(Topic ID: 184616)

Cirqus Voltaire prototype story and design changes

By noitbe1

6 years ago


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  • 218 posts
  • 34 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 4 months ago by GAP
  • Topic is favorited by 56 Pinsiders

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There are 218 posts in this topic. You are on page 3 of 5.
#102 6 years ago

Tx, didn't knew this you could 'stack' multiballs except for the obvious combinations: multiball + a ringmaster multiball OR highware + strike an arc.

#103 6 years ago
Quoted from seshpilot:

Super cool! Just now reading this. I too wish every game had this kind of documentation. I just don't think those guys had any idea a bunch of nerds like us would be so interested 30 years on!

yes! should be great if could have more infos on the design and prototype phases from the greatest pins.

#105 6 years ago

My CV says "tickle" the ringmaster

#106 6 years ago

It would be great. It's Cameron website and I guess he could do it.

#107 6 years ago
Quoted from irobot:

My CV says "tickle" the ringmaster

Yes. after the whitewood prototype, 3 playfields were produced with colors. 2 of them has "tickle" instead of "defeat". "Defeat" was for production only. The explanation of this is due to an old quote (removed after in production) when he says "it tickles". Also the RM was nice with the old voice...

#108 6 years ago

More history about the game can be found by searching through the RGP archives:

Cirqus Voltaire Owners!!! HOME VERSION ROM Released!!!!
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.games.pinball/AyIg0QLODQw/Jnpoz5W8shoJ

CV software adjustments
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.pinball/k1zPK_I3sZ8/Uon63mSjoyIJ

CV 2.0H "Easter Egg" - AWESOME!
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.pinball/FwQqbPLclSE/2JZOvFXhj94J

#109 6 years ago
Quoted from Coyote:

The hardest part - getting Juggler lit, and one or two balls locked, WITHOUT getting the Side Show.

The only way I know you could do this would be to get two sneaky locks into the Juggler, right? Because even though it lights the Juggler after the first sneaky lock any hard shot up the left will continue to the Side Show. If you collect side show once and then have it lit again (from hitting the Bally Hoo targets) will it still award Neon Multiball when you collect it?

#110 6 years ago
Quoted from bobukcat:

The only way I know you could do this would be to get two sneaky locks into the Juggler, right? Because even though it lights the Juggler after the first sneaky lock any hard shot up the left will continue to the Side Show. If you collect side show once and then have it lit again (from hitting the Bally Hoo targets) will it still award Neon Multiball when you collect it?

Or in 2.0H software adjust these settings to make it harder to lite the Side Show:

  • SIDE SHOW LIT
    This sets whether or not the Side Show is lit at the start of the game.
  • INLANE SPT. MRVL.
    Set this adjustment to 'NO' to stop Spot Marvel from being lit by the right inlane.
#111 6 years ago
Quoted from bobukcat:

The only way I know you could do this would be to get two sneaky locks into the Juggler, right? Because even though it lights the Juggler after the first sneaky lock any hard shot up the left will continue to the Side Show. If you collect side show once and then have it lit again (from hitting the Bally Hoo targets) will it still award Neon Multiball when you collect it?

Sorry, I missed this post originally!
What mvissers says helps - there is also a mode (I cannot recall off-hand which mode it is. I will need to play someone's for my memory to come back) that will allow shots up the loop to count towards Juggler, but not catch the ball as well - that helps get Juggler up there.

If you use the flipper code, ONLY the first Side Show award will award Neon Multiball, after that, it returns to random.

#112 6 years ago
Quoted from mvissers:

Or in 2.0H software adjust these settings to make it harder to lite the Side Show:

SIDE SHOW LIT
This sets whether or not the Side Show is lit at the start of the game.
INLANE SPT. MRVL.
Set this adjustment to 'NO' to stop Spot Marvel from being lit by the right inlane.

Good idea, didn't even think to disable the side show at start-up setting. I've been playing CV quite a bit lately so I'm going to have to give this a shot soon.

9 months later
#113 5 years ago

I know this is an old thread but... Thanks guys for this thread. I just purchased a sample game that has an early DOM 8-12-97 (# 0065) . I really appreciate the history and all the info on the game's design and testing. I recently added a flasher to light up that eddy sensor insert under the Menagerie ball. It lights up the ball really well and is a pointer to the sample differences. Cool mod. My game is an HEP restore (2009) I really got a kick out of the early RM voices (Pee Wee Herman) LOL! Threads like these on Pinside are timeless!

#114 5 years ago

Please share a pic for your insert, great idea!
I'm looking for a proto rom: one prior to 1.0. The original rom of my pin has been lost so if anyone is ok to share/ sell anything. I still own the proto sound rom though.
Ipdb only provide 1.0 nothing before.

7 months later
#115 5 years ago

Not sure if it makes attention anymore but I’ve found this comment from Cameron. Found it really interresting.

From this link:
https://www.aussiearcade.com/archive/index.php/t-18923.html

At Williams the Sample games could run anything from 100-300 (it changed throughout the 90s), and were built up at the factory (although on a smaller / slower line). The purpose mostly was to get the factory ready for full-on production scale, and also figure out if any changes could be made to make production quicker/cheaper. Samples were typically sent to big distributors and operators all over the world so that they could familiarize themselves with the new games (that was the theory, anyway!).

Most of the time when people use the term "proto", they are actually referring to samples (at least as far as Williams mid/late 90's goes). Actual protos were built and wired by hand over several weeks (sometimes before final wiring harnesses had been laid out), and they would frequently be hacked up a little before going on location. Protos would rarely run more than 10 or 15 games, and these would usually go to design team, a few on test, and some used internally for documentation, photo-shoot, drop test and various approval processes (UL, etc). The protos were built downstairs in the same building as engineering, rather than up at the factory.

Proto games would typically have many small differences from production (including the red PCBs), while samples would differ very little. Early Judge Dredd samples did indeed ship with working planets, but Williams issued kits and most of them were converted (I don't believe that production software will support the original planet design).

TZ Samples didn't have the third magnets installed, but the playfields were still routed to accommodate it. Cirqus samples had skinny Ringmaster heads, and were missing some text on the playfield; while Cirqus Protos had entirely different text on several of the "Marvel" inserts. Whitewater had some of the optos moved between the sample and production runs. Proto Corvette games were built with a four-speed shifter on the side, but that was removed before samples.

#116 5 years ago

Thanks for that ^^^

#117 5 years ago

Here are a couple of pics of my mod that lights the Eddy Sensor Insert (sample) under the Menagere Ball. I just tied into the Menagere Flasher. Sorry it took so long to post them.

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#118 5 years ago

There was supposed b a eddy sensor there?

#119 5 years ago

If it's under an insert it's for a flasher or lamp.

#120 5 years ago

Ya mine did not have a lamp under that ball insert. I added one. What did they do
In the production games?

#121 5 years ago
Quoted from bigd1979:

There was supposed b a eddy sensor there?

there was on the whitewood 3: the eddy sensor is visible. It seems that it has been removed early, I don't think any color proto has it. Proto and samples share the same hole though for it, see pic. Probably removed for cost saving.

Maybe this was for the "digital multiball" which was planed to be played with the screen and 3 balls. There was a need to locate the ball to display on playfield.
See detail on Cameron story post #88
Too bad this idea was not implemented, it would have been really cool.

CV1 (resized).pngCV1 (resized).png

#122 5 years ago
Quoted from noitbe1:

Too bad this idea was not implemented, it would have been really cool

Yes indeed it would have!

#123 5 years ago

Super cool ..thanks for the info

#124 5 years ago

After checking i just realize my cv has holes which fit an eddy sensor (see pic from post #8) So it has been removed at some point. Too bad. I wonder if the proto software did support it.

#125 5 years ago

Maybe one day if I found the time, i might do a recode/add-on with a P-ROC project. But I need to finish TOTAN project first... it would be great for sure. I might think of adding this video mode thing but let’s stop the dream.

#126 5 years ago

I love this thread and this machine.

#127 5 years ago

I finished all 4 wizard modes and got to meet the Cirqus tonight for the first time.
This machine is Totally Awesome!

#128 5 years ago

Mine looks to be number 6 off the line.

I believe from Germany.

0000006

IMG_20190130_221653192 (resized).jpgIMG_20190130_221653192 (resized).jpg
#129 5 years ago
Quoted from whthrs166:

I finished all 4 wizard modes and got to meet the Cirqus tonight for the first time.
This machine is Totally Awesome!

4 wizard modes?

#130 5 years ago
Quoted from bigd1979:

4 wizard modes?

Yep 1. Join The Cirqus 2. Unmask Voltaire 3. Party mode 4. Meet the Cirqus

Or one Wizard Mode with 4 parts I guess. It seems more like 4 separate wizard modes.

#131 5 years ago
Quoted from McPin54:

Mine looks to be number 6 off the line.
I believe from Germany.
0000006[quoted image]

$65,000 by xmas.

#133 5 years ago
Quoted from McPin54:

Mine looks to be number 6 off the line.
I believe from Germany.
0000006[quoted image]

nice find. Do you see the date of manufacture? (visible on sticker with the serial number)

#134 5 years ago
Quoted from Deez:

$65,000 by xmas.

#135 5 years ago
Quoted from noitbe1:

nice find. Do you see the date of manufacture? (visible on sticker with the serial number)

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#136 5 years ago
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#137 5 years ago
IMG_20190130_221439391 (resized).jpgIMG_20190130_221439391 (resized).jpg
#138 5 years ago
Quoted from McPin54:

Mine looks to be number 6 off the line.

I believe from Germany.

0000006

Interesting. I have #5, but the serial number and date are much different. 53602100005 manufactured 04/16/97. I bought mine from one of the main game designers.

#139 5 years ago
Quoted from McPin54:

[quoted image]

thanks for sharing. What a great find! You have probably one of the first sample.
I've found the number 4 (built the same day) too and 8.

you should check those links:

http://www.hassellcastle.com/cirqusowners.htm
http://www.ipsnd.net/View.aspx?id=4059

1 (resized).png1 (resized).png2 (resized).png2 (resized).png
#140 5 years ago
Quoted from schudel5:

Interesting. I have #5, but the serial number and date are much different. 53602100005 manufactured 04/16/97. I bought mine from one of the main game designers.

interesting, it was the same date as the whitewood 3 from cameron silver. Mine is from May 9th 1997. Seems to be 4 day after the first build of the first color proto (May 5th according to the Willams website).

3 (resized).png3 (resized).png
#141 5 years ago
Quoted from noitbe1:

interesting, it was the same date as the whitewood 3 from cameron silver. Mine is from May 9th 1997. Seems to be 4 day after the first build of the first color proto (May 5th according to the Willams website).[quoted image]

That't the machine I have now. It's not a whitewood though.

#142 5 years ago

Why are all the German CV's moving back to US? It's one of my favorite games, unfortunately I sold my HUO CV couple of years back
So pls ship it back .... to me

#143 5 years ago
Quoted from the_one:

Why are all the German CV's moving back to US? It's one of my favorite games, unfortunately I sold my HUO CV couple of years back
So pls ship it back .... to me

Everything has a price!
It could come back

1 week later
#144 5 years ago

Just checked the eddy sensor. The plug was there.
I don’t know when it’s was removed though and if really early proto ROM support it.

Here is the other one pic (RM one)

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#145 5 years ago
Quoted from noitbe1:

Just checked the eddy sensor. The plug was there.
I don’t know when it’s was removed though and if really early proto ROM support it.
Here is the other one pic (RM one)

Very Cool!

#146 5 years ago

Very cool to know the background information and development of the game. It has me wondering about my prototype Safe Cracker, and especially how the invisibility was meant to work. Is there similar information about Safe Cracker somewhere? Did a search on here but only saw this thread:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/prototype-safe-cracker-is-finished

#147 5 years ago
Quoted from HighVoltage:

Very cool to know the background information and development of the game. It has me wondering about my prototype Safe Cracker, and especially how the invisibility was meant to work. Is there similar information about Safe Cracker somewhere? Did a search on here but only saw this thread:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/prototype-safe-cracker-is-finished

I don’t know but it would be great if this was available somewhere. Safe Cracker is a great original pin. We don’t see this kind of pin nowdays.

3 weeks later
#148 5 years ago

Just found the way the backglass looked with whitewood 2. See the differences with the final: there was thunder on the wheel, speaker plastic covers, small girl on the left and so on...

Also the backplastic Dmd protectors trim had different purple colors...

I put back also underness to see the wire mess . The green board were borrowed from other pins and new custom boards were red.

01481FAC-C82A-4605-B6B2-EE7CE743BF84 (resized).jpeg01481FAC-C82A-4605-B6B2-EE7CE743BF84 (resized).jpeg6DCDECA0-3234-4FEA-91E7-B20241E9CAF2 (resized).jpeg6DCDECA0-3234-4FEA-91E7-B20241E9CAF2 (resized).jpeg
#149 5 years ago

I just looked at that cv owners list, my sample game is listed with another’s name. Looks like the list has not been updated in a while. I emailed the old owner, see if his email still works and what he has to say. It’s not the same person I bought it from.

#150 5 years ago
Quoted from pin-pimp:

I just looked at that cv owners list, my sample game is listed with another’s name. Looks like the list has not been updated in a while. I emailed the old owner, see if his email still works and what he has to say. It’s not the same person I bought it from.

On SN list, some S/N stickers are shared by others sometimes too.
This list has not been updated for a long long time I guess.

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