Williams Entertainment: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 19:53, 12 August 2024

Background

Founded in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, Williams Manufacturing Company was originally a pinball machine producer. In 1994, Williams purchased Tradewest and renamed it as "Williams Entertainment, Inc." to enter the wide gaming market and to develop its own games. In 1996, Williams acquired Time Warner Interactive and Williams Entertainment was merged into a new corporation, "Midway Home Entertainment". However, early Midway games still used the Williams Entertainment banner.

Contents

1st Logo (August 1994-April 1995)	2nd Logo (September 1, 1995-November 28, 1996)	3rd Logo (October 7, 1995-December 3, 1996)	4th Logo (April 10-August 1, 1996)	5th Logo (with the Midway logo) (October 10, 1996-January 17, 1997)

1st Logo (August 1994-April 1995)

Visuals: The shiny gold word "Williams" written in its corporate script font, with the word "Entertainment" below.

Variant: On Troy Aikman NFL Football, the background is covered by W-Shields (spheres with a "W" inside) and the word "SPORTS".

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Troy Aikman NFL Football and Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing.

2nd Logo (September 1, 1995-November 28, 1996)

Visuals: The black script word "Williams" is seen on a white background, and below is the byline "Williams Entertainment Inc." Right to the text is a circle with two V's crossed to form a "W" inside.

Variants:

On the Genesis versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the logo is smaller.
On Doom for Super NES, the logo is white on a black background.
On Mortal Kombat 3 for DOS, the logo has "A" above and "Production of" below.
On Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, the logo is a shiny blue-white gradient color with "Williams Entertainment Inc." on a black background. It shares the screen with the NHL, NHLPA and Nintendo 64 logos below, along with Wayne Gretzky's signature above.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: Depending on the port of the game:

On Genesis versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, it's silent.
On Super NES versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the victory music from The Subway stage plays.
On the Super NES version of Doom, it uses the first seven notes of the Plant level.
On the DOS version of Mortal Kombat 3, the sound of a bell ringing is heard.

Availability: Seen on Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for Genesis and Super NES. It also appears on the DOS version of the former as well. The black background variant can be seen on Doom for Super NES.

3rd Logo (October 7, 1995-December 3, 1996)

Visuals: A vertical panel of many orange dots enters the screen and turns horizontal. Many laser beams begin to emerge from each dot in various directions. Then the dot panel flashes to the solid gray Williams logo, which is the same as above, but the W-Shield's surface is purple. A few light splashes appear over the logo.

Variant: A still version is used on Cruis'n USA for Nintendo 64, sharing the screen with the Nintendo logo. The W-Shield is absent and the words "Developed By:" are above the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A deep synth note (taken from the Hollywood Edge Sound Effects Library track "Sci Fi Musical Scene Change or Stinger Take 1"), then an explosion as the logo appears, and the note continues.

Availability: Seen on Doom, Final Doom, and Mortal Kombat 3 for PlayStation. Also seen on the console ports of Area 51, as well as the PC ports of T-Mek and Return Fire.

4th Logo (April 10-August 1, 1996)

Visuals: Against a black background is the W-Shield, but in a purple-green crystal gradient color. Then it zooms back, spins and moves to the right, revealing the "Williams Entertainment" text from the wipe transition with "Williams" in its corporate font and "Entertainment" under it, which are also in the same color, and the text shines during the reveal. After the W-Shield goes to the right of the logo, an orange glow appears around it and dims a little.

Variants:

On Ms. Pac-Man for the Super NES and Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits for Genesis and Super NES, it's a still logo with the glow intact around the W-Shield.
On Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits, the still logo is shown along with the Digital Eclipse Software logo with "Presented by" above the Williams logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Appears on Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for Saturn. The still version is seen on Ms. Pac-Man for Super NES and Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits for Genesis and Super NES.

5th Logo (with the Midway logo) (October 10, 1996-January 17, 1997)

Visuals: Two gray dots (above the "i"'s) appear with a green firework effect. The camera moves to the opposite side on a plain, and the word "Williams" in its corporate font is being drawn from both sides to the center with the same green effects. Then, the letters of the Midway logo fly from the bottom of the screen to their positions letter-by-letter in a backwards order, while the camera zooms out a little and a green flash draws the Williams byline below the Williams logo. The Midway logo then glows. As both logos are ready, they then flash once and fade out.

Variants:

There is a still version of the logo, which features the still version of the 3rd logo with the flash intact on the dot above the "i".
On the PlayStation PAL version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy, it's a still logo with the flash effect intact.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The sounds of fireworks, followed by a synthesizer build up (the "Glider" factory preset on the Korg Wavestation), then whoosh sounds as the letters of the Midway logo fly in, and the explosion from the 3rd logo is heard when the logos flash.

Audio Variant: None or the opening theme of the game on the still version.

Availability: Can be seen on Mortal Kombat Trilogy, NHL Open Ice and Robotron X for PlayStation. The still version is shown on NBA Hang Time for Genesis, Super NES and Nintendo 64. Also appears on the Windows 95 version of Mortal Kombat 3.

◄

Tradewest

Williams Entertainment

Midway Games

►

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Logo decriptions and captures by EnormousRat and CuriousGeorge60
+{{PageCredits|decription=EnormousRat and CuriousGeorge60|capture=EnormousRat, CuriousGeorge60 and NewAccountLOL|edits=CuriousGeorge60 and Logophile|video=QuakegodLogoArchive}}
-Editions by CuriousGeorge60 and Logophile
-Video captures courtesy of QuakegodLogoArchive
+===Background===
-Background: Founded in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, Williams Manufacturing Company was a pinball machine producer. In 1994, Williams purchased Tradewest and renamed it as Williams Entertainment, Inc. to enter the wide gaming market and to develop its own games.
+Founded in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, '''Williams''' Manufacturing Company was originally a pinball machine producer. In 1994, Williams purchased [[Tradewest]] and renamed it as "'''Williams Entertainment, Inc.'''" to enter the wide gaming market and to develop its own games. In 1996, Williams acquired [[Time Warner Interactive]] and Williams Entertainment was merged into a new corporation, "[[Midway Games|Midway Home Entertainment]]". However, early Midway games still used the Williams Entertainment banner.
+{{ImageTOC
+|Williams_Entertainment_(1995).png|1st Logo (August 1994-April 1995)
+|Williams_Entertainment_(1995,_B).png|2nd Logo (September 1, 1995-November 28, 1996)
+|Williams_Entertainment_(1995,_G).png|3rd Logo (October 7, 1995-December 3, 1996)
+|Williams_Entertainment_(1996,_C).png|4th Logo (April 10-August 1, 1996)
+|Williams & Midway (1996).png|5th Logo (with the Midway logo) (October 10, 1996-January 17, 1997)
+}}
+===1st Logo (August 1994-April 1995)===
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+Williams Entertainment (1995).png
+Williams Entertainment (1994).png
+</gallery>
+'''Visuals:''' The shiny gold word "{{color|gold|Williams}}" written in its corporate script font, with the word "{{color|orange|Entertainment}}" below.
-st Logo
-(1994)
-Williams Entertainment (1994)Williams Entertainment (1995)
+'''Variant:''' On ''Troy Aikman NFL Football'', the background is covered by W-Shields (spheres with a "W" inside) and the word "SPORTS".
-Nickname: "The Gold Script"
+'''Technique:''' A still, sprite-based graphic.
-Logo: We see a golden word "Williams" written in the corporate font. Below, the word "Entertainment" is orange-colored.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-Variant: On Troy Aikman NFL Football, the background is covered by W-Shields and the word "SPORTS".
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Troy Aikman NFL Football'' and ''Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing''.
-FX/SFX: None.
+===2nd Logo (September 1, 1995-November 28, 1996)===
-Music/Sounds: None.
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+Williams Entertainment (1995, C).png
+Williams Entertainment (1995, E).png
+Williams Entertainment (1995, B).png
+Williams Entertainment (1995, D).png
+</gallery>
+'''Visuals:''' The black script word "Williams" is seen on a white background, and below is the byline "Williams Entertainment Inc." Right to the text is a circle with two V's crossed to form a "W" inside.
-Availability: Seen on Troy Aikman NFL Football and Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing.
+'''Variants:'''
-Editor's Note: None.
+* On the Genesis versions of ''Mortal Kombat 3'' and ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', the logo is smaller.
+* On ''Doom'' for Super NES, the logo is white on a black background.
+* On ''Mortal Kombat 3'' for DOS, the logo has "A" above and "Production of" below.
+* On ''Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey'', the logo is a shiny blue-white gradient color with "{{color|gray|Williams Entertainment Inc.}}" on a black background. It shares the screen with the NHL, NHLPA and Nintendo 64 logos below, along with Wayne Gretzky's signature above.
+'''Technique:''' A still, sprite-based graphic.
+'''Audio:''' Depending on the port of the game:
+* On Genesis versions of ''Mortal Kombat 3'' and ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', it's silent.
+* On Super NES versions of ''Mortal Kombat 3'' and ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', the victory music from The Subway stage plays.
+* On the Super NES version of ''Doom'', it uses the first seven notes of the Plant level.
+* On the DOS version of ''Mortal Kombat 3'', the sound of a bell ringing is heard.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Mortal Kombat 3'' and ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' for Genesis and Super NES. It also appears on the DOS version of the former as well. The black background variant can be seen on ''Doom'' for Super NES.
-nd Logo
-(1994-1996)
+===3rd Logo (October 7, 1995-December 3, 1996)===
-Williams Entertainment (1995)Williams Entertainment (1995)Williams Entertainment (1995)Williams Entertainment (1995)Williams Entertainment (1996)
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+Williams Entertainment (1995, G).png
+Williams Entertainment (1996).png
+</gallery>
+{{YouTube|id=5rzbsDBvi18}}
+'''Visuals:''' A vertical panel of many orange dots enters the screen and turns horizontal. Many laser beams begin to emerge from each dot in various directions. Then the dot panel flashes to the solid {{color|gray}} Williams logo, which is the same as above, but the W-Shield's surface is purple. A few light splashes appear over the logo.
-Nicknames: "W-Shield", "The Williams Shield"
+'''Variant:''' A still version is used on ''Cruis'n USA'' for Nintendo 64, sharing the screen with the [[Nintendo]] logo. The W-Shield is absent and the words "Developed By:" are above the logo.
-Logo: The black word "Williams" is seen on white background, and below, there's a byline "Williams Entertainment Inc." Right to the text, we see the sphere with W inside (called W-Shield).
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-Variants:
+'''Audio:''' A deep synth note (taken from the Hollywood Edge Sound Effects Library track "Sci Fi Musical Scene Change or Stinger Take 1"), then an explosion as the logo appears, and the note continues.
-    On Genesis versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the logo is small.
-    On Doom for SNES, the logo is white on a black background.
-    On Mortal Kombat 3 for DOS, the logo has "A" above and "Production of" below.
-    On Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, the logo has the shiny blue-white gradient color with "Williams Entertainment Inc." in gray on a black background. Plus, it shares the screen with NHL, NHLPA and N64 logos below along with Wayne Gretzky's signature above.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Doom'', ''Final Doom'', and ''Mortal Kombat 3'' for PlayStation. Also seen on the console ports of ''Area 51'', as well as the PC ports of ''T-Mek'' and ''Return Fire''.
+===4th Logo (April 10-August 1, 1996)===
-FX/SFX: None.
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+Williams Entertainment (1996; Shield).png
+Williams Entertainment (1996, B).png
+Williams Entertainment (1996, C).png
+Williams Entertainment (1996, D).png
+</gallery>
+{{YouTube|id=bHpopt8fM40}}
+'''Visuals:''' Against a black background is the W-Shield, but in a purple-green crystal gradient color. Then it zooms back, spins and moves to the right, revealing the "Williams Entertainment" text from the wipe transition with "Williams" in its corporate font and "Entertainment" under it, which are also in the same color, and the text shines during the reveal. After the W-Shield goes to the right of the logo, an orange glow appears around it and dims a little.
-Music/Sounds: Depending on game:
+'''Variants:'''
-    On Genesis versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, it's silent.
+* On ''Ms. Pac-Man'' for the Super NES and ''Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits'' for Genesis and Super NES, it's a still logo with the glow intact around the W-Shield.
-    On SNES versions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, we hear the victory music from The Subway stage.
+* On ''Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits'', the still logo is shown along with the [[Digital Eclipse Software]] logo with "Presented by" above the Williams logo.
-    On the Super NES version of Doom, it uses the first seven notes of the Plant level.
-    On the DOS version of Mortal Kombat 3, we hear the sound of the bell ringing.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-Availability: Seen on Mortal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for Genesis and SNES. It also appears on the DOS version of former as well. The black background variant can be seen on Doom for SNES.
+'''Availability:''' Appears on ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' for Saturn. The still version is seen on ''Ms. Pac-Man'' for Super NES and ''Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits'' for Genesis and Super NES.
-Editor's Note: None.
+===5th Logo (with the Midway logo) (October 10, 1996-January 17, 1997)===
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+Williams & Midway (1996).png
+Williams & Midway (1996, C).png
+Williams & Midway (1996, B).png
+</gallery>
+{{YouTube|id=mMvAcQkq1-E}}
+'''Visuals:''' Two {{color|gray}} dots (above the "{{color|gray|i}}"'s) appear with a green firework effect. The camera moves to the opposite side on a plain, and the word "{{color|gray|Williams}}" in its corporate font is being drawn from both sides to the center with the same green effects. Then, the letters of the Midway logo fly from the bottom of the screen to their positions letter-by-letter in a backwards order, while the camera zooms out a little and a green flash draws the Williams byline below the Williams logo. The Midway logo then glows. As both logos are ready, they then flash once and fade out.
+'''Variants:'''
-rd Logo
+* There is a still version of the logo, which features the still version of the 3rd logo with the flash intact on the dot above the "{{color|gray|i}}".
-(1995-1996)
+* On the PlayStation PAL version of ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'', it's a still logo with the flash effect intact.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-Williams Entertainment (1995)Williams Entertainment (1996)
+'''Audio:''' The sounds of fireworks, followed by a synthesizer build up (the "Glider" factory preset on the Korg Wavestation), then whoosh sounds as the letters of the Midway logo fly in, and the explosion from the 3rd logo is heard when the logos flash.
-Nicknames: "W-Shield II", "The Williams Shield II", "CGI W-Shield"
+'''Audio Variant:''' None or the opening theme of the game on the still version.
-Logo: The vertical panel of many orange dots enters the screen and turns horizontal. Many laser beams begin to emerge from every dot in various directions. Then the dot panel flash and we see the solid grey Williams logo, which is same as above, but the W-Shield surface is purple. A few light splashes appear over the logo.
+'''Availability:''' Can be seen on ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'', ''NHL Open Ice'' and ''Robotron X'' for PlayStation. The still version is shown on ''NBA Hang Time'' for Genesis, Super NES and Nintendo 64. Also appears on the Windows 95 version of ''Mortal Kombat 3''.
-Variant: Still version was used on Cruis'n USA for Nintendo 64. It shared the screen with Nintendo logo. Plus, the W-Shield isn't there and the words, "Developed By:" are above the logo.
+{{Chronology|[[Tradewest]]|[[Midway Games]]}}
-FX/SFX: Laser beams and the splash of the logo.
+{{Navbox-WarnerBrosDiscovery}}
+[[Category:American video game logos]]
-Music/Sounds: Deep synth note, then the rough splash (which sounds like the Sentry Gun destroyed in Team Fortress 2) as the logo appears, and the note continues.
+[[Category:United States]]
+[[Category:Video game logos]]
-Availability: Seen on Doom, Final Doom, and Mortal Kombat 3 for PlayStation. Also seen on the console ports of Area 51, as well as the PC ports of T-Mek and Return Fire.
+[[Category:Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]]
+[[Category:Warner Bros.]]
-Editor's Note: None.
+[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery]]
+[[Category:Midway Games]]
+[[Category:Logos with library music by The Hollywood Edge]]
-th Logo (Along with Midway logo)
-(1996)
-Williams / Midway (1996)Williams/Midway (1996)
-Nicknames: "W-Shield III", "The Williams Shield III", "Williams-Midway Combo", "CGI W-Shield II"
-Logo: Two gray dots (above an "i") appear with a green firework effect. The camera moves to the opposite side on the plain, and the word "Williams" (in its corporate font) is being drawn from both sides to the center, with the same green effects. A flash draws the byline below, and thered letters of the Midway logo fly from the bottom of the screen to their positions letter-by-letter in the backwards order of how its spelled (i.e, Y first, then A, etc.) while the camera zooms out a little. The Midway logo then glows. As both logosare ready, they then flash once and fade out.
-Variant:
-    There is a still version of the logo, which features the still version of the 3rd logo with the flash intact on the dot above the "i".
-    On a PlayStation PAL version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy, it's a still logo with the flash effect intact.
-FX/SFX: The two dots appearing, the words of "Williams" being drawn, the fireworks effect, and the logos sparkling.
-Music/Sounds: The sounds of firework effects, followed by the deep synth note (same as before). Then we hear whoosh sounds as the letters of theMidway logofly in, and a rough splash (which again sounds like the Sentry destroyed in Team Fortress 2) is heard when the logos flash.
-Music/Sounds Variant: None or the opening theme of the game on the still version.
-Availability: Can be seen on Mortal Kombat Trilogy and NHL Open Ice for PlayStation. The still version is shown on NBA Hang Time for Genesis, SNES and Nintendo 64. Also appears on NHL Open Ice, and Robotron X (for PlayStation), and the Windows 95 version of Mortal Kombat 3 as well.
-Editor's Note: None.
-th Logo
-(1996)
-Williams Entertainment (1996)Williams Entertainment/Digital Eclipse Software, Inc. (1996)
-Nicknames: "W-Shield IV", "The Williams Shield IV", "CGI W-Shield III", "Crystallized W-Shield"
-Logo: Against the black background, we see the W-Shield, but in a crystal gradient purple and green color. Then it zooms back and spins and moves to the right revealing the "Williams Entertainment" text from the wipe transition with "Williams" in it's corporate font and "Entertainment" under it which are also in the same color and the text shines during . After the W-Shield goes to the right of the logo, the orange glow appears around it and dims a little.
-Variants:
-    On Ms. Pac-Man for the SNES and Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits for Genesis and SNES, it's a still logo with the glow intact around the W-Shield.
-    On Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits, the still logo was shown along with the Digital Eclipse Software logo. Above the logo is "Presented by". Next to the Digital Eclipse logo is "Developed by DIGITAL ECLIPSE SOFTWARE, INC." in stacked words.
-FX/SFX: CGI animation of the W-Shield. None for the still version.
-Music/Sounds: None.
-Availability: Appears on Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for Saturn. The still version is seen on Ms. Pac-Man for SNES and Williams' Arcades Greatest Hits for Genesis and SNES.
-Editor's Note: None.
-Final Note: In 1996 Williams acquired Time Warner Interactive and Williams Entertainment was merged into the new corporation, "Midway Home Entertainment". However, early Midway Home Entertainment games used the Williams Entertainment logo.