# Ted Estes Joins Jersey Jack **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2013-02-03 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/estes.html --- ## Analysis Ted Estes, a renowned software programmer and former Williams Electronics Games Manager of Pinball Software Development, has joined Jersey Jack Pinball as Senior Software Developer in February 2013. He brings extensive experience including work on classic titles like Demolition Man, Roadshow, and Twilight Zone, and will help complete The Wizard of Oz pinball software while working on future titles including The Hobbit. Jersey Jack Pinball also announced hiring two additional programmers to expand software capabilities and accelerate product delivery. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Ted Estes was Manager of Pinball Software Development at Williams Electronic Games — _Article states this as his former role; verifiable through industry records_ - [HIGH] Ted Estes created code for Demolition Man and worked with Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar, and Dwight Sullivan on Roadshow and Twilight Zone — _Specific games and collaborators named; part of his documented career_ - [HIGH] Ted Estes wrote the 'Ask Uncle Willy' column on rec.games.pinball between 1995 and 1999 — _Named as a specific contribution to community; verifiable through newsgroup archives_ - [HIGH] Ted Estes was instrumental in setting up Spooky Cool Labs with Joe Kaminkow, Larry DeMar, and Brian Eddy — _Article provides specific co-founders and his QA director role_ - [HIGH] Jersey Jack Pinball hired two additional programmers alongside Ted Estes to expand software capabilities — _Official announcement by JJP President Jack Guarnieri mentioned in article_ ### Notable Quotes > "Renowned software programmer and development manager Ted Estes has joined the team at Jersey Jack Pinball in the role of Senior Software Developer." > — **Pinball News**, Article introduction > _Official announcement of Ted Estes' hiring and his new role_ > "Ted will join his former Williams colleague Keith Johnson at Jersey Jack Pinball, where he will help to complete the software for The Wizard of Oz pinball, and work on their future games, including The Hobbit." > — **Pinball News**, Mid-article > _Specifies his responsibilities and upcoming projects at JJP_ > "JJP President Jack Guarnieri announced he has taken on two more programmers to build up the capabilities of the company and speed up the delivery of their products." > — **Pinball News (citing Jack Guarnieri announcement)**, Final paragraph > _Broader company expansion signal beyond Estes' hire_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Ted Estes | person | Renowned software programmer and development manager; former Williams Electronic Games Manager of Pinball Software Development; joined Jersey Jack Pinball as Senior Software Developer in February 2013 | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer hiring Ted Estes and expanding software development team | | Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer; collaborated with Ted Estes on Roadshow and Twilight Zone at Williams | | Larry DeMar | person | Legendary pinball designer; collaborated with Ted Estes at Williams; also involved in founding Spooky Cool Labs | | Dwight Sullivan | person | Pinball designer; collaborated with Ted Estes on Roadshow and Twilight Zone at Williams | | Williams Electronic Games | company | Former employer of Ted Estes where he managed pinball software development; division has closed | | Keith Johnson | person | Former Williams colleague of Ted Estes; already working at Jersey Jack Pinball | | Joe Kaminkow | person | Co-founder of Spooky Cool Labs with Ted Estes and others | | Brian Eddy | person | Legendary pinball designer; involved in founding Spooky Cool Labs | | Jack Guarnieri | person | President of Jersey Jack Pinball; announced expansion of programming team | | The Wizard of Oz | game | Jersey Jack Pinball title in development; Ted Estes will help complete its software | | The Hobbit | game | Future Jersey Jack Pinball game in development; Ted Estes will work on it | | Demolition Man | game | Classic Williams pinball game; Ted Estes created the code | | Roadshow | game | Classic Williams pinball game; Ted Estes worked on with Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar, and Dwight Sullivan | | Twilight Zone | game | Classic Williams pinball game; Ted Estes worked on with Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar, and Dwight Sullivan | | Spooky Cool Labs | company | Company founded by Ted Estes, Joe Kaminkow, Larry DeMar, and Brian Eddy; created The Wizard of Oz Facebook game | | WMS Gaming | company | Employer of Ted Estes after Williams closed; later bought out by Scientific Games | | Cisco | company | Company where Ted Estes worked after WMS Gaming | | Scientific Games | company | Company that bought out WMS Gaming | | Pinball News | organization | Source publishing this announcement about Ted Estes' hiring | ### Topics - **Primary:** Personnel Moves - Senior Talent Migration, Jersey Jack Pinball Expansion and Development, Software Development Team Building - **Secondary:** The Wizard of Oz Pinball Development, The Hobbit Pinball (Upcoming), Williams Electronics Games Legacy - **Mentioned:** Classic Pinball Game Design History ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article presents Ted Estes' hiring and JJP's software team expansion as positive developments. Emphasis on his prestigious background, classic game accomplishments, and community contributions creates favorable tone. Language emphasizes JJP 'boost' and hiring strategy to 'speed up' product delivery. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Jersey Jack Pinball expanding software development team with Ted Estes plus two additional programmers to accelerate product delivery (confidence: high) — Jack Guarnieri announcement cited: 'taken on two more programmers to build up the capabilities of the company and speed up the delivery of their products' - **[community_signal]** Historical context on Ted Estes' 'Ask Uncle Willy' column (1995-1999) recognized as valuable community contribution with inside industry information (confidence: high) — Article notes column 'make a good read and are full of inside information about the company and their games' - **[personnel_signal]** Ted Estes, legendary Williams software manager and pioneer, joins Jersey Jack Pinball as Senior Software Developer after career at WMS Gaming, Cisco, and Spooky Cool Labs (confidence: high) — Official announcement; specific career history provided with verifiable roles at Williams, WMS Gaming, and Spooky Cool Labs - **[product_strategy]** The Wizard of Oz pinball software nearing completion with Ted Estes' involvement; The Hobbit confirmed as future JJP title in development (confidence: high) — Article states Estes will 'help to complete the software for The Wizard of Oz pinball, and work on their future games, including The Hobbit' --- ## Transcript Date: 3rd February, 2013 Renowned software programmer and development manager Ted Estes has joined the team at Jersey Jack Pinball in the role of Senior Software Developer. Ted is well know for his work at Williams Electronic Games where he was Manager of Pinball Software Development, creating the code for Demolition Man and working with Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar and Dwight Sullivan on Roadshow and Twilight Zone. He also pioneered a more customer-friendly face to the pinball division with his tongue-in-cheek Ask Uncle Willy question and answer column, which appeared irregularly on the rec.games.pinball newsgroup between 1995 and 1999. Even today, these make a good read and are full of inside information about the company and their games. After Williams closed its pinball division, Ted worked at WMS Gaming (recently bought out by Scientific Games), Cisco, and was instrumental in setting up Spooky Cool Labs with Joe Kaminkow, Larry DeMar and Brian Eddy amongst others, where he was Director of Quality Assurance as they launched their The Wizard of Oz facebook game. Ted will join his former Williams colleague Keith P. Johnson at Jersey Jack Pinball, where he will help to complete the software for The Wizard of Oz pinball, and work on their future games, including The Hobbit. But Ted is not the only boost to the software side, as JJP President Jack Guarnieri announced he has taken on two more programmers to build up the capabilities of the company and speed up the delivery of their products. Back to the News page Like this page? Share it with your Facebook friends: Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1055f2ef-be95-4dcc-aabe-99ea432c3c4d*