Description

The following is from the International Pinball Database:

Description

Manufacturer:	Data East Pinball, Incorporated (1986-1994)
Date Of Manufacture:	January 30, 1992
Model Number:	500-5519-01
MPU:	DataEast/Sega Version 3
Type:	Solid State Electronic (SS)
Production:	6,705 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:	View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme:	Licensed Theme – Pirates – Fictional
Notable Features:	Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (10), 4-bank drop targets (1), Vertical up-kicker (1), Scoop (1), Multiball (2 or 3).
Design by:	Tim Seckel
Art by:	Paul Faris
Music by:	Brian Schmidt
Sound by:	Brian Schmidt
Software by:	Neil Falconer

Notes:

Fred Young did voice characterizations on this game.

Reportedly, most of the games in this production run have only a “2-layer tree”. We asked designer Tim Seckel about this and the circular ramp itself. He replies:

The original games (I don’t recall when it was changed) had a full 6-layer tree as shown in the photos. The tree cast a pretty big shadow on the playfield, so we added two lamps there to help provide light under the tree. So it was generally a dark area that needed some extra light.

From what I recall, either from beta testing or player feedback, was that the tree blocked too much of the action in the pop bumpers and top lanes. FYI – regarding the top lanes, the mirrored backglass has three lit inserts that show which lanes are lit since it was difficult to see the lights up there. So at some point we eliminated 4 layers of the tree, which was unfortunate from a aesthetic point of view, but definitely made an improvement in seeing the ball up there.

And, yes! the big round ramp is representing Neverland where the Lost Boys would ride these ‘sail boards’ all around the trees, and Peter would fly, etc.

Seckel also stated that ‘Hook’ started out as ‘Universal Studios Theme Park’:

A game that was only in drawing/concept/ideation stage. It never made it very far. Hook opportunity came up and it quickly took on that name and game development.

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