Cirqus Voltaire (1.4) - MAME machine

Pinball published 27 years ago:

Cirqus Voltaire © 1997 Midway Mfg. Co.

TECHNICAL
Midway WPC-95
Model Number: 50062

Main CPU: Motorola M6809 (@ 2 Mhz)
Sound CPU: ADSP2105 (@ 10 Mhz)
Sound Chips: DMA-driven DAC

TRIVIA
Released in November 1997. 2,704 units were produced.

This is the first Solid-State pinball to have a disappearing pop bumper.

Watch the Video mode, as Ronnie jumps over a bunch of cows.
One of the judges in the bonus sequence is a cow.
Sometimes when you hit the Ringmaster, a moo is heard.
There's a cow on the backglass, above the acrobat to the right.
Sometimes the 1's digit on the display flips to a skull, a cow or a Tommy Ticket (from Ticket Tac Toe).
In the Attract mode's history of the circus, a cow is mentioned in 2 places.

John Popadiuk can be seen as the Fabio-looking acrobat on the backglass.


Sample (Pre-productio)n version differences:

• Misprint on Instruction Card (3rd line).
• Changed CRANK marvel to SPIN, also 'Defeat all RINGMASTERS' in sample version is a decal, as opposed to printed on playfield.
• Changed 'Acrobat' and 'Juggler' playfield lamp inserts to 'Acrobat Ready' and 'Juggler Ready'. These inserts where also changed from yellow to white.
• Added into the production version the words 'Bally Hoo' in front of the yellow targets as well as changed 'Tickle The' to 'Defeat The' in front of the Ringmaster.
• Small Ringmaster heads were changed from decals in the sample version to being printed on the playfield. The word Multiball is printed in black underneath each of the RingMaster Marvels.
• The most obvious of them all. The Ringmaster was changed before production from a normal shaped head to a more cylinderical fat head to help prevent the ball from getting stuck behind him.
• Added the letters S-P-I-N to the 4 blue lamp inserts in front of the spinner.

UPDATES
Version 1.1
Date: November 19, 1997

• When the game is set for Tournament mode, the same judges will always be selected.
• Lamp effect when Join the Cirqus is ready does not dim the GI as much.
• Added a TOTAL screen at the end of Cannon Ball Run.
• Cannon Ball Run no longer gives Jackpots from the Cirqus Luck switch during Tournament mode.
• Software for raising the Jet Bumper has been modified to put less stress on the Solenoid fuse (F103).
• Added User Test for the ramp lockup. It is possible to release 1 or all balls, and watch the switches.
• Improved choreography when the Ringmaster Magnet does not catch the ball.
• Fixed a bug where tilting during Side-Show would not kick the ball out of the popper.
• Fixed a bug that could rarely cause players scores in a multiplayer.

Version 1.3
Date: April 17, 1998

• Tilt now ends the side-show.
• If the Ringmaster Magnet fails to catch the ball, the short ball-saver is started as soon as the miss is detected (Only if the adjustment is set).
• Added adjustment (A.2 33) to lower the scoring during the Ringmaster Battle mode. Setting the game in Tournament mode causes reduced scoring as well.
• Added adjustment (A.2 34) to set how locked balls are kicked out after a game.

NEVER - Balls never kick out.
INSTANT - Balls kickout after MATCH (German/French default).
DELAYED - Balls kickout 1 minute after MATCH (Default).

• Ringmaster Battle now correctly handles tilt.
• BOOM marvel is NOT spotted if BOOM is already running.
• If Juggler and Neon multiballs start together, the Juggler marvel is now correctly awarded.
• Added Improved ball search and missing ball compensation. game to disappear.

Version 1.4
Date: October 14, 1998

• Fixed a bug that could cause the machine to reset after the 200th Menagerie award.
• Updated system to fix a bug that could cause extra balls to be served if the plunger lane switch is broken.
• The Ringmaster award lights would sometimes be left blinking after playing Ringmaster Battle.

TIPS AND TRICKS
In Attract mode, press one of these codes:
B, 3L, 10R, 19R, 1L (CJS)
B, 16L, 1R, 2L, 1R (PAB)

STAFF
Concept: John Popadiuk (POP)
Designers: John Popadiuk, Cameron Silver (CJS)
Artwork: Linda Deal (LTD)
Software: Cameron Silver
Dots/Animation: Adam Rhine, Brian Morris
Mechanical Engineer: Jack Skalon
Mechanical Designer: Louis Toy
Music: Rob Berry (ROB), Dave Zabriskie (ZAB)
Sounds: Rob Berry

Dot Concept: John Trudeau (Dr. Flash)
B/W Neon: Jim Meehan
Effects: Buzz Neon
Voices: Cathy Schenkelberg, Mark Maclean, Rob Berry, Jon Hey, Cameron Silver
Special Thanks: Terry Pratchett, Mark Weyna, Mike Patla
P.C.B Design: Butch Ortega
Publications: Karen Trybula, Nina Clemente, Norma Rodriguez
Regulatory: Herb Foss
WMS Service: Tom Cahill, Jim Kline, Greg McKay
Model Shop: Al Cardenas, Mark Johnson, Ted Chmiola, Mike Laporte, Larry Peters, Dwen Larcen, Dennis Saunders, One Arm Joe
Manufacturing: Jerry Bartol, Laura Polonco, Bob Rapata, Dave Ryon, Emmanuel Kurian
Sculptures: John Balogh
Electrical Wizards: Chuck Bleich, Brian Magruder
Prototype Lab: Jim Shird, Jose Delgado
Cables: Bill Thompson
C.N.C Models: Wally Roeder
Software Support: Larry DeMar, Ted Estes, Bill Grupp, Lyman F. Sheats, Dwight Sullivan, Louis Koziarz, Tom Uban, Matt Coriale
Sound Support: Andy Eloff
Engineering Support: John McCaffer, Elaine Johnson
Purchasing Support: Ron Summers, Dale Prasse, Thomas Murphy, Randy Melind
Prototype Testing: Mike Mendes, Cameron 'Dawn' Silver
Cirqus Kings: Ken Fedesna, Neil Nicastro, Larry DeMar, Jim Patla, Joe Dillon, Rachel Davies
Testing Support: Darren Walker
Cirqus Legends: Joe Joos Jr., John Popadiuk Sr., Jerry Pinsler
Translations: Global Languages and Cultures, Inc.
Translators: Karin Bauchrowitz, Maryl Eubanks, Alan Murillo

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

Xbox Live (Apr. 04, 2012) "The Pinball Arcade"
Sony PSN (Apr. 10, 2012) "The Pinball Arcade"

• COMPUTERS:

MAC OS [Mac App Store] (2012)

• OTHERS:

Apple Store (Feb. 09, 2012) "The Pinball Arcade"
Android (Feb. 10, 2012) "The Pinball Arcade"

CONTRIBUTE
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