Eugene Jarvis
Eugene Jarvis is a renowned figure who helped usher the pinball industry into the digital era during the late 1970s and 1980s. Originally from California, he studied electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley before joining Atari as a pinball programmer. Though Atari’s pinball division was short-lived, Jarvis gained early experience coding complex rules, audio, and light effects, eventually moving to Chicago’s Williams Electronics. At Williams, he collaborated with designer Steve Ritchie and co-created several landmark pinball machines. Most notably, Firepower (1980) introduced the industry’s first solid-state 3-ball multiball and the lane-change feature, innovations that soon became standard across pinball manufacturers.
Jarvis’s technical innovations went hand in hand with his knack for game design. He built early digital sound systems for Williams that elevated pinball’s audio experience, while his programming approach incorporated elements of the fast-paced, feedback-heavy style typically found in video games. His contributions to titles like Space Shuttle, High Speed, and F-14 Tomcat cemented his reputation as a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of what pinball could achieve. Beyond game development, Jarvis took on leadership and entrepreneurial roles, helping steer projects through industry transitions, eventually co-founding Raw Thrills, which focuses on modern arcade gaming.
Today, Jarvis is widely celebrated for blending technical ingenuity with high-intensity, player-focused gameplay. He has received multiple honors, including induction into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame and recognition from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Although he ultimately shifted much of his attention to video game development, Jarvis’s breakthroughs—like electronic multiball, advanced sound systems, and interactive lighting—remain foundational elements in contemporary pinball.
