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Williams-Bally-Midway Arcade & Pinball History Book

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Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of arcade and pinball games with Ken Horowitz’s latest tome! Get your coins ready, because the arcade awaits!

In his brand-new book, “From Pinballs to Pixels: An Arcade History of Williams-Bally-Midway,” Ken Horowitz takes us on an epic adventure through the captivating history of this legendary gaming manufacturer.

This new book takes a trip down memory lane as it explores the incredible journey of gaming publisher Williams. From the early days of pinball classics like Contact to the groundbreaking marvels like High Speed, Williams captivated arcade enthusiasts with their diverse range of quality games.

The advent of video games marked a turning point for Williams, propelling them into legendary status with unforgettable hits like Defender and Joust. The company quickly rose to prominence and, by the end of the 1980s, became the largest coin-op publisher in North America. Their influence and innovation were felt throughout the industry.

Williams’ acquisition of Bally/Midway ushered in a golden era, characterised by a string of hits that included iconic titles such as Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam. Notably, they also produced The Addams Family, a pinball machine that went on to become the best-selling of all time. Williams’ success story is a testament to their ability to take risks, innovate, and create games that captured the hearts of players worldwide.

In this book, you’ll discover the fascinating history of Williams spanning nearly six decades. The author takes you behind the scenes, providing interviews with over 40 former designers and executives from Williams/Bally/Midway. Their firsthand accounts offer unique insights into the company’s inner workings and the creative processes that led to the creation of some of gaming’s greatest classics.

Drawing from a vast array of contemporaneous news reports and documents, this book presents a comprehensive and never-before-seen chronology of Williams’ rise to coin-op juggernaut status. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how a small company transformed into an industry powerhouse, leaving an indelible mark on the world of pinball and arcade video games.

This book is a celebration of one of gaming’s greatest publishing houses, showcasing their incredible impact on the industry and the enduring legacy of their games.

Details:

  • Title: From Pinballs to Pixels: An Arcade History of Williams-Bally-Midway
  • Author: Ken Horowitz
  • Price:
    • Amazon Australia: AU$35.98 (Kindle) / AU$95.59 (Paperback)
    • Amazon US: US$22.49 (Kindle) / US$42.03 (Paperback)



Donkey Kong Inducted Into The Amusement Industry Hall of Fame

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Step right up, folks! Prepare for a thrilling trip back in time to witness the birth of a gaming legend!

Let’s enter Nintendo’s magical realm, where imagination reigns supreme, and discover the incredible tale of Donkey Kong’s rise to the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame!

In 1981, two genius minds at Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi, unleashed a game that set the arcade world ablaze! Donkey Kong stormed the scene, selling like crazy and becoming an instant sensation!

So, my fellow gamers and dreamers, let’s celebrate the timeless wonder of Donkey Kong. Let’s embrace the joy it has brought us and the endless possibilities it holds. It’s a testament to the power of imagination, proving that even a humble arcade game can withstand the test of time.

Donkey Kong’s legacy still lives on, and now forever enshrined in the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame. Congrats DK!



story source: RePlay Mag

The Definitive History of SEGA WORLD Sydney

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Who knew that Sega OziSoft convinced Sega (Japan) to pump AU$80 million dollars into the world’s largest indoor theme park (at the time), SEGA WORLD Sydney in Darling Harbour! We still regret not visiting Sega World in Darling Harbour (Sydney) while it was still open. We’ll never get to cross that off our bucket-list.

This SL Films’ half hour documentary provides interesting insights into the history of the site, and an analysis into why it closed down, touching upon the local industry and local conditions.

If you are like us and never got to visit Sega World, this definitive history of the theme park/amusement centre is the next best thing!


source: SL Films

image source: SL Films



Netherworld – Daytona USA Tournament

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Day-toooooo-naaaaaa USA! We absolutely love Daytona USA, it was and still is one of Sega’s most iconic arcade driving/racing games!

If you always fancied yourself as great Daytona USA player, then listen up, there is a tournament this Saturday (June 17) at Netherworld in Brisbane that you may want to participate in.

Rev your engine and put the pedal to the metal – the Netherworld Speedway is hosting the Daytona Cup with our major race sponsor Slipstream Brewing Company! Alongside a selection of Slipstream Brewing Co beers we’ll be pouring a special collab brew just for race day – the Powerslide East Coast IPA. Qualifying (time trial mode) happens from 10am to 3pm with the top 8 from each track going into the finals from 3pm. The finals (linked 4 player normal/battle mode) will be separated into Beginner, Advanced and Expert races with prizes awarded to the top 3 drivers on each track. For a little overtime, the top four overall participants with the highest points across all tracks earn a chance to compete in a one off Grand Prix mode on the advanced stage for ultimate glory.

Tournament Details:

  • What: 4 player link-up Daytona USA Championship tournament
  • When: Saturday the 17th of June from 10:00am
  • Where: Netherworld – 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia
  • Tickets: Entry ticket comes with one free drink and tournament entry – https://events.humanitix.com/nwdaytona

image source: Netherworld

 



LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade – Waka waka waka

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Just in case you have been living under a rock all this time with no internet connection and no one to tell you about this awesome news from Lego………..

Are you ready for this awesome news? Of course you are! Lego announced the Lego Icons PAC-MAN Arcade set on their social channel – with the set earmarked to be released on June 4th for the sum of AU$399.99 – not exactly cheap, but looks pretty darn good.

image source: LEGO



STARCADE – The Classic Arcade TV Game Show Will Be Recorded Live at Netherworld

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If we lived in Brisbane, we’d be all over this awesome event that Netherworld is hosting this Saturday (May 20th)!

This Saturday is STARCADE!!! A classic arcade TV game show recorded live in the Netherworld with YOU as the star! Register to be a contestant via events.humanitix.com/starcade !

A love letter to the classic 80’s arcade show Starcade, everyone is encouraged to look the part! The show will be broadcast on the day via twitch.tv/netherworldarcade with no tuning into the community television station needed.

Over a number of 4 player heats, players will be pitted against other contestants in both classic arcade trivia AND classic arcade gaming, so you’ll need both brains AND arcade brawn to make it through to the final round. Each round will consist of quick fire, hand on the buzzer trivia questions followed by some classic games chosen at random.

Registration comes with your first drink and a Starcade enamel pin. If you don’t want to participate in the game show, you’re more than welcome to just rock up to watch along in the audience! It kicks off this coming Saturday (May 20th) at midday and is suitable for all skill levels.

Event Details:

Date/Time

  • Sat 20th May 2023, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm AEST

Cost

  • Cost of entry is AU$30

Location

  • Netherworld: 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006



Atari x Artovision: 3D Collectible Artwork

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The new Atari is like a slow moving train-wreck that you can’t keep your eyes off!

We keep on their backs as it seems that they squeeze every single ounce of their IP, but some of the stuff they have come up with lately (like the shadowbox art!) isn’t too bad if we are to be honest – check it out here.

According to Atari:

These beautiful artwork features imagery from beloved games like Adventure and Asteroids. Each of these pieces appear with three-dimensional depth and rich full color prints. Available as a Shadowbox or Desktop variant

image source: Atari Interactive, Inc.



Suzanne Ciani’s Unpublished Atari Ad Jingle In New Video!

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It is great being in touch with your childhood heroes, like Atari’s Howard Scott Warshaw.

Howard recently posted on his Facebook account about a video featuring the unpublished Atari ad jingle by Suzanne Ciani in stunning 3D animation. In case you didn’t know, Suzanne was the amazing electronic music composer that created the iconic soundtrack for Bally’s Xenon pinball machine!

This reimagined video featuring Suzanne’s jingle was created by the amazing and talented Philippe Lafortune of Retro Gamers Hub & The Geek Connoisseur fame.



Atari Introduces New Collectible Replica Arcade PCBs

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A NEW REVISION IN ARCADE CIRCUIT BOARD HISTORY

Ah Atari, they know exactly how to squeeze every ounce out of their IP with products that hit the nostalgic sweet spot!

This time around, good ole new Atari has partnered with Retro Arcade to create high-quality authentic replica arcade machine Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) for Black Widow, Gravitar and Major Havoc – iconic Atari arcade games prized for their advanced gameplay and relative rarity of their cabinets.

These reproductions are officially licensed 11.5 x 20.75 inch (29.2cm x 52.70cm) reproductions based on the original arcade board sets and are a new revision in the PCB history. The boards use the original bill of materials, follow the original schematics, and can be used to replace damaged original boards by using the original parts from these boards.

OK, we must admit, we are actually impressed with these replica/repro PCBs, even if the price (US$245) is a tad too much when taking into account the exchange rate.

Oh yeah, these are available in limited quantities at Atari.com.

PS: To sweeten this juicy deal, Atari is offering $10 off (code: “PCBOOPSIE“) on any one of the three Retro Arcade PCB boards (yeah, we know, boards is redundant in PCB boards) 😉

Major Havoc PCB: Revision D

Major Havoc challenges players with a journey through exciting gameplay styles, including Breakout-style mini games where a knowledgeable gamer can warp through different levels.

Gravitar PCB: Revision C

A multi-directional shooter with a reputation for difficulty, Gravitar is arguably also the first cave-flyer ever made.

Black Widow PCB: Revision A

The arcade classic Black Widow is one of the very first twin-stick shooters ever made.



Taycan PONG Arcade Battle: Porsche X Atari

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Ready, Player One? Porsche Taycan Arcade Is Here!

Now here is a collaboration we never saw coming – Porsche and Atari! Say what?!

Porsche Cars Australia recently released a campaign featuring two Porsche Taycan electric sportscars playing an intense, high-speed, real-life version of Pong. In this life-sized adaptation of the 1970’s Atari classic, the paddles are two Porsche Taycan sportscars while the ball is a fast moving high-tech drone.


source: Porsche

Along with the video, Porsche Cars Australia have also created Taycan Arcade, an interactive web-based game inspired by Pong. Players can use their keyboard or mobile device to move their Taycan up and down on their side of the screen trying to deflect a fast moving ball towards their opponent. Get the ball past your opponents Taycan, and players score a point.

Porsche fans and PONG video game lovers can play Taycan Arcade here.