UK Machine Record
PIN-BOT
Williams · 1986 · at 1 UK venue.
Pin-Bot is one of Steve Ritchie's most recognisable early designs and the beginning of the machine family that would eventually produce Jack-Bot. The objective is to climb the Solar System, opening Pin-Bot's visor and eventually reaching the higher-value planets.
The famous visor mechanism gives the machine a physical objective that is immediately understandable, while the ramps and centre shots create a surprisingly challenging game.
It has aged particularly well because the central idea is so clear. Open Pin-Bot's visor. Everything else is just getting you there.
Written by Silverball
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No guide to PIN-BOT yet
Guides here are compiled against the machine’s published rules, credited to what they were built from, and dated. That makes them slow: the machines standing on the most UK floors get one first — but anyone who plays this machine can write their own.

Strategy tips written by players on PinTips , not by Silverball. Best-voted first.
Skill shot2 tips
- Skill shot
Don't pull the plunger all the way out or you'll shoot right past the second hole up the spiral ramp valued at 100k
- Skill shot
A locked ball gives you a skillshot and increases the Vortex Multiplier by 1x. Multiplied 100Ks are worth good points, learn the skillshot.
Multiball3 tips
- Multiball
Shoot fully lit column or row to open the visor in one shot. Lock balls in eyes for MB. Lock a ball in eye, then shoot ramp for Solar Value.
- Multiball
To shoot the right eye socket, use the right flipper and flip early so the ball shoots straight up the playfield.
- Multiball
If you lock a ball and do not start multiball your lock can be stolen by other players.
General3 tips
- General
Pop bumpers add to energy value. Collect after hitting drop target. Left hand ramp adds to solar value. Collect after triggering multiball.
- General
The Solar Value jackpot carries over ball-to-ball, player-to-player until collected. Don't just increase it for your opponents to cash in.
- General
Plunge soft for your 100 thousand
Not tournament-legal1 tip
- Not tournament-legal
Vortex multiplier cheat: MB, shoot ramp to get ball in plunger. Leave it there, shoot ramp w/ other ball, bump plunger to adv mult. repeat.
Tips belong to the players who wrote them. Read them all, vote, or add your own on PinTips, a Match Play project.
No tutorials for this machine
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Nobody we follow has reviewed this one
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Where a machine sits is Pinball Map’s work, not ours, find PIN-BOT near you on their map. Ratings, tips and tournament results here are ours.
