Party Animal

Get the good times rolling this summer with Bally Midway's new Party Animal Pinball!

Released in May 1987, Party Animal is a solid-state pinball machine designed by Dennis Nordman. The game stands out as one of the final machines manufactured by Bally Midway before its pinball division was acquired by Williams.

Embracing a wild, comedic, and slightly irreverent theme heavily inspired by movies like National Lampoon’s Animal House, the machine features colorful artwork by Pat McMahon depicting anthropomorphic animals throwing a massive party. Bally Midway produced a total of 2,250 units, offering a distinct slice of late-1980s arcade culture.

Party Animal left its biggest mark in arcade history through its innovative and humorous sound design, engineered by Michael Bartlow. It is recognised as the first pinball machine to include sound effects for a belch and a flushing toilet. Furthermore, it was an early pioneer in using licensed audio tracks; players can repeatedly strike the jukebox targets to cycle through a playlist of classic rock and party anthems, including "Louie Louie," "Tequila," "Satisfaction," "Shout," and "Wipe Out".

This combination of interactive audio, rock-and-roll tracks, and campy humor has ensured the machine's place in history as a unique, highly memorable collector's piece.