During this time, the pinball industry was under threat from video games like Space Invaders (1978), Asteroids (1979), Battlezone (1980) and Pac Man (1980). They responded by trying to innovate. Williams hoped that Hyperball would sell 50,000 units. But operators complained about the difficulty maintaining it and players found it confusing, so it flopped, selling only 5,000.

Although made by a major pinball company and created by a famous pinball designer, many pinball fans insist that Hyperball is not a pinball machine. They have a point; lacking Flippers, bumpers, or targets, Hyperball is more akin to mechanical shooting games popular early in the 20th century.

To play it, think of it like a video game. The lightning bolts are trying to destroy your base. Shoot them before they get you!