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)
By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
Atari 2600 version of Battlezone. Source: Retro Gamer
We love finding obscure mini documentaries from the early 80s, just like this What’s Up America! mini documentary, titled Video Warriors, which provides an insight on the state of the arcade video games industry circa 1980.
Pew, pew, pew! Listen to (well, read) this…… New Line Cinema is working on a 
image source: 
Ah the good old days of the 1980s, hanging out at our local arcade parlours with mates and our monster mullets!
The worst kept secret in gaming has finally been confirmed!
Growing up during the golden age of arcade gaming, I didn’t know nor care who created them, I just wanted to have fun playing them. I was always on the lookout for titles that other gamers and friends were talking about. Who was Dave Theurer or Eugene Jarvis? These names didn’t mean a thing to me as a youngster. As long as I had coins to pump into the machines, I was happy.
Name: Yu Suzuki
Name: Eugene Jarvis
Name: Ed Logg
Name: Dave Theurer
Name: Yoshiki Okamoto
Name: Shigeru Miyamoto
Name: Toru Iwatani
Name: Tomohiro Nishikado
Name: Yoshihisa Kishimoto