He sure played a mean pinball: Innovator of beloved arcade game dies aged 100

He lived an entire century, and saw his beloved creation become a staple in arcades and pop culture alike, making its way into songs by the likes of Elton John and the Who.

Steve Kordek, the pioneer of the pinball machine, passed away on February 19 in Park Ridge, Illinois, leaving behind a legacy of classic gaming.

Though a generation of gamers used to Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, the game may seem archaic, but it provided generations with hour upon hour of entertainment.

Later years: Seen with a Star Wars Episode I pinball machine, Steve Kordek was a pioneer in the game's evolution and design

Innovator: Steve Kordek revolutionised the way pinball was played

Mr Kordek revolutionised the two-flipper design of pinball tables in the 1940s, and throughout his career, designed more than 100 board layouts for different companies.

Mr Kordek’s mark in history as the man who revolutionised the classic arcade game almost did not happen – he was walking in Chicago in 1937 when he was caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella, forcing him into the nearest lobby for shelter.

The lobby was that of Genco, which was for a prominent pinball factory. Mr Kordek unexpectedly walked out with a job, earning 45 cents an hour soldering on the production line.

He told the Chicago Tribune in 2009: ‘I had never seen a pin game before in my life.’



Before, he had spent time in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho and for the United States Forest Service during the Great Depression, the New York Times reported.

In the 1930s, the arcade game was far from resembling what players know now – the pin game involved a player releasing a ball, then shaking the table until the ball landed in a hole.

In 1947, designers at the D. Gottlieb & Company pinball factory added six flippers – three on each side – to the game.

Pinball wizard: Mr Kordek was central to the evolution of the pinball machine in the 1940s and beyond



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But it was Mr Kordek who changed the design – and history – by premiering his model a year later at a Chicago trade show.

His version stripped away all but two flippers, which were controlled by buttons on the side, allowing players greater control.

He went on to work at Williams, a top pinball manufacturer, in 1960, mentoring many budding designers.

Mr Kordek was born in Chicago on December 26, 1911 and worked as a forest ranger with the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho.

He told the Tribune in 2009: ‘I had more fun in this business than anyone could believe.’

Taking a break: Navy officers stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, in April 1942 played with early editions of pinball machines