Saturday, May 9, 2020

Niche Collections: Neo Skywalker's Euro pinball machines


When you're more new to pinball you seek out the games that hover at the top of the Pinside Top 100 list, for the most part.  You want to play the classics, the fresh hits, understand the buzz.  When you enter a pinball show's doors you go right to them and hunker down.  But when you've played them all, you start to notice the machines that aren't there at every show.  The machines you had never seen before, or might have seen out of the corner of your eye when you were more green.  I quickly came to understand that many of the obscure titles at the shows had one thing in common: They weren't from North America.
Welcome to the European pinball machines.

In the Digital Niche Games post I mentioned how amazing it is to be able to play the Zaccaria games digitally, because chances are you'll never be able to play them all in real life.  And that is true for most people, including some of the biggest pinball collectors.  But there are a handful of pinballers who have sought out the European games, played them, and even built collections of them.


Niche Collection 006: Neo Skywalker's Euro pinball machines

Mexico 86 (1986, Zaccaria) + Zankor (1986, Zaccaria)
the basics
who: Neo Skywalker
where: USA
what: "Trying for a full collection of Gen2 Zaccarias, with other rare obscure games thrown in for good variety."
what country are these machines from: "Bologna, Italy for Zaccaria.  SLEIC is from Spain, Cirsa is from Spain as well."
when: "I started collecting pinball machines in 2004, but have been playing tournaments, since 1991.  Started going for a full Gen2 Zaccaria collection for about 6 years."
how many:  "Currently 42"






How did you first discover these types of machines?
Playing Farfalla and Time machine, at Chicago Expo and PAPA tournaments.  Back in 2005-2006.
What attracted you to them?
Zaccaria stands out, because the playfield layouts and toys, are above and beyond anything, Gottlieb, Bally or Williams were doing.   Art packages were bright.  Playfields were clearcoated over a decade before anyone else.  So unique compared to anyone else.


Mexico 86 (1986, Zaccaria)

Mexico 86 (1986, Zaccaria) - playfield 
Mexico 86 (1986, Zaccaria) - playfield


Zankor (1986, Zaccaria)

Zankor (1986, Zaccaria) - playfield

Zankor (1986, Zaccaria) - playfield

I'd love to do a documentary movie about the zaccaria company and the 3 brothers.  Around 1980ish Zaccaria was the 3rd biggest manufacturer in pinball, only to be surpased by Williams, and Bally (who were separate companies at the time)


What inspired you to acquire many of them?
I always loved the out of the box thinking they had.  Zaccarias come in about 5 versions of rarity.  Kinda like magic the gathering cards.  You have common, uncommon, rare, ultra rare and legendary rare.  After Acquiring 2 of the 3 legendary rares.  I decided it would be fun to have a full collection of something.  I don't have the room to get all 38 different games Zaccaria made, decided to get all 14 Gen 2's.   Since they all share the same boards (only sound boards change through the games)  And some Technoplay games also share gen 2 boards.
Pool Champion (1985, Zaccaria) - backglass

Pool Champion (1985, Zaccaria) - playfield
  
Locomotion (1981, Zaccaria)

Locomotion (1981, Zaccaria) - playfield detail

If someone is only used to American pinball, what aspects of these machines might surprise them?
Just the bright colors make them stand out from US games.  The double backglasses with vacuum formed 3d plastic inserts, and the use of clear multilayered playfields on many of the games.
Soccer Kings (1982, Zaccaria) + Mephisto (1987, Cirsa) sandwhiching a Maiden

Mephisto (1987, Cirsa)

Mephisto (1987, Cirsa) - playfield

Mephisto (1987, Cirsa) - playfield detail

Advice if someone reading this wanted to get into these machines?
Not much different than collecting early SS games from Bally or Williams.   How they work is very similar.  boards are designed well, and hold up.  Playfields are clearcoated, so you rarely see wear on a zac.   Way ahead of their time.

New Star's Phoenix (1987, Zaccaria) - backglass

New Star's Phoenix (1987, Zaccaria) - upper playfield

New Star's Phoenix (1987, Zaccaria) - lower playfield

What are your favourite features/gimmicks on these machine?
Every game is completely different from each other.  It's not like bally, where you have subtle changes.  these were complete overhauls, that didn't copy anyone, or even copy themselves.   You have time machine, with an entire playfield that rises up out of the field, changing a wide open target shooting layout, into a pop bumper fest.  Or a game like robot, that has round robot heads that pop out of the playfield that can be hit from different angles, or a game like soccer kings that has 4 flippers, and a overhead clear playfield, with moving goalie that tries to anticipate your shot and move to block the goal.

Magic Castle (1984, Zaccaria)

Magic Castle (1984, Zaccaria) in the lineup

What's up with the Zaccaria "Game Time" bonus?
Game time bonus is a Zaccaria thing they liked to do.  Started in the Gen 1 games all the way through until the end.
On gen1 games you cannot turn it off.
On gen2 games you can turn it off in the game settings.   Due to me running leagues and tournaments, I have it turned off on all my games.
 
Game time bonus, is bonus gameplay on your 3rd ball.  When GTB is on, on your 3rd ball you have a timer that counts up.   Starts at 10 seconds, and counts up to 99 seconds.  Every switch you hit builds a second to game time bonus.  Once your 3rd ball ends, it will kick out another ball and start counting down the timer.  You have unlimited balls  until the timer stops.  The second the timer stops, it locks out all flippers and switches and then you collect your 3rd ball bonus. 
If you turn this feature off, it's just a normal 3 ball game.  Since locomotion is a Gen 1, I cannot turn that feature off, so I have a sign up to tell people game time bonus is active.
Also, the scoring is universal on gen 2 Zacs.  They all score the same overall.
There are 2 main things in Zaccaria: Red Special, Orange Special.
 
In the Zaccaria world, the Orange Special is like a jackpot.   Red Special would be like a super jackpot.  All games can be set the same way.  You can either win credits, extra ball or points.   I have all my Zacs set the same way.    Orange special is 1 million  (you don't get to choose value) and red special is 4 million.

Robot (1985, Zaccaria) - in the lineup

Robot (1985, Zaccaria) - playfield being pulled from machine

Clown (1985, Zaccaria)

What are the best parts and worst parts of working on these machines?
There really isn't anything different about these than any other early SS game.   But just like any rare game you have, you always live in fear, from breaking a backglass, or breaking a plastic.  Something you don't have extras of.  Everything else I usually keep parts on hand for.

Miss World (1982, Geiger-Automatenbau) - full view

Miss World (1982, Geiger-Automatenbau) - cabinet side

Miss World (1982, Geiger-Automatenbau) - backglass

Miss World (1982, Geiger-Automatenbau) - playfield detail


How did you find some of the rarest ones?
I've had searches and postings LTB for years on some of those titles   Sometimes someone just contacts you from an old post and it works out.I'm kind of known for Zaccaria collecting, both machines and parts.  So when something surfaces. I usually have about 10 people tell me about it.  Makes finding stuff much easier than it was before.  But I only need 1 more to complete my Gen2 collection, so the search isn't as broad as it used to be.  Luckily the last one I need isn't overly rare, and isn't overly valuable. 


Soccer Kings (1982, Zaccaria)

Time Machine (1983, Zaccaria)
Pinball Champ (1983, Zaccaria)


Is there a community of collectors that commiserate specifically around these machines?
There are some of us that specialize in the obscure euro stuff.   Most of us know each other, because there is only about 10 of us that care.

Has anyone attempted to fabricate any of the custom parts?
David Gersic makes some of the Zac parts, and I have recreated the Spinner shaft cams.  Though, my mold is having problems and I have to try making it again.   Tempted to just have them manufactured. 
David Gersic's site is http://zaccaria-pinball.com/ and he also repairs all Zaccaria boards.
Gianfri, from www.pinballsolutions.eu,  makes new versions of Zaccaria boards, ranging from Gen1, and gen 2.  I have test ran his All in 1 Gen 2 MPU board, which is fantastic.  Lamp driver boards.  LED displays and many other electronic things for Zacs.   I use all of his LED displays in all of my games.   He Also sell NVram for Zacs.    Also, BRINKS sells a NVram choice as well.


Scramble (1987, Tecnoplay) - full view

Scramble (1987, Tecnoplay) - backglass

Scramble (1987, Tecnoplay) - side art

Scramble (1987, Tecnoplay) - upper playfield

Scramble (1987, Tecnoplay) - lower playfield



What are you thoughts on Interflip games?  Recel?
I like all those companies.  Anything obscure i'm a big fan of.   When you have been playing and collecting a long time, you don't get excited seeing the same stuff over and over.  that's why games like this are exciting.  Something you don't see everywhere.   When I first started collecting, I had the same cookie cutter collections that everyone else had.   Full of B/W DMD titles with either LOTR or TSPP thrown in.  That's the way everyone's collection was.  TAF, TZ, TOM, CV, AFM, MM ... Which those games are fun and everything.  But we have been playing the crap out of them since the early 90s.   After playing all the common DMDs over and over, we started to appreciate early SS titles.  And then expanding to EMs.   There is a lot of fun to be had in every era of pinball if you find the right games and open your mind.  

IO Moon (1996, SLEIC) - full view

IO Moon (1996, SLEIC) - playfield

IO Moon (1996, SLEIC) - upper playfield

What are your top 5 European games that you think every pinhead needs to play, and why?
  1. Zankor (my favorite out of the Zacs):  Ridiculous music, great layout, balanced scoring, hardest skillshot in pinball.  All around blast.     
  2. IO Moon: Just one of those games you never see.  Good layout.  rules similar to Addams Family,  great sound package.   
  3. Robot:  one of the Zacs everyone wants.  Fun to punch the smiling robots in the face. 
  4. Locomotion:  One of the best backglasses in pinball.  Great rule package.  Great theme integration.
  5. Jolly Park:  I don't have one, but it's great to look at, unique layout, rules are all over the place, but it's fun to play.


Spooky (1987, Zaccaria) - in a near-perfect pairing 
Spooky (1987, Zaccaria) - playfield



Can you go into your inspiration and design for your gameroom?
The design came from the first pirate wench I bought about 10 years ago.  The one in the captain hat.  So from that point on, I thought it would be great to do a themed gameroom to look like the hull of a pirate ship.  So over the past 10 years, I've been collecting those Spanish metal lanterns and pirate wench statues, hoping someday I'd have a house that would have a gameroom space to do what I wanted.   Then last year, I found a house that would work for my project.  Gutted out the basement, and started from scratch to make it look the way it does.
pirate hull gameroom 
pirate hull gameroom 



pirate hull gameroom 

pirate hull gameroom 

pirate hull gameroom 

pirate hull gameroom 
video walkthrough:


Orbitor 1 (1982, Stern)


Have a machine to sell?
Standard boilerplate for everyone that arrives here via searches:  If you have any of these kinds of machines and want more info on yours and/or want to sell them, please email me at thetastates@gmail.com and I'll see if I can help you.  No matter where you are in the world, chances are there's probably a community of people I can get you in touch with.

Have a collection to showcase?
If you a niche collection that might be appropriate here, please email me at thetastates@gmail.com

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