{{Short description|1982 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Night Mission Pinball | image = Night Mission Pinball cover.jpg | alt = | designer = Bruce Artwick | developer = Sublogic | publisher = Sublogic | series = | engine = | platforms = Apple II, Atari 8-bit, IBM PC, Commodore 64 | released = '''May 1982:''' Apple, Atari<br>'''1983:''' C64, IBM PC | genre = Pinball | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }}
'''''Night Mission Pinball''''' (originally released as '''''Pinball: Night Mission''''') is a pinball simulation video game published by Sublogic in 1982. It was developed by Bruce Artwick for the Apple II, then ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and IBM PC (as a self-booting disk).
== Gameplay == ''Night Mission Pinball'' simulates a pinball machine. Players can tweak dozens of settings in the simulator, including the number of balls in play, velocity of the balls, strength of the flippers, sensitivity to tilting, bounciness of the surfaces, and gravitational force exerted on the balls.<ref name=pcmag>{{cite magazine|title=Fun With Frogs and Flippers|last=Sandler|first=Corey|magazine=PC Magazine|volume=2|issue=2|date=July 1983|page=450|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2588uIxmAQC&pg=PA450}}</ref> Up to four players can compete for a high score.
The Atari version uses high resolution monochrome graphics.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night Mission Pinball|last=Rixon|first=Paul|magazine=New Atari User|issue=65|date=December 1993|page=48|url=https://archive.org/details/New_Atari_User_Issue_065_1993-12_Page_6_Publishing/page/n47}}</ref>
== Release == The game was initially marketed as ''Pinball'' and subtitled "Night Mission".<ref name=softline>{{cite magazine|title=Gameline|author=<!-- Staff -->|magazine=Softline|volume=1|issue=5|date=May 1982|pages=15–16}}</ref> The Apple version was released in May 1982.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Fastalk|author=<!-- Staff -->|magazine=Softalk|volume=3|issue=7|date=March 1983|page=22|url=https://archive.org/details/softalkv3n07mar1983/page/22}}</ref> The Commodore 64 version was released in late 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Arrivals|author=<!-- Staff -->|magazine=Softline|volume=3|issue=1|date=September–October 1983|page=3|url=https://archive.org/details/Softline_Magazine_Issue_3.1/page/n3}}</ref>
== Reception == Robert C. Gray of ''SoftSide'' wrote that the IBM PC version's configurability changes pinball from being a game of chance to "a game of intellectual choice".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night Mission Pinball|last=Gray|first=Robert C.|magazine=SoftSide|issue=59|page=56|url=https://archive.org/details/softside-magazine-59/page/n59}}</ref> In a ''PC Magazine'' review, Corey Sandler called it "a strange combination of game and graduate physics lesson" that could have appeal to tinkerers and those who wish to learn how physics impacts game design.<ref name=pcmag/> ''Softline'' highlighted the Apple version's tweakability as having "a modest educational purpose" and making it "a programmer's tour de force".<ref name=softline/>
Some reviewers compared it to other arcade games released around the same time. John J. Anderson of ''Video & Arcade Games'' called the Atari version's realism "obsessive" and praised its configurability, even though one can not design one's own pinball machine, as in the ''Pinball Construction Set''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Micro Pinball Wizardry|last=Anderson|first=John J.|magazine=Video & Arcade Games|volume=1|issue=2|date=December 1983|page=96|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Arcade_Games_Vol_1_No_2_1983-12_Creative_Computing_US/page/n97}}</ref> ''Computer Games Magazine'' rated it A+ and called it "the best computerized pinball game", as it has some features missing from the ''PCS'', such as a "tilt" mechanic.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=1985 Software Buyer's Guide|author=<!-- Staff -->|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|volume=3|issue=5|date=February 1985|page=51|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_5_1985-02_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n49}}</ref> Comparing it to ''Raster Blaster'' and ''David's Midnight Magic'', ''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s reviewers determined that ''Night Mission'' had the best ball physics and fastest balls, making it the best choice.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Micro-Reviews|last1=Rhodes|first1=Mark|last2=Gittleman|first2=Barry|magazine=Computer Gaming World|volume=3|issue=1|date=January–February 1983|pages=42–43|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_3.1.pdf}}</ref> Rick Teverbaugh of ''Electronic Games'' called it "easily the most complex" of the pinball games released in 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Video Pinball Flips Out!|last=Teverbaugh|first=Rick|magazine=Electronic Games|volume=2|issue=9|date=November 1983|pages=48–54|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_02_Number_09_1983-11_Reese_Communications_US/page/n47}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://gb64.com/game.php?id=5212&d=18&h=0 ''Night Mission Pinball''] at Gamebase 64 *{{IAg|wozaday_Night_Mission_Pinball}}
Category:1982 video games Category:Apple II games Category:Atari 8-bit computer games Category:Commodore 64 games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Multiplayer hotseat games Category:Pinball video games Category:Simulation video games Category:Sublogic games Category:Video games developed in the United States