The Olympic Hockey pinball machine, released by Williams in 1972, was designed by Steve Kordek and features artwork by Christian Marche. This two-player electro-mechanical game has a sports theme focused on ice hockey. A notable feature is the mechanical animation on the backglass, where a puck moves across a hockey rink, simulating the action of scoring goals.
This Week in Pinball
Weekly pinball news and features, plus a few other things. Join for free.
Quickie Version:
UTAD until the center bumper is lit, then hit that bumper all day.
Go-to Flipper:
Balanced
Risk Index:
Very High
Skillshot(s):
Make either the “A” or “B” lane at the top. The A lights the yellow upper left and lower right bumpers; B lights the red upper right and lower left bumpers. Getting both A and B on the same ball opens the ball save gate at the right outlane.
Full Rules:
This game, despite being focused on “scoring goals,” is really about lighting and scoring bumpers, especially the center one. Hitting either of the standup targets just outside the bottom of the top A and B lanes scores 1000 and raises the center ball save post. Hitting the white rollover button not far above the center post lowers it. Advancing to score a goal is achieved by the A and B lanes, which give three advances each, the top and center bumpers, the rollover buttons arcing from right to left across the center of the machine and the side lanes (which also reset you to center ice after you score a goal – see below). The main reason you want to score a goal is to light the center bumper for 1,000. That and those “up post” standup targets are the largest sources of points on the game. The tricky part happens after you score a goal: if the ball goes through either side lane that says “start at center ice,” play for the next goal begins and the bumper is turned off, back to just 100 points. (The yellow and red bumpers are not affected by this, they stay on if lit.) Your objective is thus to advance to score a goal, then get as many hits on that center bumper as you can before the ball randomly goes into either side lane to turn it off or drains. Everything resets each ball. Of course flipping the ball up towards the bumpers might also get you some accidental up post hits, which is good, too. While going UTAD, shoot for the gaps just outside the outer bumpers; this is safer than shooting into the bumper complex itself and should lead to a good amount of action. When flipping at the 1000 bumper, hit the edges of it so the ball skips off it and continues upward where it can bounce around more. Hitting the bottom of the bumper can drain.
via Bob's Guide