:Ruiner Pinball
{{good article}}
{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Ruiner Pinball
|image = Atari Jaguar Ruiner Pinball box art.jpeg
|caption = Cover art by Steve Lang
|developer = High Voltage Software
|publisher = Atari Corporation
|designer = Mike Baker
Scott Corley
|programmer = Scott Corley
|artist = Mike Baker
|platforms = Atari Jaguar
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 6, 1995|EU|December 1995}}
|genre = Pinball
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Ruiner Pinball is a 1995 pinball video game developed by High Voltage Software (HVS) and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar. The game features two different pinball tables: the nuclear war-inspired Ruiner, and the medieval-themed Tower. Each table contains targets for the player to hit with the ball, increasing their score before the ball is lost. It was marketed as the first title to support the ProController, a redesigned Jaguar controller that added three more face buttons and two triggers.
As long-time fans of pinball games, HVS proposed the Ruiner pinball concept to Atari, who later requested a second table in the game. The game earned disapproval from game critics, who took issue with the game's audiovisual elements, controls, and unrealistic physics. Later reviewers were mixed on the game's reception, in retrospect. In 2022, it was included in the Atari 50 compilation.
Gameplay
{{multiple image
|align = left
|direction = horizontal
|image1 = JAG Ruiner Pinball (Ruiner).png
|image2 = JAG Ruiner Pinball (Tower).png
|footer = Ruiner Pinball includes two pinball tables: Ruiner (left) and Tower (right)
}}
Ruiner Pinball is a pinball game that features a choice of two different pinball tables: Ruiner and Tower.{{cite web|last=Scholeri III|first=Joseph|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7222|title=Ruiner Pinball - Overview|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|date=1998|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114095603/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7222|archive-date=2014-11-14|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Nils|url=https://www.nexgam.de/jaguar-atari/ruiner-pinball-atari-jaguar|title=Ruiner Pinball im Test|publisher=neXGam|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=2024-01-04|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104171913/https://www.nexgam.de/jaguar-atari/ruiner-pinball-atari-jaguar|archive-date=2024-01-04|url-status=live}} Ruiner is a double-width table with four flippers on each side, the style of which is inspired by the impending nuclear war of the 1960s.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/Ruiner_Pinball_1995_Atari|title=Ruiner Pinball|date=1995|publisher=Atari Corporation|edition=International|type=Game Manual}} Tower is a three-screen high table with a set of flippers on each area, styled as a medieval fantasy setting with an evil sorceress.
Each table has its own main objective: in Ruiner, the player must lower the DEFCON level from 5 to 1 and launch an attack against an enemy country, while navigating the ball using interconnecting ramps to travel between sides. In Tower, the player must defeat the sorceress by casting three magic spells in order to destroy the castle and escape. The player's score increases by hitting special targets before the ball is lost. Both tables also have features such as extra balls and multi-ball play. The player can select from three difficulty levels, as well as setting the number of players, and the number and texture of the ball(s).
Development and release
Ruiner Pinball was created by High Voltage Software (HVS), which previously worked on a video game adaptation of the 1992 sports comedy film White Men Can't Jump for Atari Jaguar.{{cite web|url=http://www.high-voltage.com/deadhorse.html|title=Atari Jaguar Development|publisher=High Voltage Software|date=1996|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961105212551/http://www.high-voltage.com/deadhorse.html|archive-date=1996-11-05|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last1=Casamassina|first1=Matt|author-link1=Matt Casamassina|last2=Fische|first2=Blake|last3=Kagotani|first3=Christophe|last4=Lundrigan|first4=Jeff|last5=Preston|first5=Jim|last6=Russo|first6=Tom|last7=Tittel|first7=Jorg|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen73Jan2001/page/n69/mode/1up|title=Cover Story: Got Talent?|magazine=Next Generation|issue=73|publisher=Imagine Media|date=January 2001|pages=56–75}}{{cite web|author=Corley, Scott (gpumgr)|url=http://www.3do.cdinteractive.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3496|title=Hello again from Scott|website=3DO Zone Forums|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920094658/http://www.3do.cdinteractive.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3496|archive-date=2015-09-20|url-status=live}} The game was programmed by Scott Corley as his first work in the video game industry. Corley entered the gaming industry in 1993 as one of the first members to work at HVS before becoming the company's vice president of software development.{{cite web|url=http://www.red-mercury.com/aboutrm.html|title=About Red Mercury|publisher=Red Mercury|date=2000|access-date=2024-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302174130/http://www.red-mercury.com/aboutrm.html|archive-date=2000-03-02|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/getfile.asp?id=542|title=Classnotes|magazine=Computer Science Alumni News|volume=2|issue=4|publisher=University of Illinois Department of Computer Science|date=January 2001|pages=22–27|access-date=2024-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229010033/https://ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/getfile.asp?id=542|archive-date=2024-02-29|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Blancato|first=Joe|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/wideload-shorts-scott-corley-on-the-business-of-making-funny/|title=Wideload Shorts' Scott Corley on the Business of Making Funny|work=The Escapist|publisher=Themis Media|date=August 20, 2007|access-date=2024-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630221752/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/wideload-shorts-scott-corley-on-the-business-of-making-funny/|archive-date=2022-06-30|url-status=live}} He was also designer of the Ruiner table, while artist Mike Baker designed the Tower table. HVS proposed a pinball game to Atari Corporation, as many of the company's staff were pinball fans. According to Corley, the game was named "Ruiner" after the song of the same name from the album The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. As development continued, Atari requested a second table. Baker created the game's artwork on a large hand-painted board, which was scanned into Deluxe Paint slowly, part by part. The cover art was illustrated by Steve Lang.{{cite web|last=Auffret|first=Dominique|url=https://vgdensetsu.net/2_SteveLang.html|title=Steve LANG|work=VGDensetsu|date=November 13, 2024|access-date=2024-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116161957/https://vgdensetsu.net/2_SteveLang.html|archive-date=2024-11-16|url-status=live}}
The game was first showcased at the 1994 Summer Consumer Electronics Show, announced for release in the second quarter of 1995 under the name Ruiner.{{cite magazine|last1=Scamps|first1=Olivier|author2=David|url=https://archive.org/details/playerone-magazine-044/page/n55/mode/1up|title=Dossier CES - Jaguar: Living On The Edge|magazine={{ill|Player One (magazine)|lt=Player One|fr|Player One (magazine)}}|issue=44|publisher={{ill|Média Système Édition|lt=Média Système Édition|fr|Média Système Édition}}|date=July 1994|page=56|language=fr}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_61/page/n167/mode/1up|title=1995 Video Game Preview Guide - All The Latest Games From The Summer CES: Jaguar|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=61|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=August 1994|page=161}}{{cite AV media|author1=Funke-Bilu, Tal (producer)|author2=Guy, Travis (producer)|date=1994|title=AEO at SCES 94|work=Atari Explorer Online|medium=VHS|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hprueLJ5JDY|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109030551/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpD20NRLc5c|archive-date=2022-01-09|url-status=live|time=39m18s|location=United States|publisher=Subspace Publishers}}{{cite journal|last=Norwood|first=Jeffrey|title=part 3: 1995 SOFTWARE PREVIEW|journal=Jaguar Journal|date=February–March 1994}} ([http://justclaws.atari.org/jagsite/jjournal/jjfeb94.txt Transcription] by JustClaws. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200326/http://justclaws.atari.org/jagsite/jjournal/jjfeb94.txt|date=2016-03-03}}). It made additional appearances at tradeshows such as the 1995 ECTS Spring event and E3 1995.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1995-06/page/n17/mode/1up|title=Spring '95 - Frühjahrs Messe ECTS|magazine={{ill|Video Games (German magazine)|lt=Video Games|de|Video Games}}|issue=43|publisher=Magna Media|date=June 1995|pages=6–18|language=de}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_07/page/n36/mode/1up|title=E-3 The Biggest And Best Electronic Entertainment Show Ever! - Jaguar|magazine=GameFan|issue=7|publisher=DieHard Gamers Club|date=July 1995|volume=3|page=35}} The game was later scheduled for an August release date and was also showcased during an event hosted by Atari dubbed "Fun 'n' Games Day" under its final title, Ruiner Pinball.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1995-08/page/43/mode/1up|title=Release Liste: Jaguar|magazine={{ill|Video Games (German magazine)|lt=Video Games|de|Video Games}}|issue=45|publisher=Magna Media|date=August 1995|page=43|language=de}}{{cite magazine|last=Gore|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Gore|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_79_August_1995/page/n13/mode/1up|title=The Gorescore - Industry News You Can: Upcoming Jaguar Software Titles|magazine=VideoGames|issue=79|publisher=Larry Flynt Publications|date=August 1995|page=14}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_078_January_1996/page/n61/mode/1up|title=Atari's Fun 'n' Games Day|magazine=GamePro|issue=78|publisher=IDG|date=January 1996|page=60}} It was first published by Atari in North America on November 6, 1995, and later in Europe in December 1995.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Atari+Corp.+presents+pinball+like+you%27ve+never+seen+it+before%3b+Ruiner...-a017545098|title=Atari Corp. presents pinball like you've never seen it before; Ruiner Pinball for Jaguar 64 hits retail shelves|website=TheFreeLibrary.com|publisher=Business Wire|date=November 6, 1995|access-date=2018-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065212/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Atari+Corp.+presents+pinball+like+you've+never+seen+it+before%3b+Ruiner...-a017545098|archive-date=September 5, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last=Abramson|first=Marc|url=https://archive.org/details/st-magazine-101/page/54/mode/2up|title=Cahier Loisirs / Jaguar: c'est Nöel!!!|magazine={{ill|ST Magazine|lt=ST Magazine|fr|ST Magazine}}|issue=101|publisher=Pressimage|date=January 1996|pages=54–57|language=fr}} The game was marketed as the first to support the ProController, a redesigned Atari Jaguar controller that added three more face buttons and two triggers.{{cite magazine|last=Rat|first=The Lab|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_079_February_1996/page/n23/mode/1up|title=GamePro Labs - Player's Guide to Power Peripherals: Feline Friends|magazine=GamePro|issue=79|publisher=IDG|date=February 1996|page=22}} In 2022, Ruiner Pinball was re-released for the first time as part of the Atari 50 compilation, porting the game to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PCs.{{cite web|last=Machkovech|first=Sam|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/09/the-103-classic-games-that-did-and-didnt-make-the-atari-50-anniversary-cut/|title=The 103 classic games that did, and didn't, make the Atari 50 anniversary cut — Retailer leak suggests games from arcade to Jaguar; surprises apparently still await|work=Ars Technica|publisher=Condé Nast|date=September 12, 2022|access-date=2022-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914101824/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/09/the-103-classic-games-that-did-and-didnt-make-the-atari-50-anniversary-cut/|archive-date=2022-09-14|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/10/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-trailer-shows-jaguar-games-in-action|title=Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Trailer Shows Jaguar Games In Action - The cat is back|work=Time Extension|publisher=Hookshot Media|date=October 27, 2022|access-date=2022-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029022122/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/10/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-trailer-shows-jaguar-games-in-action|archive-date=2022-10-29|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|EPD = 4/10{{cite web|last=Garber|first=Shane|url=http://www.elecplay.com/atari/rupinjag.html|title=Game Reviews: Atari - Ruiner Pinball|work=The Electric Playground|publisher=Greedy Productions|date=January 5, 1996|access-date=2025-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970125115818/http://www.elecplay.com/atari/rupinjag.html|archive-date=1997-01-25|url-status=dead}} ([http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=404&full=1 Transcription] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020518011751/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=404&full=1|date=2002-05-18}}).
|NGen = 2/5{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-015/page/n89/mode/2up|title=Finals: Ruiner Pinball|magazine=Next Generation|issue=15|publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1996|pages=86–87}}
|rev1 = Atari Fan
|rev2 = Atari Gaming Headquarters
|rev3 = The Atari Times
|rev4 = Game Zero Magazine
|rev5 = ST Magazine
|rev6 = Ultimate Future Games
|rev6Score = 23%{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AUltimateFutureGames_UK_13.pdf&page=74|title=Ultimate review sector: Will Ruiner ruin you or will you ruin Ruiner?|magazine=Ultimate Future Games|issue=13|publisher=Future Publishing|date=December 1995|page=74}}
|rev7 = VideoGames
|rev7Score = 5/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_85_February_1996/page/n81/mode/1up|title=Reviews: Ruiner Pinball|magazine=VideoGames|issue=85|publisher=Larry Flynt Publications|date=February 1996|page=88}}
}}
Ruiner Pinball received generally unfavorable reviews.{{cite magazine|title=Test: Ruiner Pinball|magazine=ReVival|issue=2|publisher=Association RayXambeR|date=March 1998|language=fr}}{{cite magazine|last=Karels|first=Ralph|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1999-08/page/56/mode/1up|title=Special: Atari Jaguar - Komplettübersicht Jaguar-Modul-Games|magazine={{ill|Video Games (German magazine)|lt=Video Games|de|Video Games}}|issue=93|publisher=WEKA Consumer Medien|date=August 1999|page=56|language=de}} Reviewers compared the game unfavorably to other contemporary pinball games such as Crüe Ball, Dragon's Fury, and Dragon's Revenge. Evan Morris and Bryan Carter of Game Zero Magazine criticized the game's visuals, music, and ball physics, instead recommending pinball titles for rival consoles. Andy Robertson, writing for Ultimate Future Games and The Atari Times, lambasted its audiovisual presentation, controls, and limited number of tables, stating that "Ruiner is not even a very good pinball". The Electric Playground{{'}}s Shane Garber described the gameplay as tedious, while criticizing the busy visuals for obscuring the ball's position. MAN!AC{{'}}s Robert Bannert also described how several game elements are lost in the hand-drawn backgrounds, and additionally criticized the lack of bonus rounds.
Véronique Boissarie of Consoles + praised Ruiner{{'}}s colorful graphics and playability, feeling that it was an overall well-designed and original pinball game. Marc Abramson of the French ST Magazine faulted the game's audiovisual presentation, controls, and unrealistic physics. VideoGames felt that the game failed to simulate the feeling of a real pinball game, while criticizing the graphics and layout of both tables. GamePro described it as an enjoyable but unexceptional title, saying that it "looks like a plain old 16-bit pinball game".{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_080_March_1996/page/n69/mode/1up|title=ProReview: Ruiner Pinball|magazine=GamePro|issue=80|publisher=IDG|date=March 1996|page=68}} Next Generation described how the animations and multi-level tables made good use of the video game format, but felt that these elements were "superfluous" due to the flawed gameplay and physics. Atari Gaming Headquarters{{'}} Keita Iida wrote that "Ruiner Pinball resembles most 16-bit pinball games like Alien Crush and Crüe Ball in that realism is discarded".
Retrospective commentary for Ruiner Pinball has been mixed.{{cite web|last=Gaternt|first=John|url=http://www.classicgaming.com/jfpn/ruiner_review.htm|title=Jaguar Reviews: Ruiner Pinball|work=Jaguar Front Page News|publisher=GameSpy|date=2001|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104061907/http://www.classicgaming.com/jfpn/ruiner_review.htm|archive-date=2002-11-04|url-status=dead}} Retro Gamer labelled it as a fun homage to Dragon's Fury and Alien Crush, while PCMag called it the best pinball game on the Atari Jaguar.{{cite magazine|last=Hawken|first=Kieren|title=Minority Report Special: Atari Jaguar - Ruiner Pinball|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=118|publisher=Imagine Publishing|date=July 18, 2013|page=45}}{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Benj|url=https://www.pcmag.com/feature/351687/7-forgotten-atari-jaguar-classics|title=7 Forgotten Atari Jaguar Classics|work=PCMag|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=February 11, 2017|access-date=2018-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512111328/https://www.pcmag.com/feature/351687/7-forgotten-atari-jaguar-classics|archive-date=2017-05-12|url-status=live}} Author Andy Slaven praised the game's colorful visuals, but felt that the unrealistic physics failed to capture the feeling of pinball.{{cite book|last1=Slaven|first1=Andy|last2=Barnes|first2=Lucus|year=2002|chapter=JAG - Atari Jaguar|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oShzmF1Pxc4C&pg=PA47|title=Video Game Bible, 1985-2002|volume=1|publisher=Trafford Publishing|pages=47–53|isbn=9781553697312|access-date=2024-01-04|archive-date=2023-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211213017/https://books.google.com/books?id=oShzmF1Pxc4C&pg=PA47|url-status=live}} In a retrospective review for The Atari Times, David Sherwin felt that the audiovisual elements for the Ruiner table were much stronger than the Tower table.{{cite book|last=Sherwin|first=David|date=April 2004|chapter=Jaguar Reviews: Pinball Fantasies & Ruiner — Two pinball games for the Jaguar 64|chapter-url=http://ataritimes.com/jaguar/reviews/pinballf_ruiner.html|title=2004 Compendium|publisher=The Atari Times|pages=1–102|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040330220604/http://ataritimes.com/jaguar/reviews/pinballf_ruiner.html|archive-date=2004-03-30|url-status=dead|access-date=2024-01-04}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|1990s|United States|Video games}}
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/19961029114152/http://www.atari.com:80/jagware/soft/arcade/arcade.html}}
- [https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=1127 Ruiner Pinball] at AtariAge
- [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/jaguar/586904-ruiner-pinball Ruiner Pinball] at GameFAQs
- [https://www.mobygames.com/game/ruiner-pinball Ruiner Pinball] at MobyGames
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruiner Pinball}}
Category:Apocalyptic video games
Category:High Voltage Software games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games