Multi Williams - Defender, Joust, Robotron, And More

 

 

 

Hi!  I have a few dedicated original Williams classic arcade video game cabinets, and a number of other suitable cabinets, which can be converted into Multi Williams custom multicades.  The Multi Williams features such video game classics as Defender, Joust, Rorotron, and many more.

The classic Williams cabinet features a 19" horizontally mounted monitor.  As opposed to the classic Midway cabinet (e.g., Ms Pac-Man), which features a 19" vertically mounted monitor.  Also, the Williams control panel is wooden, while almost all others are steel.

 

A classic Williams cabinet - Defender - is shown in this photo.  Defender is Williams most famous classic.  The Multi Williams features Defender and most of the Williams classics.  Also, included are the two most famous horizontal classics by Nintendo - Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.

 

As you read below, you will learn that the Multi Williams is a collection of many classic horizontal games - many more than just the 7 classics by Williams.  You will also begin to see that figuring out the game controllers and controller layout for the Multi Williams is a tedious, but rewarding process.

So, pay close attention, decide which of the games are most important to you, and then design your multicade - controllers, controller layout, and cabinet size - around your selection of most important games.

 

As an example, the Williams games, and all the other games, may be less important to you than the Nintendo games. 

In fact, we can create a multicade that will play only the games that you want.

That is the case with the multicade in this photo.  This multicade is set to play only two of the Nintendo classics - Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.

This is what the new owner of this Mario Bros. multicade had to say:

Thanks Steve for the arcade,  do love it.

Craig T., Dallas, TX 

 

Want more games?  Then, get ready.  Because, there are Horizontal Classics systems with nearly all the Multi Williams games, plus more.  Ask about an upgrade.

In fact, while you are at it, ask about all the really neat upgrades:

(1)  Horizontal Classics multicade system, $75.

(2)  A new LCD/LED monitor (click link for all the reasons to upgrade), $195 to $395.

(3)  Powered stereo speakers that support headphones, $75 to $100.

 

 

The Multi Williams Multicade System -

 

(1)  Games list, game maker, and original game controllers:

Williams Classics -

• Defender, Williams - 1 player with a 2-way up-down joystick and 5 buttons.
• Joust, Williams - 2 players with a 2-way right-left joystick and 1 button each.
• Robotron 2084, Williams - 1 player with two 8-way joysticks (one 8-way joystick and 1 button can be substituted).
• Bubbles, Williams - 1 player with an 8-way joystick.
• Splat!, Williams - 2 players with two 8-way joysticks and 1 button each.
• Blaster, Williams - 1 player with an 8-way joystick and 2 buttons.
• Stargate, Williams - 1 player with a 2-way up-down joystick and 6 buttons (follow-up game to Defender with an additional button).

Nintendo Classics -

• Super Mario Bros., Nintendo - 1 player with an 8-way joystick and 2 buttons, or 2 players with an 8-way joystick and 2 buttons each (game actually plays 2-way right-left).
• Battle City, Nintendo - 2 players, controls not known, an NES release.
• Mario Bros., Nintendo - 2 players with a 2-way right-left joystick and 1 button each.
• Ice Climber, Nintendo - 2 players with a 4-way joystick and 1 button each.

Other Classics -

• Solomon's Key, Tecmo - 1 player with an 8-way joystick and 2 buttons.
• Ghost 'n Goblins, Capcom - 1 player with an 8-way joystick and 2 buttons.
• Do! Run Run, Universal - 1 player with a 4-way joystick and 1 button.
• Kick Rider, Universal - 1 player with a 4-way joystick and 1 button.
• Gradius, Konami - 1 player with an 8-way joystick and 3 buttons

 

(2)  Number of players:

In the games list above,

1 player - indicates that play between 2 players alternates, with each player taking turns with one set of controls.

2 players - indicates that 2 players can play the game simultaneously with their own set of controls.

Selection of your most important games, their required controllers, and control panel space limitations will determine whether your multicade will support:

• 2 player simultaneous play (two sets of player controls), or
• 2 player alternating play (one set of player controls).

The Multi Williams is setting adjustable for either 1 player/1 set of controls, or 2 player/2 sets of controls.  When set in 1 player mode, a notice (1 P Only) will be displayed when either of these games are selected for play:

• Joust,
• Splat,
• Battle City,
• Mario Bros., and
• Ice Climber.

In either of the 1 player or 2 player setting modes, Super Mario Bros. can be played accordingly - both players alternating with 1 or 2 sets of controls.

Robotron players alternate using their individual player 1 and player 2 sets of controls, regardless of system being set for 1 player/1 set of controls, or 2 player/2 sets of controls.

 

(3)  Number of game controllers:

The minimum number of controls would be an 8-way joystick.  This would only allow the play of Bubbles.  By adding 3 buttons, several more games could be played.  The next level of minimum controls would be one 8-way joystick with 4 buttons, but this would not support play of Defender.

It appears that to play all of the games in their original controller configuration would require two sets of two 8-way joysticks and two sets of 6 buttons.  However, due to the pinout limitations of the JAMMA harness, and control panel space limitations, it is necessary to find some economies by combining certain of the controller functions. 

Consequently, given the JAMMA limitations, the maximum possible controllers would be two 8-way joysticks with 6 buttons each, or some equivalent configuration.  And, as you will see, there are other possible equivalent configurations.

Installation of the maximum controls would require a much larger control panel than that provided by an original 19" monitor Williams cabinet.  While there are some 19" cabinets with larger control panels, the best result would be achieved with a 25" horizontal monitor JAMMA cabinet which provides a suitably larger control panel. 

Suffice it all to say, that there will be compromises, trade-offs, and sacrifices when deciding the style and number of controllers and the resulting number of the 19 games that can be played within the restrictions presented by any particular control panel size.

The best approach might be to decide the few of the 19 games that are most important to you, and then design the controllers, control panel layout, and cabinet size around those few games.  After that, consider any of the remaining of the 19 games that are playable, as icing on the cake. 

 

(4)  Control panel overlay:

This is a photo of the Multi Williams control panel overlay.  It might give you some ideas about how a control panel might be laid out.  You can click the image for a larger view.

This overlay will accomodate these controls -

A.  A 2-way up-down joystick, located left side, for Defender and Stargate.

B.  A 4-way or 8-way joystick (your choice), located center-right, for balance of games.

C.  Six control buttons spread over the panel, and two start buttons top-center.

Keep in mind that you do not have to use this particular overlay, nor do you have to follow the controls layout.  And, you could add or delete controls depending on the games you were most interested in playing.

 

 

This photo is an example of using the Multi Williams control panel overlay on a non-Williams cabinet having a metal cut-corner control panel. 

In this example, only the top controls portion of the overlay would fit on the control panel.  Nevertheless, the control panel turned out to be very attractive.

 

For comparison purposes, here are photos of original Defender and Stargate control panels -

 

 

 

(5)  Style of joysticks:

Note that a game designed for play with a 4-way joystick, such as Rally-X, will play a little more difficultly with an 8-way joystick.  The joysticks that are furnished with this multicade are adjustable for 4-way or 8-way play.  They are easily adjustable for your preference of game play. 

Since the majority of games are played with an 8-way joystick, the default setting is 8-way, unless you request otherwise.

 

Also, note that a game designed for a 2-way joystick, especially when for up-down action, such as Defender and Stargate, will play more difficultly with a 4-way or 8-way joystick. 

If you plan to play a lot of Defender and Stargate, you might consider having one set of controls with a 2-way up-down joystick.  And, another set of controls with an 8-way joystick for play of many of the other games. 

A control panel as just described, is shown in this photo:

• on the left, a 2-way up-down joystick with 6 buttons for Defender and Stargate, and
• on the right, an 8-way joystick with 6 buttons (but could be only 3 buttons) for many of the other games.

 

(6)  Defender and Stargate button mapping:

In the control panel shown above, we have mapped the left set of buttons to resemble as closely as possible the original button layout for Defender and Stargate.  This is the mapping result:

• Blue     =   Reverse (JAMMA pin 25)
• Black    =   Thrust (24)
• Yellow  =   Fire (22)
• Green   =   Smart Bomb (23)
• White   =   Inviso (11) (Stargate only)
• Red      =   Hyperspace (26)

 

(7)  Possible control panel layouts:

A.  Defender and Stargate only - 2-way up-down joystick, and 6 buttons (could utilize Multi Williams control panel overlay shown in section 4 above).

B.  Limited games, Defender and Stargate difficult, with small control panel and 1 player/1 set of controls setting - 8-way joystick, and 6 buttons (could utilize Multi Williams control panel overlay shown in section 4 above).

C.  Limited games with small control panel and 1 player/1 set of controls setting - 8-way joystick, 2-way up-down joystick, and 6 buttons (could utilize Multi Williams control panel overlay shown in section 4 above).

D.  Limited games with medium control panel and 1 player/1 set of controls setting - 2-way up-down joystick, 6 buttons, 8-way joystick, and 3 buttons (similar to control panel photo in section 5 above).

E.  Most games with large control panel and 2 players/2 sets of controls setting - 8-way joystick, 3 buttons, 2-way up-down joystick, 6 buttons, 8-way joystick, and 3 buttons.

The photo is of an option "E" panel with controls arranged as described above.  These are the minimum controls required to yield the play of the most of the Multi Williams games. 

The arrangement of the controls can be changed to suit your style of play.  And, a larger control panel could be chosen to allow for the Defender controls (located center) to be laid out more like an original Defender panel.

While these five control panel size to controls layout scenarios are fairly representative and realistic, they are subject to your change based upon your game play preferences.

 

(8)  Multi Williams artwork:

 

As shown in this photo, Multi Williams artwork for the marquee, monitor bezel, and control panel is available. 

Usually, only an original Williams cabinet can properly display the control panel overlay.

 

A Multi Williams monitor bezel that fits a 19" CRT monitor is also available.  However, the bezel is not suitable when using an LCD/LED monitor, as the new monitor is too large for the bezel graphics.

 

Not shown in this photo, but also included are the Multi Williams side art medallions.  The side art medallions can be viewed in the following photo.

 

 

(9)  Prices:

Classic cabinet size - Total price for a Multi Williams multicade in an original Williams 19" CRT monitor cabinet with Multi Williams marquee, monitor bezel, side art, and control panel overlay is $1,395. 

Or $1,295, if in a non-Williams 19" CRT monitor cabinet. 

Larger cabinet size - 25" CRT monitor cabinets with the Multi Williams marquee, side art, and the maximum controls (see above) are $1,495.

This photo is an example of a large cabinet (25" CRT monitor) featuring the Multi Williams marquee and side art medallions.  The control panel features two sets of controls and can be viewed in a photo above under the heading of Joysticks.  Price is $1,495.

In order to enjoy the most of the games in the Multi Williams, this style larger cabinet and control panel would offer the highest return.

You should also strongly consider upgrading to an LCD/LED monitor.

 

(10)  Upgrade your classic Williams cabinet:

Do you own a beat-up non-working classic Williams game - Defender, Joust, Stargate, etc.?  We can bring it back to life for you - inside and out.

Have you ever looked inside the back of your Defender?  It is a nightmarish mess of primitive wiring, connectors and multiple large circuit boards.  Let us rip out all of that 30-year old electronic hardware, and replace it all with brand new, off-the-shelf, state-of-the-art technology.

This is a photo of the Multi Williams multicade circuit board.  It measures about 5"h x 6"w.  Compare it to the mess you see inside your Defender.

Prices to upgrade your cabinet start as low as $695.

 

(11)  Operating manual:

Be sure to read the manual, because it contains important information about the system's settings, our default settings, and how you can change them.

And, to be added soon is a scanned copy of the manual with some of our shop notes.

 

(12)  Cocktail sitdown cabinet:

They are rare, but they are out there - the Williams Defender cocktail cabinet (shown in photo).  Every now and then, I will have one.

Or, if you really want one right now, we can build the cabinet brand new from scratch.  And, build it better than the original.

The Multi Williams, for cocktail play (screen flips per player), will flip for all but these games -

• Joust
• Splat
• Battle City
• Mario Bros.
• Ice Climber

A brand new Multi Williams cocktail multicade with a new 19" LCD/LED monitor is $1,495.

By the way, the original Defender cocktail (shown in photo above) came with only a small 13" CRT monitor.  Our brand new cocktail cabinet is definitely better than the original.

 

(13)  Defender and the Multi Williams:

Probably, you are attracted to the Multi Williams because you are looking to own a machine that plays Defender.  If that is the case, let me absolutely assure you that your search is over.

This is a photo of the Multi Williams Defender displayed on a 27" LCD/LED monitor.  It is an absolutely beautiful sight to behold.

You may have played Defender 1,000 times on an original cabinet with its original 19" CRT monitor.  But, you have never seen Defender.  At least, not until you have seen the LCD/LED flat screen, black background presentation.

The difference between the LCD/LED and the CRT presentation is nothing less than truly amazing. 

Defender is one of the most popular of all video games ever made, because Williams came from a pinball background.  Williams understood that sights, sounds, colors, and complexity, in the right combination, equalled a fun game.  Their masterpiece was Defender.

And, what a masterpiece.  Defender shares the title of Highest Grossing Video Game Of All Time with Pac-Man.  It has earned over one billion dollars.  How many of those are your quarters?

The Multi Williams Defender, in combination with an LCD/LED monitor, captures everything that Williams ever intended.

Here are a couple more photos, enjoy:

 

 

Send me an email to place an order, for a quote, or if you have questions: [email protected]