Steve Ritchie (pinball designer)

Lore & Background

Steve Ritchie was born in San Francisco, California and moved to Pacifica at age five. He first played pinball at a local bowling alley during his parents' bowling league night. He graduated high school early and joined the Coast Guard before his eighteenth birthday, training as an electronics technician and serving in Vietnam, California, and Alaska. After leaving the Coast Guard, he worked odd jobs and played in a band. He joined Atari Inc.

Reader's Guide

Steve Ritchie's significance in pinball history is defined by his record as the best-selling pinball designer and his innovative contributions to the medium. His games introduced key features that became industry standards: the first two-level playfield (Black Knight), the first multi-ball in an electronic pinball (Firepower), the first music in a pinball machine (High Speed), and the first dot-matrix display in a Williams game (Terminator 2: Judgment Day). His design philosophy, emphasizing ball speed, loops, and smooth shots, earned him the nickname 'The Master of Flow' and influenced countless later designers. Ritchie's games, such as Flash and High Speed, were commercial successes that helped sustain the pinball industry during periods of decline. His work extended beyond pinball to video games, where he voiced Shao Kahn in the Mortal Kombat series and contributed to the naming of the franchise. Despite the eventual decline of pinball in the late 1990s, Ritchie continued designing into the 2020s, demonstrating the enduring appeal of his approach. His legacy is one of technical innovation, commercial success, and a distinctive style that shaped modern pinball.

Did You Know?

• Steve Ritchie holds the record for best-selling pinball designer in history.
• He was the original voice of Shao Kahn in the Mortal Kombat series and suggested the name 'Mortal Kombat'.