# Episode 197 - 1958 Gottlieb Criss Cross **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-09-24 **Duration:** 6m 37s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-197-1958-gottlieb-criss-cross --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge examines the 1958 Gottlieb Criss Cross, an electromechanical pinball machine featuring unique bingo-like gameplay mechanics centered on lighting bumpers in diagonal or corner patterns. The game includes distinctive design elements such as color-based roto targets, gobble holes, and unusual flipper rubber configurations, with artwork depicting women in snow-themed bathing suit scenes. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Criss Cross features five bumpers at the top with goal to light three in diagonal arrangement or four corners — _Nick Baldridge describing core gameplay mechanics_ - [HIGH] Each roto target is colored rather than numbered, lettered, or point-valued — _Nick Baldridge noting unique design choice of Criss Cross_ - [HIGH] Maximum score on Criss Cross is 7 million points, though relatively difficult to achieve — _Nick Baldridge discussing scoring system_ - [HIGH] Game features skinny kicking rubber strips on either side of flippers instead of typical triangular arrangement — _Nick Baldridge describing flipper design elements_ - [HIGH] Artwork theme depicts ladies in bathing suits playing in snow, with some skiing and building snowmen — _Nick Baldridge describing cabinet artwork and theme_ ### Notable Quotes > "There is a set of five bumpers at the top of the game, and your goal is to light three bumpers in a diagonal arrangement, or the four corners bumpers." > — **Nick Baldridge**, early > _Establishes core gameplay mechanic_ > "This game is fairly unique in that each of the roto targets is actually a color instead of a number, a card, a letter, or a point value." > — **Nick Baldridge**, mid-early > _Highlights distinctive design choice_ > "The thing about gobble holes that I enjoy is that it's a play element that you constantly have to avoid until you actually manage to complete a sequence, and then your goal is to drain the ball, but you don't want to drain the ball in the normal way." > — **Nick Baldridge**, mid > _Explains design philosophy and gameplay appeal of gobble holes_ > "Spinning the roto is always rewarding. Hitting the roto is even more so because that shot is so dangerous with the gobble holes on either side." > — **Nick Baldridge**, late > _Encapsulates tension and reward of key shot_ > "This game has the interesting theme of ladies in bathing suits playing in the snow. It's a little unusual. It's really very nice artwork." > — **Nick Baldridge**, late-mid > _Describes unusual theme and positive assessment of visual design_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only podcast, designer/enthusiast of homebrew pinball machines, speaker analyzing Criss Cross | | Criss Cross | game | 1958 Gottlieb electromechanical pinball machine featuring bingo-like bumper mechanics and color-based roto targets | | Gottlieb | company | Classic pinball manufacturer that produced Criss Cross in 1958 | | For Amusement Only | organization | Podcast focused on EM and bingo pinball machines, hosted by Nick Baldridge | | York Show | event | Pinball festival/show where Criss Cross was previously displayed | | Dancing Dolls | game | Previous game featured on For Amusement Only where Nick Baldridge first mentioned appreciation for gobble holes | ### Topics - **Primary:** EM/Electromechanical Pinball Design, Bingo-Influenced Pinball Mechanics, Game Mechanics and Playfield Layout - **Secondary:** Cabinet Art and Theme Design, Gottlieb Machines - **Mentioned:** Pinball Festivals and Shows ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) ### Signals - **[design_innovation]** Criss Cross uses color-coded roto targets instead of traditional number/letter/point value design, creating unique target lighting mechanics (confidence: high) — Each of the roto targets is actually a color instead of a number, a card, a letter, or a point value - **[design_philosophy]** Designer chose gobble holes as risk/reward elements requiring avoidance until completion, then strategic drainage (confidence: high) — It's a play element that you constantly have to avoid until you actually manage to complete a sequence, and then your goal is to drain the ball in one of the lit holes - **[historical_signal]** Detailed retrospective analysis of 1958 Gottlieb machine highlighting design choices and mechanical features from golden age of EM pinball (confidence: high) — Episode dedicated to examining gameplay mechanics, artwork, and design elements of 1958 Criss Cross - **[content_signal]** Nick Baldridge continuing series of episodes featuring wood rail machines from York Show history (confidence: high) — I wanted to continue in my series of wood rails that have previously been to the York Show - **[gameplay_signal]** Criss Cross features bingo-esque gameplay with bumper lighting patterns and reward sequences appealing to bingo game enthusiasts (confidence: high) — This game hits home to me as a guy who enjoys bingos because that's kind of bingo-esque gameplay --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only. This is Nicholas Baldridge. Tonight I wanted to continue in my series of wood rails that have previously been to the York Show. And I wanted to highlight one, not from last year, but a few years ago. Gottlieb's Criss Cross from 1958. Now this game has very interesting play mechanics. There is a set of five bumpers at the top of the game, and your goal is to light three bumpers in a diagonal arrangement, or the four corners bumpers. and so this game hits home to me as a guy who enjoys bingos because that's kind of bingo-esque gameplay the other thing that's fantastic about this game is that there's a roto target right in the center of the play field only one roto target is available at any given time and this game is fairly unique in that each of the roto targets is actually a color instead of a number, a card, a letter, or a point value. So when you hit the corresponding color it will light the corresponding bumper There are also rollovers which allow you to light the bumpers And when you light the diagonal arrangement you earn a special right away But when you light the corners arrangement, it will light the gobble holes. That's right, there's gobble holes too. too. Those gobble holes are arranged to the left and right side of the roto. And if you've been listening for a while, I know I've mentioned it previously, but I really like games with gobble holes. I think I first mentioned that in the Dancing Dolls episode, which was a long time ago, but, um, gobble holes, and I've never expanded upon it, so here you go. The thing about gobble holes that I enjoy is that it's a play element that you constantly have to avoid until you actually manage to complete a sequence, and then your goal is to drain the ball, but you don't want to drain the ball in the normal way. You want to drain it in one of the lit holes. It's very challenging to do and super rewarding when you actually manage to do it. So there something that I enjoy Not everybody cup of tea The other thing I like about this game are the skinny kicking rubber area on either side of the flippers They're the long, thin strip instead of the more usual triangular arrangement. I like these too. It's just different from many other games and certainly any modern game. This game also has a couple of stand-up targets and a few different rollovers which score different point values. But your main goal is to light those bumpers. As far as points go, you can earn up to 7 million on this game, but that's relatively difficult to do. If you land in one of the gobble holes when it's not lit, it scores 500,000 points. This game also has a match feature. So at the end of the game, it's going to attempt to match the last two digits in your point value. and if you match it will give you a replay. Now let talk about the artwork This game has the interesting theme of ladies in bathing suits playing in the snow It a little unusual It really very nice artwork Some of the ladies are skiing. Some are building snowmen. And it all seems very improbable. But that's part of the charm. The cabinet design is more geometric shapes, and honestly, the head design, which has multiple layered chevrons, is very attractive. And I really enjoyed the gameplay of this game quite a bit. Spinning the roto is always rewarding. hitting the roto is even more so because that shot is so dangerous with the gobble holes on either side. But it is quite fun, and I enjoyed it quite a bit, and I hope to see it again someday. Well, that's all for tonight. Thank you very much for joining me. My name again is Nicholas Baldridge. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, or you can call me on the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1. 724-246-4671 You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at Bingo Podcast. You can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge. Or you can listen to us on our website, which is formusementonly.libsyn.com Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time. _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 6db5cd1d-dc17-45a2-b91b-ea569e9bf41f*