I know where there's a Beat the Clock and maybe an 8-Ball in Rockford (but you both know that already too).

8-Ball might be gone now though.

8 Ball is gone and I think he changed his mind on Beat the Clock.

I have a River Boat and a Teacher's Pet for sale, both in VG to Excellent condition. PM if interested.

I appreciate it Hoov. Add Teacher's Pet to that list. I had one and foolishly let it go. I think I could get it back but it would probably take a game to trade.

It was a nice Teacher's Pet too... (ahem).

Blast Off / Apollo is a great game.

Lots of satisfying shots especially hitting a bunch of the rollovers consecutively to advance the countdown to the "launch" (bagatelle).

Yeah, I know. I think I need to rethink this "flow" strategy.

Really like just about all those listed or mentioned here. "Moulin Rouge" is a great game. "Space Ship" is good too, but I think it has more ways to lose the ball than any other pin. Williams really did make a lot of great games all throughout their history. Several had crappy artwork, but were good players. "Super Star"/"Big Star" come to mind.

Spaceship is also probably the only pin to have an on the playfield special ready to be won,
at the start of the 1st ball, prior to plunging.

Yeah... a really cool feature!

An 'on playfield' special lit before you even plunge the ball... and doable too! You just have to avoid the top rollovers and not hit an advance before you get a chance to flip the ball. I've done it on the beginning of a game but it's not easy and wouldn't bet my life I did it again before I hit an advance and it was gone. And even though all four rockets 'can' line up again during play, that usually doesn't happen too often and even if it does... the likelihood of you hitting it isn't very great. Because by that time, you are too busy keeping your eye on the ball and just trying to keep it alive, so probably wouldn't notice it anyway.

This is a game incidentally, that you really need to have a liberal tilt set... and also have the larger-sized rubber rings on the posts down by the flippers.

And even at that... you had better be an above average player and have good nudging skills.

I think Gottlieb 300/Top Score has a standup target lit for Special before plunging the ball. (The upper right one that has the 'When Lit' Special insert near it.)

Palooka has the top add a ball lit sometimes before you plunge. All it takes is dropping the ball between the two passive bumpers without hitting them. I think I saw rat do that on his first plunge but it doesn't happen very often.

No, you have to hit the star rollover at the top of the playfield to lite it and it goes out if you advance the bonus.

A-Go-Go is my personal favorite. Really fun multi-player, bonus stealing. Fast gameplay too when shopped and clean with the extra slings on the PF. Love the art too.

Beat the Clock and Friendship 7 were great!

All 1 player games. I have little experience with old EMs. Why is it that people prefer the single players to multiplayers?

Hey. Since you are listin your faves, I mite as well add my collection of 60's Williams
at least 3 of you said 8-Ball, I got one several years ago, and it is awesome, It kicks your butt!
And, it's the first recorded use of split scoring.
It's sister, A go-go, simple layout, 4 flips, tough to roll. first use of roulette wheel.
Full House, a sister also, tough to KEEP hand reels on winning hand.
I got a Merry Widow from Joe some years back, it was rough, but I like the challenge. cleaned it up, played the s*#t out of it, moved it to a friends house,"needed room" still goin strong.
IMO, 60's Williams games are some of the most fun to play!

In the main, better rulesets. Multiplayer EMs had no ability to retain the playfield settings from player to player, so the games just reset after every ball.

That's mostly true, but split bank games like Williams 8 Ball could retain settings for individual players. Pretty cool feature. Thanks Norm Clark!

True enough, but those were pretty rare. Most multiplayers just reset the whole playfield.

But noted for this thread, another thing that Williams did to innovate.

Conspicuously missing from list:

Nags
Moulin Rouge
Big Deal
Soccer
Ten Spot
Highways

IMNSHO

Not my Pit Stop. Great multiplayer game! Very addictive for two players going head to head.

Expand it to 1959 and we can include Rocket.

Absolutely true, hard to beat the single players for this very reason.

But also, it just seems like they had better playfield designs in most cases. You have to remember too, that multi-players had to be designed with the thought... that other players were waiting to get their turn. I'm sure this almost 'had' to be a consideration. Which is why you never see multi-players designed like say, a Trade Winds, King Pin, Big Deal, Moulin Rouge... or any of the great nudger's games, where a good player can keep the ball alive for considerably longer, armed with the right skills.

But even so, every once in a great while... a multi-player designed this way and resets after every ball can be a great game too. 'Shangri-La' comes to mind and 'Oh Boy' as well... but for different reasons.

I would add Nags to the list. Different in terms of 'playability' but very fun and simply beautiful just to look at.

I'll add a "like" to Nags, which I enjoy very much. I also gave a "like" to River Boat last week...

It's funny o-din said this... because I was thinking the same thing myself. Go back just prior to 1960 and you pick up a lot of great Williams titles. Games such as Satellite, Gusher, Spot Pool, Sea Wolf and of course, the wonderful 'Rocket'. But I understand of course... sixties games, are sixties games.

Yep, and there is even a 3-position adjustment as to how often the top rollover is lit up. Once you lite up the special though, you need to hit the target before you hit anything that will cause score motor rotation, or else it will go out (the special circuit is held on by NC motor switch).

From what I understand there were never very many made, and probably very few survivors so not many have seen one in person. But it is wonderful indeed.

I'll second, or third, 1966 Hot Line.

And even if you 'do' see them, the artwork is usually tore-up above the flippers.

What about Gusher and Satellite from 58? Just kidding.

Spanish Eyes and Klondike

Not always.

305585-i.jpg

Hey!

How'd you get a picture of my Rocket playfield??

What? You only charge five cents per play too? What a coincidence!

You can't do that

Now you have to add Jigsaw 1958!

Shout out for a Nags.

Steve J.