History Pinball / MiddleEarth

%%* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs

[[TitleConfusion Despite the title]], the game has nothing to do with ''Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium''. Instead, the name comes from the table's setting, an alien LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering this pinball won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.

[[caption-width-right:350:Frodo? Is that you?]]

%%* DangerouslyShortSkirt: The woman on the playfield has one.

* TyrannosaurusRex: A ''T. rex'' is front and center on the playfield.

->"Escape to a new world of pinball adventure."
-->--''Promotional flyer''

''Middle Earth'' was a PhysicalPinballTable designed by Gary Slater with art by George Opperman; it was released in 1978 by Creator/{{Atari}}.

[[TitleConfusion Despite the title,]] the game has nothing to do with ''Pinball/TheLordOfTheRings''. Instead, the name comes from the table's setting, an alien LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering this pinball won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.

On July 1st, 1978, songwriter Mandi Martin garnered national news coverage and entered the [[Literature/GuinnessWorldRecords Guinness Book of World Records]] when she played ''Middle Earth'' for 140 hours and 32 minutes, with a final score of 321,400 points.[[note]]She broke the record again in 1979, and a third time in 2000.[[/note]] Pinball players tend to be divided on the game; some enjoy the challenge of the unorthodox playfield, but others find it too sparse and slow to hold their interest.

* ClimacticVolcanoBackdrop: Seen all over the playfield.
* DangerouslyShortSkirt: The woman on the playfield has one.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: If the giant monsters don't get you, the volcanic landscape will.
* {{Kaiju}}: ''Something'' has to fight that giant ape...
* KillerGorilla: Up front and prominent on the backglass, with an explorer caught in its giant clawed hand.
* LaserBlade[=/=]RayGun: Everyone is armed with one of these.
* LostWorld
* NoPlotNoProblem: Whole lotta atmosphere, but absolutely zero plot.
* PantheraAwesome: There are several versions around the playfield, all with sharp claws and big fangs.
* RatedMForManly
* {{Slurpasaur}}: Several of the monsters look like oversized frilled lizards.

* ThePlace
* TitleConfusion: Admit it, you thought this was the other ''Pinball/TheLordOfTheRings'' game.
* TyrannosaurusRex: Front and center on the playfield.

''Middle Earth'' was a PhysicalPinballTable designed by Gary Slater with art by George Opperman; it was released in 1978 by {{Atari}}.

----

On July 1st, 1978, songwriter Mandi Martin garnered national news coverage and entered the [[GuinnessWorldRecords Guinness Book of World Records]] when she played ''Middle Earth'' for 140 hours and 32 minutes, with a final score of 321,400 points.[[note]]She broke the record again in 1979, and a third time in 2000.[[/note]] Pinball players tend to be divided on the game; some enjoy the challenge of the unorthodox playfield, but others find it too sparse and slow to hold their interest.

* TitleConfusion: Admit it, you thought this was a ''Pinball/LordOfTheRings'' game.

[[TitleConfusion Despite the title,]] the game has nothing to do with ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Instead, the name comes from the table's setting, an alien LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering this pinball won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.

* TitleConfusion: Admit it, you thought this was a ''Lord of the Rings'' game.

[[TitleConfusion Despite the name,]] the game has nothing to do with ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Instead, the name comes from the setting, an alien LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering the table won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.

[[TitleConfusion Despite the name,]] the game has nothing to do with ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Instead, the name comes from the setting, a LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering the table won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.

On July 1st, 1978, songwriter Mandi Martin garnered national news coverage and entered the [[GuinnessWorldRecords Guinness Book of World Records]] when she played ''Middle Earth'' for 140 hours and 32 minutes, with a final score of 321,400 points. Pinball players tend to be divided on the game; some enjoy the challenge of the unorthodox playfield, but others find it too sparse and slow to hold their interest.

* {{Kaiju}}: ''Someone'' has to fight that giant ape.

* NoPlotNoProblem: Whole lotta atmosphere, but absolutely zero plot.

Despite the name, the game has nothing to do with ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Instead, the name comes from the setting, a LostWorld filled with [[PantheraAwesome feral beasts,]] [[StockDinosaurs bloodthirsty dinosaurs,]] [[KillerGorilla giant apes,]] [[{{Kaiju}} strange monsters,]] and the brave futuristic explorers trying to tame it all. But like Middle Earth itself, mastering the table won't be easy, as its double playfields and offset flippers require unconventional pinball skills.