Gee Bee

About

Gee Bee is a 1978 arcade game that mixes pinball mechanics with multiball strategy. Players control two moving paddles, one at the bottom, one in the middle, that stay aligned as they bounce a ball around. Your goal is to hit blocks scattered across the playfield, including those tucked into small lower compartments. A fixed vertical paddle and bumpers add variety to the ball's path. Scoring depends on which targets you strike, encouraging careful planning to maximize points. This was Namco’s first original game design and Toru Iwatani’s first project before his Pac-Man fame. The dual-paddle system created a tricky coordination challenge years ahead of its time. Though it predates many modern pinball staples, Gee Bee helped shape the genre’s approach to layered scoring and dynamic playfields. Its influence is subtle but clear in later games that prioritized clever paddle placement and target diversity.