Episode 76 - Original Themes

Wedgehead explores why Williams dominated with original themes but modern boutique makers fail at them.

Synopsis

Alan and Alex (Waterboy) discuss the history and modern state of original/unlicensed pinball themes, contrasting the golden era of Williams' acclaimed original-themed machines (High Speed, Pinbot, Funhouse, etc.) with modern boutique manufacturers' struggles to create successful original themes. They argue that 1980s-90s unlicensed games sold massive units and aged better than licensed competitors, but modern original themes fail because manufacturers use them as cost-cutting measures rather than creative necessities.

Highlights

• Williams stayed away from licensed games during the 1970s while Bally pioneered licensing, and Williams designers took pride in creating original games from scratch
• High Speed (1986) sold 17,000 units and Getaway (1992) sold over 13,000 units, proving unlicensed themes could be massive commercial hits
• Best games from the 1990s Williams renaissance were unlicensed originals, and these themes aged better than contemporary licensed competitors
• Data East and Sega made only licensed games by 1989 and were outsold by Williams despite those licenses
• Gary Stern becoming the last manufacturer standing after Williams closed shaped the industry toward all-licensed games
• Modern boutique manufacturers create original themes primarily as cost-cutting measures, not creative necessities
• Vacation America (2003) flopped not because of the original theme but because the game itself wasn't good

Entities

• Chicago Gaming Company· company
• Data East USA Inc.· company
• Spooky Pinball· company
• Williams· company
• WMS (parent company)· company
• Pintastic· event
• Attack from Mars· game
• Black Knight / Black Knight Sword of Rage· game
• Earthshaker· game
• Funhouse· game
• Getaway· game
• High Speed· game
• Medieval Madness· game
• Pinbot trilogy· game
• Vacation America· game
• Whirlwind· game
• Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
• Alan· person
• Alex / Waterboy· person
• Gary Stern· person
• Greg Freres· person
• Papa Duke / John Papaduke· person
• Pat Lawlor· person
• Roger Sharpe· person
• Steve Richie· person