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1978 Interflip Alaska 4 Player EM Pinball Gameplay & Tutorial

Pinball Shenanigans·video·30m 9s·analyzed·Apr 2, 2026
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 (batch) · $0.009

TL;DR

Tutorial and gameplay of ultra-rare 1978 Interflip Alaska EM pinball machine.

Summary

A detailed tutorial and gameplay video of a rare 1978 Interflip Alaska 4-player EM pinball machine from Spain. The host explores the machine's rules, mechanics, and rarity (believed to be the only 4-player EM version in existence), plays multiple games attempting to light all drop targets and achieve special features, and performs maintenance on the match unit blinder during gameplay.

Key Claims

  • The 4-player EM version of Alaska might be the only one in existence

    medium confidence · Host states: 'from what I can tell this might be the only one in existence' regarding the 4-player EM variant

  • Alaska has the same lower playfield layout as Dragon, which is deadly with a wide flipper gap

    high confidence · Host directly compares: 'If you've played Dragon, it has basically the same lower layout and it can be deadly' and notes 'this flipper gap is pretty darn wide'

  • Bonus builds downward rather than upward on this machine, starting at the top of the glacier

    high confidence · Host explains: 'your bonus builds going downward rather than upward on this machine. So you start at the top of the glacier'

  • Triple bonus down all 10 drop targets is the primary wizard mode on Alaska

    high confidence · Host establishes: 'If we can hit all 10, that's basically a wizard mode on this game' and later defines 'Collecting a special is the wizard mode. Getting all drop targets down is also mini wizard mode'

  • Machine is set to award an extra ball when bonus reaches 80,000 points

    high confidence · Host states: 'This machine seems to be set for if you get your bonus up to 80,000, it will light an extra ball for you'

Notable Quotes

  • “Interflip is more well-known for its game Dragon, which is a pretty awesome game and a bit of a cult following. But nobody has really heard of Alaska because there's so few that exist.”

    Host @ 0:00-0:30 — Establishes Alaska's rarity and Interflip's market presence through Dragon

  • “this might be the only one in existence. And then there are maybe a couple of the one-player EM wedge-head style versions of Alaska, as well.”

    Host @ 0:20-0:40 — Documents the extreme rarity of the 4-player EM version

  • “Rob Berk, he really should buy it. I was just at Pastimes Arcade on the weekend, and I saw his Dragon there, and this would look mighty nice beside it.”

    Host @ 13:30-13:45 — Suggests potential acquisition by known collector; references public collection

  • “your bonus builds going downward rather than upward on this machine. So you start at the top of the glacier there.”

    Host @ 2:00-2:15 — Explains unusual bonus mechanic specific to Alaska

  • “At the end of the game, there's a shield covering the match number, so that you can't just like automatically tilt if you can see the number.”

    Host @ 9:15-9:35 — Describes anti-cheat mechanism in match reveal system

  • “I think Stern needs to remaster this game. Oh. So everybody get a chance to play it.”

    Host @ 29:00-29:15 — Expresses desire for modernization/accessibility of the game

  • “If you see me smoke in the background, you know what that is.”

    Host @ 15:30 — Humorous aside about frustration during difficult gameplay sequences

Entities

InterflipcompanyInterflip AlaskagameDragongameRob BerkpersonPinball ShenanigansorganizationPastimes ArcadevenueSterncompany

Signals

  • ?

    historical_signal: Documentation and gameplay tutorial for ultra-rare 1978 Interflip Alaska EM machine; preserves institutional knowledge of near-extinct pinball title

    high · Host explicitly documents rarity: 'from what I can tell this might be the only one in existence' for the 4-player EM variant

  • ?

    restoration_signal: Match unit blinder mechanism repair and troubleshooting; C-clip removal, rust cleaning, spring ring replacement, solenoid testing

    high · Host performs hands-on maintenance: 'I just removed the little C-clip, and the pivot point here is just very rusty and needs a good cleaning' and later 'I found my problem. My spring ring broke'

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Alaska identified as challenging EM with wide flipper gap, difficult outlanes, and high skill ceiling; requires sustained focus and precise nudging

    high · Host struggles across multiple attempts to complete wizard mode (all 10 drop targets); describes as 'deadly' with difficult ball control

  • ?

    collector_signal: Potential acquisition interest from known collector Rob Berk; machine noted as complementary to his existing Dragon collection at Pastimes Arcade

    medium · Host directly suggests: 'Rob Berk, he really should buy it. I was just at Pastimes Arcade on the weekend, and I saw his Dragon there, and this would look mighty nice beside it'

  • ?

    rumor_hype: Host expresses desire for Stern to remaster Alaska to improve accessibility and allow wider player base to experience the game

    low · Host speculates: 'I think Stern needs to remaster this game. Oh. So everybody get a chance to play it'

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:04
Okay, today I am doing a tutorial / gameplay video on this Interflip Alaska four-player EM machine made in Spain in 1978. Interflip is more well-known for its game Dragon, which is a pretty awesome game and a bit of a has a bit of a cult following. But, nobody has really heard of Alaska because there's so few that exist. There is a solid-state four-player version. There is this four-player EM version and from what I can tell this might be the only one in existence. And then there are maybe a couple of the one-player EM wedge-head style versions of Alaska, as well. So, you won't run into this one at a pinball tournament most likely, but I'm going to explain to you the rules. They're pretty simple, and then we'll play a game or two. Um probably going to need a couple games cuz this flipper gap is pretty darn wide. If you've played Dragon, it is got basically the same lower layout and it can be deadly. So, the rules are pretty simple. They're all pretty much laid out right on the playfield. So, first thing you want to do is plunge, and if you plunge into any of the outer lanes, you will get 5,000 points and advance your bonus. And interestingly enough, your bonus builds going downward rather than upward on this machine. So, you stop start at the top of the the glacier there. So, if you hit the this in lane, that is double bonus, and that will turn on the two outside pop bumpers, which makes them worth 10,000 a pop, which is pretty valuable in this game. If you roll over this lane here, then that will be triple bonus. Also, these lights will light up depending on which lane you hit. Double, triple. If you hit the triple bonus lane, then the center pop bumper lights up for 10,000 a pop. And you can never have double and triple bonus lit simultaneously, so you will never see all three pop bumpers lit at the same time. Interesting fact. This stand-up target here, which is the pink polar bear, is 5,000 and advance bonus. I recommend not going for that cuz it is deadly. Moving down the playfield, we've got a couple outside rollover buttons that are worth 500 each. And then you can see here by the art, 5,000 points and advance bonus all of the drop targets. So, that's a good way to build up your bonus. This machine seems to be set for if you get your bonus up to 80,000, it will light an extra ball for you. It will give you an extra ball, I should say. If you happen to knock down all the drop targets on the left, you'll light the left saucer for a special. Same applies to the right. If you just go in the saucer at any given time, it's 50,000 points. So, that is a lot of points in this game. I think that's pretty much it. So, let's start up a game of Alaska.
  • ?

    design_innovation: Unusual bonus advancement design on Alaska where bonus builds downward from top of playfield rather than upward; unique design choice for EM era

    high · Host explains: 'your bonus builds going downward rather than upward on this machine. So you start at the top of the glacier'

  • ?

    product_concern: Multiple mechanical issues documented during gameplay: stuck switches, unleveled back legs after moving machine, difficult outlane management, dicey saucer kickout

    high · Host encounters: 'stuck switch', 'I don't think the back legs are level once I move the machine', 'dicey kickout on one side'

  • ?

    content_signal: YouTube tutorial video serving as primary documentation source for ultra-rare machine; preserves gameplay knowledge and mechanical details for community reference

    high · Host explicitly creates tutorial for awareness: 'Interflip Alaska. Maybe the only one in existence. Four-player EM, that is. Thanks for watching.'

    • 3:12
    I got the playfield glass off, so it'll be a little loud, but that's okay. Less glare that way. All right, let's go for the triple bonus.
    3:24
    You can see my bonus uh inserts starting to light up there. I got 10,000. Oh, there's a 50,000 saucer and drop target for another bonus advance. So, I'm going to go for some more drops.
    3:45
    Just like most EMs, if you hit two drops down at the same time, it's not going to register both. The uh machine isn't smart enough for that. All right, down to three drop targets. One on each side now. Oh, man. I wanted to light the special and show off my knockers, but we'll have to try that on another ball. Okay, so 144,000 to start. High-scoring EM game. There it is, triple bonus.
    4:33
    So, triple 20 is worth 60,000 points. Well, it's it's set for five balls, so you can see ball in play right around there.
    4:49
    Oh, no. Saw that coming off not so nicely. At the end of the game, there's going to be There's like a shield covering the match number, so that you can't just like automatically tilt if you can see the number. If you could see that you're going to get a match at 800, I could tilt right now and get a match and get a free game. So, that's why the shield's there. I haven't actually noticed if after the game it's supposed to like move up or down so that it unveils the match number. I haven't actually noticed if that works yet, so keep an eye on that at the end of the game. See if we get a match. Okay, ball four in play here.
    5:28
    You really want the inside lanes. Oh, that was bad. You want those pop bumpers and the bonus. Here we go, triple.
    5:42
    So, the two upper lanes don't actually score any points, so [music] they don't give you chimes. Interesting fact. And they just uh like I said, turn on your pop bumper lights. So, triple bonus on ball five here. Let's go for some drops.
    6:03
    Oh, that's trouble. That's trouble. Can't trap up on this game very easily. I mean, you can. Oh, match. No, I didn't see that shield come up. I'm going to have to check on that. All right, well, that is game number one. I'm not going to finish on that note. We got to at least knock down all the drop targets and collect a special at least on one side of the drop target bank. If we can hit all 10, that's basically uh wizard mode on this game. So, let's try for that. Whoa.
    6:41
    Yes, there is You can execute some degree of flipper control, but it's more of a like see ball, hit ball style game.
    6:58
    Uh I'm I'm saying this to you like giving you advice on how to play it, but uh unless this ends up at a pinball museum, then you may never get to play in Alaska. Hopefully, you do. >> [snorts]
    7:10
    [snorts]
    7:11
    [snorts] >> I don't know where this will end up, a
    7:12
    I don't know where this will end up, a
    7:12
    I don't know where this will end up, a private collection, a museum. Rob Berk, he really should buy it. I was just at Pastimes Arcade Whoa. on the weekend, and I saw his Dragon there, and this would look mighty nice beside it.
    7:35
    All right, this is not a good game. Let's try and have a good one here. It's hard enough to play this game just without talking at the same time. All right, we'll give it one more go. I'm going to try and concentrate a little harder. If you see me smoke in the background, you know what that is.
    8:07
    Okay, here we go. Maybe I need to install carrot flippers on this thing. Make them a little bit longer. Or center post. Drill a hole in the playfield.
    8:20
    This actually has a 6 mm plexiglass type um plastic over top of the wooden playfield, so you'd have to drill through the uh plexiglass, too.
    8:37
    But, it definitely helps to preserve these playfields. Oh, man. I I'm chatting again. I'm chatting. Hey. Okay, I was going to say, let's get it up to 80, so we can get a free ball, too. I got to do that, and I'm not going to stop until I get a special and I get an extra ball. So, you might be here with me for a while.
    9:09
    I don't really want to have to edit out any games. Good thing they're only like 2 minutes long each. Oh, it's trouble.
    9:23
    Is this the ball? You never know. Saucer, very dicey kickout. Uh one side. There it is, special's lit. Oh. And I was at 50. I was so close.
    9:42
    Ball five. Come on, triple. Oh, boy. I hit the one drop that I already hit. Like, come on. All right, well, didn't accomplish my mission. So, I'm going to say um getting the extra ball is the mini wizard mode. Collecting a special is the wizard mode.
    10:11
    Getting all drop targets down is also mini wizard mode.
    10:20
    All right, this is good start. Got triple lit. Got uh 10,000 bonus so far.
    10:45
    Okay, one more bonus to light that extra [music] ball. All right, drop target on the left. Ah, I got the extra ball, though. It don't matter. Mini wizard mode achieved. With triple bonus, too. That was good ball one, 300,000. As soon as I hit this switch here, extra ball will turn off. >> [snorts]
    11:05
    [snorts]
    11:06
    [snorts] >> Now,
    11:08
    Now,
    11:08
    Now, time for special. I don't think there's anything I could have done there. Maybe I got to get a little more aggressive. This machine currently is on wheels, so I'm not nudging like I normally would.
    11:39
    See, I got a little extra nudgy there, and I got away with it, so
    11:51
    Uh-oh. Thank you. Those lower ones are scary. Getting close. One left. All right, now I need special. Trapping up. Oh, that was close. Yes! No!
    12:10
    I can sleep tonight, though. Finally did it. Now, all drop targets. That is very unlikely.
    12:21
    But, you never know. Well, that's like the seventh time I split there. I hit both top drop targets in one shot.
    12:34
    That's trick shot. That's super skill shot. Oh, look, bounce pass. You can even do that. Oh, boy. Ah, bad timing. Dang. All right, ball four. I don't think I'm going to roll it. I definitely need the triple to help that cause. Uh nope.
    13:04
    That was safe until it wasn't. All right, last ball. Can I do all 10 targets? If I was a betting man, I would not bet on me. Oh, why'd you do that?
    13:31
    I guess I can live with that. 592,000. But, there you go. Interflip Alaska. Maybe the only one in existence. Four-player EM, that is. Thanks for watching. Okay, here's a little bonus footage. Here's the blinder. It's got three different solenoids that operate it. One for up, one for down, one for advance. And uh turns out I just removed the little C-clip, and the pivot point here is just very rusty, and needs a good cleaning. And after that, it should work, so we'll give it a try. All right, that's all cleaned up, and check this out now.
    14:16
    There we go. We should have a functioning blinder now. Okay, I reinstalled the match unit, and it is in the open position. Now, let's see if it closes when I start a game.
    14:33
    It does not. Okay, I think we have a epic failure here. Okay, I manually closed the blinder, and I'm going to plunge off ball five here. And uh let's see if anything happens.
    14:53
    Absolutely nothing. Okay, I feel like I can't leave you hanging. I'm going to play until I knock down all drop targets, but I'm only going to show you that ball, cuz it may take me, you know, like 486 balls. So, I won't make you suffer through all that. But, I may just time lapse um all of my failed attempts until I get to the good ball. We'll see how many it takes.
    15:44
    So, what's going on with this guy? What happened? Is he broken?
    15:55
    All right, I'm not. That would be a problem. Okay, I got an issue with the drop target.
    16:26
    So, I got to abort for now. Well, I found my problem.
    16:34
    My spring ring broke. So, I just got to reattach that, and it won't get Interflip bricked again. Okay, that took like 20 minutes of struggling, and then uh I accidentally popped off the spring off the bottom, so I had to reattach it from both ends. Anyway, let's give this another try. Oops, [snorts] two players. Oh, well, it doesn't matter. Where's my ball? It's in my pocket.
    17:39
    Oh, boy. This game is so fun. Play. Let me play. Yay. Sally brick, there you go. You're all fixed now.
    17:56
    Hey. We're close. We are close. Oh my god! What was that?
    18:15
    I didn't mean to summon the whole Eric Stone there with the what was that, but I did get to play him in Ohio on Circus Voltaire. And guess what I scored? Under 1 million. Yeah, that's right. All three balls. Not even 700,000. It was 677. Don't ask what happened.
    18:45
    Ah, so close. Guess who won that set? Eric Stone. I think I did hear him utter a what was that on one of his balls, even.
    19:11
    If he doesn't have T-shirts made up with that on it yet, I mean, he should, really.
    19:20
    I don't know why I'm talking through this whole thing. This is supposed to all be time lapse.
    19:33
    Okay, here it is. Bounce pass. Bounce pass. Whoa. Don't.
    19:44
    One finger for each drop target left on each side. Whoa, that was a dig. That was a dig.
    19:57
    That was not. Triple bonus. Woo. Not usually that I I can nudge better. That's my problem. I'm just sitting there watching the ball.
    20:23
    The window popped open. It showed 900. It works. Sweet. And it closed back up. Oh, that's amazing. I thought it didn't work, but just needed a needed to be kicked in there. So, all right, let's do uh two player again. If you're still watching this and I am actually doing this in regular mode instead of uh time lapse, then good on you.
    21:03
    So, I knew this would take 50 balls. You like that. Pass. I should have just settled for a second. I could have saved that. Get in.
    21:43
    I nudged good there, but you threw me a curveball just when I thought I was doing good things. That's going to be trouble.
    21:54
    I don't think the back legs are level once I move the machine.
    22:09
    Wow. Oh, that was a tilt. Shoot. If you don't ever get the chance to play Alaska, you won't have to feel the pain that I currently feel. So, maybe that's a good thing. Woah. What? That's
    22:44
    very uncool. How many minutes? 6 minutes. Woah. That is a lot of balls. What is this? My second two player game
    22:59
    after fixing the drop target? There's a couple all in lane. Don't be an out lane. This guy here is going to get the hammer soon. It's very much misbehaving.
    23:20
    See, that was good nudging. Ooh, that What is this? Oh, there's a stuck switch. Come on. I was just doing so good.
    23:38
    Seems to be unstuck, whatever it was. Oh my god, that was a 7 10 split right there.
    23:45
    One left. Where's this one left? I'll just I'll probably do this in regular motion and just put up a warning. Watch at your own risk.
    24:03
    If you want to see 40 balls of me failing, then that's on you. Don't say I didn't warn you. Woah.
    24:18
    Oh, come on. You got to make these shots count. You're only going to get so many. There's another fail.
    24:34
    Ball five, player two. 21 balls if you include my extra ball. Plus, uh I might have been able might have been able Well, I am not giving up.
    24:51
    I'm doing four players. And if I can't pull it off here, then um
    25:00
    I'll have to use Alaska as firewood. It's nice thick wood. It should burn so well.
    25:12
    Melt that glacier right off your face there, Alaska. Okay. Time to concentrate.
    25:29
    That was me. I mean, I can't blame Alaska on that one.
    25:38
    Okay, let's just get this done. I don't want to have to edit an hour long video.
    25:53
    9 minutes now. If I can do this under 10 minutes, >> [snorts]
    25:55
    [snorts]
    25:55
    [snorts] >> that'd be amazing. Woah. That pretty much means this ball. 9 minutes, 22 seconds. See if I can do it on this ball. Imagine that. Under the 10-minute mark.
    26:29
    Woah, that was a good dig. That was a good dig. There we go. That's the speed it needs to be for a successful no.
    26:41
    Shots bailout. Woo. Three drop targets left. Two.
    26:49
    You got to nudge better. Nudge better in that area. Thinking of setting a new time goal. Like the 12-minute mark, but uh let's just let's just do it here.
    27:13
    Woah, see that's a better nudge. Ooh, two for one. Let me live. Oh.
    27:31
    It's kind of addicting.
    27:31
    It's kind of addicting. Just want to do the thing. I think Stern needs to remaster this game. Oh. So everybody get a chance to play it.
    27:54
    I mean I mean like if I was paying a quarter a shot here as a teenage boy,
    28:12
    I would not be feeding this that many quarters. Oh, come on. So close. Two left.
    28:29
    Let's just make sure that it's Alaska's fault and not my skills.
    28:40
    See that? Oh my god, I can't believe I did that. What were that?
    28:51
    Okay, let's try and bank shot.
    28:51
    Okay, let's try and bank shot. We're so close. Ooh, breather time. One on each side.
    29:08
    Now, to cash in one of these uh specials. Oh, no. I am not doing another 50 balls to try and achieve that. Finally. Got all the drop targets down. I just realized I don't believe you heard the knocker. So, I can't deprive you of that. So, here we go. Woah, two free games.
    29:38
    And one free game for there. But yeah, knockers work. I just wanted to show them off or it. It's only one knocker. But that was double. That's knockers. Okay, one last thing. This is player four, ball five. And we're going to try and get a match. See if it works. I need a 400, 200, 300, or a 600. Big money, big money, no whammies. Yes! We got it. Player one. It worked.