A few minutes of joy for 15 cents and without registration. So you can describe the slot machines of the times of the USSR. They began to produce them in the early 70s, and their diversity was amazing. All of them were divided into categories, and put them in the waiting rooms of stations and airports, in cinemas, parks, in hotel halls, in the Palaces of Culture. There were also separate game rooms. Those who were born in the era of consoles, gadgets and the Internet will learn a lot, and older people will remember their happy childhood.
Operating principle
A coin of 15 kopecks was dropped into the coin acceptor, and ... the game turned on. Sometimes it was necessary to start the “Start” button. Basically, one session ranged from 1 to 3 minutes, unless the player had previously earned bonus points.
An extra minute was given as a bonus for the victory. The “Rules of the Game” sign was hung on all the devices, but few paid attention to them, everything was passed from generation to generation.
By technical characteristics, the machines were divided into mechanical and electronic. Electronic machines were equipped with a television screen reflecting the plot of the game, and they worked on microprocessors or discrete logic. In fact, it was a Soviet version of arcade machines.
By the way, on most-beauty.ru there is a very interesting article about unusual and most beautiful coins in the world!
Scale of production
The first Soviet gaming machine came off the assembly line in 1969. They were produced at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex, as they were most adapted for the production of high-tech machines.
In total, in the Soviet Union there were 23 enterprises producing cars for games, and during the period from the late 60s to the beginning of the 90s, more than 70 different types of gaming machines were developed.
They cost from 2 to 4 thousand rubles, but it was impossible for a private person to buy a slot machine, as they were done only for state institutions of culture and entertainment.
All ages are submissive
There were no age restrictions. As they would say “0+”. They enjoyed playing with adults. They went to the amusement parks with the whole family, with friends, and everyone could try their hand.
The only thing that could interfere with the game was a short stature, which did not allow to reach the levers or control buttons. But this problem was also solved by special cupboards or simple bottle crates.
Price
Fifteen kopecks in the Soviet Union is not such a lot of money, but ... These are three trips in public transport, three bagels or jam pie, cream ice cream.
For an empty glass bottle of kefir or milk at the points of reception of glass containers, 15 kopecks were given, and it was possible to collect them by handing over the bottles. For comparison, a bottle of beer or citro cost 20 kopecks, and this is a whole ice cream or movie ticket.
But the main source of funds was pocket money that parents gave to school. A week of savings so that on Sunday (Saturday was a school day) with friends, a trip to the gaming halls was organized.
Names
The names of many repeated home board games. In any recreation park there was a real shooting range, but you can check your accuracy in the electronic "Sniper".
Space-themed machines began to appear in the 80s, and an apparatus called the Astropilot appeared in the gaming hall.
There were machines that imitate sports games - “Horse Racing”, “Towns”, “Football”, “Basketball”.
Popular machines
Now let's talk about the machines that made up the "backbone" of the gaming sphere of the Soviet state, and most importantly, were popular among children and adults.
Sea battle
One of the most popular automatic machines of the Soviet kids. From frequent use, the periscope simulator was rubbed to holes, and the trigger arms on the control handle broke due to voltage.
The principle was simple - in three minutes it is necessary to knock down enemy ships. The essence of the game is an imitation of a torpedo attack of a submarine of enemy surface ships. The torpedo course was highlighted with dashed lines, and when hit, an explosion was heard with a bright flash. With a miss, the ship continued to move.
All this was accompanied by the sounds of gunfire and explosions. You need to hit 10 ships, after which a bonus game is given.
And about the most powerful naval forces in the world, read this article on most-beauty.ru.
Air battle
Three enemy planes flew on the TV screen, and the player, controlling the joystick, had to aim the target at the target. When reducing the "fly" it was necessary to make a shot. When hit, the enemy’s plane disappeared from the screen.
The difficulty was that the planes constantly changed direction, and it was rather difficult to concentrate. But this game also had its own masters, shooting down aircraft for a minute.
Sniper
Another device, without which it was impossible to imagine the entertainment area of the station or cinema. Electronic shooting range, in which in 1 minute it was necessary to hit 20 targets.
After hitting the target on the screen went out. After knocking out all the targets, the player was rewarded with another game session for free. In the butt of the gun was a control system for shots, as well as an electromagnet that simulated recoil when firing.
Rally
In the machine simulating the race, you could play together. He had two steering wheels and two gas pedals, the brake was not provided. If one is playing, then the “One player” button is pressed.
After pressing “Start” on the screen, the track with cars and obstacles was displayed. Victory went to the first one to finish.
Turn
In this game, a person could feel like a participant in the rally. The player was seated in a chair, in front of him was a steering wheel and a gas pedal.
It was necessary to drive a certain distance without collisions with overpasses and other cars. For driving without an accident relied on another race. The Trunk game acted on the same principle.
Everyone knew a little secret to the game. When lowering one 15-kopeck coin, in case of a successful ride, one prize game was supposed to be, but if you drop two coins at once, three.
Basketball
The game belonged to the mechanical category, and it was possible to play it only together. By pressing the button, the ball jumped, which had to be sent to the opponent’s ring.
The winner is the one who scored the most points in three minutes. The game was in demand, as it was possible to play tabletop Football and Hockey at home, but there was no Board basketball game.
Tankodrome
Soviet people advocated peace, but war games were always popular. "Tankodrom" assumed control of the tank and the destruction of targets.
In front of the player, a map was developed, along which the model of the tank quickly moved. The targets were motionless, and were located on the edges of the playing field. The targets were smaller copies of models of Soviet military vehicles, and these cost in the store up to 3 rubles, so they were made of metal.
Hunting
There were many modifications, but the principle was one - shooting at moving targets in the form of figures of animals and birds. There was a machine gun with swamp hunting, called "No fluff, no feather!". There was a variant of safari with exotic animals.
There was an apparatus with a television screen on which figures of animals appeared. In a mechanical apparatus, animals appeared from behind trees. Shotguns were of different types, but resembled an ordinary air rifle. They were placed on a stationary horn, but sometimes in order to be faithful, in order not to be dragged away, they were chained in a chain.
Horse racing
They became one of the first Soviet arcade games simulating horse racing at a hippodrome. It was popular, so six players could play it at once.
The race began on the screen, and using the button it is necessary to jump over the obstacles that appeared on the horse’s path with the rider. The one who came first won. It required certain skills, and most importantly, it developed dexterity and attentiveness.
Crane
The only game in which you could get a prize. Over time, they were modified, and the "Probe" assault rifle appeared. The crane was controlled using the two “Hand” and “Forward” buttons.
By pressing, the movement of the mechanical arm began, and when the button was released, the tentacles moved down, trying to capture the object. If it was lucky, and the hand grabbed the object, it would return, and the prize would fall into a special compartment from which it could be easily taken.
There were many varieties, but the principle was one - to get an object with a tentacle. Most often in the glass case there were soft toys, but there were vending machines with school supplies. And for adults, sometimes among the things they put a small bottle of cognac in a cardboard box.
Museum of Soviet slot machines
After the collapse of the USSR, slot machines gradually disappeared from the entertainment sector. They were supplanted by computer games, foreign machines, which could be played for money.
But the real retro can be seen in museums. In 2007, such a museum was opened in Moscow. It collected preserved old slot machines of various categories. At the entrance, 15 kopeks coins minted during the Soviet Union are given out for free. They can be played on any exhibit of an amazing museum.
Over time, the branches of the Moscow Museum were opened in Kazan and in St. Petersburg.
So our journey by time machine approached the childhood of Soviet children. Unlike foreign counterparts, Soviet automatic weapons did not give out money. Only in the “taps”, under a certain set of circumstances, could one become the happy owner of a soft toy. Nostalgia for those times spilled over into the modern Gold Party slot machine, where it is fashionable to win money and hit the jackpot. But neither that happy childhood, nor the stolen money of the party can be returned.
And now we would like to hear your thoughts and stories about slot machines. Young people will be interested to learn about the spirit of that time. What kind of slot machines did you like, did you have any funny cases related to games on Soviet slot machines? Write about it in the comments!
Posted by Valery Skiba