1958

The manufacturer Gottlieb introduces the “4 Player Contest” system.
New mechanical player units allow switching between up to four players in one game.
After each ball, the machine automatically moves to the next player.
Each participant has their own score display.
This allows several players to take turns on the same machine.
Pinball evolves from a single-player game into a social competition.
Friends can directly compare their scores.
This increases excitement in bars, arcades and entertainment venues.
Gottlieb promotes the innovation with the famous slogan:
“It’s more fun to compete!”
The system later becomes a standard feature in modern pinball machines.