Watch the skies — this is the solid-state version of Gottlieb’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, based on Steven Spielberg’s landmark science-fiction film, and it comes from the legendary team of designer Ed Krynski and artist Gordon Morison. With an alphanumeric display and a hefty confirmed run of 9,950, it was a genuine blockbuster, one of the more popular Gottlieb machines of its era.
The layout is a busy, engaging spread with a distinctive helping of hardware: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a slingshot, three roto-targets, three standup targets, a five-bank of drop targets, and a spinning target. Those three roto-targets, the spinning drum targets, add unique mechanical variety, while the five-bank of drops gives a sharp-shooting player a satisfying objective to clear and the spinning target offers high-value shots. The three standups round out a well-appointed field, all in service of the awe-and-wonder theme of alien contact. It’s a target-rich design that rewards accurate shooting and keeping the ball moving.
This solid-state Close Encounters is a fine showcase of the celebrated Krynski-and-Morison team’s craft, pairing a beloved sci-fi film license with a satisfying, feature-rich playfield and Morison’s warm artwork. Gottlieb produced both electromechanical and solid-state versions of the game, and with nearly 10,000 of this solid-state edition built, it was hugely popular, introducing countless players to the film’s sense of cosmic wonder. For the collector who loves the golden age of pinball and its greatest creative teams, it’s a rewarding find. Work those roto-targets and the five-bank, rip the spinner, and watch the skies. Some machines pair a beloved license with reliable Gottlieb craftsmanship, and this sci-fi classic is one of them. Make contact and drop a coin.