# Past Times Pinball History Ep 30: Earthshaker

**Source:** Past Times Arcade  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-10-30  
**Duration:** 0m 59s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT5bPovI8fs

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## Analysis

Past Times Arcade showcases the 1989 Williams Earthshaker, designed by Pat Lawlor with artwork by Tim Elliott. The episode highlights the game's historical significance as the first pinball machine to feature a shaker motor—an innovation that creates vibration effects during gameplay and has become standard in modern pinball design.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Earthshaker was the first game to feature a shaker motor underneath the playfield — _Direct statement about historical significance; shaker motor described as mechanism that rumbles during earthquake sequences_
- [MEDIUM] 5,265 units of Earthshaker were produced — _Stated as production figure but not independently verified in this content_
- [HIGH] Steve Ritchie provided the male voice for Earthshaker — _Presented as designer credit/fact about the game_

### Notable Quotes

> "What makes this game historically significant is it's the very first game to feature something that's very popular in today's games. Underneath the playfield here we have the shaker motor."
> — **Rob Burke (Past Times Arcade host)**, ~0:30
> _Direct articulation of Earthshaker's innovation and historical importance to pinball evolution_

> "During the earthquake, this will actually rumble and shake the game, similar to a cell phone how it has an offset motor."
> — **Rob Burke (Past Times Arcade host)**, ~0:40
> _Technical explanation of how the shaker motor functions and comparison to modern technology_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Earthshaker | game | 1989 Williams pinball machine; first game to feature a shaker motor; designed by Pat Lawlor |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Lead designer of Earthshaker (1989) |
| Tim Elliott | person | Artist/illustrator who created artwork for Earthshaker |
| Steve Ritchie | person | Designer at Williams; provided male voice for Earthshaker |
| Rob Burke | person | Host/operator of Past Times Arcade; narrator of pinball history series |
| Williams Electronics | company | Manufacturer of Earthshaker (1989) |
| Past Times Arcade | organization | Arcade and pinball collection operated by Rob Burke; location featured in this video |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball history and innovation, Shaker motor technology
- **Secondary:** 1989 Williams releases, Pinball designer credits and voice talent

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Content is celebratory and appreciative of Earthshaker's historical contribution to pinball; presented as educational showcase of an important innovation

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** Past Times Arcade Pinball History series positioning classic machines and their innovations within broader pinball narrative and collector/enthusiast education (confidence: high) — Video format and archival presentation of significant 1989 release with design/technical attribution
- **[market_signal]** Shaker motor established as foundational innovation that has become ubiquitous in modern pinball design, with Earthshaker recognized as originator (confidence: high) — Direct statement about shaker being 'very popular in today's games' and 'the very first game to feature' the technology

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## Transcript

[Music] for this episode of Pas times pball history we're going to feature this 1989 Williams earthshaker lead designer on this is Pat Lawler artwork done by Tim Elliot they released 5,265 of these maybe a lesser known fact designer Mark Ritchie is the male voice on this game what makes this game historically significant is the very first game to feature something that's very popular in today's game underneath the play field here we have the Shaker motor so during the earthquake this will actually Rumble shake the game similar a cell phone how it has an offset motor come on into pastimes arcade check out this Williams 1989 Earth shaker

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 5f2522ac-31aa-478c-a94d-77eac3a0253c*