Laser Ball

Name: Laser Ball
Brand: Williams Electronic Games Inc.

Updated September 2026

Williams Electronic Games Inc.1979|Pinside IPDB

82/100

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Game Info

"Laser Ball," released by Williams in 1979, is a solid-state, wide-body pinball machine featuring three flippers and no ramps or multiball options. Designed by Barry Oursler with software by Eugene Jarvis, it has a space-themed design and digital scoring displays.

Game type: Solid State

Display type: Alphanumeric

Players: 4

MPU: Williams System 6

Model: 493

Manufactured: 1979

Production: 4,500 units

Tags:Space,Original Theme,1970s,Solid State,Fantasy,Sci-Fi

Game Info

Design Team

Design: Barry Oursler
Art: Constantino Mitchell, Jeanine Mitchell
Software: Eugene Jarvis
Sound: Eugene Jarvis

Design Team

How to Play

Community rules

Quickie Version:

UTAD.

Go-to Flipper:

Balanced

Risk Index:

High; watch for how shots with the upper flipper at the S-E-R targets rebound

Skillshot(s):

Any needed number lane; don’t let the ball roll down the right orbit.

Full Rules:

The game revolves around the 10 numbered lanes and rollovers. The top lanes score one or two numbers – two if you need both of them, as on your first plunge. There’s no lane change, so after that, you need to nudge towards numbers you lack. The other way to get numbers is individually by hitting the 10 bowling-pin-pattern star rollovers in the middle. Each time you complete all 10 numbers, your “AE” value, which starts at 10K, goes up by 10K to a possible 60K. AE value is scored by completing the B-A-L-L drop targets in the upper right. The game has the usual 29K base bonus and 2X-3X-5X multipliers. Base bonus comes from top return and outlanes, the standup target on the left and the BALL targets. Bonus X is advanced by either the bullseye target or the saucer, these each just outside and below the top 1-10 lanes. The left bullseye is the harder shot, up a somewhat narrow chute. Once the bonus multiplier is at 5X, one more hit lights the spinners for 1000. The L-A-S-E-R drop targets are here mainly to produce extra balls and specials. Completing Laser scores 5K the first time and goes up 5K per set until it reaches 20K. The outside bottom kickback “collect” arcs score 1000 for each star lit up to 10. Best to ignore them, though. Sadly, even though this is a wide body game with room for lots of features, it’s not worth doing anything but shooting the two orbits to the top. You can get all your bonus and all your AE advances up there, and balls falling through the top lanes into the bumpers will randomly rack up the BALL target sets and the right advance bonus X saucer eventually. The Laser targets and center star rollovers aren’t worth risking shots at due to center and right rebound drain risk. Avoid using the upper right flipper if possible; if you can hold it up so that the ball deflects off it safely, do that rather than flip.

via Bob's Guide

Video tutorial

More guides

Pinball Primer (opens in a new tab)

How to Play

Where to Play

On the floor at 16 locations

Past Times ArcadeGirard, OH Freddy's Pinball ParadiseEchzell Sparks Pinball Museum & ArcadeTroy, MI The PinLodgeIndianapolis, IN FlippArena LøjenkærBallen

See all 16 in our directory

Past Times ArcadeGirard, OH Freddy's Pinball ParadiseEchzell Sparks Pinball Museum & ArcadeTroy, MI The PinLodgeIndianapolis, IN FlippArena LøjenkærBallen Logan Street MarketLouisville, KY Pinball Collective of PottsboroPottsboro, TX Arcade ArchaeologyQueensbury, NY Game Over Arcade BarSouthaven, MS The Arcade ProjectWaterloo, NY

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Where to Play

Documentation

Game Adjustment and Diagnostic Procedurespdf423 KB
6 downloads
Manual Amendment (497-6, undated)pdf532 KB
Service Manualpdf2.4 MB
6 downloads
Service Manual (2)pdf485 KB
5 downloads
Service Manual (3)pdf273 KB
2 downloads

Documentation

ROM Files

Game ROM L-2zip55 KB
1 download
Romset With Correct Sound Rom Imagezip52 KB
2 downloads

ROM Files

Takes

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Community Photos

Flyers & Promo Media

Mentioned in

Podcasts, videos, and articles from the community that mention Laser Ball.

Wedgehead Pinball PodcastPodcast1 hr 18 min listen3mo agoMentioned in passing

Episode 121 - Barry Oursler: Pinball's Rollercoaster Man

Wedgehead Pinball PodcastPodcast45 min listen1y agoMentioned in passing

Episode 72 - Operator Spotlight: Astoria Pinball

Support the show: https:/ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast We are joined on the show by our friend Todd Robinett, to discuss creating a pinball scene from scratch in a small town near the Oregon Coast. He operates pins in his two businesses: the…

Laser Ball

Game Info

Game Info

Design Team

Design Team