Play Meter

COVERSTORY STORY COVER At Williams, Williams, the the challenge challengeto to be be At pinball's best best comes comes from from within within pinball's Marty Glazman has a story he likes to Marty Glazman has a story he likes to tell that illustrates the burning sense of tell that illustrates the burning sense of pride at Williams , a feeling that permeates pride at Williams, a feeling that permeates every employment level at the pinball every employment level at the pinball giant. giant. ing a pinball machine in the cafeteria, and his answer was, 'Because I have pride in his answer was, 'Because I have pride in what I build.' That was completely what I build.' That was completely unrehearsed. It shows the strong sense of unrehearsed. It shows the strong sense of pride here at Williams." chuckle. "He was asked why he was play- pride here at Williams." Since its inception in 1942, Williams has Since its inception in 1942, Williams has been at the forefront in pinball innovabeen at the forefront in pinball innovations. Included among these " firsts" are tions. Included among these "firsts" are the following : in 1954, Big Ben was the the following: in 1954, Big Ben was the first pinball with a midget playfield on the first pinball with a midget playfield on the larger one; 1960's Magic Clock was the larger one; 1960's Magic Clock was the first pinball with a moving target; the infirst pinball with a moving target; the industry saw the first pinball with two balls dustry saw the first pinball with two balls in play at the same time with 1963 's Beat in play at the same time with 1963's Beat the Clock; in 1979 Gorgar became the first the Clock; in 1979 Gorgar became the first talking pinball; and in 1985 Comet offered talking pinball; and in 1985 Comet offered the first opportunity for players to score a the first opportunity for players to score a million points with a single shot. million points with a single shot. That is a mere sampling of Williams' That is a mere sampling of Williams' trend-setting status in the industry , but it trend-setting status in the industry, but it reinforces the company's simple, driving reinforces the company's simple, driving credo: never rest on your laurels if you credo: never rest on your laurels if you want to stay on top. ''A film crew from Chicago TV station "A film crew from Chicago TV station WGN came to Williams to do a story, and WGN came to Williams to do a story, and the reporter went to talk to one of our line the reporter went to talk to one of our line workers, " Glazman recalls with a workers," Glazman recalls with a chuckle. ' ' He was asked why he was play- ing a pinball machine in the cafeteria, and want to stay on top. ''/think peoplewill will "I think people besurprised surprisedat atthe the be newBally. Bally.! " ! '' new The acquisition The acquisition This attitude was never more in This attitude was never more in evidence than the summer of 1988, when evidence than the summer of 1988, when Williams' parent company, WMS In- Williams' parent company, WMS Industries, acquired Bally Manufacturing's dustries, acquired Bally Manufacturing's pinball and video game division. The purpinball and video game division. The pur- chase of these coin-op assets went for a reported $8 million. (Note: There are reported $8 million. (Note: There are three separate divisions or entities: WMS, three separate divisions or entities: WMS, Williams, and Bally Midway.) Williams, and Bally Midway.) ''The transition has been quite smooth; "The transition has been quite smooth; the intent is to keep Williams' product line the intent is to keep Williams' product line while giving Bally its own design and sales while giving Bally its own design and sales team," said Roger Sharpe, director of team," said Roger Sharpe, director of marketing. ''It shows a corporate commitmarketing. "It shows a corporate commitment to excellence when you take a guy chase of these coin-op assets went for a Marty Glazman Marty Glazman 16 PLAY METER/December 1988 16 PLAY METER/December 1988 ment to excellence when you take a guy