OK, simple frog pattern on the right to mimic the original tire tracks, pointing frogs around the joystick to indicate jump direction, got it. But what’s going on with that background? Is that supposed to be pavement or some kind of Rorschach test? I keep staring at it with my eyes a little squinted, hoping the secret message or shape might appear before my eyes.

It does bear the Willis name and even a part no, so there is no doubt that this version is the actual Willis Frogger reproduction overlay. It will hop on over to the archive. Enjoy!

The Tron control panel overlay by Willis was a decent attempt at capturing the feel of the original cabinet design in an aftermarket product. A step up from some of the random artwork jumbles commonly seen in bootleg artwork, this cpo was produced by Willis in 1983 with quality materials and an attention to detail. While the artwork is vaguely similar to the original overlay, there are some notable differences. (more…)

Would I have walked up to a machine with this overlay proudly displayed, or just run away screaming? While sharks and explosions are enough to attract most pre-teen boys, I think even back in the 80’s I would have realized this was just plain awful. Quarters were precious back then and you had to choose your games wisely! (more…)

Showcasing that nice Ghosts ‘n Goblins bootleg bezel (here) got me thinking about the control panel overlay. I was pretty sure I had one, so I dug through my stash of artwork and pulled out this little gem, a bootleg Ghosts ‘n Goblins cpo. Not quite a matching set… (more…)

Of all the funky Willis control panel overlays that exist, this has got to be my all time favorite. The fabulous 70’s color scheme with swirls and patterns that jump right out of the famous sesame street 12345 song. You just can’t go wrong with this particular piece of arcade nostalgia. (more…)

During our very successful game party last year, my Mad Planets decided to malfunction. The fire button died and made the game impossible to play. I’ve been delaying the repairs because of my schedule (more…)

I’m a big fan of Willis artwork and consider myself to be an arcade history buff too. Unfortunately because of collector attitude towards most things Willis, these two subjects rarely meet. I would like to change that just a little. A recent eBay win has shed some light on the history of Willis and that companies place in arcade history. While this information may be known to some of the die hard collectors out there, it was new information to me. My enlightenment started with this little piece of documentation:

A true piece of 80’s cheese, for sure, but if you can get past the airbrushed silkscreen fantasy cover, you will find a few nuggets of classic arcade history. (more…)

I got a response to a WTB post in RGVAC from Chris Loggans.  He had a handful of Willis overlays available and we quickly struck a deal.  I soon received a Robotron, Stargate and Zaxxon cpo rolled up in a heavy duty mailing tube.  While I already have a Robotron and Stargate, the price was right and I was hoping to find them in better shape than the ones I already have.  The Zaxxon would be a new addition.  (more…)