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KISS


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KISS / IPD No. 1386 / June, 1979 / 4 Players
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 7 stars - Click for comments ]    7.0/10  (64 ratings/51 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (1931-1983) [Trade Name: Bally]
Project Date: April 25, 1978
Date Of Manufacture: June, 1979
Model Number: 1152-E
MPU: Bally MPU AS-2518-35
Type: Solid State Electronic (SS) [?]
Production: 17,000 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Licensed Theme - Music
Notable Features: Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (8), Spinning targets (2), 4-bank drop targets (1), Right outlane detour gate. Backglass light animation (letters in K-I-S-S light up when scored, animate during Game Over).

Maximum displayed point score is 999,990 points per player.

Sound: electronic, EM knocker

Tilt penalty: ball in play.

Design by: Jim Patla
Art by: Kevin O'Connor
Notes: Used a different power supply than the other 3rd generation tables.

The games shipped to Germany had backglasses and playfields with the word KISS having a rounded letter "S" instead of ones shaped like a lightning bolt "S" taken from the runic alphabet. The latter style was used as a double-sig logo and made infamous by Nazi Germany's Schutzstaffel.

A 'Kiss' prototype was built which used speech. It was an emergency response to Williams' 1979 'Gorgar', the first talking pinball machine, so Bally pulled a game off of the production line to experiment with, and Kiss happened to be the game in production. Allan Reizman, Engineering Lab Supervisor at Bally from 1977 to 1983, shares his remembrances of this:

The talking Kiss prototype did make it out of the lab at least once and was displayed at the 1979 AMOA show in Chicago where it was viewed by all. I believe it said things like, "Shoot the K" and "Kiss!" when you completed a Kiss row. Somebody recently reminded me it groaned, "Too much Rock and Roll!" when you tilted it.

The game was only done as a one-time concept.

Bally's first talking production pinball machine was Bally's 1980 'Xenon'.

Not to be confused with the AMOA talking game, there were also a reported eleven prototype Kiss games made with blue vacuum fluorescent displays. These games did not have speech and used an Intel CPU chip, having three boards: a power supply board, an oversized MPU/IO driver combo board, and a Display board. In our Files section are three schematics that Allan Reizman said are correct for these prototypes only and carry the date and initials of Norm Wurz, Bally draftsman. It was determined the combo board was too large and thus impractical for production use and so Bally went to a separate IO driver board for future development. It was also determined the Motorola CPU chipset was best for pinball applications.

Therefore, these Kiss prototype games are a completely different design with no speech than the latter Flash Gordon and Eight Ball Deluxe prototypes. Those games had Squawk & Talk speech and used the Motorola 6803 system as opposed to the Intel and were the test bed for the Bally production 6803 MPU system.

In this listing is number three of the reported eleven prototypes made, and the Bally paperwork refers to it as an Engineering Sample. The information provided by its owner is as follows:

Bally gave their employee Bruce Kalas this Kiss game on June 29, 1982. Bruce had the game until 1988. Project number NT 1152. Per Bruce, the game did work. The backglass does not lift out, it hinges. There is no on/off switch under the cabinet bottom. The game is supposed to start by typing in a code in the backbox keypad, which has the words Game, Enter, and Test. There are no batteries on the board(s) in the backbox. The ROMS say "experimental". Every coil is marked by hand.

The owner subsequently commented on what the original Bally owner had told him about the disposition of the other ten prototypes:

This machine (serial number 1152-3) was given to the original owner free by Bally. He said the boss came and told all the workers to come and stand by the machine that they wanted and the Kiss prototypes were the only ones left from which to choose. There were 11 prototypes and he was the last employee to choose so he got prototype number 3. The other 8 were destroyed with sledgehammers. He said he watched them do it. He claims he didn't want the machine but the price was free so he took it.

In our Files Section is a Power Supply Schematic unique to these 11 games. We saw handwriting on it stating, "This schematic represents P.C.B. used on 12 Kiss pilots." We asked Allen Reizman of this was his handwriting and if the 12th game was the AMOA talking game. He replied:

Yes that's my handwriting. I remember there were 11 Kiss New Tech prototypes deployed. The official name of those games would be, ‘Intel based, New Technology games’. These games are identified as having a modified standard cabinet with a backbox equipped with blue VF (vacuum fluorescent) alphanumeric displays. The 12th may have been the lab dev game. Only way to confirm the exact number is for everyone with these prototypes report their serial numbers.

The Trade show talking Kiss was a one-off marketing project and should not be considered part of the 11 or 12 Intel New Technology games. Talking Kiss used the standard production Motorola board set and displays installed into a one of a kind fiberglass cabinet with a custom sound board added. I doubt there is any surviving documentation for that. A photo or document of the talking Kiss would be an amazing find. Unfortunately, photography at Bally was strictly forbidden at the time. Anyone caught photographing at Bally without permission would have been fired on the spot.

Maybe there is a reader out there who attended the 1979 AMOA and who snuck in a camera?


In addition to the above prototype games, see also Bally's 1979 'KISS (fiberglass prototype)'.

Photos in: Silver Knight pp. April/May 1995
Pinball ArtExternal Link, pages 58 and 64
The Complete Pinball BookExternal Link, pages 15, 99, 104, and 204
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book G-R
Arcade TreasuresExternal Link, page 93
Pinball Machines (Eiden-Lukas)External Link, page 96
Pinball SnapshotsExternal Link, pages 4, 119-123, and 182
Pinball The Lure of the Silverball, page 93
Pinball (Ciuffo), page 112
Easter Eggs:Available at Cows and Easter Eggs  (External site)
ROMs: 8 KB ZIP Prototype ROM Set [Bally Manufacturing Inc.]
  8 KB ZIP ROMs [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
Documentation: 2 MB PDF Control Board Schematic (for the prototypes with blue displays and no speech) [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  461 KB PDF Display Schematic (for the prototypes with blue displays and no speech) [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  12 MB PDF English Manual [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  532 KB PDF German Manual [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  220 KB PDF Omissions to Schematic Diagrams (user-submitted) [John Briguglio]
  831 KB PDF Power Supply Schematic (for the prototypes with blue displays and no speech) [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  2 MB PDF Schematic Diagram (paginated) [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
Files: 2 MB PDF Original Factory Software Floppy Disks and Development Notes [Bally Mfg. Corp.]
  17 KB PDF Prototype Game With Speech - Info From Bally Engineer Allan Reizman [Allan Reizman]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 1325: KISS Backglass
Backglass

545x421
[MECA]
Image # 1329: KISS Playfield
Playfield

482x709
 
Image # 4061: KISS Flyer, Front
Flyer, Front

849x1128
 
Image # 4062: KISS Flyer, Page 2
Flyer, Page 2

849x1145
 
Image # 4063: KISS Flyer, Page 3
Flyer, Page 3

873x1130
 
Image # 4064: KISS Flyer, Back
Flyer, Back

865x1145
 
Image # 6230: KISS Backglass
Backglass

1024x859
[Riffhard]
Image # 6470: KISS Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

772x764
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 7041: KISS German Backglass
German Backglass

1024x841
[André Brockschmidt]
Image # 7042: KISS German Playfield - Detail
German Playfield - Detail

800x600
[André Brockschmidt]
Image # 7043: KISS German Playfield - Detail
German Playfield - Detail

656x800
[André Brockschmidt]
Image # 7044: KISS German Playfield - Detail
German Playfield - Detail

600x800
[André Brockschmidt]
Image # 7045: KISS German Conversion Backglass
German Conversion Backglass

1024x796
[André Brockschmidt]
Image # 9705: KISS Cabinet - Full View
Cabinet - Full View

934x1500
[Christopher Wolf]
Image # 11080: KISS Press Release
Press Release

1024x672
 
Image # 11989: KISS Plastic Playfield
Plastic Playfield

568x870
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 11990: KISS Plastic Playfield Shooter Alley
Plastic Playfield Shooter Alley

574x876
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 11991: KISS Under Plastic Playfield
Under Plastic Playfield

574x870
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 11992: KISS Plastic Playfield Edge
Plastic Playfield Edge

858x586
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 15032: KISS Playfield
Playfield

1200x2477
[Duncan Brown]
Image # 15127: KISS Backglass - Reverse
Backglass - Reverse

400x300
[Dan Meacham]
Image # 16246: KISS Bumper cap 1
Bumper cap 1

618x607
[Pascal Villedieu]
Image # 16247: KISS Bumper cap 2
Bumper cap 2

595x630
[Pascal Villedieu]
Image # 16248: KISS Bumper cap 3
Bumper cap 3

587x621
[Pascal Villedieu]
Image # 16249: KISS Bumper cap 4
Bumper cap 4

521x622
[Pascal Villedieu]
Image # 32278: KISS Original Artwork 
(Artist is Kevin O'Connor.Design marker on illustrator board.Dimensions 27 inches by 23 inches.)
Original Artwork*

574x471
[Harold Balde]
Image # 34130: KISS Playfield Plastic
Playfield Plastic

1024x1317
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 34131: KISS Playfield Plastic
Playfield Plastic

1024x1306
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 34132: KISS Playfield Plastic
Playfield Plastic

1024x1394
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 34133: KISS Playfield Plastics
Playfield Plastics

1024x1408
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 36519: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

281x344
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 36520: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

333x334
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 36521: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

320x240
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 36522: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

381x480
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 36523: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

393x480
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 36524: KISS Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

334x293
[Bob Sokol]
Image # 47972: KISS Backglass - Detail
Backglass - Detail

1200x900
[Miroslaw Adamczewski]
Image # 47973: KISS Backglass - Detail
Backglass - Detail

1200x900
[Miroslaw Adamczewski]
Image # 49070: KISS Promotional Poster 
(Provided by Bally in 1979. Measured approximately 23 by 26 inches.)
Promotional Poster*

799x719
[Harold Balde]
Image # 50146: KISS Engineering Prototype - Hinged Backglass 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Hinged Backglass*

1200x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50147: KISS Engineering Prototype - Hinged Backglass 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Hinged Backglass*

755x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50148: KISS Engineering Prototype - Front View 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Front View*

690x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50149: KISS Engineering Prototype - Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Playfield*

1200x1600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50150: KISS Engineering Prototype - Upper Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Upper Playfield*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50151: KISS Engineering Prototype - Middle Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Middle Playfield*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50152: KISS Engineering Prototype - Lower Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Lower Playfield*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50153: KISS Engineering Prototype - Lower Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Lower Playfield*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50154: KISS Engineering Prototype - Backbox - Left 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Backbox - Left*

321x455
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50155: KISS Engineering Prototype - Backbox - Right 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Backbox - Right*

424x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50156: KISS Engineering Prototype - Cabinet - Detail 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Cabinet - Detail*

800x383
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50157: KISS Engineering Prototype - Serial Number Plate 
(This serial number plate is located on the side of the cabinet; there is no serial number stamped in the wood as on most games. The NT-1152 was the project number. 1152-3 is the model number followed by the number of the game, this being the third prototype game produced.)
Engineering Prototype - Serial Number Plate*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50158: KISS Engineering Prototype - Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Inside Backbox*

1200x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50159: KISS Engineering Prototype - Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Inside Backbox*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50160: KISS Engineering Prototype - Under Playfield 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Under Playfield*

1200x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50161: KISS Engineering Prototype - Under Playfield - Detail 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Under Playfield - Detail*

1200x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50162: KISS Engineering Prototype - Inside Cabinet 
(Serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Inside Cabinet*

1200x900
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 50163: KISS Engineering Prototype - Paperwork 
(From the game with serial number 1152-3.)
Engineering Prototype - Paperwork*

800x600
[Kevin Honaker]
Image # 62112: KISS Partially Screened Backglass 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass*

1200x799
 
Image # 62113: KISS Partially Screened Backglass - Upper Left 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass - Upper Left*

1200x922
 
Image # 62114: KISS Partially Screened Backglass - Upper Right 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass - Upper Right*

1200x900
 
Image # 62115: KISS Partially Screened Backglass - Center 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass - Center*

1200x900
 
Image # 62116: KISS Partially Screened Backglass - Lower Left 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass - Lower Left*

1200x918
 
Image # 62117: KISS Partially Screened Backglass - Lower Right 
(First the mirroring was applied, then the black. This clear glass is resting upon brown paper.)
Partially Screened Backglass - Lower Right*

1200x900
 
Image # 64128: KISS Backglass
Backglass

1024x1536
[Don Lee]
Image # 69356: KISS Early Production - KISS Card Inserts 
(The colors of the right-side column of four translucent arrows match the left-side column of arrows. During production, the right-side arrows were all changed to be transparent orange. Serial Number EKI1022.)
Early Production - KISS Card Inserts*

612x816
[Creagen Dow]
Image # 75529: KISS NOS Uncut Plastics 
(These were identified to us as Bally factory uncut production samples circa 1978-79.)
NOS Uncut Plastics*

1159x627
[Mark Dillard]
Image # 75530: KISS NOS Uncut Plastics 
(These were identified to us as Bally factory uncut production samples circa 1978-79.)
NOS Uncut Plastics*

1200x900
[Mark Dillard]
Image # 75531: KISS NOS Uncut Plastics - Reverse 
(These were identified to us as Bally factory uncut production samples circa 1978-79.)
NOS Uncut Plastics - Reverse*

1176x678
[Mark Dillard]
Image # 75635: KISS Prototype - Illuminated Front View 
(Serial number 1152-5.)
Prototype - Illuminated Front View*

740x1317
 
Image # 75636: KISS Prototype - Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 1152-5.)
Prototype - Inside Backbox*

1200x717
 
Image # 77778: KISS Prototype - Serial Number Plate 
(Serial number 1152-5.)
Prototype - Serial Number Plate*

970x814
 
Image # 82283: KISS French Instruction Card
French Instruction Card

1200x900
[Isabelle Chevalier]
Image # 82713: KISS Germany Backglass - Registration Mark 
(Red circles indicate that the patent registration mark on the front of the glass replaced the trademark symbol seen on the reverse of the glass.)
Germany Backglass - Registration Mark*

1200x1086
[Federico Croci]
Image # 82714: KISS Bolt-Style Backglass - Registration Mark 
(Red circles indicate that the patent registration mark on the front of the glass replaced the trademark symbol seen on the reverse of the glass.)
Bolt-Style Backglass - Registration Mark*

1200x1354
[Jay Stafford]
 
Source: Photo [?]

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