# Williams Whirlwind 2.0 Pinball is Being Created **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-03-17 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/williams-whirlwind-2-0-pinball-is-being-created --- ## Analysis A custom Whirlwind 2.0 upgrade kit is in active development by UK-based community member Jim (applejuice), featuring seven years of coding work. The project currently has 20 machines running beta code, with at least one appearing at Louisville Arcade Expo. The author speculates whether a manufacturer like Planetary Pinball might eventually commercialize the upgrade. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Jim (applejuice) from the UK has been working on Whirlwind 2.0 code for seven years — _Direct information from Jeffrey Jones via Facebook conversation, confirmed by Pinside forum activity_ - [HIGH] Whirlwind 2.0 beta code is currently running on 20 machines owned by testers — _Author citing information from applejuice's Pinside forum thread_ - [HIGH] A Whirlwind 2.0 machine appeared at Louisville Arcade Expo — _Author's direct statement about recent event attendance_ - [MEDIUM] Whirlwind is 'one of the later pre-DMD pinball machines' and 'an amazing game' — _Author's opinion on the classic title's design quality and technical position in Williams history_ ### Notable Quotes > "I was like 'WHAT?!' when told Whirlwind 2.0 was already being worked on" > — **Knapp Arcade (author)** > _Expresses surprise at discovery of existing multi-year development project_ > "Applejuice currently has the 2.0 code out there on 20 Whirlwinds being Beta tested by owners" > — **Knapp Arcade (author)** > _Key fact establishing scope and current status of beta program_ > "Hopefully it's awesome and a manufacturer picks up the rights to make it into an official Planetary Pinball-sanctioned kit" > — **Knapp Arcade (author)** > _Author's speculation about potential commercial licensing pathway through Planetary Pinball_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Jim / applejuice | person | UK-based pinball community member known for coding prowess; lead developer of Whirlwind 2.0 | | Jeffrey Jones | person | Community member who directed author to Pinside forum discussion about Whirlwind 2.0 | | Whirlwind 2.0 | product | Custom upgrade kit/code rewrite for classic Williams Whirlwind pinball machine, in seven-year development | | Whirlwind | game | Classic Williams pinball machine from 1990; pre-DMD era game being upgraded | | Planetary Pinball | company | License holder for Bally/Williams games; potential commercial partner for official Whirlwind 2.0 kit release | | Louisville Arcade Expo | event | Arcade expo where a Whirlwind 2.0 beta machine made appearance | | Pinside | organization | Pinball community forum hosting discussion thread on Whirlwind 2.0 development | | Knapp Arcade | person | Author of article; pinball enthusiast speculating on upgrade kit pipeline | ### Topics - **Primary:** Upgrade kits for classic Williams games, Community-driven pinball code development and modding, Whirlwind pinball machine design and legacy - **Secondary:** Beta testing and community feedback on pinball projects, Potential commercialization of homebrew pinball upgrades ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.82) — Author expresses enthusiasm and excitement about the Whirlwind 2.0 project; optimistic about potential commercial release; appreciative of community development effort ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Whirlwind 2.0 beta machine showcased at Louisville Arcade Expo, signaling visibility and interest within competitive/enthusiast community (confidence: medium) — Author mentions machine appearance at recent expo and solicits feedback/photos from attendees - **[licensing_signal]** Potential path to commercialization through Planetary Pinball licensing agreement for official kit release (confidence: medium) — Author expresses hope that Planetary Pinball (who holds Bally/Williams IP licenses) might sanction and release official kit version - **[product_strategy]** Multiple Williams game upgrade kits in pipeline (FunHouse, TOTAN established; Whirlwind 2.0 in active development) (confidence: high) — Author references FunHouse and TOTAN kits as existing projects and notes Whirlwind 2.0 as logical continuation of upgrade trend - **[technology_signal]** Community-driven code modernization of pre-DMD classic machines gaining traction with multi-year development cycles and organized beta testing programs (confidence: high) — Whirlwind 2.0 represents seven years of dedicated development by applejuice with 20 active beta machines; demonstrates viable path for extending life of 1990s-era hardware --- ## Transcript All of this talk about upgrade kits for Williams pinball machines lately (FunHouse and TOTAN) got me to thinking about what other games might get one. My leading candidate has been Williams Whirlwind, A) because it’s an amazing game and B) it’s one of the later pre-DMD pinball machines. When I mentioned that this might be next up in a conversation on Facebook, Jeffrey Hilton Jones chimed in and told me that a Whirlwind 2.0 is already being worked on. I was like “WHAT?!” He directed me to a thread on Pinside that talks about how a gentleman from the UK named Jim aka applejuice, who is well-known in the pinball community for his coding prowess, has been working on an update to the iconic Whirlwind pin for seven years. Applejuice currently has the 2.0 code out there on 20 Whirlwinds being Beta tested by owners. In fact, one of these machines even made an appearance at last weekend’s Louisville Arcade Expo. Did anyone out there get a chance to play it? If so, what did you think? I would LOVE it if someone has pictures or video of it from the show that they’d be willing to share. I need to see what this game is like. Hopefully it’s awesome and a manufacturer picks up the rights to make it into an official Planetary Pinball-sanctioned kit. Below I have shared videos of the DMD in action, an installed kit, a few pictures of the game and boards and a link to the discussion about Whirlwind 2.0 on Pinside: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/whirlwind-software-rewrite-the-journey UPDATE: Here’s a picture of the machine that was recently at the Louisville Show: _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: a248d07b-d9e4-4da2-bcc6-a67cdc4d1769*