yellow italic script logo reading 'Pinstar' with a four-pointed star flare at its left. Below the title a gigantic grey-and-silver armoured robot machine dominates the centre, seen from three-quarter rear, with a boxy segmented torso, cylindrical neck joint, glowing red eye slits, cyan-lit vents and a cluster of yellow-and-red impact starbursts where red laser beams strike it. Red laser beams criss-cross diagonally from upper left and from the right into the robot. Two horizontal score windows with red seven-segment digits flank the robot, each preceded by a purple player number. Around the edges are small stubby flying craft and pod-like vehicles in teal, yellow and magenta, plus tiny hovering robots. The lower third shows a grey and cream futuristic city facade with windows, a doorway with a striped floor and a magenta-lit 'GAME OVER' sign, with smoke clouds and small running figures. Bottom left carries a white copyright strip and a round white sticker reading 'Another BGR restoration'.
Backglass Standard
- black
- blue
- white
- red
Fingerprint: GAMATRON in huge chrome block letters with red outline and white drop shadow spanning upper third, colossal white-grey armoured robot raising clawed hand firing yellow-red laser beams diagonally, smaller spacecraft tumbling through upper corners, grey control-panel band at bottom with four red seven-segment score windows, jagged blue speed-lines across black starfield scattered with white stars, outer space battle theme, black-blue-yellow-red palette.
The single most memorable element is a giant white armoured robot striding in mid-air across the centre of the glass, one clawed hand raised, spewing long yellow-and-red laser beams that slash diagonally down the artwork. The title GAMATRON stretches across the entire upper third in enormous chrome block letters with a red outline and white drop shadow, dwarfing everything else. The bottom third is unusually mechanical, a flat grey control-panel band packed with four red seven-segment score windows labelled by small white numerals, rather than any scenic illustration. Jagged blue speed-line streaks radiate across a black starfield, giving the impression the robot is bursting out of the background.
Setting
- Black starfield speckled with small white stars
- Jagged blue and cyan diagonal speed-line streaks
- Grey mechanical control-panel band across the bottom third
- Large cream-white planet or moon shape behind the robot's upper body
Symbols
- Stars
- Laser beams
- Angular spaceship silhouettes
- Monster head with teeth
- Player numerals 2 and 3
- Seven-segment score windows
Lettering
- Very large chrome-and-red block capitals with a white drop shadow and a slight upward arch, reading as a heavy sci-fi metal logo
Themes
- Space battle
- Giant robot
- Laser beams
- Spacecraft
- Score panel
- Seven-segment display
Title on it
- Gamatron
Text on it
- GAMATRON
- 2
- 3
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Robot | A huge white and pale-grey armoured robot, roughly humanoid, dominating the centre of the glass from mid-height down to the control panel. it has a blocky helmeted head with a visor slit, a ribbed cylindrical barrel-like chest piece, a round red-ringed disc at the hip, and clawed hands. its left arm is raised with the claw open; it leans forward as if flying or lunging, and yellow-and-red laser beams project from its arm down to the lower left. |
| Monster | A black-and-white monstrous head with a gaping mouth full of sharp white teeth and a wide eye, emerging at the lower left beside an orange-yellow burst, with small human figures and debris thrown around it. |
| Vehicle | Several small white-and-grey futuristic spacecraft scattered through the upper left and right corners, drawn in three-quarter view, some trailing cyan exhaust plumes; one fires a red laser bolt that leaves a dotted trail. |
| Other | A small grey angular spaceship with a pointed nose and swept wings crossing the left side of the glass at mid-height, silhouetted against the blue speed-lines. |
A printed backglass in a hand-inked, brightly coloured comic-book style. The whole field is black, scattered with white star specks and streaked with jagged blue and cyan speed-lines, so the setting reads as outer space. Across the upper third sits the title GAMATRON in huge chrome-and-red block capitals with a white drop shadow, arched slightly and spanning almost the full width. Below and around it a colossal white-and-grey armoured robot occupies the centre, firing yellow-and-red laser beams that streak diagonally down to the lower left. Smaller spacecraft and a small humanoid figure tumble through the upper corners. The bottom third is a grey panel of scoring windows: red seven-segment numeral reels in recessed dark rectangles, with small white player numbers 2 and 3 at the left ends. Dominant colours are black, blue, white and red, with yellow laser flashes. Four rectangular score displays are visible, all showing unlit or ghosted red digits.