# Past Times Pinball History Ep 20: The Atarians **Source:** Past Times Arcade **Type:** video **Published:** 2024-05-15 **Duration:** 2m 16s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuq3t0f-2Lk --- ## Analysis Rob Burke presents a historical overview of Atari's pinball division (1976–1979), focusing on The Atarian as the first solid-state widebody machine. The episode highlights Atari's innovative inductive/magnetic sensor technology (avoiding traditional rollover switches), showcases six of seven full production games in the Pastimes collection, and notes Steve Ritchie's early design work on Airborne Avenger before his departure to Williams. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The Atarian (1976) is the very first solid-state widebody pinball machine — _Rob Burke, host of Past Times Arcade, presenting historical pinball collection_ - [HIGH] Atari released exactly seven full production pinball games between 1976 and 1979 — _Rob Burke directly states 'seven full production games that Atari released'_ - [HIGH] The Atarian used inductive/magnetic sensors (stars on playfield) instead of traditional rollover switches — _Host demonstrates and explains the unique sensor technology on The Atarian_ - [HIGH] Steve Ritchie designed Airborne Avenger, Atari's first game and one of his earliest designs — _Rob Burke: 'Very first game that was designed by Steve Ritchie... Steve designed this game'_ - [HIGH] Steve Ritchie left Atari before full production of Superman to join Williams, where his first game was Flash — _Rob Burke: 'Left before the full production of that, he ended up leaving for Williams. Very first game there: Williams Flash'_ ### Notable Quotes > "This is historically significant because this is the very first solid-state widebody." > — **Rob Burke**, ~0:15 > _Establishes The Atarian's landmark status in pinball history_ > "If you look at the playfield, you may notice there are no rollover switches, which are common in the out lanes or the in lanes or in the middle of the playfield. Instead, we have these stars on here—those are inductive playfield sensors, also magnetic sensors." > — **Rob Burke**, ~0:30 > _Explains the Atarian's unique technological innovation_ > "So if you roll over these stars, so score points... you can see if we roll over this, it's going to open the left gate." > — **Rob Burke**, ~0:50 > _Demonstrates how the magnetic sensor technology functions in gameplay_ > "Atari only produced pinballs for three years, 1976 through their last one being Superman, 1979." > — **Rob Burke**, ~2:00 > _Establishes the timeline of Atari's brief pinball manufacturing period_ > "Very first game that was designed by Steve Ritchie... Steve designed this game, also designed Superman. Left before the full production of that, he ended up leaving for Williams." > — **Rob Burke**, ~2:15 > _Traces Steve Ritchie's career transition from Atari to Williams_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Atari | company | Pinball manufacturer active 1976–1979; produced seven full production widebody games; pioneered inductive sensor technology | | Rob Burke | person | Host of Past Times Arcade pinball museum; presents historical overview and demonstrates machines | | Steve Ritchie | person | Legendary pinball designer; designed Airborne Avenger (first game at Atari) and Superman (last Atari game); left for Williams before Superman production | | The Atarian | game | 1976 Atari pinball; first solid-state widebody; features inductive magnetic sensors instead of rollover switches | | Airborne Avenger | game | Atari pinball; Steve Ritchie's first design; features plastic rollover switches; part of Pastimes collection | | Superman | game | 1979 Atari pinball; last game Atari released; designed by Steve Ritchie; feature machine at Pastimes Arcade | | Space Riders | game | Atari pinball; one of seven full production games; features traditional wire rollover switches | | Hercules | game | Atari pinball; full production game; on display at Pastimes Arcade | | Williams | company | Pinball manufacturer where Steve Ritchie went after Atari; his first Williams game was Flash | | Flash | game | Williams pinball; Steve Ritchie's first design after leaving Atari | | Past Times Arcade | organization | Pinball museum/arcade operated by Rob Burke; houses six of seven Atari full production games and other historic pinball machines | ### Topics - **Primary:** Atari pinball history and innovation, First solid-state widebody technology, Inductive/magnetic sensor technology in pinball, Steve Ritchie's early career - **Secondary:** Atari's seven full production games (1976–1979), Past Times Arcade collection and preservation ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Host presents historical content with enthusiasm and respect for the machines' significance; educational and celebratory tone throughout ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Atari's pinball division was short-lived, operating only 1976–1979 with seven full production widebody games before exit from the market (confidence: high) — Rob Burke: 'Atari only produced pinballs for three years, 1976 through their last one being Superman, 1979. One of the most historic...' - **[community_signal]** Steve Ritchie left Atari before full production of Superman to join Williams, establishing the start of his legendary career as a pinball designer (confidence: high) — Rob Burke: 'Left before the full production of that, he ended up leaving for Williams. Very first game there: Williams Flash' - **[technology_signal]** The Atarian (1976) pioneered inductive magnetic sensors on the playfield instead of traditional rollover switches, representing a unique technological innovation that did not persist in later pinball designs (confidence: high) — Rob Burke demonstrates and explains the star-shaped magnetic sensors and explicitly states 'This is something that only existed on this game' --- ## Transcript [Music] for this week's episode of pastimes pinball history we're going to feature 1976 Atari the atarian this is historically significant because this is the very first solid state widebody it is one of seven full production games that Atari released this being the first one the last one being 1979 Atari Superman which we have right next to it a really unique feature about this game if you look at the Playfield you may notice there are no rollover switches which are common in the outlanes or the inlanes or in the middle of the Playfield instead we have these stars on here those are inductive Playfield sensors also magnetic sensors so if we hit start here what we can see is it can actually track the ball without actually hitting a sensor so for instance when it rolls over these Stars so score points here's example you can see if we roll over this it's going to open the left gate so if you watch right here we'll hit that it'll roll over it if we hit this star right here it'll close the gate this is something that only existed on this game Atari went to a more traditional way if you come on down here Airborne Avenger right here for instance their rollovers are made out of plastic next to it here we have space Riders and they went back to a more traditional wire for the rollover gun so like I said there were seven games that hit full production all of them being wide bodies so we have six of them here if you pan over to the right we also have Hercules also a full production game so Atari only produced pinballs for three years 1976 their last one being Superman 1979 one of the most historic as you can see right here is Airborne Avenger the very first game that was designed by Steve Ritchie Steve designed this game also designed Superman left before the full production of that he ended up leaving for Williams very first game there Williams Flash come on in check out these historic games at passtimes arcade _(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 3b79ed0d-61d9-4f7b-ad3a-87966708555f*