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1997

Medieval Madness

Quick Overview

Catapults, trolls and a mad medieval kingdom! Medieval Madness is a pinball machine released by Williams in June 1997, taking the player into a humorous, made-up medieval world. In the middle of the playfield stands an animated castle with a moving portcullis and drawbridge. The machine was designed by Brian Eddy and is today very popular among collectors today.

Medieval Madness

Basics

  • ReleaseJune 1997
  • ManufacturerWilliams
  • DesignerBrian Eddy
  • ProgrammingLyman Sheats
  • ArtGreg Freres, John Youssi
  • AnimationAdam Rhine, Brian Morris
  • MechanicsRobert C. Friesl
  • Music and soundDan Forden
  • GenrePinball
  • ThemeHumorous medieval world
  • Players1–4
  • SystemWilliams WPC-95
  • DisplayDot-matrix (DMD)
  • Units produced4,016

Creators

Brian Eddy – designerLyman Sheats – programmingGreg Freres and John Youssi – artDan Forden – music and soundRobert C. Friesl – mechanics

Standout features:

Animated castle with a portcullis and motorized drawbridgeTwo trolls that pop up from beneath the playfieldCatapult ramp in the lower left cornerThree multiball modes and the Battle for the Kingdom wizard modePatented ramp design that keeps a failed shot from draining down the middle

Play It Live!

Step into the medieval madness! Destroy the castle, defeat the trolls, and play the Medieval Madness pinball machine at Arcade Museum Budapest!

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Game Objective

One of the main goals is to destroy six castles by hitting the castle entrance. On the playfield you complete six missions: Joust Champion, Patron of Peasants, Catapult Ace, Defender of Damsels, Master of Trolls and Castle Crusher. Completing the missions starts the "Battle for the Kingdom" wizard mode, which ends with defeating the King of Payne. The machine also offers three multiball modes: Castle Multiball, Multiball Madness and Barnyard Multiball. In the lower left of the playfield is a catapult ramp, along with left and right ramps, loops and a Merlin saucer.

Fun Facts

  • It was designed by Brian Eddy and released by Williams in June 1997.
  • Only 4,016 units were built.
  • The playfield holds an animated castle with a portcullis and motorized drawbridge.
  • Two trolls pop up from beneath the playfield in certain modes.
  • One of the game's main goals is destroying six castles.
  • The wizard mode is Battle for the Kingdom, which ends with defeating the King of Payne.
  • A patented ramp design keeps a missed shot from draining down the middle.
  • From 2015, Chicago Gaming Company produced remakes in several editions.
  • Recommended for fans of humorous fantasy and fast, spectacular pinball.

Why Is It Special?

One of Medieval Madness's biggest ideas is the animated castle: the portcullis is solenoid-controlled, the drawbridge is motorized The two trolls hide beneath the playfield and pop up as targets in certain modes. The machine's ramps use a patented design: a missed ramp shot cannot roll straight back down between the two flippers. The machine was a critical and popular success, and demand among collectors is high. Only 4,016 units were built. After the original production run, the machine was later produced again: from 2015, Chicago Gaming Company built remakes in several editions.