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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/caveman-pinball_2221.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:300:It Will A'''MAZE''' You!]]
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4''For the 1981 comedy film, [[Film/{{Caveman}} click here.]]''
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6''Caveman'' is a {{pinball}} machine released in September 1982 by Creator/{{Gottlieb}}. Designed by John Buras, it is notable for being the first {{Pinball}}[=/=]VideoGame hybrid, and the UrExample of the VideoMode.
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8Physically, ''Caveman'' resembles a conventional pinball machine, but with a video screen embedded in the top of the playfield and a small joystick in front of the player's position. During gameplay, shooting a ball into either side of the screen would start a simple MazeGame, whereupon the player can move the caveman, catching extra balls and hunting dinosaurs. The player could return to the pinball game if he exited the maze, but getting eaten by a ''T. rex'' would drain the ball.
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11!!This pinball demonstrates the following tropes:
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13%%* AllCavemenWereNeanderthals
14* ArtificialStupidity: Like the ghosts in ''VideoGame/PacMan'', the dinosaurs in ''Caveman'' could be made to move in repeatable methods based on how the player moved. Savvy players could then figure out patterns to maximize their score.
15* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Invoked, embraced, and clubbed over the head repeatedly. After all, this is a game where the player maneuvers a caveman to hunt brontosaurs and pterodactyls while avoiding the Tyrannosaurus rex.
16* ByTheHair: The caveman can be seen dragging off a smiling female to his cave on the playfield.
17* DynamicDifficulty: The difficulty of the maze game would change based on how well the player does on the pinball board, such as turning tyrannosaurus rexes into bonus-scoring pterodactyls.
18* SpellingBonus: Spelling C-A-V-E lights the extra ball shot.
19%%* VideoMode: The main appeal of the game.

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