Alien Poker pinball machine

Alien Poker (Williams, 1980): Troubleshooting and System 6 Replacement Boards

Is your Alien Poker by Williams has no speech, wrong sounds at wrong times, an ineffective volume control, or a startup error code? These symptoms are typical of Williams System 6 pinball machines whose original boards (MPU, driver, power supply) are now over 40 years old. The good news: the WillFA7 replacement board, Plug & Play and battery-free, brings your machine back to life.

Alien Poker (Williams, 1980): Overview

Released in 1980, Alien Poker is one of Williams' first talking games, with speech synthesis (the famous "I win, you lose").

  • Manufacturer: Williams
  • Year: 1980
  • Electronic system: Williams System 6
  • Type: solid state, speech synthesis
  • Theme: sci-fi / poker
WillFA7 board for Williams System 6 — Alien Poker
The WillFA7 replaces the MPU and driver board (System 3 to 7).

Common Issues (System 6)

On Williams System 3 to 7 pinball machines, recurring failures stem from aging: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion — the #1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin MPU-to-driver connector (the single most common failure point), resets/reboots from 5V drops (power headers and connectors need re-soldering), tired power supply capacitors, displays with missing segments, and solenoid fuse blowing (stuck slingshot or pop bumper).

Multimeter check on Williams System 6 board — Alien Poker
A multimeter is essential to check voltages, fuses, and continuity.

Alien Poker-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)

  • No speech synthesis: jumper W1 and the sound board DIP micro-switches must be set correctly — machines have been found with speech disabled.
  • Wrong sounds at wrong times: e.g. a target triggering the ball-lost sound indicates faulty sound-select signals (cracked solder joints on the MPU connector).
  • Wrong sound ROM: the documented original ROM set (Sound ROM 2) plays "wrong" sounds; a corrected ROM is often needed.
  • Loose IC sockets: on the sound/voice board, sockets no longer grip the pins, causing intermittent bad contacts.
  • Error code on display: some Alien Pokers show a code (e.g. "1501") at startup — diagnose on the display/connector side.
  • Volume control ineffective: the potentiometer under the playfield barely acts anymore; sound stays very loud.

Compatible Replacement Boards for Alien Poker

  • WillFA7 — 2-in-1 board (MPU + Driver) compatible with System 3 to 7 (System 6 included).
WillFA7 replacement board — Alien Poker
The WillFA7: battery-free replacement, Plug & Play installation.

The WillFA7 replaces the original MPU and driver board (startup, logic resets, solenoid control, battery-free memory) and eliminates the fragile 40-pin ribbon cable. Purely power-supply issues (5V/12V, capacitors, power connectors) and the sound board are addressed separately; our support team can guide you.

Installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with tutorials and free support. Contact us.

FAQ — Alien Poker Williams

My Alien Poker has no speech.
Check jumper W1 and the sound board DIP switches — speech is sometimes found disabled. Also check for loose IC sockets on the sound board.

I get wrong sounds at wrong times.
Faulty sound-select signals, often cracked solder joints on the MPU connector. The WillFA7 provides fresh, reliable MPU connections.

Do I need to keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 runs without a battery and eliminates the #1 cause of corrosion on System 6 machines.

How long does installation take?
Installation is Plug & Play: just a few minutes, no soldering required, with tutorials and free support.

Does a battery-free board retain settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use NVRAM: no battery, no corrosion, and settings are preserved when powered off.

Step-by-Step Diagnostics

  1. With power off, visual inspection: look for any signs of battery leakage or corrosion on the MPU of your Alien Poker; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
  2. Power supply: check the 5V rail and fuses; re-solder power supply headers and MPU headers if voltage drops or the game resets.
  3. Connectors: re-pin oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU-to-driver connection.
  4. Solenoids: check solenoid fuses and switches (stuck slingshot) before powering back on.
  5. Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known good display.
  6. Final test: verify startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; remember the WillFA7 replaces MPU + driver. If needed, contact free support.

Useful Guides

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Sources & Further Reading

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