Genie is a widebody pinball machine designed by Ed Krynski and released in 1979 by Gottlieb. It features a jinn theme and was advertised with the slogans "Gottlieb's WIDE and Beautiful BODY" and "A Wide-Body Pinball absolutely bulging with player appeal and proven massive profit earning capacity!". This slogan alludes to both the wide body of the game and the body of the genie.
Design Genie is considered Gottlieb's answer to Bally’s super wide pinball machine Paragon and the start of a competition of a widebody pinball design in the late 1970s. Genie is the first widebody produced by Gottlieb.
The backglass shows a magical genie with a semi-human body released from a lamp, watched by two figures and a small creature. One of these figures and the genie are also shown prominently on the playfield.
The sound system can be adjusted to play an alternative second set of sounds.
Layout Genie uses 5 flippers. The upper right of the machine has four A-B-C-D lanes above two pop bumpers and a kick-out hole. The upper left of the machine has a mini upper playfield with two of the flippers and seven drop-targets. The middle of the machine includes a bank of four drop-targets and a wide spinner. Further down the left side of the playfield is another set of A-B-C-D lanes above a single pop bumper.
Gameplay The bonus multiplier is increased using the bank of four drop-targets, and after advancing it sufficiently the player can collect the bonus at the kick-out hole.
The player can earn an extra ball by completing the A-B-C-D lanes and hitting a target in the upper playfield; and can earn another by hitting the correct drop-targets in the upper playfield.
Reception In a review for Play Meter, Roger Sharpe said the game has a well-designed playfield, awarding the game 4/4.
Digital versions Genie is included in the Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection, released by FarSight Studios.
The same developer released the table for The Pinball Arcade for several platforms in 2013.
See also Tales of the Arabian Nights (pinball)
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