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The 1980 Machine That Single-Handedly Invented Modern Pinball (Williams Black Knight)

The Skill Shot·video·9m 13s·analyzed·Jul 1, 2026
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 (batch) · $0.014

TL;DR

Black Knight (1980) invented MagnaSave and dual playfields, revolutionizing pinball design.

Summary

Ryan from The Skill Shot reviews Black Knight (1980), a historically pivotal machine that introduced MagnaSave (player-controlled electromagnets) and dual-level playfields to pinball. The video covers the game's design innovations, gameplay mechanics, production impact (13,000+ units), Steve Ritchie design legacy, and the machine's enduring value as both a functional game and design blueprint for modern pinball.

Key Claims

  • Black Knight was the first pinball machine with an upper playfield and player-controlled electromagnets (MagnaSave).

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) states this as documented historical fact about the 1980 Williams release

  • More than 13,000 units of Black Knight were produced.

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) cites production figures in opening segment

  • Black Knight still ranks in the top 150 games on Pinside over 45 years after release.

    medium confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) references Pinside rankings; current status may vary

  • Steve Ritchie designed the entire Black Knight trilogy (1980, 1989, 2000, and 2019 versions).

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) confirms Ritchie designed all three Black Knight games and voiced the character in both 1980 and 2019 versions

  • MagnaSave was patented by Williams Electronics in 1980, and every modern pinball machine with player-controlled magnets descended from this design.

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) explicitly states Williams filed the patent in 1980 and traces all modern player magnets back to this innovation

  • Arcade operators charged 50 cents per game for Black Knight when most pinballs were still a quarter, indicating exceptional popularity.

    medium confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) cites operator pricing as evidence of the machine's market dominance

  • A player-grade Black Knight sells for $1,800-$3,000 on the secondary market and appreciates slowly or holds value.

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) provides resale pricing tier; author notes this is 2026 pricing data

  • The early solid-state collector market specifically rewards Steve Ritchie titles, with Black Knight being the origin of his legacy.

    high confidence · Ryan (The Skill Shot host) discusses market dynamics and collector sentiment around Ritchie-designed machines

Notable Quotes

  • “This game has around 120 little light bulbs and it's done more to make me feel like Luke Skywalker than anything else in this world.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~0:30 — Establishes the emotional and thematic resonance of MagnaSave mechanic and the game's aesthetic appeal

  • “Every modern pinball machine that has any kind of player magnet they all descended from this one. A patent filed in 1980 by a designer named Steve Ritchie.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~3:20 — Highlights Black Knight's foundational role in modern pinball design and Ritchie's inventive contribution

  • “Black Knight in his career, the Knight is literally the same character on the Sword of Rage backbox snarling at you again, voiced by Ritchie again 40 years later. That's a three machine trilogy across his 39 years made by one man and nobody else in pinball can say that.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~7:00 — Emphasizes Steve Ritchie's singular achievement in designing a trilogy across 40 years with consistent artistic vision

  • “The best taunt in the game is when you have Magnet Save lit and you activate it but the magnet misses and the ball drains anyways and the Black Knight laughs at you.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~18:30 — Illustrates the game's character integration and how theme/gameplay mechanics create memorable emotional moments

  • “You can buy a 45-year-old pinball machine in 2026 for under $3,000 that invented mechanics still used on many modern pins today.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~22:00 — Emphasizes the value proposition and lasting design relevance of Black Knight as both playable game and design artifact

  • “Some pinball machines are games. Some are blueprints. This one's both.”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~23:00 — Encapsulates Black Knight's dual legacy as both a playable title and foundational design template for modern pinball

Entities

Steve RitchiepersonBlack KnightgameBlack Knight 2000gameBlack Knight: Sword of RagegameWilliamscompanyWilliams ElectronicscompanyMagnaSaveproduct

Signals

  • ?

    historical_signal: Black Knight (1980) marked two foundational innovations in pinball design: player-controlled electromagnets (MagnaSave) and dual-level playfields. Every modern pinball machine with player magnets traces lineage back to this 1980 patent.

    high · Ryan explicitly states 'Every modern pinball machine that has any kind of player magnet they all descended from this one. A patent filed in 1980 by a designer named Steve Ritchie.'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Black Knight demonstrates tight integration of theme with mechanical design (MagnaSave as 'force save' mechanic resonating with Star Wars imagery), voice acting by the designer, and narrative character consistency spanning 40 years (Black Knight character voiced by Ritchie in both 1980 and 2019 versions).

    high · Ryan notes the Luke Skywalker/lightsaber metaphor for MagnaSave, Ritchie's voice performance as Black Knight, and the consistent character across the trilogy

  • ?

    collector_signal: Black Knight maintains strong secondary market value ($1,800-$3,000 for player-grade machines) and appreciates or holds value over decades. Early solid-state Ritchie titles are specifically rewarded by collectors, with Black Knight as the origin point of Ritchie's legacy.

    high · Ryan's resale analysis: 'A clean Black Knight does not lose value. If anything, it appreciates slowly' and 'early solid-state collector market specifically rewards Ritchie titles'

  • $

    market_signal: Player-grade Black Knight machines are priced at $1,800-$3,000 (2026 data), indicating strong retention of value for 45-year-old machines that introduced foundational design innovations.

    high · Ryan states: 'a player-grade Black Knight will run you between $1,800 to $3,000'

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.006

0:00
This machine was so popular in the 1980s that arcade operators often charged 50 cents a game when most pins were still only a quarter. More than 13,000 units were produced and over 45 years later it still ranks in the top 150 games of all time on Pinside. This game has around 120 little light bulbs and it's done more to make me feel like Luke Skywalker than anything else in this world. It's historically important to pinballers because of two never-before-seen innovations. It was the first pin to have an upper playfield, the first pin to include electromagnets that the player can use to control the ball. My name's Ryan, and on this episode of The Skill Shot, we'll take a deep dive into Williams' 1980s classic, Black Knight. We'll cover the history, playfield, artwork, gameplay, and tactics, and then I'll give it a flip score.
0:55
One day we cannot fight the black lights again. Will you challenge the black lights again? These two buttons right here above the flipper buttons, those don't exist on most pinball machines. They exist on this one because in 1980, Williams Electronics filed a patent for a player-controlled electromagnet. They called it MagnaSave. Here's how it works. Underneath the playfield, near each outlane, there's a magnet. Press the button, and the magnet fires. If the ball is in range, the magnet catches it, pulls it back from the brink of a drain, and saves your ball. Kind of like Luke Skywalker pulling his lightsaber out of a snowbank. To qualify Magna Save, you hit drop targets. And after using it, you hit the drop targets again, and Magna Save will be ready to use again. So now, on top of nudging the cabinet and timing it with your flippers, you'll have a resource you're managing. A get out of jail card, and you have to spend it wisely. In this game, the Black Knight is your enemy. He's going to hurt your feelings. His best taunt comes when you attempt to use the Magna Save, but your timing wasn't right and the ball drains anyway.
2:14
Ryan
person
The Skill Shotorganization
Pinsideorganization
?

gameplay_signal: Black Knight features sophisticated playfield flow with two-level design, dual playfield management during multiball, and shot sequencing (ramp combos, bonus lanes, sword-fill targets). Gameplay remains mechanically and strategically deep despite 1980 vintage.

high · Ryan's detailed gameplay analysis: 'All the shots in this game seem to be in the absolute perfect place and I love the way the game can flow when you're comboing these shots and ramps' and multiball strategy discussion

  • ?

    product_concern: Black Knight's serviceability is compromised by parts availability challenges; System 7 board issues are well-documented but support is declining as parts become harder to source, though the community has documented fixes.

    high · Ryan's build quality assessment: 'Where this loses points is the service is starting to get difficult as parts are getting harder and harder to find'

  • ?

    personnel_signal: Steve Ritchie's unique achievement: designing an entire trilogy of machines (Black Knight 1980, Black Knight 2000 1989, Black Knight: Sword of Rage 2019) with a 40-year span and consistent artistic vision (same character, same voice actor). No other designer has achieved this feat.

    high · Ryan: 'Three Black Knights in his career, the Knight is literally the same character on the Sword of Rage backbox snarling at you again, voiced by Ritchie again 40 years later. That's a three machine trilogy across his 39 years made by one man and nobody else in pinball can say that.'

  • $

    market_signal: Black Knight commanded 50 cents per game when most pinballs were 25 cents, indicating operator confidence in the machine's appeal and revenue potential during the arcade golden age.

    medium · Ryan states: 'This machine was so popular in the 1980s that arcade operators often charged 50 cents a game when most pins were still only a quarter'

  • ?

    design_innovation: Black Knight introduced four flippers (two per playfield level) on a single cabinet in 1980, enabling distinct gameplay strategies between upper and lower playfields and establishing the dual-playfield architecture template.

    high · Ryan: 'Two playfields, four flippers on one cabinet in 1980. And that was a major advancement in pinball technology.'

  • ?

    content_signal: The Skill Shot employs structured review framework using five 20-point categories (Shots, Code & Depth, Theme, Build, Resale Value) yielding a 100-point flip score, enabling comparative analysis and transparent scoring rubric.

    high · Ryan's flip score breakdown: 'Five categories 20 points each 100 total' with detailed scoring per category

    • Every modern pinball machine that has any kind of player magnet they all descended from this one A patent filed in 1980 by a designer named Steve Ritchie The voice, that snarling, taunting knight voice you hear in attract mode, that's Steve Ritchie, the designer of the machine, voicing the evil black knight. Decades before voice acting in pinball was a budget line item. But Steve didn't stop at one industry first because this is also the first solid state pinball machine with a two level play field. Two play fields, four flippers on one cabinet in 1980. And that was a major advancement in pinball technology. When I play, I like to launch the ball and quickly hold down the right flipper to keep the ball in the upper play field. It's safe up there. It won't drain. And with a little skill and luck, you can start a multi-ball very quickly. Eventually, gravity will get the best of you and the ball will fall into the lower playfield, but that's okay because that's where you need it to be to build up your bonus. All the shots in this game seem to be in the absolute perfect place and I love the way the game can flow when you're comboing these shots and ramps. Steve Ritchie designed the entire Black Knight Pinball Trilogy which includes this, Black Knight 2000 from 1989 and Black Knight Sword of Rage from 2019. Three Black Knights in his career, the Knight is literally the same character on the Sword of Rage back box snarling at you again, voiced by Ritchie again 40 years later. That's a three machine trilogy across his 39 years made by one man and nobody else in pinball can say that. Once you get a multiball, you can start getting some big points out of this game because triple scoring will be activated.
    4:10
    Now you have the multiball going, triple score is being activated. You can get some big points out of this game by letting the ball roll through this in lane and then hitting this ramp immediately. I just got a random 30 points for that If we do it again light up this lane send the ball through 62 points If you can keep nailing that shot you get a lot of points In order to activate MagnaSave you want these little arrows lit To do that you can knock down the bank of three targets on the right side or any bank of three targets on the left side And now Magnusave is lit. What's awesome about Magnusave is if the ball is moving slow enough and it's almost and it's gone. Like any game of pinball you play where the ball is this far in the out lane, it's a goner, right? But if it's moving nice and slow and you hit this magnet, it'll pull it back and you'll feel like Luke Skywalker. You're going to release it into the in lane and you'll be back in action continuing your fight with the Black Knight. During multi-ball you want to keep your eye on the playfield that has the most balls. So if there's two balls upstairs, then fight for the two balls. And just don't worry about this one down there, the drains. There's two balls up here, two balls in the bottom playfield, and one ball up here. Forget about it up here and keep your eye on where the most balls are. As you hit the drop-down targets, you'll fill up this sword with points.
    5:54
    And that's great, but you've also got to get your bonus. There's two ways to get bonuses, and that's when it rolls through this in-lane here, you'll get a bonus. You'll also get a bonus when it whips around this turnaround right there.
    6:10
    So now we have a 5x bonus. In order to get an extra ball out of this, you have to complete all of these arrows. So now this is lit.
    6:24
    Now the second one's lit. Third one's lit. And now there's a round of applause. And up here, the little extra ball light is lit. So if you can nail this ramp, and it hits that switch, You get an extra ball The best taunt in the game is when you have Magnet Save lit and you activate it but the magnet misses and the ball drains anyways and the Black Knight laughs at you So that Black Knight Now let give it a flip score Five categories 20 points each 100 total Let go In the category of shots the two play field was revolutionary for the 1980s and it still feels distinct today And when you hitting combos everything flows so smoothly so it gets a 16 out of 20 For Code and Depth, you've got two play fields, multi-ball, magna save, bonus building, deeper code than nearly everything that was manufactured in the 80s, and so it scores a 15 out of 20. Moving on to theme, Steve Ritchie's voice as the Black Knight is iconic.
    7:34
    The trash talking either motivates the player to try harder or sends him to a therapist, and it gets an 18 out of 20. On build, two-level playful mechanics still work on most examples after 45 years. The MagnaSave magnets are robust, and they're simple coils that can be rebuilt, and the community has documented every fix that you might come across. The drop targets need occasional attention, and so do the flippers. System 7 board issues are real but well-supported. Where this loses points is the service is starting to get difficult as parts are getting harder and harder to find. So I give it a 14 out of 20. For the resale value, a player-grade Black Knight will run you between $1,800 to $3,000. The early solid-state collector market specifically rewards Ritchie titles, and Black Knight is the origin of Ritchie. A clean Black Knight does not lose value. If anything, it appreciates slowly, and so it gets an 18 out of 20. For a total flip score of 81 out of 100. That's a solid A-. You can buy a 45-year-old pinball machine in 2026 for under $3,000 that invented mechanics still used on many modern pins today. You can buy the pinball machine that invented MagnaSave and dual-level playfields. It's a work of art that can sit in your man cave and be fun for the whole family. Some pinball machines are games. Some are blueprints. This one's both. Be sure and subscribe to the Skill Shot where next week I'll be reviewing another mystery pin that you won't want to miss.