# PINSOUND LAUNCHES NEW BALLY WILLIAMS REPLACEMENT BOARDS **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-02-17 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/pinsound-launches-new-bally-williams-replacement-boards --- ## Analysis PinSound officially launched the RocketCPU, a drop-in replacement board for original WPC CPU boards in Bally Williams pinball machines. The board includes integrated No More Reset functionality, CR2032 battery, and other improvements, with compatibility confirmed for WPC 89 games and future support planned for WPC Security and WPC 95 machines. Pricing starts at $179.95 without code and $279.95 with code, with a limited-time 10% discount available. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] RocketCPU is a drop-in replacement for original WPC CPU boards with integrated No More Reset feature — _Official PinSound product description provided in article_ - [HIGH] RocketCPU is compatible with 21 specific WPC 89 pinball machines including Funhouse, Addams Family, and Terminator 2 — _Comprehensive compatibility list provided in article_ - [MEDIUM] Replacement boards for WPC Security and WPC 95 machines will be released in the near future — _Official product announcement in article, no specific timeline given_ - [HIGH] RocketCPU pricing: $179.95 without code, $279.95 with code, with limited-time 10% discount — _Explicit pricing information provided in article_ ### Notable Quotes > "Tired of untimely resets? No More Reset prevents any +5V issue that can affect your WPC pinball machine." > — **PinSound (official product description)** > _Key value proposition addressing a known pain point for WPC machine owners_ > "With the "Ready To Play" service, your RocketCPU will be fully equiped with all the required components. Installation steps: remove the original CPU, install the RocketCPU, turn on your machine!" > — **PinSound (official product description)** > _Highlights ease of installation and turnkey service option for non-technical collectors_ > "I just ordered a "Ready to Play" one for my Williams Demolition Man machine. I'll report back on what I think." > — **Knapp Arcade (article author)** > _Indicates author plans first-hand testing and review of the product_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | PinSound | company | Pinball aftermarket audio and hardware upgrade manufacturer launching new RocketCPU replacement board product line | | RocketCPU | product | Drop-in replacement CPU board for Bally Williams WPC machines with integrated No More Reset functionality | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Source publication covering pinball industry news and reviews | | Bally Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; RocketCPU targets machines from their WPC era | | WPC 89 | product | Bally Williams hardware platform; RocketCPU is immediately compatible with 21 games from this generation | | WPC Security | product | Bally Williams hardware platform; future RocketCPU compatibility planned | | WPC 95 | product | Bally Williams hardware platform; future RocketCPU compatibility planned | | No More Reset | product | Anti-reset technology integrated into RocketCPU to prevent +5V issues in WPC machines | | The Addams Family | game | Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machine compatible with RocketCPU | | Terminator 2 | game | Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machine compatible with RocketCPU | | Funhouse | game | Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machine compatible with RocketCPU | | Demolition Man | game | Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machine; author ordered RocketCPU for their machine | | Twilight Zone | game | Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machine compatible with RocketCPU | ### Topics - **Primary:** Aftermarket hardware upgrades and replacements, Bally Williams classic machine restoration and maintenance, Product launch and availability - **Secondary:** WPC CPU board reliability and reset issues, Collector market for classic pinball machines, Pricing and market competition in aftermarket parts ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article presents product launch favorably with enthusiastic tone. Author indicates personal purchase intent and plans to provide follow-up review. Self-aware disclosure about lack of payment from PinSound maintains credibility while expressing genuine interest in the product. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Limited-time promotional discount (10% off) on RocketCPU launch suggests aggressive market entry strategy to establish market share in CPU replacement segment (confidence: medium) — 10% discount explicitly mentioned as limited-time offer; author notes discount but maintains independence commentary - **[market_signal]** PinSound expanding product portfolio beyond audio (PinSound boards/speakers) into CPU replacement hardware, indicating market demand for comprehensive restoration solutions (confidence: high) — Article references author's previous review of PinSound audio products; new RocketCPU represents logical horizontal expansion into complementary hardware category - **[product_strategy]** RocketCPU addresses known reliability issue (untimely resets due to +5V failures) through integrated No More Reset technology, targeting pain point in aging WPC machines (confidence: high) — Product description emphasizes 'Tired of untimely resets?' and highlights No More Reset as integrated feature preventing +5V issues - **[technology_signal]** PinSound launches drop-in replacement CPU board for WPC era Bally Williams machines, representing significant aftermarket modernization infrastructure for classic machines (confidence: high) — RocketCPU product launch with integrated No More Reset, compatible with 21 WPC 89 games, future WPC Security/95 support planned --- ## Transcript Here’s some good news for collectors of Bally Williams pinball machines. This afternoon, PinSound officially launched it’s own line of replacement CPU boards for Bally Williams games. Here's a description of the product in the company's own words: “The RocketCPU is a drop in replacement board for your original WPC CPU. Fully compatible with your Bally / Williams pinball machine. Exact same schematics as original, with some extra features: integrated No More Reset, CR2032 battery, remote battery holder, shrouded ribbon connectors, high accuracy clock and more. Tired of untimely resets? No More Reset prevents any +5V issue that can affect your WPC pinball machine. No need to buy the addon: it’s already integrated onto the RocketCPU! - Easy configuration and installation - Integrated No More Reset - Smart self-diagnosis status LED - 100% compliant with original CPU board With the “Ready To Play” service, your RocketCPU will be fully equiped with all the required components. Installation steps: remove the original CPU, install the RocketCPU, turn on your machine!" The new boards are compatible with the following Bally Williams WPC 89 pinball machines: Black Rose, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Demolition Man, Doctor Who, Fish Tales, Funhouse, Gilligan’s Island, Harley-Davidson, Hurricane, Indiana Hilton Jones: The Pinball Adventure, Judge Dredd, Party Zone, Popeye Saves the Earth, Star Trek the Next Generation, Terminator 2, The Addams Family, The Getaway: High Speed II, The Machine: Bride of Pinbot, Twilight Zone and White Water. Replacement boards for other Bally Williams WPC Security and WPC 95 pinball machines will be released in the near future. The new replacement boards can be purchased either with the game code included or one can transfer the chips their old board. The boards cost $179.95 without the code and $279.95 with the code. For a limited time PinSound is providing 10% off on orders of the new board (No they aren't paying me, but I wouldn't mind if they did lol). I just ordered a "Ready to Play" one for my Williams Demolition Man machine. I'll report back on what I think. I did a review of the PinSound replacement board and speakers a couple of months ago. Here's a link to it if anyone's interested in checking that write-up out: Here's a link to the product page: https://www.pinsound.org/rocket-launch/ Below is the launch video for the new product: _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1cc506f2-1881-40c0-b53d-a17b8a9ab68c*