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Gamatron

gameactive14 mentionsFirst seen Jul 9, 2020Last seen Mar 25, 2026

Profile

Gamatron is a rare 1985 pinball conversion kit manufactured by Pinstar, based on the Flight 2000 platform and designed by Harry Williams and Steve Kirk. The kit features space/rocket-themed artwork and was intended to revitalize aging location machines in standard Bally narrowbody cabinets. Fewer than 50 units are estimated to exist, making it one of the rarest pinball games ever produced. The machine has gained renewed attention through an extensive multi-part restoration project documented in the Pinball Shenanigans video series.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • affiliated_withFlight 2000Flight 2000 served as the base game design for the Gamatron conversion kitmedium
  • affiliated_withViperViper used for mechanical design comparison and component sourcing in Gamatron restoration projectmedium
  • based_inFlight 2000Gamatron was based on the Flight 2000 platform, using its ROM and playfield designmedium
  • designedHarry WilliamsHarry Williams was one of the designers of Gamatronmedium
  • designedSteve Kirk

Facts

No facts recorded

Claims (16)

  • opinionhigh

    Gamatron is the rarest game Mike Dismus has ever owned

    Source: Mike DismusUpdated Tour of My Pinball Collection / Game Room. November 2025.
  • opinionmedium

    Approximately 50 Gamatron machines exist in the world

    Source: Mike DismusUpdated Tour of My Pinball Collection / Game Room. November 2025.
  • factualmedium

    Under 50 Gamatron conversion kits were manufactured (production limit not explicitly confirmed)

    Source: Mike Dust (video title)Ultra Rare Gamatron Pinball Conversion Kit for sale! Under 50 made?
  • opinionmedium

    Gamatron narrower cabinet format results in faster, meaner gameplay compared to Flight 2000

Recent Mentions (14)

  • Pinball machine in Mike's collection; modified with Lightning ROMs to test altered speech callouts (Valkyrie, etc.).

    Part 12: 1978 Interflip Alaska 4 Player EM. Corey Kills Gremlins!Mar 25, 2026
  • Another machine in Mike's collection where Corey will test soundboard

    Part 10: 1978 Interflip Alaska 4 Player EM. Alaska is Alive!!!!Mar 17, 2026
  • Pinball machine at Silver Ball Saloon; recently played by visiting player; described as having easier shots than Flight 2000

    Episode 148 – Let’s Get Stupid AgainJul 9, 2020
  • 1985 Pinstar pinball machine; subject of ongoing restoration project spanning multiple video episodes; features non-standard flipper specifications and custom engineering

    Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!Sep 5, 2025
  • 1985 conversion kit by Pinstar; based on Flight 2000 playfield and software; designed for Bally standard size pinball machines

    Part 2: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! WTF is Gamatron anyways?Aug 22, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar conversion kit (Flight 2000 based) being restored over 12+ episode series; space/rocket theme

Contradictions

No contradictions detected

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Steve Kirk was one of the designers of Gamatron
medium
  • affiliated_withGary SternGary Stern created/was associated with the Gamatron conversion kitmedium
  • Source: Mike DustUltra Rare Gamatron Pinball Conversion Kit for sale! Under 50 made?
  • factualmedium

    Gamatron artwork was inspired by ROM: The Laser Robot comic book

    Source: Mike Dust1985 Pinstar Gamatron Gameplay / Tutorial * Under 50 in existence?
  • factualmedium

    Fewer than 50 Gamatron machines exist

    1985 Pinstar Gamatron Gameplay / Tutorial * Under 50 in existence?
  • factualhigh

    Gamatron is a conversion kit based on Flight 2000 with essentially identical ruleset

    Source: Mike Dust1985 Pinstar Gamatron Gameplay / Tutorial * Under 50 in existence?
  • factualhigh

    Gamatron flipper coils use 24450/25500 specs with slight winding variations compared to standard Bally coils

    Source: Mike Dus (direct observation)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • opinionmedium

    The end-of-stroke switch bend on Gamatron flipper mechs serves only reverse tension function and is mechanically redundant in current electrical configuration

    Source: Mike Dus (analysis and comparison)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • factualhigh

    Gamatron flipper bats are significantly thicker than standard Bally flipper bats

    Source: Mike Dus (direct comparison)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • factualhigh

    Fish paper spacers were original equipment in Gamatron flipper coil stops to prevent coil rattle

    Source: Mike Dus (artifact discovery)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • factualhigh

    The drop target assembly on Gamatron sinks slightly into the playfield when deployed, appearing on both machines

    Source: Mike Dus (visual observation)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • predictionmedium

    Gamatron cabinet will be ready for completion this week pending flipper bat alignment and blue flipper rubber installation

    Source: Mike Dus (prediction)Part 6: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Flippers and Walkers!
  • factualhigh

    Few Gamatron kits were sold because the game lacked ramps, speech, and alphanumeric displays that were driving the market in 1986

    Source: Dust's research/IPDB contentPart 2: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! WTF is Gamatron anyways?
  • factualhigh

    Gamatron conversion kit cannot work with Stern games without modifications due to backbox height and display placement differences

    Source: Duncan Brown via Internet Pinball DatabasePart 2: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! WTF is Gamatron anyways?
  • factualhigh

    Gamatron playfield is a version of Flight 2000 with identical software

    Source: Internet Pinball Database technical detailsPart 2: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! WTF is Gamatron anyways?
  • Part 12: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Installing 7 digit LED displays & more!
    Sep 23, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar machine being restored; uses identical code to Flight 2000; playfield reunited with cabinet in this episode; first successful game test achieved.

    Part 15: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Cabinet & Body Unite! First Game!Oct 2, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar conversion kit pinball machine with space/rocket theme, designed by Harry Williams and Steve Kirk; subject of extended restoration project

    Part 3: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Cabinet & Playfield progress!Aug 27, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar pinball machine being restored; ongoing project focus; subject of multiple Pinball Shenanigans episodes

    Part 13: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project! Let there be sound!Sep 24, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar pinball machine based on Flight 2000 platform; subject of multi-part restoration series by Mike Dus

    Part 16: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project is Finished!Nov 4, 2025
  • 1985 conversion kit by Pinstar based on Flight 2000, ROM-themed artwork, under 50 estimated in existence

    1985 Pinstar Gamatron Gameplay / Tutorial * Under 50 in existence?Nov 6, 2025
  • Pinstar conversion kit (1985) based on Harry Williams Flight 2000 design; created by Gary Stern; approximately 50 estimated in existence; rarest game in Mike's collection

    Updated Tour of My Pinball Collection / Game Room. November 2025.Nov 11, 2025
  • Pinball conversion kit released in 1985 based on Flight 2000 ROM in narrowbody cabinet format, designed to revitalize aging location machines

    Ultra Rare Gamatron Pinball Conversion Kit for sale! Under 50 made?Nov 7, 2025
  • 1985 Pinstar pinball conversion kit based on Flight 2000 platform; subject of Mike's ongoing restoration project

    Part 17: 1985 Pinstar Gamatron Project. Can I get the Robot to Speak?Nov 15, 2025