David's Midnight Magic

David's Midnight Magic
Title	David's Midnight Magic
Release date(s)	1982
Original Platform(s)	Apple II
Developer(s)	David Snider
Category(s)	Entertainment, Arcade, Pinball

Overview

Released in 1982 for the Apple II, David’s Midnight Magic was an early and successful computer pinball simulation, notable for its blend of fast-paced gameplay, colorful graphics, and sophisticated ball physics. Created by programmer David Snider and published by Broderbund Software, the game exemplified how arcade-style entertainment could be convincingly recreated on home computers. Drawing inspiration from real-world pinball machines and the recent success of Raster Blaster, David’s Midnight Magic carved out its own legacy through polish, playability, and wide platform appeal.

Origins and Design

David Snider was a young programmer when he began work on David’s Midnight Magic. His concept drew directly from Black Knight, a popular multi-level Williams pinball table from 1980, known for its dark fantasy theme, dual-level playfield, and fast action. While limited by the hardware of the Apple II, Snider sought to bring the feel of this experience into the home.

The game’s title was a play on words— “Midnight Magic” evoking the mysterious, glowing allure of late-night pinball sessions, while placing the creator’s first name in the title signaled a new era of software authorship where programmers were given prominent recognition. This was in keeping with Broderbund’s philosophy, which often celebrated the creativity of individual developers.

Gameplay and Technical Features

David’s Midnight Magic presented players with a single-screen virtual pinball machine, complete with flippers, bumpers, spinners, and scoring lanes. The playfield layout was tightly designed to encourage strategic ball control while also rewarding reflexes.

One of the game’s standout features was its realistic physics simulation, especially for the time. The ball’s momentum, acceleration, and ricochet behavior felt believable, and the collision detection was finely tuned. The graphics— displayed in the Apple II’s high-resolution mode— featured bright colors, smooth animations, and a crisp playfield layout that struck a balance between detail and clarity.

Another key appeal was the responsive controls. Players could nudge the table to influence ball movement, but with the risk of triggering a tilt. This added an element of skill and unpredictability that mimicked real pinball more closely than many of its contemporaries.

Though not the first pinball game on home computers— Raster Blaster by Bill Budge had debuted a year earlier— it was David’s Midnight Magic that some considered the more refined and fun-to-play title. It was not just a technical achievement, but an expertly balanced game with lasting replay value.

Commercial Success and Ports

Published by Broderbund Software, David’s Midnight Magic quickly became a best-seller. It was a showcase title for the Apple II and helped solidify Broderbund’s growing reputation as a leading software house in the burgeoning home computer market.

The game’s success led to ports for other popular platforms, including the Atari 8-bit family followed by the Commodore 64. These versions preserved the spirit of the original while taking advantage of each system’s strengths— particularly the Commodore 64’s richer sound and color palette. On all platforms, the game maintained strong sales and player enthusiasm throughout the early to mid-1980s.

Influence and Legacy

David’s Midnight Magic earned praise for being more than just a digital approximation of pinball—it was a compelling game in its own right. Reviewers lauded its challenging gameplay, smooth action, and polished feel. It received several awards and was featured prominently in computer gaming magazines of the time.

The game also contributed to a broader recognition of individual software developers as creative artists. David Snider’s name on the box and in the title helped legitimize the idea of the programmer as author, a trend mirrored by Bill Budge, Richard Garriott, and others in the early 1980s.

Releases

Links

Wikipedia
Mobygames
Software People Page 98