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Ted Estes

personactive32 mentionsFirst seen Mar 9, 2007Last seen Feb 17, 2026

Profile

Ted Estes is a veteran pinball software engineer and designer with over 20+ years of experience at Williams Electronics (early 1990s onward) and subsequent tenure at Jersey Jack Pinball. At Williams, he progressed from software programmer to software manager/department head, overseeing the software team and notable titles including Twilight Zone, Red and Ted Roadshow, and Addams Family. He transitioned to Jersey Jack Pinball as a senior software developer, contributing to all major JJP releases since Wizard of Oz and handling design work on updates for games like Guns N' Roses and Dialed In.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • works_atWilliams ElectronicsSoftware programmer and manager at Williams from early 1990s; headed software department overseeing designer teammedium
  • works_atJersey Jack PinballSenior software developer; ~9 years tenure; worked on all major JJP games since Wizard of Ozmedium
  • designedTwilight ZonePrimary software programmer/designer at Williamsmedium
  • designedDemolition ManWorked on software with Bill Grupp at Jersey Jackmedium
  • designedGuns N' Roses

Facts

  • achievementWorked on Hobbit pinball machine developmenthigh
  • achievementWorked on Twilight Zone pinball machinehigh
  • achievementWorked on Red and Ted Roadshow pinball machinehigh
  • achievementWorked on Addams Family pinball machinehigh
  • achievementWorked on Smaug pinball machine developmenthigh
  • attributeFormer AT&T engineerhigh
  • roleSenior Software Developer at Jersey Jack Pinballhighfrom 2020

Claims (22)

  • factualhigh

    Williams rejected Sheets' resume because Ted Estes thought his academic background and government job experience made him unsuitable for deadline-driven development

    Source: David Dennis citing Estes' later explanation to SheetsSilverball Chronicles Ep 21: Inside the Mind of Lyman Sheats
  • factualhigh

    JJP has multiple games in active development pipeline for 2022 with unprecedented number of projects

    Source: Ted EstesEp 12 - Holiday Show 2021
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes has worked at JJP for approximately 9 years as of January 2022 and previously worked at Williams Electronics over 20 years ago

    Source: Ted EstesEp 12 - Holiday Show 2021
  • factualhigh

    Twilight Zone home ROM was created by Ted Estes and is unauthorized

Recent Mentions (32)

  • Dialed In voice production/direction contact; received Moskos' audition tape; responsible for casting Boom Chicago comedy voices

    The Pinball Show Ep 99: Pinball Manifesto & The Amazing Andrew MoskosMay 3, 2022
  • Williams programmer who coordinated with Eric on Cactus Canyon webpage development

    Episode 10 With Special Guest Eric Priepke (epthegeek)May 22, 2019
  • Pinball programmer from WPC era; discussed with Eric Meunier about bit-counting limitations in older systems

    Eric MeunierJul 14, 2019
  • Programmer who worked with Pat Lawlor at Williams, now at Jersey Jack Pinball for nearly a year, collaborating on Pat's new original theme game

    Pat Lawlor Joins the Jersey Jack Pinball Team!Sep 30, 2015
  • WPC-era pinball programmer who mentored Cameron Silver; remains a close friend and daily contact

    Pinball Heroes: Cameron SilverMar 7, 2009
  • Code designer for Dialed In, credited with exceptional rule set creation

    SDTM Episode 81: SDTM Favorite Pinball MachinesDec 4, 2018

Contradictions

  • Existing: Ted Estes was head of Williams software department and software manager who worked on Twilight Zone, Red and Ted Roadshow, and Addams Family (mentions 1, 2)vsConflicting: Ted Estes handled primary rules programming for Demolition Man as a rules designer (mention 0)
    Expert: merged definition Expert: merged definition
    Resolved
    merged · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Rules designer who handled primary rules programming for Demolition Man (mention 0)vsConflicting: Worked on Demolition Man with Bill Grupp at Jersey Jack (mention 13); no prior evidence of involvement with Demolition Man rules design at Williams
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Software designer for update at Jersey Jack
medium
  • designedDialed InJersey Jack contact who coordinated voice castingmedium
  • affiliated_withCameron SilverOversaw Silver's onboarding at Williams and managed team during layoffsmedium
  • affiliated_withLarry DeMarWorked with Larry DeMar at Williams on major titlesmedium
  • roleSoftware programmer at Williamshighfrom 1990s
  • roleSoftware manager at Williamshighfrom 1990s
  • roleRules designer and primary rules programmer for Demolition Manhighfrom 2018 until 2018
  • Source: Jack Danger / GavinMetallica! Let's start the sub-goal towards the Snowball Mic Giveaway! #Pinball #Streaming 11/16/15
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes has been working at Jersey Jack Pinball for almost a year

    Source: Ted Estes direct statementPat Lawlor Joins the Jersey Jack Pinball Team!
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes is a long-time collaborator of Pat Lawlor's from Williams

    Source: JJP Official AnnouncementPat Lawlor to Design Game for Jersey Jack Pinball
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes wrote the 'Ask Uncle Willy' question and answer column on rec.games.pinball between 1995 and 1999

    Source: Pinball NewsTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes was instrumental in setting up Spooky Cool Labs with Joe Kaminkow, Larry DeMar, and Brian Eddy

    Source: Pinball NewsTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes will help complete the software for The Wizard of Oz pinball at Jersey Jack

    Source: Jack Guarnieri / Jersey Jack PinballTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes created the code for Demolition Man

    Source: Pinball NewsTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes was Manager of Pinball Software Development at Williams Electronic Games

    Source: Pinball NewsTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes worked with Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar, and Dwight Sullivan on Roadshow and Twilight Zone

    Source: Pinball NewsTed Estes Joins Jersey Jack
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes purchased a Black Knight pinball machine for $300 in 1988

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Larry DeMar was a contract engineer (not employee) at Williams during Twilight Zone development

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Eugene Jarvis programmed Firepower, not Larry DeMar

    Source: Direct interview correctionTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes became software manager at Williams within about 18 months of joining

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Bally maintained superior archival documentation compared to Williams, with file cabinets containing 8-inch floppies and printed code

    Source: Direct interview observationTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Williams used Motorola Exerciser development stations with assemblers for early System 3 code development

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualmedium

    Ted Estes created free-play ROMs for Bally games that ended up in aftermarket CPU boards like All-Tech

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • opinionhigh

    Display animation represents a major portion of modern (1990s) pinball game development effort

    Source: Direct interview reflectionTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • opinionhigh

    Ted Estes initially underestimated the complexity of pinball game programming before joining Williams

    Source: Direct interview admissionTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • factualhigh

    Ted Estes modified System 6 game ROMs to divide scores by 10 around 1990 while working at AT&T

    Source: Direct interview statementTOPCast 22: Ted Estes
  • Developer of home ROM modification for Twilight Zone; unauthorized custom ROM with pause feature

    Metallica! Let's start the sub-goal towards the Snowball Mic Giveaway! #Pinball #Streaming 11/16/15Nov 29, 2015
  • Software designer for Twilight Zone

    TWILIGHT ZONE (Midway 1993) 05/11/15 - 1 / 2May 12, 2015
  • Head of software department at Williams Electronics; primary mentor to Grupp on Demolition Man; taught software style and methodology; later worked at Cisco with Grupp and Jersey Jack Pinball

    Fireside Chat with Bill GruppFeb 7, 2025
  • Pinball game designer on Dialed In team, previously worked on Twilight Zone, Demolition Man, and Roadshow at Williams

    Pat Lawlor - Pinball Expo 2018 - Pinball NewsOct 21, 2018
  • Williams decision-maker who rejected Sheets' employment application, believing his academic background and government job experience made him unsuitable for deadline-driven development environment

    Silverball Chronicles Ep 21: Inside the Mind of Lyman SheatsMar 3, 2022
  • JJP crew member credited as collaborator on Willy Wonka game design

    WILLY WONKA REVEALEDApr 13, 2019
  • 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

    Ted Estes Joins Jersey JackFeb 3, 2013
  • Software designer for Toy Story 4

    TOY STORY 4 RELEASEDJun 20, 2022
  • Long-time collaborator with Pat Lawlor at Williams; now at JJP working on software/rules; will work with Lawlor on new game

    Pat Lawlor to Design Game for Jersey Jack PinballJan 24, 2014
  • Software developer at JJP; ~9 years tenure; worked at Williams Electronics 20+ years ago; worked on all JJP games since Wizard of Oz

    Ep 12 - Holiday Show 2021Dec 22, 2021
  • Software designer for Jersey Jack; designed new pinball moment for Guns N' Roses update

    The Pinball Show Ep 79: The Middle Class Man‘s Pinball PodcastOct 18, 2021
  • Contacted by Lyman Sheets regarding release of updated Attack from Mars code after Williams went out of business

    Episode 180 – Respect The CultureJan 26, 2022
  • Head of Williams software department; taught Bill software development; worked with Bill at Cisco Systems; later at Jersey Jack; worked on Demolition Man with Bill

    Fireside Chat with Bill GruppFeb 7, 2025
  • Jersey Jack Pinball contact; coordinated voice casting for Dialed In; put Moskos in touch with JP Towin

    The Pinball Show Ep 99: Pinball Manifesto & The Amazing Andrew MoskosMay 2, 2022
  • Senior software developer at Jersey Jack Pinball; interviewed about game development process from playfield layout to finished game

    Pinball Industry News: July 2020 Re-capAug 1, 2020
  • Executive at Williams interviewed by Greg during job application process in 1995-96.

    Episode 11 - Life of a Former Pinball ProgrammerJan 1, 2024
  • Referenced for photo of Adams Family that caught on fire due to power magnet locking while powered on

    Episode 92 - Programmers: The Unsung Heroes of PinballJul 21, 2025
  • Senior Software Developer at Jersey Jack Pinball; recounts development history and design process for Smaug and Hobbit pinball

    Ep 4 - The Pink FootAug 4, 2020
  • Pinball designer who attended Rick Chevy's pre-Expo parties; introduced to Kerry by Rick as part of mentorship.

    TOPCast 12: Kerry StairMar 9, 2007
  • Williams engineering figure; invited Greg to factory tour; later hired Greg at Williams; facilitated Pat Lawler introduction

    TOPCast 62: Greg DunlapJul 30, 2008
  • Williams executive who worked with Larry DeMar; approved Duncan's backglass poster proposal

    TOPCast 58: Duncan BrownMay 7, 2008
  • Williams developer; worked closely with Larry DeMar on Twilight Zone

    TOPCast 50: Lyman SheatsSep 12, 2007
  • Williams employee; recruited Uban to company; previously worked part-time under Uban at Purdue University ECN department

    TOPCast 24: Tom UbanApr 8, 2007
  • Former AT&T engineer who joined Williams in early 1990s as software programmer, became software manager, worked on Twilight Zone, Red and Ted Roadshow, Addams Family

    TOPCast 22: Ted EstesApr 1, 2007
  • Head of Williams software department; oversaw Silver's onboarding and managed designer team during layoffs

    TOPCast 20: Cameron SilverMar 25, 2007
  • Rules designer who handled primary rules programming for Demolition Man

    Episode 55 – Dennis Nordman and The Curse of ElviraAug 6, 2018