Popeye Saves the Earth
page 2 of advertising flyer | |
| Manufacturer | WMS Industries |
|---|---|
| Release date | February 1994 |
| System | Midway WPC (DCS) |
| Design | Python Anghelo, Barry Oursler |
| Programming | Mike Boon |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo, Pat McMahon, John Youssi |
| Mechanics | Zofia Bil |
| Music | Paul Heitsch |
| Sound | Paul Heitsch |
| Voices | Tim Kitzrow[1] |
| Animation | Scott Slomiany, Eugene Geer |
| Production run | 4,217 units |
Popeye Saves The Earth is a 1994 widebody pinball game designed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler and released by WMS Industries under the Bally label. It is based on the Popeye comic/cartoon characters licensed from King Features Syndicate.
It is one of WMS' SuperPin line of widebody games; the tenth and final collaboration between Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler.[2] The playfield artwork was by Pat McMahon and Python Anghelo, and the backglass was designed by John Youssi.[3] It uses the DCS sound system.[4]
Most of the games sold outside the United States.[2]
Story
The game was set in the current day, with a middle-aged Popeye living on an island from residual cheques of his time as a cartoon star. Olive Oyl collects seashells on the beach, and Swee'Pea is nearly 30 years old and has a masters degree in marine biology. Wimpy still has a hamburger addiction.[2]
Bluto has formed an oil company, Brutus Oil, which was responsible for a large oil spill on Popeye's island.[5][6]
Layout
The game has an upper playfield.[7]
Gameplay
The player launches the ball into a roulette style device.[8][7]
Reception
Play Meter enjoyed the return to a cartoon theme, even with no movie tie-in.[9] Cash Box International couldn't see the reason for the choice of theme, and found the game to be slow.[10] At a seminar at Pinball Expo on October 27, 1995 it was "unanimously agreed" as being the worst game of recent memory.[11]
References
- ^ IGN.com: Breaking into the Industry: Tim Kitzrow Retrieved on 5 January 2010.
- ^ a b c Ciaravino, Joe. "Part III of The Unauthorized Hagiography of Python Anghelo: Yes, The Part With The Pinball Sex". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
- ^ Shalhoub, Michael (2012). The pinball compendium: 1982 to present (revised and expanded 2nd ed.). Atglen, Pa: Schiffer Publishing. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-7643-4107-6.
- ^ "Popeye shoves off". Coin Cascade. May 1994. pp. 6–7.
- ^ Anghelo, Python. Ciaravino, Joe (ed.). "Popeye Description". Nudge Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
- ^ Anghelo, Python. Popeye proposed theme (PDF).
- ^ a b Popeye Saves The Earth operations manual (PDF). Midway Manufacturing Company. January 1994.
- ^ US 5356141, Oursler, Barry; Bil, Zofia & Anghelo, Python, "Roulette scoring device", published 1993-11-12, issued 1994-10-18
- ^ Reeves, Greg (June 1994). "Player's Perspective". Play Meter. Vol. 20, no. 7. pp. 115–116.
- ^ "Popeye". Cash Box International. March 1994. p. 66.
- ^ Bueschel, Richard M. Encyclopedia of Pinball: Whiffle to Rocket, 1930-1933. p. 243. ISBN 9781889933009.
External links
- Popeye Saves the Earth at the Internet Pinball Database