Bronco 1963 Pinball – Rodeo Spirit at Arcade Museum Budapest
Bronco is no ordinary old pinball machine. Its very name tells you what to expect: Wild West atmosphere, runaway balls and a touch of rodeo thrill.
Built by Chicago Coin, Bronco was made in November 1963 and reached the arcades in 1964. Today it is one of the most interesting classics at Arcade Museum Budapest, where you can see up close how pinball machines worked before digital displays and modern effects.
Chicago Coin Bronco: a true classic
Bronco is a two-player electromechanical pinball machine. That means the game isn't run by a computer but by relays, switches, mechanical assemblies and traditional score reels.
The machine was designed by Jerry Koci and Al Schlappa, and its eye-catching artwork was painted by Roy Parker. The whole look evokes the world of the rodeo and the Wild West: horses, dusty arenas and unpredictable action everywhere.
Bronco's launch was also covered at the time by the trade magazine Cash Box. As one of its main highlights, the article pointed to the "Corral" kick-out mechanism in the middle of the playfield. The ball can arrive in the center from several directions, then quickly bounces back out into play.
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What makes it fun to play?
Bronco's gameplay is easy to learn but far from boring. Two flippers, four pop bumpers, slingshots, targets and kick-out holes keep the ball moving almost constantly.
The central "Corral" makes the game especially exciting. It isn't always easy to predict where the ball will go next, so quick reactions and good timing count for a lot.
Completing the targets earns extra points and better playing opportunities. Bronco could be set for three-ball or five-ball play, and some versions were also built with an add-a-ball feature.
A rare pinball machine at Arcade Museum Budapest
Bronco from 1963 is no longer a machine you run into on every corner. Working examples are especially interesting to collectors, because on a pinball machine more than sixty years old, every relay click and mechanical movement is part of history.
At Arcade Museum Budapest, though, you don't just get to know old games through a glass case. Visitors can try working classic machines and experience what the arcade was like before video games and digital displays became widespread. You can find the full Bronco 1963 pinball details here.
More than an old game
Bronco is special because it doesn't try to be more than it is: a well-designed, fast and entertaining classic pinball machine. No long stories, digital menus or complicated rules. Just the ball, the flippers, the targets and that distinctive mechanical atmosphere that modern games can no longer quite recreate.
If you love retro arcades, classic pinball, or you're simply curious what a 1960s arcade machine looked like, Bronco is a must-see.
Try it at Arcade Museum Budapest and see whether you can tame this wild bronco!
Photos: pinside.com