Fair Dinkum, Mate: Australia's Pint-Sized Pinball Wizards Bagged the FIRST Star Wars License, and George Lucas Only Wanted One Thing
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Australia's National Film and Sound Archive has unearthed a true gem: the world's first licensed Star Wars pinball machine, crafted by a small Aussie company who boldly asked George Lucas for permission – and he only requested a single machine for payment!
Right, so I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, opening a portal to somewhere unexpected? That's kinda what happened with Australia's National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) recently, but instead of a portal, they've opened a doorway to some truly legendary pinball history.
Turns out, the NFSA just nabbed itself five incredibly rare, Aussie-designed pinball machines. And while a couple of them celebrate distinctly Australian legends – think classic FJ Holdens, the cricketing god Dennis Lillee, or even just surfing amongst a shiver of great white sharks (because, Australia) – one machine in particular has blown a few circuits in my brain. We're talking about 'The Empire Strikes Back' pinball machine, crafted by A. Hankin & Company back in the late 70s/early 80s, and it's reportedly the *world's first licensed Star Wars pinball machine*.
Now, let that sink in for a second. The *first*. Not Bally, not Williams, not some massive American manufacturer with a bottomless pit of cash and lawyers. No, mate. It was a comparatively pint-sized amusement company from Newcastle, New South Wales, that got the nod. Fair dinkum, you can't make this stuff up.
David Hankin, who managed A. Hankin & Company back in the day, spilled the beans in a mini-documentary from the NFSA. He explained that the concept of licensing big movie IPs for pinball machines wasn't exactly common practice back then. IP was a bit like the wild west compared to the tightly-controlled empires we see today. But Hankin and his crew, bless their cotton socks, decided to shoot their shot. They approached George Lucas himself, asking if he'd be keen on letting them build a Star Wars-themed machine.
And the answer? "Yes." Seriously. Just 'yes'.
I mean, talk about a critical hit! Hankin's team was, quite rightly, flabbergasted. Here they were, a smaller outfit, up against global giants, and George Lucas just... said yes. It’s the kind of audacious roll of the dice that I absolutely love in gaming history. Imagine the meeting: a small Aussie company sends a letter (probably a letter, right? No email back then!) to the creator of a burgeoning sci-fi phenomenon, and gets a thumbs up.
But here’s where it gets even better, and frankly, a bit magical. What did George Lucas ask for in return for the rights to build *the world's first licensed Star Wars pinball machine*? A hefty sum of cash? A percentage of every sale? A golden statue of himself riding a Tauntaun?
Nope. He just wanted a personal machine for himself. That's it. One machine. For one of the most significant pieces of early Star Wars merchandise history. Can you even fathom that in today's IP-obsessed, multi-billion-dollar licensing landscape? It’s almost quaint, isn't it? A wizard's handshake, if you will, instead of a thousand-page legal document.
This whole acquisition isn't just a cool historical footnote for pinball nerds (like yours truly). It's a genuine treasure for gaming history, and indeed, cinematic history. It highlights a period when licensing was more fluid, more about passion than pure profit, and when innovation could come from unexpected corners of the globe. It's a testament to the power of a good idea and the sheer audacity to ask.
The NFSA, bless their preserving hearts, plans to put these beauties on public display in Canberra. And it's not just pinball they're saving from the digital ether; they've got a rapidly growing collection of video games too, which is just as well. Because let's be honest, mate, a staggering percentage of classic video games are at risk of being lost forever. Companies lose masters, hardware degrades, code becomes incompatible – it's a constant battle against the entropy of time. So, seeing institutions like the NFSA actively preserving these cultural artifacts is a truly heartwarming sight.
This isn't just about a couple of old machines. It's about remembering where we came from, how IPs evolve, and celebrating the unexpected moments of genius and daring that shaped the entertainment landscape we now inhabit. It's a reminder that sometimes, the biggest magic comes from the smallest, most unassuming places. And occasionally, all a wizard wants for his troubles is a shiny new toy. Use the flippers, Luke, indeed.
Tags: Pinball, Star Wars, Gaming History, Game Preservation, Australian Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa