Pinball machines do not have to cost thousands or take up a huge amount of space in your home. That may have been true in the past, but thanks to Rokr, you can now enjoy a dinosaur-themed pinball experience without needing room for a full-sized machine. From the company best known for its intricate wooden model kits comes the Dinosaur Lab Pinball (MGP01), a compact desktop pinball machine with a prehistoric twist.
The name couldn’t be more straightforward: the pinball machine takes players to a dinosaur research facility where chaos has broken loose, and your mission is to capture escaped dinosaurs and save the park. No, unfortunately, this has nothing to do with Jurassic Park, but building and owning this kit is far easier on the wallet than buying an officially licensed Jurassic Park pinball machine.
Moreover, you get to have a little building fun before the entertainment starts. Since this is a DIY kit, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and assemble it yourself before you can dive into the dinosaur-themed action—or simply sit back and admire the finished machine in all its glory. Rokr said it will take between 5 and 6 hours to build.
The dinosaur theme extends throughout the machine, complete with ramps, loops, targets, lights, sound effects, and Jurassic-inspired décor. It is beyond a novelty toy. The machine boasts working flippers controlled via side levers, multi-level tracks and ramps, pop bumpers and ball sensors, dynamic lights and sound effects, plus score tracking and missions. There is even a “Showdown” wizard mode if you reach 1,000 points.
Speaking of games, it offers two modes: Casual and Challenge. The former challenges you to reach 1,000 points before losing all your health, while the latter is for players who demand, well, challenges. This mode throws timed missions, combo objectives, ramp activations, target sequences, and the aforementioned final “Showdown” challenge at you.
Beyond the obvious playability a pinball machine should have, the Dinosaur Lab Pinball Machine also serves as an impressive display piece. Illuminated signs, glowing playfield elements, and retro-style music give it the feel of a miniature arcade machine.
Rokr has taken the Dinosaur Lab Pinball Machine MGP01 to Kickstarter, where it has been crowdfunding since June 08. Not surprisingly, the campaign swiftly blasted past its HK$200,000 goal, attracting over a thousand backers within days. The campaign will end on July 9. Meanwhile, you can still secure a unit at a Kickstarter special price of as low as 789 Hong Kong dollars, or, according to Kickstarter, about US$101.
Oh, right. The completed pinball machine measures 240 mm wide, 380 mm deep, and is just 215 mm. No. It does not have legs. It is a desktop pinball machine, remember? It is USB-C powered, and it is crafted from a blend of ABS, HDF, and metal.
Images: Rokr.
