Hot on the heels of its surprise appearance at the recent Chicago Pinball Expo, where it showed off the prototype cabinet for its planned first pinball machine, this afternoon the potential new pinball manufacturer Wonderland Amusements shared a look at the prototype design for its first pinball playfield. The Company is in the process of reviewing its first physical game build this week and programming for the game is underway.
Not surprisingly, given the company's name, I believe that its first production pinball machine is slated to be based upon the Lewis Carroll story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. What is surprising though is that there is two games based on this 1865 book currently in the works, this one and the one from Dutch Pinball.
The big difference between the two upcoming games is that Wonderland is targeting a price point of around only $1,000 for its machine, while the full-featured Dutch Pinball game will be a high-end game that costs $12,499.
"It’s a big week here at Wonderland! First, check out the playfield layout we are developing for our debut table. You’ll spot some familiar features – ramps, rails, slingshots, etc. – giving you a taste of what this pin will feel like to play. Of course, seeing a 3D design is one thing, playing a physical build is another. That’s why Jerry and the team are doing factory site visits this week to review the first mechanical build! We’ve already seen some tasty tidbits, and if they are any indication, the devs are crushing it. Follow us for more updates!"
A week or so ago, Wonderland also announced that the artist for its first game will be Carlos Mendoza III. Carlos has previously done work for the toy company Jakks Pacific, Sprit Halloween, Spongebob and Spin Master Games.
"On this Halloween day filled with dark mystery and imagination, we’re thrilled to introduce Carlos Mendoza III, the incredibly talented illustrator chosen to bring our first Wonderland Amusements pinball table to life. Known for his darkly beautiful style and sharp eye for detail, Carlos will infuse our debut design with the perfect blend of classic pinball charm and surreal edginess inspired by the Alice source material. We can’t wait to share sneak peeks of his artwork as this table comes together. In the meantime, enjoy some of his previous artwork posted here – Happy Halloween!"
Wonderland Amusements' prototype playfield design:
Samples of artwork by the company's first artist Carlos Mendoza III:
A look at the Wonderland Amusements' cabinet design:
Pinball machines have such a timeless charm, don’t they? There’s just something about the mix of skill, luck, and those vibrant designs that keeps people hooked. It’s awesome to see new manufacturers stepping into the game—it keeps the hobby alive and fresh. Speaking of games that blend skill and excitement, I’ve been exploring this app from https://pinupbet.gt/ and while it’s a different vibe, it hits that same sweet spot of fun and challenge. It’s cool to see how gaming evolves across formats. What’s everyone’s take on the balance between classic designs and modern innovation in pinball?
The single biggest problem is that they are making it smaller than a normal pinball. They are trying to sell to the non-pinball demographic. No pinhead would want this. I want them to succeed but I'd rather them charge $2500-$3000 and make it normal size. It could be the most basic pinball ever made... it would sell as long as it is cheap and is a 'real' pinball machine.
You know what? For $1000, yeah, I'd totally buy one. But I think that number is going way up as the realities of manufacturing and logistics set in. Still, I'll keep an eye on it out of curiosity.
This is a 3/4 size machine they hope to sell for $1K. The balls will be smaller than normal.