kind of an 'out there' question, but after Williams bought Bally, what determined if it was labelled as a "B" or "W"? Random, design team, or amount of each(or something else)?
(Topic ID: 74393)
Hopkins, MN
From Ask Uncle Willy #15, June 4, 1998:
Question: How do you decide which game is manufactured under the Bally
label or which one under the Williams label?
Answer: This has been one of the industry's most closely guarded secrets.
Unfortunately Pat Lawlor let his guard down at the last PinballExpo,
and revealed the precise formula: "First we make a
Williams. Then we make a Bally. Then we make a Williams. Then
we make a Bally..."
Uncle Willy can't think of any way to explain it better than that!
My understanding is that licensed games were under Bally, and unlicensed/original themes were Williams. Haven't run through the games to see if that holds true.....
Quoted from aztarac:My understanding is that licensed games were under Bally, and unlicensed/original themes were Williams. Haven't run through the games to see if that holds true.....
Nope. Safe Cracker was Bally and unlicensed.
....and Theatre of Magic was Bally unlicensed. Maybe design teams' choice then with a certain ratio set by Williams? Or just very random, just seems to be more Williams (naturally I suppose)
It's strange they kept both. Branding is so important, and although they were both powerful names in pinball history, you think they would have wanted to decide on one and really ride that name and brand.
Quoted from Atomicboy:It's strange they kept both. Branding is so important, and although they were both powerful names in pinball history, you think they would have wanted to decide on one and really ride that name and brand.
and that's exactly why they didn't. There are people loyal to both names, don't offend any of the customer base.
Quoted from volkdrive:....and Theatre of Magic was Bally unlicensed. Maybe design teams' choice then with a certain ratio set by Williams? Or just very random, just seems to be more Williams (naturally I suppose)
Theatre of Magic was released as un-licensed, but was a licensed theme for most of its development. It was originally planned to be called "The Magic of David Copperfield".
Quoted from RawleyD:I thought it had something to do with the Bally games being made with Bally parts, Williams with Willams parts, etc.
Except there are all Williams parts in there. From 90 some suppliers.
LTG : )
They are the GM of pinball. whether it be chev or gmc.....they are all GM vehicles with the same parts. Just like all the wpc machines....williams or bally, same thing and same parts etc..No difference...just the name..
But they are all WMS games.
They made one williams and one bally then williams then bally. rinse and repeat.. Bally only parts were used up during the system 11 era..
Quoted from Hawk007:They made one williams and one bally then williams then bally. rinse and repeat..
That theory doesn't hold either.
LTG : )
yea but close enough..it was something like that. there are licensed and non licensed for each. They probably put out games under B or W to keep fans or clients/ops happy.
Quoted from Hawk007:They probably put out games under B or W to keep fans or clients/ops happy.
I wonder if it was internal ? Separate divisions, run games down one or the other to cook the books.
LTG : )
good call ........I also think the bally had more of the b**bie games and the more adult themed games.... both elviras are bally, cftbl, champ pub, judge dredd etc ... Williams titled games seem to be more teen geared or family friendly....roadshow, funhouse,fishtales etc
but there are always exceptions as Dracula was williams...So I think you may have nailed it LTG
Cheers and have a great Christmas!!
Hawk
Quoted from LTG:I wonder if it was internal ? Separate divisions, run games down one or the other to cook the books.
LTG : )
that makes the most sense of all. I work for a company that does much the same thing. Basicly the same product, two different names, most parts interchange. And for the most part it is random, no set order.
Quoted from Hawk007:Williams titled games seem to be more teen geared or family friendly....roadshow, funhouse,fishtales etc
but there are always exceptions as Dracula was williams...So I think you may have nailed it LTG
ummm MB 
probably the dirtiest non-swear/adult rom'd game ever made.
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