Taxi (pinball)
 |
| Manufacturer | WMS Industries |
|---|---|
| Release date | August 1988 |
| System | Williams System 11B |
| Design | Mark Ritche, Python Anghelo |
| Programming | Ed Boon |
| Artwork | Python Anghelo |
| Mechanics | John Krutsch |
| Music | Chris Granner |
| Sound | Chris Granner |
Taxi is a pinball machine designed by Mark Ritche and Python Anghelo; it was released in 1988 by WMS Industries.
Gameplay
The goal of the game is to pick up five passengers: Pinbot, Gorbie, Lola (or Marilyn in the original version), Drac, and Santa. The passengers are represented by lighted illustrations in the center of the lower end of the playfield. Collecting all five passengers lights the Jackpot, which is available for about ten seconds.
Marilyn passenger
Originally the machine featured a passenger named Marilyn, a blonde character in a red dress bearing a resemblance to Marilyn Monroe. WMS Industries replaced the Marilyn passenger with a new passenger named Lola due to legal problems with Marilyn Monroe likeness. Lola appears identical to Marilyn, with the exception of her hair; the Lola passenger is pictured with red hair where the Marilyn character was blonde. Today, versions of the table that feature Marilyn are said to be rare...however, the actual numbers of Marilyn vs Lola are not really concrete (many report seeing just as many Marilyn versions as Lola versions on location, in collector's homes and at conventions).
Video games
Taxi is a playable simulated table in Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection. Taxi will also be available for purchase as licensed table of The Pinball Arcade for different platforms.
Marketing Slogans
"Get ready for the taxi everyone's going to be lining up for!"
"The one taxi Lola, Gorbie, Santa, Dracula... and operators everywhere are hailing!"
"The one taxi Marilyn, Gorbie, Santa, Dracula... and operators everywhere are hailing!"