# Past Times Pinball History Ep 11: F-14 Tomcat

**Source:** Past Times Arcade  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-01-17  
**Duration:** 2m 2s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w69vxbNj9eA

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## Analysis

Past Times Arcade features a 1987 Harry Williams F-14 Tomcat designed by Steve Ritchie, highlighting its historical significance as the first pinball game to introduce a ball save feature. The video documents production details (14,502 units released), design modifications made in response to player feedback (removal of blinding clear dome flashers), and mechanical fixes (removal of flasher bulbs to prevent logic board damage from switch shorts). The ball save mechanic is demonstrated on the third ball with the 'flight insurance' feature.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] F-14 Tomcat (1987) was the very first game with a ball save feature — _Past Times Arcade host, speaking as historical educator/arcade operator_
- [HIGH] 14,502 units of F-14 Tomcat were released — _Past Times Arcade host, citing production numbers_
- [HIGH] Early production F-14 Tomcats had clear domes over flashers that were later removed due to player complaints about blinding light — _Past Times Arcade host, describing production variants_
- [HIGH] Flasher bulbs were removed from F-14 Tomcat because switches behind them were shorting out and damaging logic boards — _Past Times Arcade host, explaining mechanical fixes_
- [HIGH] Voice and call-outs on F-14 Tomcat were performed by Steve Ritchie and his brother Mark — _Past Times Arcade host_

### Notable Quotes

> "The main reason why we're featuring this game is because it is the very first game with a ball save."
> — **Past Times Arcade host**, ~2:30
> _Establishes F-14 Tomcat's historical significance as the originator of a now-standard pinball feature_

> "The earlier production had clear domes over the flashers and actually had flashers under here. So later they were removed and changed out for red because players decided that it was too blinding."
> — **Past Times Arcade host**, ~0:45
> _Illustrates how player feedback drove design iteration even in 1987_

> "You notice there's no flasher bulbs under these anymore. Those are actually pulled out because the switches behind it were shorting out the bulbs and damaging logic boards."
> — **Past Times Arcade host**, ~1:15
> _Documents a mechanical reliability issue and its solution in early Williams pinball design_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| F-14 Tomcat | game | 1987 pinball game by Harry Williams designed by Steve Ritchie; first game with ball save feature |
| Harry Williams | company | Pinball manufacturer; produced F-14 Tomcat in 1987 |
| Steve Ritchie | person | Pinball designer; designed F-14 Tomcat; also performed voice/call-outs alongside his brother Mark |
| Mark Ritchie | person | Steve Ritchie's brother; performed voice/call-outs on F-14 Tomcat alongside Steve |
| Past Times Arcade | organization | Arcade venue/museum featuring classic pinball machines; hosts educational video series on pinball history |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball history and design innovation, Ball save feature introduction
- **Secondary:** Production and manufacturing details, Design iteration based on player feedback, Mechanical reliability and engineering solutions

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Host speaks with respect and appreciation for the historical significance of F-14 Tomcat and its innovations. Educational tone is celebratory of pinball engineering and design breakthroughs.

### Signals

- **[design_philosophy]** F-14 Tomcat demonstrates early innovation in player experience features (ball save) and responsiveness to player feedback (removal of blinding flashers) (confidence: high) — Host documents the evolution from clear dome flashers to red flashers in response to player complaints about brightness

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## Transcript

 The game we're featuring this week in past times pinball history is this 1987 Williams F-14 Tomcat. This was designed by Steve Ritchie. The voice and the call-outs are that of Steve Ritchie and actually his brother Mark. This is a very fast game. They released 14,502 of these. A couple of neat facts about this game. The The earlier production had clear domes over the flashers and actually had flashers under here. So later they were removed and changed out for red because players decided that it was too blinding. And also, you notice there's no flasher bulbs under these anymore. Those are actually pulled out because the switches behind it were shorting out the bulbs and damaging logic boards. Now the main reason why we featuring this game is because it is the very first game with a ball safe Beautiful light show The ball save on this game is going to be available on the third ball There ball one I lose ball two here And you notice here on ball three we'll just insert that light up that says flight insurance. So if we lose the ball, like so on the back John Youssi it says you are insured shoot again and so we have our fly again light here but you only get one ball save on this so if you lose this again that's it so a very significant feature common on a lot of the new games so this is a 1987 f-14 tomcat by williams Come on into Past Times Arcade and check this game out.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f21ed730-3459-4d82-b2a1-38892b113ec7*