Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Gottlieb’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind was based on the 1977 science-fiction film of the same name. Gottlieb had recently been purchased by Columbia Pictures, and Close Encounters represents one of the first attempts at synergy between a Columbia property and their newly acquired pinball division. An electromechanical version of this game was also made by Gottlieb in fewer numbers. The game features a spinner, a set of drop targets and Gottlieb’s trademark roto-target in the top right corner of the playfield.