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Medusa

gameactive28 mentionsFirst seen Mar 20, 2015Last seen Mar 24, 2026

Profile

Medusa is a 1980-1981 Bally solid-state pinball game featuring advanced mechanical design including an upper playfield, four flippers, zipper flippers, and the Shield of the Gods feature. The game has appeared in competitive tournament play at the Concord Champ '25 and has been a subject of restoration and homebrew design inspiration, with its center kickback mechanic influencing modern homebrew designs.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • manufacturesBallyBally manufactured Medusa pinball game in 1980-1981medium
  • appears_inBig Trouble in Little ChinaMedusa's center kickback mechanic influenced design of Big Trouble in Little China homebrew gamemedium

Facts

  • attributeSource of center kickback mechanic for Big Trouble in Little China homebrew gamehigh
  • attributeFeatures upper playfieldhigh
  • attributeFeatures four flippershigh
  • attributeFeatures zipper flippershigh
  • attributeFeatures Shield of the Gods mechanichigh
  • attributeFeatures center post buttonhigh
  • attributeBally pinball machine manufactured 1980-1981highfrom 1980 until 1981

Claims (7)

  • factualhigh

    Medusa awards random starting points to both players

    Source: Mystery Pinball Theater 3000 hostMedusa (1981 Bally)
  • factualmedium

    The panic post can be used five times per game in two-player mode (shared)

    Source: Audrey (Bubblegum)Medusa (1981 Bally)
  • factualhigh

    Medusa has a Gorgon spinner worth 500 points per hit, or 2,500 maximum per ball

    Source: Pez (chat viewer) and Mystery Pinball Theater 3000 hostMedusa (1981 Bally)
  • factualmedium

    Medusa was recreated in BPX themed to Halloween

    Source: Doves (chat viewer)Medusa (1981 Bally)

Recent Mentions (28)

  • Pinball machine at Grazley Garage with completed restoration including new flipper bats, drop target fixes, and lighting resolution

    The Grasley Garage! Slugfest & Tales of the Arabian Nights Restorations Begin!Mar 24, 2026
  • Data East pinball machine undergoing full playfield restoration at Grazley Garage; nearly 90% complete with 163 LEDs, transparent flippers, and Shield of the Gods feature

    The Grasley Garage! Safe Cracker & Medusa Gameplay!Mar 14, 2026
  • Last zipper flipper machine produced by Bally in early 1980s

    Episode 9 - What's So Great About the 60's?Mar 20, 2015
  • Last game produced with zipper flippers, 1981 solid-state Bally game with zipper flippers on upper playfield

    Episode 147 - Zipper FlippersAug 5, 2015
  • Classic pinball game George previously owned; prices going up; Dave currently owns one

    #71 The OG - The Classic Pinball PodcastJan 11, 2022
  • Pinball game that George previously owned and sold due to zipper flipper complications

    #72 Fireball Classic - The Classic Pinball Podcast

Contradictions

  • Existing: Medusa is a 1980-1981 Bally pinball game featuring upper playfield, four flippers, zipper flippers, and Shield of the Gods (established in mentions 5, 6, 9)vsConflicting: Mention 12 references 'The Shadow by Bally' as the next game to be played after Medusa at Concord Champ '25 Quarters, but is indexed as a Medusa mention
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

  • locationLocated at Grazley Garage undergoing restorationhighfrom 2025-10-13
  • locationLocated at The Flipper Roomhighfrom 2025-11-18
  • statusUsed as tournament game at Concord Champ '25highfrom 2025-11-18 until 2025-11-18
  • statusSubject of Shawn Benish restoration project with playfield swap in progresshighfrom 2025-12-29
  • factualmedium

    Medusa pinball machines currently sell for $3,500+ in secondary market despite George purchasing one for $1,300

    Source: George#92 Stern Ali - The Classic Pinball Podcast
  • opinionmedium

    Prices for Medusa pinball machines are going through the roof

    Source: George (market observation)#71 The OG - The Classic Pinball Podcast
  • factualhigh

    Medusa (1981) was the last game produced with zipper flippers

    Source: Nick BaldridgeEpisode 147 - Zipper Flippers
  • Jan 18, 2022
  • 1981 Bally pinball machine being played and reviewed on stream; features Gorgon spinner, panic post, zipper flippers, and random start point bug

    Medusa (1981 Bally)Feb 8, 2023
  • Pinball machine cited as another example of elegant upper playfield design without ramp architecture

    SDTM: Chuckwurt and Genie Pinball! TutorialFeb 2, 2018
  • Classic EM pinball machine George owned; purchased for $1,300; currently worth $3,500+ in secondary market; used as example of pinball value appreciation

    #92 Stern Ali - The Classic Pinball PodcastSep 27, 2022
  • Pinball machine in Upper Nyack Grill lineup.

    ARCADE REPORT: Upper Nyack Grill - Upper Nyack, NY (June 2018)Jun 1, 2018
  • Pinball machine in Jeff's collection; he received technical help from Ken Walker to fix

    Episode 302: Matthias Theißen, Twitch’s “pinballboy”Apr 14, 2021
  • Vintage pinball machine Jeff owns; Krystle provided reproduction parts (pop bumpers, one-way gate kit)

    Episode 312: Krystle GemnichAug 12, 2021
  • Implied classic game with center post mentioned as example of death save-resistant design feature

    Episode 58 - DEATHSAVESNov 25, 2024
  • Pinball game with ball kicker mech activated by side-cabinet button; described as punching ball back up from below flippers

    Episode 17 - Extra Button GimmicksFeb 12, 2024
  • Referenced pinball game featuring kickback mechanic that influenced Kyle's design choices for Big Trouble in Little China

    Homebrew Showcase: Big Trouble in Little ChinaNov 4, 2025
  • Next game to be played after Shadow match at tournament

    Concord Champ '25: Quarters, Game 3/4 on The Shadow by Bally. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Tournament game; host references potential perfect round opportunity for Jack Slovac

    Concord Champ '25: Winner's Circle. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Bally pinball machine used for game 4/4 in semifinals

    Concord Champ '25: Semis, Game 4/4 on Medusa by Bally. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Bally pinball machine used for qualifying round 10; features center post button and zip-up flippers

    Concord Champ '25: Qualifying Round 10 on Medusa by Bally. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Bally pinball machine used for quarterfinal Game 4/4

    Concord Champ '25: Quarters, Game 4/4 on Medusa by Bally. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Bally pinball machine used for finals match (Game 4/4)

    Concord Champ '25: Finals, Game 4/4 on Medusa by Bally. Streamed from The Flipper Room.Nov 18, 2025
  • Shawn Benish project featuring dual flipper levels, zipper flippers, Shield of the Gods mechanic; playfield swap in progress

    The Grasley Garage! Seawitch & Evel Knievel are finished. More games join the queue!Dec 29, 2025
  • 1980-1981 Bally pinball game with upper playfield, four flippers, zipper flippers, and Shield of the Gods feature; being delivered to Grazley Garage

    The Grasley Garage! Medusa comes and Pole Position goes!Oct 13, 2025
  • Bally machine undergoing high-end restoration; CPR playfield developed clear coat/artwork degradation issue; currently on hold

    The Grasley Garage! The Nicest Whirlwind 2.0 Total Chaos in Existence!Nov 2, 2025
  • Restoration project temporarily paused, set up for play at Grazley Garage

    The Grasley Garage! Projects Galore! The good, the Bad and the Ugly!Nov 20, 2025
  • Source of center kickback mechanic used in Big Trouble; Kyle describes as one of his favorite games

    The Big Trouble in Little China Homebrew Pinball JourneyNov 6, 2025
  • SS game listed in Rhodes' favorites

    Episode 81 – Richard Rhodes ACS ChampionFeb 25, 2019
  • Early solid-state at Pinball's Arcade

    Episode 52 – How to win Pinburgh with Colin MacAlpineJul 16, 2018