Grab your board and catch some sun — Williams’ 1973 Tropic Fun is a breezy electromechanical single-player soaked in beach-and-surf sunshine, designed by the veteran Norm Clark with gorgeous art by Christian Marche, one of the most distinctive illustrators of the era whose bold, stylish work gave so many machines their unforgettable look. With a confirmed run of 1,100 and reel scoring, it’s a warm, inviting woodrail-era piece that captures the carefree spirit of a day at the shore.
The playfield keeps things clean and satisfying in the classic EM tradition: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, three standup targets, and two kick-out holes. There are no ramps or multiballs here, just the honest mechanical pleasures of keeping the ball alive, working the bumpers, and picking off targets while the reels tick over and the chimes ring out. It’s the kind of relaxed, approachable layout that made these machines such welcoming fixtures in the arcades and rec rooms of their day, easy to enjoy for anyone who dropped a coin.
Tropic Fun is a lovely example of Williams’ early-’70s craft, pairing Norm Clark’s reliable design sense with Marche’s eye-catching artwork to create a machine as pleasant to look at as it is to play. The beach theme was a perennial crowd-pleaser, all sun, surf, and good vibes, and this machine radiates that easygoing charm. For the collector who loves the warm, chiming heart of electromechanical pinball and the great artists who defined its look, Tropic Fun is a sunny delight. Ride the bumpers, work the targets, and soak up a little vintage sunshine. Some machines just make you smile, and this is one of them.