Head-to-Head

A game configuration in which two players compete simultaneously on the same machine, each controlling their own set of Flippers on opposite ends of the playfield. Head-to-head machines are rare — the standard pinball format is turn-based, with players alternating balls on a single playfield. True simultaneous head-to-head play requires a symmetrical or dual playfield design and a scoring system that can track two players in real time. The format has appeared periodically as a novelty, most notably in machines designed specifically for competitive or tournament play.