Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Released in 1978 by Gottlieb, the 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' pinball machine rode the massive wave of popularity following Steven Spielberg's 1977 sci-fi blockbuster film of the same name. This pinball machine represented one of the earliest licensed movie tie-in games in the solid-state era, marking an important transition point in pinball history as manufacturers moved from electro-mechanical to electronic systems.

The machine's playfield design captured the movie's otherworldly atmosphere with artwork featuring the iconic Devil's Tower mountain, mysterious alien spacecraft, and the distinctive five-note musical sequence that became synonymous with the film. The backglass prominently displayed the movie's climactic scene of the mothership's arrival, rendered in the distinctive artistic style of the late 1970s pinball era. As one of Gottlieb's early solid-state machines, it featured digital scoring but retained many of the mechanical chimes and sounds that players loved.

Gameplay elements included multiple ramps and targets themed around the film's key sequences, with special attention paid to light shows that mimicked the UFO encounters from the movie. The machine included innovative features for its time, such as multiball play and special lighting effects that would activate during certain modes, helping to recreate the film's signature lighting sequences. While not Gottlieb's highest-production game of the era, it remains a sought-after collector's piece that represents both an important moment in pinball history and a celebration of one of science fiction's most beloved films.