Of all the games hiding in the dusty corners of seedy bars, fluorescent bowling alleys, and within the beeps and bloops of arcade amusement halls, pinball is probably the most widespread and instantly recognisable. Developed by Montague Redgrave in 1869 as a way to improve upon the game of Bagatelle, the pinball machine has become an icon of pop culture and a stalwart of Americana. When British-born Redgrave settled in America he would not, and could not, have anticipated the longevity of his creation.

By the time of depression era 1930s, coin operated pinball machines were extremely popular culminating in Baffle Ball; a game developed by David Gottlieb that had huge success. In 1933 another leap forward was taken in the form of Pacific Amusements game, Contact. This was the first version of pinball to use electrically powered devices to compliment the already tried and tested mechanical aspects of the game. In the 1950s and 1960s scoring reels became common, allowing players to compete for the highest score. Several additions such as drop zones and other targets were added to the design in the oncoming decades until the late 1970s and early 80s. At this time the game of pinball suffered an almighty blow; the advent of video games. Amusement halls quickly became littered with arcade machines that made pinball look arcane by comparison. Customers who would often by a pinball machine for their bar or diner now turned their attention to games such as Space Invaders, Galaga, and Frogger. While Pinball machines have never been as popular since, they are still mass produced and are instantly recognisable today. The biggest irony is that the technology developed for the video game market has allowed pinball machines to develop into games for a modern market; a fusion of young technologies and old. Digital games that simulate Redgraves improvements to the game of Bagatelle are now available on almost every gaming platform from Apples Iphone to Nintendos Wii. This combined with the smaller, but still apparent, creation of physical machines for bars, amusements, and bowling alleys suggest Pinball will continue to be developed into the future.

Another avenue through which pinball has maintained popularity is through a substantially lucrative market in collecting vintage pinball machines. Some pinball machines have went at auction for thousands of pounds ( in fact a machine from The Whos Pinball Wizard film recently sold for a million dollars). The market for pinball machines shifts regularly, and its not uncommon for a machine that sold for only $200 a few years ago to make thousands now; hence the profitability of collecting. For enthusiasts rather than collectors, normally buying a pinball machine comes down to one of two things; theme or playability. Often enthusiasts will buy a machine because it has a theme such as a film or comic book. The problem is that some of these machines dont play very well, whereas others with poor, little known, or out-right ugly themes are a lot of fun to play.

With the combination of new developments in pinball manufacturing, a nostalgic fan-base, and a continuing desire for many to play that old game of improved Bagatelle, the future of the pinball machine looks bright!