# High Roller **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2010-06-21 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/tallest.html --- ## Analysis A 28-foot-tall novelty pinball machine called Space Race, manufactured by Sungate Concessions of Williston, Florida, was displayed at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on June 19, 2010. The flipperless machine is promoted as the 'World's Tallest Pinball' with seven units produced at $65,000 each, featuring a 45-degree pitch, prize redemption mechanics, and ornamental lighting. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Space Race is 28 feet tall and promoted as the 'World's Tallest Pinball' — _Article states 'this 28 feet tall Space Race' and 'Promoted as the World's Tallest Pinball'_ - [HIGH] Seven Space Race machines have been made so far — _Article directly states 'seven of the $65,000 Space Race machines have been made so far'_ - [HIGH] Each Space Race machine costs $65,000 — _Article explicitly states '$65,000 Space Race machines'_ - [HIGH] Space Race is manufactured by Sungate Concessions of Williston, Florida — _Article states 'made by Sungate Concessions of Williston, Florida'_ - [HIGH] Space Race is a flipperless design with a 45-degree pitch rather than the standard 6.5 degrees — _Article describes 'flipperless design' and 'pitch set rather steeper than a regular game (it's nearer 45° than 6.5°)'_ - [HIGH] The machine has twelve gobble holes total—six in the upper half and six in the lower half — _Article states 'six gobble holes in the upper half of the playfield' and 'six in the lower half' and 'the player gets to avoid the twelve gobble holes'_ ### Notable Quotes > "What's the world's largest production pinball machine? It's a Hercules, right? Well, Hercules is literally overshadowed by this 28 feet tall Space Race" > — **Article author**, opening > _Establishes context that Space Race surpasses previous record-holder Hercules in size_ > "Everyone leaves with something nice" > — **Space Race machine signage**, closing section > _Marketing tagline on the machine, humorously followed by warning about risk of injury from nudging_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Space Race | product | 28-foot-tall novelty flipperless pinball machine manufactured by Sungate Concessions | | Sungate Concessions | company | Manufacturer of Space Race novelty pinball machines, based in Williston, Florida | | Hercules | product | Previously recognized as world's largest production pinball machine, now overshadowed by Space Race | | Memorial Park | event | Location in Colorado Springs where Space Race was displayed on June 19, 2010 | | Brian Smith | person | Photographer who documented Space Race at Memorial Park | ### Topics - **Primary:** Novelty/oversized pinball machines, Flipperless pinball design - **Secondary:** Prize redemption mechanics, Pinball history and records, Commercial/location pinball operators ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Tone is informative and mildly humorous (joke about slipped disc from nudging), celebrating novelty achievement without criticism --- ## Transcript Date: 21st June 2010 Pictures courtesy of Brian Smith What's the world's largest production pinball machine?  It's a Hercules, right? Well, Hercules is literally overshadowed by this 28 feet tall Space Race, made by Sungate Concessions of Williston, Florida. Space Race by Sungate Concessions Promoted as the 'World's Tallest Pinball', seven of the $65,000 Space Race machines have been made so far and one turned up at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on June 19th where Brian Smith took these pictures and the video below. Space Race from the back The amusement machine harks back to pinball's roots, being a flipperless design with a multitude of pins to deflect the ball as it rolls from the top of the playfield down to the bottom while avoiding gobble holes along the way. Space Race's playfield With the pitch set rather steeper than a regular game (it's nearer 45° than 6.5°), the ball is 'launched' by pressing a button to drop it onto a conveyer belt, which then takes it up to a clear plastic ramp and onto the playfield's surface. If the ball falls into one of the six gobble holes in the upper half of the playfield, the player gets to choose a prize from the left side of the machine.  If it drops into one of the lower six gobble holes then a prize from the right side of the machine is awarded. Avoid the gobble holes to win the biggest choice of prizes The sides of the playfield are lined with 60w electric lamps and there are five mars lights mounted down the centre. The aim is to get the ball down to the bottom of the playfield and into the USA ball-catching area. The target If the ball avoids the twelve gobble holes and makes it to the USA area, the player gets the choice of prizes from either side of the machine and earns themselves a light show. Each game costs $4 and as the side of the base proclaims, 'Everyone leaves with something nice', although that 'something nice' could be a slipped disc if they attempt to nudge the gigantic device. Have a look at the video of the World's Tallest Pinball in action. Get the Flash Player to see this video clip. Got problems seeing the video? Consult our help page for assistance. Back to the news page Back to the front page © Pinball News 2010 Back to the News page Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 70f9d43d-bd6a-408b-94af-22d605dedd62*