Cosmic Gunfight

Cosmic Gunfight, designed by Barry Oursler and manufactured by Williams Electronics in June 1982, is a distinctive title from the Williams System 7 era. With a confirmed production run of just 1,008 units, it is one of the lower-production Williams solid-state games of its day. Interestingly, Williams' project records show the game was originally developed under the name 'Dragon Fly', and a backglass for that version -- designed and inked by Constantino Mitchell with color by Jeanine Mitchell -- shows it as the single word 'Dragonfly'.

A key aspect of Cosmic Gunfight's appeal lies in its interactive layout. The game features two flippers, four pop bumpers, two slingshots, a 3-bank of drop targets, three standup targets, and two kick-out holes, plus multiball. What sets it apart is its extensive lane change system: pressing the right flipper changes the top right lanes, pressing the left flipper changes the top left lanes, and pressing both flippers simultaneously changes the position of the ABC grid at the center of the playfield -- an unusual degree of player control for the era.

The game's fantasy theme is rendered in artwork by Doug Watson and Larry Day, with sound and software by Bill Pfutzenreuter. With its low production numbers and clever rule set, Cosmic Gunfight remains a sought-after piece of early-1980s Williams history among collectors and enthusiasts.