Allen Edwall

Allen Edwall was a pivotal figure at Gottlieb and later Premier, guiding the company’s transition from electro-mechanical to solid-state pinball in the 1970s and 1980s. Hired in 1974 for his electronics expertise, he developed Gottlieb’s first solid-state hardware system (System 1) and contributed software routines for new gameplay features. Edwall also designed or co-designed several influential games, including Centigrade 37 (1977), Charlie’s Angels (1978), James Bond 007 (1980), and Time Line (1980). These titles integrated emerging microprocessor technology and introduced features like time-based play modes, novel drop-target arrangements, and wider playfields.