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1998

Cactus Canyon

Quick Overview

A Wild West town, a moving train, a mine shaft and showdowns! Cactus Canyon is a pinball machine released in October 1998 under the Bally brand and built by Midway and Williams, taking the player to a stylized Wild West town. It is one of the rarest WPC-system pinball machines: only 903 units were built, because production was cut short to begin Pinball 2000.

Cactus Canyon

Basics

  • ReleaseOctober 1998
  • ManufacturerBally (Midway / Williams)
  • DesignersMatt Coriale, Tom Kopera
  • ArtJohn Youssi
  • SoftwareMatt Coriale
  • AnimationAdam Rhine, Jim Raff
  • MechanicsLouis Toy
  • Music and soundRob Berry
  • GenrePinball
  • ThemeWild West
  • Players1–4
  • SystemWilliams WPC-95
  • DisplayDot-matrix (DMD)
  • Units produced903

Characters & Creators

Big Bart, Bandelero and Bubba Bart – the Bart BrothersThe "Bad Guy" targets – four popping-up opponentsMatt Coriale and Tom Kopera – designersJohn Youssi – artRob Berry – music and sound

Standout features:

A moving train across the top of the playfieldA mine shaft with a closing door"Bad Guy" targets that pop up from the center of the playfieldA Bart head with a pop-up hatMultiball modes: Gold Mine, Showdown and StampedeHigh Noon – the game's finishing mode

Play It Live!

Pin on the star and let the showdown begin! Try Cactus Canyon, shoot the Bad Guys, and try to reach High Noon at Arcade Museum Budapest!

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Game Objective

The game's ultimate goal is High Noon, the final showdown. To get there you first have to complete several goals: Showdown (via Quick Draw), Stampede, Mother Lode (via Gold Mine Multiball), the Bart Brothers and Combo. You then shoot the mine to start High Noon, where you have to shoot twenty "Bad Guy" targets before time runs out. During Quick Draw, you have to hit the Bad Guy target that pops up after the inlanes as fast as you can. Gold Mine Multiball starts with three balls locked in the mine shaft. You fight the Bart Brothers' three members – Big Bart, Bandelero and Bubba Bart – one after another. Ranks climb from Stranger to Marshal and count as a multiplier for scoring.

Fun Facts

  • The machine was released under the Bally brand, built by Midway and Williams.
  • Only 903 units were built.
  • Production was cut short to begin Pinball 2000.
  • A moving train runs across the playfield, and the mine shaft's door closes.
  • During Quick Draw, the Bad Guy targets pop up from the center of the playfield.
  • The final goal is High Noon: twenty Bad Guy targets have to be shot before time runs out.
  • The machine was not fully completed after its first release; a remake and new code were produced later.
  • The Pinball Arcade released a digital version.
  • Recommended for fans of fast, Wild West action and collectors of rare WPC pinball machines.

Why Is It Special?

Cactus Canyon is one of the rarest and most sought-after pinball machines of the WPC era: only 903 units were built, because Williams switched to Pinball 2000 during production. The machine is often seen as marking the end of the WPC era. The playfield shows a Wild West town, and the moving train, the mine shaft and the popping-up opponents add real Wild West atmosphere. The software was not fully completed at launch, so later remakes and code updates have played an important role. The game is also available digitally on The Pinball Arcade.