Michael Gottlieb
Michael Gottlieb, grandson of D. Gottlieb & Co. founder David Gottlieb and son of Alvin Gottlieb, played a pivotal role in the pinball industry during the early 1990s through his leadership and creative vision at Alvin G. & Co., a boutique manufacturer he co-founded with his father in 1991. The company released several notable games that introduced significant innovations, including A.G. Soccer-Ball (1991), which featured a patented head-to-head gameplay mechanism called "switch-flippers," enabling competitive simultaneous play. He was instrumental in developing unique titles like Al’s Garage Band Goes on a World Tour (1992), Alvin G.'s best-selling original theme, and Punchy the Clown (1993), a rare redemption-focused "Mini-pin™" designed specifically for children, incorporating adjustable leg heights and simplified gameplay to attract younger players and family-oriented arcades.
Although Alvin G. & Co. operated for only a few years, closing in 1994 amid declining arcade popularity and intense competition from video games, Michael’s impact on the industry endures through the ongoing collector interest in his designs and their innovative gameplay elements. He advocated for accessible, diverse, and family-friendly pinball experiences, influencing subsequent trends in both analog and digital pinball markets. Post-closure, Michael Gottlieb has continued to actively support pinball history preservation and community engagement, frequently speaking at industry events, and his work is preserved through modern digital recreations in platforms like The Pinball Arcade, reflecting his lasting contribution to arcade gaming culture.
