Which factories produced Soviet slot machines? History of the development of slot machines in the USSR. In the beginning there was an exhibition

I was born on August 14, 1974, I will soon turn 36. Only 36, but how many events have happened in the world during this time, how much has changed since those years... Just think about it!

We managed to capture two centuries: live in the 20th, rejoice in the 21st. We have a unique opportunity to celebrate the 3rd millennium with excitement!

Once upon a time, my friend and I were the first Octobrists and marched in formation with others under the slogan: “Not a step back, not a step in place, but only forward and only all together!” We joined the pioneers, proudly walking in 30 degrees below zero with open fur coats, showing red pieces of fabric tied around our necks (“pioneer tie”, Note author) A few years later, we slowly crumpled them in our pockets when leaving school. We happily drank soda from the vending machines: one kopeck without syrup, three kopecks with syrup. Now you think with fear that everyone drank from the same glass!

You can still try soda from that same machine in Moscow. It costs only 30 rubles, which you pay at the cash register, you get a 3-kopeck coin, you insert it, according to the old Soviet habit, into the machine, choose a flavor - apple or pear, press a button, getting a whole glass of a life-giving drink, just like in those 70s. 80s...

I remember the first bottle of Coca-Cola, which was then the most delicious in my life... Not so long ago I was able to visit the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta (USA) and it turned out that everything was completely wrong...

The 70-80 years passed in the rapid construction of communism. The USSR was a powerful country with vast territories and population (about 250 million people!!!)

You can think for a long time that everything was “one size fits all”: there were the same houses, the same clothes, the same cars and the same furniture in the apartments. But now, many years later, it only causes a smile or regret, but by and large, remembering those times, one is more overcome by nostalgia.

Sometimes there is a desire, at least for a little while, magically, even in a time machine from the once beloved film “Guest from the Future,” to go to the time when, with the money we saved on lunch, we ate very tasty popsicles, went to cinema and ran to the halls slot machines, eager to show off their accuracy and skills for just 15 Soviet kopecks.

As fate would have it, those long-standing games have become a part of my life in our time. Today, after an accidental forced dive into the topic of “Soviet machine guns” (the guys asked for help in selling 5 machines), I couldn’t resist and decided to talk about the history of Soviet entertainment technology, looking at which today you understand how far progress has gone. But, many will agree with me, at one glance at the bulky devices with a simple design and primitive “filling”, you experience only pleasant positive emotions.

For the very young, my story will be the history of Soviet machine gun technology, for those who are FOR...a pleasant journey into the “game moments” of childhood and youth...

So, let's go!

Over the entire period of time, about 70 types of slot machines were produced in the USSR “for entertainment, active rest and the development of the eye and reaction in the population.” The time of crisis of the 90s put an end to the production of Soviet equipment, namely slot machines, those that I will talk about below. There were many reasons for this. This includes the devaluation of those very 15 kopecks, this is the overall difficult situation in the country, which contributed to the fact that gaming halls simply closed and could not support themselves, and numerous parks in which slot machines also operated were switching to new level, strived for development and paid more attention to “large-caliber” equipment. The crisis also affected places of recreation and residence of children (children's camps, boarding schools, etc.), where the devices were purchased by bosses (large enterprises and factories) and worked for free.

Today, that time, like many things from that time, have become history. History of the times of the USSR. So, devices from the times of the USSR... Let's remember them by name?

The first thing that comes to mind, everyone's favorite, without restrictions on age and gender « Sea battle».

Our attraction was based on the principle mirror reflection panoramas of “combat” actions, surface targets (silhouettes of ships) and a moving torpedo. The panorama of the “combat” actions is located vertically, but, reflected in a mirror installed at an angle of 45°, it looked horizontal. The imitation of the sea was made of glass on which a drawing of the sea was applied. Under the glass there were 8 “rays” of the torpedo’s trajectory with 10 light bulbs in each beam, which was a simplification of the design of the slot machine compared to the moving trajectory of the torpedo, which, for example, was implemented in the prototype slot machine “Sea Devil” released in 1970 in the USA.

I am sure that each of those who “torpedoed” ships many years ago was able not only to return to the past, but to imagine it, remember the feeling of the game and the smell. Do you remember the smell of “periscope”? This is the first association for everyone who knows this game...And the fact that his short stature often made it impossible to reach him? To correct the situation, the machine was equipped with a retractable special. stand that allows you to be higher.

One of the favorite shooters of Soviet citizens was the game "Safari".

The unique, exciting (yes, even that was impressive back then) hunting for African game attracted a lot of people. The player, controlling a rider galloping on a horse (the races were complicated by obstacles), had to hit running animals moving at three heights within the allotted time. A video machine with primitive graphics and a complete lack of special effects, which today are so rich in modern shooting simulators, then had big success, both in children and adults. The female sex also came to the gaming halls to shoot, no less often than the male population. I myself went to a similar gaming hall with friends and I must say that I did better than my male gaming partners, because a lot positive emotions was provided.

The most famous of the small arms was the machine gun "SNIPER", which came out in two versions. Essentially, he imagined a shooting range with a gun that closely resembled the real thing. The task was to hit as many targets as possible in a certain amount of time. A heavy rifle in the hands of the players was an opportunity to imagine themselves as a real shooter, a sniper. Crowds of boys and young people stood around the machine for hours, playing, knocking out points, competing with each other and showing their accuracy to the girls standing nearby. It is interesting that the system that controls hits was located in the stand of the machine gun. There was also " Feedback“—an electromagnet that simulated recoil when fired.

If we talk about shooting simulators, there were a lot of them released at that time. Someone will probably remember the Soviet "Shooting Range" in the form of a machine gun. In it, shooting was carried out at stationary, rotating and moving sports targets. The weapon was a plastic pistol, oversized, light in weight and convenient. During the main game session, which lasted only 2 minutes, up to 200 shots could be fired. As with any machines, there were bonuses that added excitement and fun.

At that time, there were the first attempts to produce machine guns on space theme. Gaming machine "Astropilot" was less common, but no less exciting. The player's task was to guide the spaceship at maximum speed over the surface of the planet, avoiding collisions with elements of the landscape and land the ship on the landing pad within the time of the landing signal. Control spaceship happened by moving the joystick. Points were awarded for accurate landing without collisions with various objects.

"Towns" were one of the favorite entertainments of Soviet citizens. An exciting game kept you on your toes. for a long time desire to achieve maximum results and win. The player could choose to knock down standard city targets with a bat. The player was given 5 seconds to aim before each throw, after which the bat would fly out automatically. When knocking out all 15 pieces, the player who spent no more than 24 bits on this was awarded 40 bonus throws. There were also regular customers who came to set their personal records.

There were also many lovers "The Little Humpbacked Horse" A game based on the TIA-MC-1 platform (Television Game Machine Multi-frame Color with interchangeable gaming programs) became the first arcade game developed in the USSR and the basis for many similar “walkers” with a plot (later “Auto Racing”, “Fisher Cat”, “Treasure Island” were released, The Snow Queen and etc.). The player's task was to take prizes. These were characters or things from work of art or fairy tale of the same name, in “The Little Horse...” it was the firebird, the chest, the princess.), guiding the main character Ivan on the Little Humpbacked Horse to the right in each frame as quickly as possible
edge of the screen. Actions were carried out using control knobs and keys that made him jump, lie down, back away, go forward, and strike. All mistakes in the player’s actions (falling over a stone, colliding with flying fire, a dragon, an apple, a stone) were punished by loss of attempts. colorful, music game delighted the children's population. Today, such games are widespread in the form of computer games for young children.

Of particular interest today gaming machine "Interceptor" A unique, very representative model of that time. The player's task is to repel the air attack of the capitalist aggressor (!!!). The design, as befits, was extremely modest. To create the ambiance (control of the aircraft), the exterior was stylized to imitate aircraft instruments. The handle (“joystick” of that time) made it possible not only to maneuver at high speed, but also to fire shots. "Highway" - a racing machine that developed attention, reaction speed, improved the eye and improved logical thinking. By at least, so its creators assured. The player standing in front of the machine controlled his vehicle using a large steering wheel, which added interest (after all, at that time there were no today’s opportunities to “steer” at home, looking at the computer, etc.) Several game modes were possible, including “night” mode and “wet road” mode. Excitement and excitement (I wanted to avoid collisions and earn points) were guaranteed.

Famous from car racing "Turn" This is a racing simulator of that time, providing the opportunity to drive at high speed along a circular track, limited by the side of the road with green spaces. This slot machine was a distant predecessor of today's auto racing. The model had a screen and irreplaceable attributes - a driver's seat, a gear shift knob. The goal of the game is to use the steering wheel, gas pedals, brake pedals and gear shift knob to gain the maximum number of conventionally traveled kilometers (points) during the time allotted for the game, avoiding “emergency collisions” with passing cars and overpasses. When you pressed the gas pedal, the panorama engine was turned on and an imitation of movement along the highway was created, i.e. the harder you press the gas pedal, the faster the landscape rotates and the faster you move while driving a car. Like all Virage devices, it was accompanied musical sounds collisions, emergency braking, etc. (of course there were no cool stereo systems, speakers, wind effects, steering wheel feedback, etc.) The slot machine had bonuses. Interestingly, when one 15-kopeck coin was inserted into the machine, the player was entitled to only one bonus game. And with two coins - as many as three.

"Air battle"Everyone loved it. On the machine's screen, the player saw the silhouettes of three enemy aircraft and the crosshairs of the sight. While controlling the joystick, you had to try to catch the enemy with a “sight.” The difficulty of the game was that the enemy unit did not want to be shot down and constantly slipped out of sight. When hit, the silhouette of the affected aircraft disappeared from the screen. To win, you had to shoot down all three planes within the allotted time of the game - 2 minutes.

Were incredibly interesting "Horses." Very similar to “Safari” with the most primitive design, they were so exciting! The game allowed you to play both with a machine gun and with friends, choosing your rider and horse. I don’t know how those poor 6 buttons survived, because they were knocked on, hit, and pounded with both hands... After all, the task was not only to overcome all the obstacles encountered along the way, but also to come first to the finish line. It’s funny that the game was black and white, and the tracks were given “multi-color” by colored stripes glued to the screen.

At that time, Soviet analogues of other sports devices were also produced: table football, table hockey(outwardly it was somewhat reminiscent of SUPER CHEXX, but, in fact, a home version of the game in an enlarged version).

The peak of the heyday of slot machines in the Soviet Union occurred in the 70-80s of the last century and ended with the beginning of perestroika. Domestic slot machines were supplanted by more spectacular Western counterparts, “ one-armed bandits", computer stores and home gaming computers and consoles. And old machine guns almost everywhere migrated to warehouses, were destroyed or simply thrown into a landfill. Today, when those times are remembered as historical moments of the past, the devices, like many other things, are a rarity.

Some time ago, 2 graduates of Moscow universities, Alexander Stakhanov and Maxim Pinigin, organized Museum Soviet Automata in Moscow. The guys found their first exhibit for the collection in... the trash heap of Tagansky Park. It turned out to be “Battleship”. Six months later, the collection grew to six machines. The management of MAMI (Moscow State Technical University) allocated a basement in the dormitory for the museum premises. Now the collection includes more than 60 AIA. Maxim and Alexander managed to bring more than half of the rarities “back to life” with the help of a soldering iron and skillful hands. The guys are not going to stop there, continuing to collect their exposition bit by bit. One of the last targets of their search was a soda machine. The 15-kopeck coins needed to run the machines are also being actively sought.

But the life of Soviet gaming equipment is not limited to the museum. The presence of such machines in entertainment centers and bars was shared with me by their owners from different cities of our country. modern Russia. As it turned out, they earn very good money, and, most importantly, they are an excellent attraction to establishments different directions. The devices are of considerable interest to today's children, spoiled by rapidly developing computer games and the market for entertainment gaming equipment that is not lagging behind them. But, whatever one may say, history is instructive, and USSR slot machines the best for that live confirmation.

In conclusion, I would like to add that if you, friends, have any suggestions for the sale, purchase, spare parts or repair of this “memorable equipment,” write to us. There is both demand and supply for them. We will help! Address

Director of the company “PlayKom” Ekaterina Pivchenko

Electronic release "Projectionist" No. 28

Download electronic issuemagazine "Projectionist" №28 in pdf format (980 Kb)

The Museum of Soviet Slot Machines is one of the most amazing capital museums. Unique collection This museum features slot machines manufactured in the USSR. It is unlikely that anywhere else you will be able to show your children a piece of the world in which you lived when you were a child.

Museum address: Baumanskaya street, 11 (it’s a five-minute walk from the Baumanskaya metro station).

Operating mode:
Monday - Thursday: from 13:00 to 21:00
Friday: from 13:00 to 20:00
Saturday - Sunday: from 11:00 to 20:00

Entrance fee is 350 rubles. With this money you will be given 15 tokens - these are original Soviet 15-kopeck coins!

Perhaps one of the most popular slot machines is Battleship

Game duration 10 shots

The slot machine museum will be interesting for both adults and children

You can “hunt” bears, hares and ducks together

Slot machine - Sniper (produced at the Cheboksary Production Association "Prompribor" plant since 1979, release date of the presented copy: 1983.

Place a coin in the coin acceptor and after the word “Fire” appears on the display, aiming at the center of the selected target, pull the trigger. A hit is recorded by the disappearance of the affected target. Hitting 20 targets gives you the right to a bonus game. What does the "Bonus game" board indicate?

Slot machine - Pilot.

Produced at the Serpukhov Radio Engineering Plant since 1985. The same enterprise produced radar control systems for anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems, fire control modules for ship-based jammer systems. Came into the museum's collection from Nizhny Novgorod through an amateur radio circle in Moscow

Slot machine "Puck, Puck!" After dropping the coin, you need to use the buttons to select a game for one or two players. The left player controls the attacker using a rotating manipulator with a button. The right player controls the goalkeeper with a rotating paddle.

Slot machine - Hockey (two players play with one coin)

Slot machines: “The Little Humpbacked Horse” and “Teletir 4C” were not working that day

Slot machine - Lucky Shot. To play with two people, at the beginning of the game you need to place two fifteen-kopeck coins in succession. At single player shoot from the left gun. Produced by the Severodonetsk Instrument-Making Plant. IN Soviet time The plant specialized in the production of computer equipment for automated systems thermal and nuclear power plants, enterprises of the chemical and petrochemical industries.

Four of you can go racing (slot machine - "Champion-M")

It’s more interesting to play slot machines together

Slot machine - Tankodrom. The "SEARCH" button is not used during the game. To hit targets, you need to drive the tank into firing lines. To move the tank, use only the control lever. The position of the “speed” lever at the moment of hitting the firing line does not matter.

I somehow couldn’t control the tank :)) wasted token

Slot machine "Winter Hunt"

It's more interesting to shoot together.

Slot machine - "Penalty". The game consists of two halves. To start the second half you need to press the red button on the machine. Each half ends when there are no free balls to throw out

Slot machine - "Quiz". To play with two people, you need to place two fifteen-kopeck coins in succession before pressing the “Start” button. Produced by Penza PPO "Era". In Soviet times, the company manufactured simulators for pilots. Previously, a machine gun could be found in the traffic police. It came into the museum’s collection from the Kireyevsk Culture and Leisure Park

"Horses" slot machine. One coin can pay for a game of two players.

Slot machine "Motor racing". Game duration is 120 seconds. Control the motorcyclist using the steering wheel and throttle, try to take first place in the race without breaking the rules and avoiding collisions.

"Break a leg". There are 30 shots available for the entire game. The hunter in the field may shoot before you. This will take away your shot.

Another very popular slot machine at one time was the Gorodki slot machine.

"Safari" slot machine. The galloping hunter must hit the animals

Many people come to the museum with their whole families.

Not all slot machines work in the museum

For example, the Forward slot machine does not work

Another slot machine that is in great demand in the museum is Silomer

You are given 4 attempts within 2 minutes. The “turnip” should not be torn, but pulled, resting one foot on the inclined platform

Effort up to 40 kg - Mouse, up to 80 kg - Cat, up to 120 kg - Bug, up to 160 kg - Granddaughter, up to 200 kg - Grandmother, over 200 kg - Grandfather.

We pulled 302 kg :))

An information desk where you can learn about the history of the museum and its exhibits (previously, such information desks stood at railway stations)

The museum has soda fountains. You can try real soda with syrup for 50 rubles a glass

The museum has a cozy cafe where you can relax after fun games on automatic machines

Yes, the phone works!

Yes, just press a button!

Yes, there are two payphones in the museum!

Conversation is possible between two payphones

The second payphone is located at the main entrance.

Second payphone, at the main entrance :)

Overall I liked the museum. It’s better to come to the museum with a group, it will be much more fun. 15 tokens will last you 40-50 minutes :))

Gaming history Soviet culture 70s

The gaming culture in the Soviet Union appeared unexpectedly, developed quickly and just as quickly declined. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the Soviet public mastered slot machines only 100 years after their appearance. To find out how and where it all began, the Reedus correspondent went to the Museum of Soviet Slot Machines, located in the very center of Moscow.

The museum is located in the very center of the capital, a five-minute walk from the Kuznetsky Most metro station. Entrance to the museum is paid - 450 rubles per person. The ticket price includes an orientation tour and 15 tokens. The museum's collection includes several dozen different models of slot machines - from classic pinball to virtual billiards.

A little history

The first slot machines appeared in the USA. One of the pioneers was the well-known pinball, which is the parent of its electronic version in the Windows operating system. In the Soviet variation it was called “Circus”, but the principle of operation was absolutely the same.

A little later, other machines appeared that already carried a share of excitement - the classic “one-armed bandits”. The machine was a box with a handle, on the screen of which images rotated. And if the player got three identical pictures, he received a prize. The first such machines did not have a coin acceptor, so the player received sweets or drinks as a reward, and not a jackpot in the form of a mountain of coins. This is where the classic images of fruits and berries on the reels came from.

Such equipment reached the USSR only a hundred years after the creation of the first slot machine. In 1971, an exhibition called “Attraction-71” was held in the Moscow Gorky Park of Culture and Leisure. It was there that the Soviet inexperienced public became acquainted with slot machines. More than ten thousand people visited the exhibition every day, and in the wake of this excitement, the USSR Ministry of Culture decided to buy all the slot machines from this event. Having studied the technology and slightly modernized it, Soviet engineers released the first slot machines of their own production.

The first slot machines

One of these attractions was the Turnip slot machine. This is an analogue of the classic American strength meter, with the help of which anyone could test their physical abilities by hitting a punching bag with their fist or hitting a spring with a hammer. The Soviet version of the force meter was designed so that during the process itself there were no signs of aggression. Therefore, instead of the typical “push-push”, a person had to pull a spring device reminiscent of a turnip from the Russian fairy tale of the same name. It is noteworthy that the highest level could be obtained by pulling a turnip with a force of 200 kilograms. It is not known whether anyone was able to achieve such a result, since on average a healthy adult man knocks out about 80 kilograms on this machine.

One of the main differences between Soviet slot machines and foreign ones was their service life. Most of the machines made in the USSR still work and, if handled with care, will last at least another 50 years. The reason for this is quite simple - all Soviet machine guns were produced on the territory of one of 22 military factories of the highest quality and expensive materials. Meanwhile, finding an American or Japanese slot machine from the 80s is an almost impossible task.

Soviet business plan

On average, the production price of one slot machine in the USSR was 4,000 rubles - cosmic money at that time. And according to the plans of Soviet marketers, such a machine was supposed to pay for itself in exactly 365 days, that is, bring a profit of 8 rubles 10 kopecks every day. If after a year the attraction did not pay for itself, then it was no longer produced.

All Soviet machines were exclusively arcade machines and did not have any gambling nature. The most you could win on any attraction was extra play time. The only machine that gave out any prizes was the classic “tap machine”. The player could use a mechanical arm to pull a prize in the form of chewing gum or candy from a box.

End of an era

But closer to the 90s, all Soviet machine guns ended up either in landfills or at scrap metal collection points. The reason for all this was the emergence of computer video games. The child no longer had to run to the park to play “battleship”, but only had to buy a game console once and enjoy his favorite games at home at any time convenient for him.

To summarize, we can say that all those who like to feel nostalgic or simply feel the spirit of the Soviet gaming industry must visit the museum.

The age of Soviet slot machines began in the 70s of the last century. The production of such machine guns was carried out by completely non-core factories, which were often part of the defense-military complex, because they had free capacity and advanced technologies for that time. Thus, throughout the entire territory of the USSR there were as many as 22 defense factories, which, among other things, devoted themselves to working for the joy of Soviet residents. Due to the fact that all plans for the production of civilian products by the military were financial, those who developed the models and engineers tried to stuff the slot machine with the most modern electronics. That's where it came from huge price for vehicles: from 2.5 to 4 thousand rubles, almost a whole Zhiguli. As a result, there was no gaming machine company that became the powerhouse that Sega was. (Reference: SEGA, founded in 1940, provided services to American entrepreneurs involved in amusement machines. In 1951, it changed its location to Tokyo under the name “SErvice GAmes of Japan”. The very first slot machine was a submarine simulator “Periscope”, its released in 1966, and it immediately became a hit around the world. Today, Sega is a company that has offices in both the United States and Europe, as well. big number distributors scattered all over the planet).

In total, about 70 types of slot machines were produced in the USSR, intended for entertainment, active recreation, as well as developing the eye and reaction of players. But, as in many other areas, the crisis of the 90s effectively ended the production of Soviet equipment, or rather slot machines, about which we'll talk below. Naturally, this was the reason a large number of reasons. The reshaping of the economy and the general depressing situation in the country simply led to the closure of gaming halls because they were not able to support themselves. There were, of course, various parks where one could also find a significant number of machine guns; they reached a new level and developed, as a result, focusing on large-caliber equipment and machinery. The time of crisis did not pass by all kinds of places of recreation and residence for children, where large enterprises and factories installed their devices, and they functioned free of charge.

That time, like many events and things belonging to it, has become history. What does it sound like: gaming machines from the times of the USSR. Everyone deserves attention!

Of course, the first on the list is “Battleship,” beloved by everyone without exception, both then and now. It was created in 1973, and throughout the history of its release it has never lost its position as the most popular and memorable machine. In essence, it is an imitation of a submarine torpedo attack on a moving sea surface target accompanied by light and sound effects. Of course, at that time the design of this device was not something complicated, which cannot be said about modern, especially foreign, analogues, such as the SEA WOLF made by the Americans.

Our “Naval Battle” model was built on the principle of mirroring the panorama of “combat” actions, surface targets represented by the silhouettes of ships and a moving torpedo. The panorama of the “combat” actions is vertical, but the mirror, located at an angle of 45°, reflects it horizontally. A drawing of the sea was applied to the glass to accurately imitate it. Under the glass there were eight beams of the torpedo launch trajectory with ten light bulbs in each beam. This significantly simplified the design of the model. However, in the USA in 1970 they improved this device, called “Sea Devil”, creating a moving torpedo trajectory.

The player launches the torpedo using the “Start” button located on the right handle of the periscope, looking through which the person could look around the entire panorama of “combat” actions. By turning the periscope, it was possible to select any of 8 possible torpedo launch paths. It turns out that the torpedo’s path is fixed and a similar principle becomes the key to the technical reliability of the device, however, the launch of the torpedo ceases to be predictable for the player. A total of 10 torpedoes could be launched, but in case of an absolute win, the player received the opportunity to play a bonus game. It is worth noting that in those days there were a huge number of “Battleship” connoisseurs, and these already experienced guys found ways to acquire permanent bonuses. For example, if you turn the “periscope” to the extreme right (when ships are moving from right to left) and to the extreme left (when ships are moving in the opposite direction) and launch a torpedo at the moment the ship appears from behind the cover screen, the guarantee of a hit was one hundred percent.

It seems funny, but the first association among those who loved this game is the smell of “periscope”. The indescribable sensations of childhood return every time you remember that short stature sometimes he didn’t even allow me to reach him. But for this case there was a special retractable stand.

History of Soviet slot machines

I was born on August 14, 1974, I will soon turn 37. Only 37, but how many events have happened in the world during this time, how much has changed since those years... Just think about it!
We managed to capture two centuries: live in the 20th, rejoice in the 21st. We have a unique opportunity to celebrate the 3rd millennium with excitement!
Once upon a time, my friend and I were the first Octobrists and marched in formation with others under the slogan: “Not a step back, not a step in place, but only forward and only all together! “We joined the pioneers, proudly walking in 30 degrees below zero with open fur coats, showing red pieces of fabric tied around our necks (“pioneer tie,” Author’s note). A few years later, we slowly crumpled them in our pockets when leaving school. We happily drank soda from the vending machines: one kopeck without syrup, three kopecks with syrup. Now you think with fear that everyone drank from the same glass!
I remember the first bottle of Coca-Cola, which was then the most delicious in my life... Not so long ago I was able to visit the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta (USA) and it turned out that everything was completely wrong...
The 70-80 years passed in the rapid construction of communism. The USSR was a powerful country with vast territories and population (about 250 million people!)
You can think for a long time that everything was “one size fits all”: there were the same houses, the same clothes, the same cars and the same furniture in the apartments. But now, many years later, it only causes a smile or regret, but by and large, remembering those times, one is more overcome by nostalgia.
Sometimes there is a desire, at least for a little while, magically, even in a time machine from the once beloved film “Guest from the Future,” to go to the time when, with the money we saved on lunch, we ate very tasty popsicles, went to movies and ran to the arcades, eager to show off their accuracy and skills for only 15 Soviet kopecks.
As fate would have it, those long-standing games have become a part of my life in our time. Today, after an accidental forced dive into the topic of “Soviet machine guns” (the guys asked for help in selling 5 machines), I couldn’t resist and decided to talk about the history of Soviet entertainment technology, looking at which today you understand how far progress has gone. But, many will agree with me, at one glance at the bulky devices with a simple design and primitive “filling”, you experience only pleasant positive emotions.
For the very young, my story will be the history of Soviet machine gun technology, for those who are FOR...a pleasant journey into the “game moments” of childhood and youth...

So, let's go!

The history of slot machines in our country began in the 70s of the last century. The devices were produced by factories that were not at all specialized, most often from the defense-military complex, where there was free capacity and advanced technologies at that time. As many as 22 defense plants throughout the USSR worked for the joy of Soviet citizens. Due to the fact that the military had a financial plan for the production of civilian products, engineers and developers tried to insert as much of the most modern electronics into the slot machine as possible. Therefore, the devices turned out to be terribly expensive: from 2.5 to 4 thousand rubles, almost like a Zhiguli. Accordingly, not a single enterprise producing slot machines at that time had grown to become a powerful giant like Sega. (History: SEGA was founded in 1940 to provide services in the amusement machine business in the United States. In 1951, it moved to Tokyo under the name SErvice GAmes of Japan. The first slot machine, the submarine simulator "Periscope", was released in 1966 and immediately became a hit all over the world. Today Sega is a company with offices in the USA and Europe and many distributors around the world)
Over the entire period, about 70 types of machine guns were produced in the USSR “for entertainment, active recreation and the development of the eye and reaction of the population.” The time of crisis of the 90s put an end to the production of Soviet equipment, namely slot machines, those that I will talk about below. There were many reasons for this. This is the depreciation of those very 15 kopecks, this is the overall difficult situation in the country, which contributed to the fact that gaming halls simply closed and could not support themselves, and numerous parks in which machines also operated, moving to a new level, sought to develop and paid more attention to “large-caliber” equipment. The crisis also affected places of recreation and residence of children (children's camps, boarding schools, etc.), where the devices were purchased by bosses (large enterprises and factories) and worked for free.
Today, that time, like many things from that time, have become history. History of the times of the USSR. So, devices from the times of the USSR... Let's remember them by name?

The first thing that comes to mind, everyone's favorite, without restrictions on age and gender "Battleship".

It was produced since 1973 and was the most popular and memorable machine. The device simulated a torpedo attack by a submarine on a moving sea surface target, accompanied by light and sound effects. It should be noted that the design of the device was not particularly complex (in comparison with today's analogues, such as the modern SEA WOLF, produced by the Americans).
Our attraction was based on the principle of mirroring the panorama of “combat” actions, surface targets (silhouettes of ships) and a moving torpedo. The panorama of the “combat” actions is located vertically, but, reflected in a mirror installed at an angle of 45°, it looked horizontal. The imitation of the sea was made of glass on which a drawing of the sea was applied. Under the glass there were 8 “beams” of the torpedo’s trajectory with 10 light bulbs in each beam, which was a simplification of the design of the slot machine compared to the moving trajectory of the torpedo, which, for example, was implemented in the prototype slot machine “Sea Devil” released in 1970 in the USA.

The player controlled the launch of the torpedo through the “Start” button on the right handle of the “periscope”, through which the player saw a panorama of the “combat” actions. When the periscope was turned, one of 8 torpedo launch paths was selected. This principle of fixing the torpedo path made the device technically more reliable, but at the same time the torpedo launch was less predictable for the player. The maximum number of “torpedoes” was 10, but with 10 hits, the possibility of a bonus game appeared. It should be noted that there were many fans of this game at that time and, as expected in our country, they still found ways to receive permanent bonuses. When the “periscope” was turned to the extreme right (when ships were moving from right to left) and to the extreme left (when ships were moving in the opposite direction) position, if you launched a “torpedo” at the moment the ship exited from behind the cover screen, the ship was guaranteed to be hit.
I am sure that each of those who “torpedoed” ships many years ago was able not only to return to the past, but to imagine it, remember the feeling of the game and the smell. Do you remember the smell of “periscope”? This is the first association for everyone who knows this game...And the fact that his short stature often made it impossible to reach him? To correct the situation, the machine was equipped with a retractable special. stand that allows you to be higher.

One of the favorite shooters of Soviet citizens was the game "Safari".

The unique, exciting (yes, even that was impressive back then) hunting for African game attracted a lot of people. The player, controlling a rider galloping on a horse (the races were complicated by obstacles), had to hit running animals moving at three heights within the allotted time. A video machine with primitive graphics and a complete lack of special effects, which today are so rich in modern shooting simulators, was a great success then, both among children and adults. The female sex also came to the gaming halls to shoot, no less often than the male population. I myself went to a similar gaming room with friends and I must say that I did better than my male gaming partners, so a lot of positive emotions were guaranteed.

The most famous of the small arms was the machine gun "SNIPER", which came out in two versions. Essentially, he imagined a shooting range with a gun that closely resembled the real thing. The task was to hit as many targets as possible in a certain amount of time. A heavy rifle in the hands of the players was an opportunity to imagine themselves as a real shooter, a sniper. Crowds of boys and young people stood around the machine for hours, playing, knocking out points, competing with each other and showing their accuracy to the girls standing nearby. It is interesting that the system that controls hits was located in the stand of the machine gun. There was also “feedback” - an electromagnet that simulated recoil when fired.

Produced by one of the instrument-making factories, it had a very simple design and several target options to choose from. The player could choose falling targets (if hit, the target would fall) or moving targets (if hit, it would turn around and move in the other direction). It was also possible to shoot at a standard circular target. For amateurs there was a target in the form of an “owl” with “burning eyes” (when hit, the eyes went out). If you collected 2500 points after 20 shots, a bonus game was provided. The number of shots in the bonus game is 15. At the end of the game, the total number of points was shown on the score counter. Such games for companies caused a storm of delight, someone played “for a bet”, someone “lost” cooking dinner (a real story from the past of a married couple I knew), someone “blew” a glass of beer, and someone even lost chewing gum (mint or orange, remember that taste?)
At that time, there were the first attempts to produce space-themed slot machines. Gaming machine "Astropilot" was less common, but no less exciting. The player's task was to guide the spaceship at maximum speed over the surface of the planet, avoiding collisions with elements of the landscape and land the ship on the landing pad within the time of the landing signal. The spacecraft was controlled by moving the joystick. Points were awarded for accurate landing without collisions with various objects.

"Towns" were one of the favorite entertainments of Soviet citizens. The exciting game held me for a long time with the desire to achieve maximum results and win. The player could choose to knock down standard city targets with a bat. The player was given 5 seconds to aim before each throw, after which the bat would fly out automatically. When knocking out all 15 pieces, the player who spent no more than 24 bits on this was awarded 40 bonus throws. There were also regular customers who came to set their personal records.

There were also many lovers "The Little Humpbacked Horse" The game, based on the TIA-MC-1 platform (Television Game Machine Multi-Frame Color with interchangeable game programs) became the first arcade game developed in the USSR and the basis for many similar “walkers” with a plot (later released “Auto Racing”, “Fisher Cat”, “Treasure Island”, The Snow Queen and etc.). The player's task was to take prizes. These were characters or things from a work of art or a fairy tale of the same name; in “The Little Horse...” they were the firebird, the chest, the princess.), leading the main character Ivan on the Little Humpbacked Horse to the right edge of the screen in each frame as quickly as possible. Actions were carried out using control knobs and keys that made him jump, lie down, back away, go forward, and strike. All mistakes in the player’s actions (falling over a stone, colliding with flying fire, a dragon, an apple, a stone) were punished by loss of attempts. The colorful, musical game delighted the children. Today, such games are widespread in the form of computer games for young children.

The gaming machine is of particular interest today "Interceptor" A unique, very representative model of that time. The player’s task is to repel the air attack of the capitalist aggressor (!) The design, as befits, was extremely modest. To create the ambiance (control of the aircraft), the exterior was stylized to imitate aircraft instruments. The handle (“joystick” of that time) made it possible not only to maneuver at high speed, but also to fire shots.
"Highway"- a racing machine that developed attention, reaction speed, improved the eye and improved logical thinking. At least that's what its creators assured. The player standing in front of the device controlled his vehicle using a large steering wheel, which added interest (after all, at that time there were no today’s opportunities to “steer” at home, looking at the computer, etc.) Several game modes were possible, including “night” mode and “wet road” mode. Excitement and excitement (I wanted to avoid collisions and earn points) were guaranteed.
Famous from car racing "Turn" This is a racing simulator of that time, providing the opportunity to drive at high speed along a circular track, limited by the side of the road with green spaces. This slot machine was a distant predecessor of today's auto racing. The model had a screen and irreplaceable attributes - a driver’s seat, a gear shift knob. The goal of the game is to use the steering wheel, gas pedals, brake pedals and gear shift knob to gain the maximum number of conventionally traveled kilometers (points) during the time allotted for the game, avoiding “emergency collisions” with passing cars and overpasses. When you pressed the gas pedal, the panorama engine was turned on and an imitation of movement along the highway was created, that is, the harder you press the gas pedal, the faster the landscape rotates and the faster you move while driving a car. Like all Virage devices, it was accompanied by musical sounds of collisions, emergency braking, etc. (of course there were no cool stereo systems, speakers, wind effects, steering wheel feedback, etc.) The slot machine had bonuses. Interestingly, when one 15-kopeck coin was inserted into the machine, the player was entitled to only one bonus game. And with two coins - as many as three.
"Air battle" everyone loved it. On the machine's screen, the player saw the silhouettes of three enemy aircraft and the crosshairs of the sight. While controlling the joystick, you had to try to catch the enemy with a “sight.” The difficulty of the game was that the enemy unit did not want to be shot down and constantly slipped out of sight. When hit, the silhouette of the affected aircraft disappeared from the screen. To win, you had to shoot down all three planes within the allotted time for the game - 2 minutes.
Were incredibly interesting "Horses". Very similar to “Safari” with the most primitive design, they were so exciting! The game allowed you to play both with a machine gun and with friends, choosing your rider and horse. I don’t know how those poor 6 buttons survived, because they were knocked on, hit, and pounded with both hands... After all, the task was not only to overcome all the obstacles encountered along the way, but also to come first to the finish line. It’s funny that the game was black and white, and the tracks were given “multi-color” by colored stripes glued to the screen.

The most remarkable thing (this is my subjective opinion) was "Table basketball". The machine was designed for doubles play. The player’s task was to “throw” more balls into the opponent’s basket in the allotted time than he could manage. 7
When the score was “30-30” or more, players were rewarded with a bonus game. The playing field was covered with a transparent dome and divided into holes with springs, into one of which the ball fell. 6
By pressing a button, the player “shot” the ball from the hole, trying to hit the opponent’s basket or prevent him from shooting in turn (each hole was controlled by both players). 13
Today this model is produced in a modern updated and improved form and is called SPASE BASKETBALL.
At that time, Soviet analogues of other sports devices were also produced: table football, table hockey (outwardly it was somewhat reminiscent SUPER CHEXX, but, in fact, a home version of the game in an enlarged version)
The peak of the heyday of slot machines in the Soviet Union occurred in the 70-80s of the last century and ended with the beginning of perestroika. Domestic slot machines were supplanted by more spectacular Western analogues, “one-armed bandits”, computer salons and home gaming computers and consoles. And old machine guns almost everywhere migrated to warehouses, were destroyed or simply thrown into a landfill. Today, when those times are remembered as historical moments of the past, the devices, like many other things, are a rarity.
Some time ago, 2 graduates of Moscow universities, Alexander Stakhanov and Maxim Pinigin, organized the Museum of Soviet Automatic Machines in Moscow. The guys found their first exhibit for the collection in... the trash heap of Tagansky Park. It turned out to be “Battleship”. Six months later, the collection grew to six machines. The management of MAMI (Moscow State Technical University) allocated a basement in the dormitory for the museum premises. Now the collection includes more than 60 AIA. Maxim and Alexander managed to bring more than half of the rarities “back to life” with the help of a soldering iron and skillful hands. The guys are not going to stop there, continuing to collect their exposition bit by bit. One of the last targets of their search was a soda machine. The 15-kopeck coins needed to run the machines are also being actively sought.
But the life of Soviet gaming equipment is not limited to the museum. The presence of such machines in entertainment centers and bars was shared with me by their owners from different cities of our now modern Russia. As it turned out, they earn very good money, and, most importantly, they are an excellent attraction to establishments of different directions. The devices are of considerable interest to today's children, spoiled by rapidly developing computer games and the market for entertainment gaming equipment that keeps pace with them. But, whatever one may say, history is instructive, and USSR slot machines are the best living proof of this.
In conclusion, I would like to add that if you, friends, have any suggestions for the sale, purchase, spare parts or repair of this “memorable equipment,” write to us. There is both demand and supply for them. We will help! Address [email protected]

Director of the company “PlayKom” Ekaterina Pivchenko