[ Quick Search ] [ Advanced Search ] [ Game Lists ] [ Archives ] [ Pinball Glossary ] [ Playing Skills ] [ FAQ ] [ Settings ] |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Fun Rating: | 7.7/10 (79 ratings/67 comments) [ Add Your Rating! ] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturer: | Williams Electronics, Incorporated (1967-1985) [Trade Name: Williams] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date Of Manufacture: | October 27, 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Model Number: | 486 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MPU: | Williams System 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type: | Solid State Electronic (SS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production: | 19,505 units (confirmed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Serial Number Database: | View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net) (External site) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Theme: | Fantasy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable Features: | Flippers (3), Pop bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), 5-bank drop targets (1), 3-bank drop targets (1), Standup targets (2), Spinning target (1), Kick-out hole (1), Star rollovers (5). Ball shot into play crosses the playfield to get to the top. Flash Lamps under playfield. Maximum displayed point score is 999,990 points per player. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Design by: | Steve Ritchie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art by: | Constantino Mitchell, Jeanine Mitchell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mechanics by: | John Jung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound by: | Randy Pfeiffer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Software by: | Randy Pfeiffer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: | 'Flash' was the first game from any manufacturer to have a dynamic background sound during gameplay. It is also the first game from any manufacturer to use Flash Lamps, which provide a temporary burst of flashing light intended primarily for the sake of its visual effect, in contrast to the usual playfield lamps that either provide constant general illumination or turn on and off only as indicators of specific playfield objectives or their point values. Designer Steve Ritchie comments: I "invented" background sound at Atari, but management wouldn't have it, so I asked Randy Pfeiffer to create a continuously cycling complex sound that increased in pitch and speed of cycling, and he did both. That changing background added a tension and excitement that was never present in earlier games. That sound also broadcasted how well the player was doing. If you heard the only game that made a background sound in an arcade at high pitch and a fast cycle, all eyes were on you, sometimes gathering a small crowd in those days. The production run of this game was far higher than previous Williams games. Steve Ritchie comments: Towards the end of the run of Flash, I asked Jack Mittel, then-VP of sales, why we wouldn't try to push past the 20,000 unit mark. He replied, "We want to leave the market wanting." Steve also tells us about the prototype backglass shown in this listing: We printed two backglas Reportedly, later production units had System 6 CPU boards. Steve tells us that a subsequent game "Super Flash" was contemplated in 1986 as a 'sequel' but never made it as far as the drawing board. ***** Production Run Records for Flash: 19505 total Sample run: 400 Production Start Date: Oct-27-1978 / Production End Date: Dec-18-1978 First ship date: Nov-7-1978 / Last ship date: Unknown, 1 game remained in inventory on Dec-28-1978 after which Daily Production Log records are missing. It likely shipped out with production games. Production Run: 19105 Production Start Date: Jan-29-1979 / Production End Date: Jul-30-1979 First ship date: Unknown / Last ship date: Unknown Product History Record for Flash: Quantity produced for USA/Canada: 10073* Quantity produced for export: 9432* Total quantity produced: 19505* Price to Distributor: $1277.00 *These quantities may be sales estimates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Photos in: |
Encyclopedia of Pinball Volume 1, page 238 The Complete Pinball Book, pages 102 and 176 Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book A-F Arcade Treasures, page 95 Pinball The Lure of the Silverball, page 82 Pinball Machines (Eiden-Lukas), page 145 Pinball Snapshots, pages 5, 11, 89-93 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owners List URL: | http://www.pinballowners.com/owners/871 (External site) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Easter Eggs: | Available at Cows and Easter Eggs (External site) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ROMs: | 55 KB | ZIP | Green L-1 ROM Set (Latest) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Documentation: | 247 KB | Catalog Supplement 486 with New Parts & Assemblies (February 1979) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 MB | Driver Board Assy Drawing (8-16-77, in color) and CPU Board Schematic (7-8-77) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 KB | Instruction Manual Supplement (undated, Sound Board mods for replacement boards) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 MB | Manual (March 1979, no schematics) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
474 KB | Manual Amendment (WMA486-1, undated, revised Master Display Board drawings) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
849 KB | Manual Amendment (WMA486-2, undated, revised CPU Board drawings) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
121 KB | Manual Amendment (WMA486-2, undated, revised game adjustments) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Files: | 12 MB | Electronic Components & Complete Assemblies Used On Flash (January 1979) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
496 KB | Game Adjustment and Diagnostic Procedures (January 1979) | [Williams Electronics, Inc.] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Images: (click to zoom) |
|
[ Support the IPDB ] [ Contact Us ] [ About Us ] | All copyrighted and trademarked Gottlieb® material licensed from Gottlieb Development LLC. Copyrighted and trademarked material from Planetary Pinball Supply, Inc® used with permission. All photographs licensed from original photographers, who retain their copyright. Do not use without permission! Site design, phrasing, and other local content copyright 2004-2024 by The Internet Pinball Database™. Where appropriate, other trademarks & copyrights remain property of their owners. |
[ Database Change Log ] ipdb.org hosted at pair.com |