Consolidated Industries Co.

Consolidated Industries Co. was a niche pinball manufacturer with operations in both the United States and Spain, best known for its unconventional designs and contributions to lesser-explored areas of the pinball market. The company originated in California in the late 1970s under the name Century Consolidated Industries, releasing one of the first cocktail-style pinball machines—Circus Circus and Star Battle—in 1978. These games, designed as low-profile coin-operated tables for casual settings like bars and lounges, helped pioneer a new form factor in pinball at a time when most manufacturers were focused on traditional upright cabinets. Earlier, the company had also produced Star Explorer (1977), a single-player solid-state pinball game intended for home use, reflecting an early attempt to tap into consumer-facing markets.

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In 1984, Spanish entrepreneur José María Arribas Gil revived the brand under the name CIC Play (Compañía Internacional Computadoras Play) in Barcelona. Operating through the late 1980s, the company released three original full-sized pinball machines: Galaxy Play (1985), Kidnap (1986), and Galaxy Play 2 (1987). These games were built using MAC S.A.’s System IV hardware, enabling the small team to focus on creative playfield and theme design. CIC Play’s machines featured several forward-thinking ideas, including adaptive difficulty modes in Kidnap and a motorized spaceship animation in Galaxy Play 2’s backbox. Though produced in limited numbers, these titles stood out for their originality, with all three employing custom themes rather than licensed properties—a rarity at the time.

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While never a major player in the global pinball industry, Consolidated Industries Co. carved out a distinct identity through its emphasis on innovation and niche appeal. Its cocktail pinball tables and Spanish-era machines showcased an inventive spirit, often combining solid technical foundations with unique gameplay features. The company eventually transitioned out of pinball in the late 1980s, refocusing on other coin-operated amusements like electronic dart boards and slot machines. CIC Play formally ceased operations in 2013, but its contributions remain of historical interest to collectors and pinball historians for illustrating the diversity and creativity present outside the dominant U.S. manufacturers.