(Topic ID: 234360)

My first gun/sub game - what to look for?

By Drano

5 years ago


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  • 26 posts
  • 8 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 5 years ago by Drano
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    #1 5 years ago

    Hey Guys,
    I've restored a lot of different machines, but I've never owned an EM gun/sub game.
    Last year there was a seller at Pinfest in Allentown who had a bunch of old EM arcade machines but I didn't have the cargo space... or the knowledge of what to look for.

    I'll be looking for a project this Spring (likely at Pinfest again) and wanted to get some advice if possible.

    I plan to put this in my "EM room" with a bunch of wedgeheads, a pitch and bat, jukebox etc...
    I'm only really looking for one (for now) so I want to find something that has a bit of staying power/playability to it.

    I don't mind a gun game, but the scope/sub games are just as cool for me. I've played some at the VFW and other places.

    I'd really appreciate any suggestions on:

    A) what titles to look out for (ie. which are most fun?)
    B) what potential issues to watch out for/be aware of

    Here's the setup I saw at Pinfest last year. I have to find out who this seller was and reach out to him also.
    That Sega game in front looks awesome! Love the art on these!

    index (resized).jpgindex (resized).jpg

    #2 5 years ago

    Well out of what you have here, Its the following from left to right

    MCI: Super Red Baron
    Midway: Suck Hunt
    Chicago Coin: Super Scope Rifle
    Midway: Wild Kingdom
    Bally: Road Runner
    Sega: Missile

    So the gun games (Particularly if they are midway) you need to look at where the gun mounts to the base. Typically these are made of plastic and very brittle. It takes 1 kid hanging on it, or one jolt to left or right to break it, and nobody has re-popped these on a large scale yet. It was a terrible cost cutting tactic to make them out of plastic versus metal.

    Also look at the wood gun stocks and make sure nobody has repaired a cracked stock, again they do crack here and there.

    Also know what games have solid state sounds, and what games have 8 track players. USUALLY the 8 tracks don't work because the player broke, or the tape broke. At very least, make sure you have 8 track player in the game if it has one. I couldn't tell you have many games I have come across that have had missing players.

    Keep in mind that the rarer the game, the harder to find parts for. And rarity does not always equal value or fun factor. The Sega Missile looks cool on the outside, but honestly you could find a Midway S.A.M.I for super cheap, buy a reproduction film for $100, and have a substantially better game for half the cost of the Missile.

    MCI Super Red Baron, though a rare game, it's not particularly a great player. The effects are cool in regards to being a projection game. IMO it would hold in a large collection for it being different, and rare.

    Out of all the gun games, Wild Kingdom hands down is the best in that lineup. It has a cool black light scenery, and it also has enough targets to be good. The best part is that you compete against "Charlie" which is the hunter in the game. You have to shoot the targets before he does. So its like playing a computer.

    Bally RoadRunner is a neat game. If you are into drivers that are not games like CC Speedway, Motorcycle, Sega Grand Prix. This is a great solution. IMO the best game of this lineup here. Its a hard game to find because its a good player and people tend to hold on to this game. I would like to eventually get one in my collection, but the opportunity to acquire one hasn't popped up where its been reasonably close.

    I hope this info helps, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

    #3 5 years ago

    One of my favorites from my youth. Midway’s 1976 ‘Sea Wolf’.

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    #4 5 years ago
    Quoted from Gundam_Pilot_:

    I hope this info helps, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

    Thanks for the detailed write-up and what to watch for.

    Those games pictured were just a sample of what I saw for sale in Allentown last year. It seems he had a few decent titles there though. Wild Kingdom is one I've heard of before. It'll be on my watch list for sure.

    #5 5 years ago

    Not that it matters, but I am an avid EM collector. If you are looking for any particular titles, I can keep an eye out for you. I am only on the other side of the lake from you. About 5.5 hours from GTA

    #6 5 years ago
    Quoted from Sea_Wolf:

    One of my favorites from my youth. Midway’s 1976 ‘Sea Wolf’.[quoted image]

    Loved that game also. That little speedboat was just a luck hit.

    #7 5 years ago
    Quoted from ShinyBall:

    Loved that game also. That little speedboat was just a luck hit.

    It flew by for sure. You’d have to take the periscope and whip to the far side that the speedboat was heading and fire a missle just hoping to get lucky. I swear that I can still hear the sound of it.

    #8 5 years ago
    Quoted from Gundam_Pilot_:

    Not that it matters, but I am an avid EM collector. If you are looking for any particular titles, I can keep an eye out for you. I am only on the other side of the lake from you. About 5.5 hours from GTA

    That would be great! Thank you.
    At this point I'll look at just about anything that pops up. I don't have a particular game I'm looking for but I'd easily grab a Wild Kingdom or Haunted House. I saw a Ninja Gun game that also looked awesome. But I'm also partial to the naval style games also mentioned in this thread.
    I'm pretty easy as long as it looks cool and gameplay is fun.
    Finding anything in my backyard would be a bonus.

    #9 5 years ago

    Found this sample video of Sea Wolf on YouTube. Ahhh memories...

    #10 5 years ago

    That's pretty cool. I'd probably prefer something less digital, but still looks fun.

    #11 5 years ago

    I bought the s.a.m.i from the same guy at pinfest. Fun game. It is fun but repetitive like most of these type of games.
    Just struggled to sell my crossfire rifle game.
    So buy a shooter because you want it and expect to lose money if you make improvements.
    I recommend a twin rifle game. Not repetitive and fun for one or two players.
    I always wanted a submarine game as well.

    #12 5 years ago
    Quoted from PinballAir:

    I bought the s.a.m.i from the same guy at pinfest. Fun game. It is fun but repetitive like most of these type of games.
    Just struggled to sell my crossfire rifle game.
    So buy a shooter because you want it and expect to lose money if you make improvements.
    I recommend a twin rifle game. Not repetitive and fun for one or two players.
    I always wanted a submarine game as well.

    Twin rifle is appealing as I have twins at home and they would love competing... but the competitive gameplay of Wild Kingdom sounds great as well. It also seems to have a wider variety of things to shot for than most. The Ninja Gun game I saw was like that as well.

    I remember playing a naval type game at Clay's (VFW) that had a cool scrolling action with boats that you would have to bomb. Can't recall the name of it though. It was pretty fun.

    #13 5 years ago
    Quoted from Drano:

    Twin rifle is appealing as I have twins at home and they would love competing... but the competitive gameplay of Wild Kingdom sounds great as well. It also seems to have a wider variety of things to shot for than most. The Ninja Gun game I saw was like that as well.
    I remember playing a naval type game at Clay's (VFW) that had a cool scrolling action with boats that you would have to bomb. Can't recall the name of it though. It was pretty fun.

    This one is practically right in your backyard for a cool 5 Grand.

    ebay.com link: 0

    #14 5 years ago

    Yeah, right.

    #15 5 years ago
    Quoted from Sea_Wolf:

    This one is practically right in your backyard for a cool 5 Grand.
    ebay.com link

    Jesus!!!
    That's almost NIB stern territory

    #16 5 years ago

    There are tons of machines on eBay like that. They keep re-listing them at the same high price, with no bites.

    I do understand certain sellers have invested a lot of time and energy restoring games and want their effort rewarded but it’s just not going to happen. That guy has no feedback and is surely BS-ing on what it just brought at auction.

    #17 5 years ago

    It is the " there is an ass for every seat" strategy in hopes of finding a sucker.

    #18 5 years ago

    Do you recall the asking price of any of the games in that lineup? Looks like $550 for the Sega Missile.

    #19 5 years ago
    Quoted from Gotemwill:

    Do you recall the asking price of any of the games in that lineup? Looks like $550 for the Sega Missile.

    They were all similarly priced +/- but they were also very rough and mostly non functional.
    I heard from a friend that they were all purchased as a lot by the end of the show... but no idea if that was truly the case.

    #20 5 years ago

    The Sega and the Sami were priced at 550

    2 weeks later
    #21 5 years ago

    Well, I've picked up a local game to get me started.
    An unusual but very attractive 1970 Midway Invaders from Outer Space.

    I'm hoping to find some other owners that can help me out with a few pics and info. It's mostly working but still needs some love.

    Pretty excited about this one. It's not a rifle game but the theme is right up my alley.

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    #22 5 years ago

    That is a great first game! You will be very happy with this choice. I personally dont have one yet, but am looking to find one for a reasonable price.

    #23 5 years ago
    Quoted from Gundam_Pilot_:

    That is a great first game! You will be very happy with this choice. I personally dont have one yet, but am looking to find one for a reasonable price.

    Thanks! It's super fun. What it lacks in variety of shots, it sure makes up for in style
    I may swap it out one day for a true rifle/gun game, but it'll be a great first game.
    The same seller had a Williams Ambush that, despite being a bit militant, was surprisingly fun!

    One thing about my machine is that it has a motorized tank instead of the flourescent ray gun that others have. I believe it is still factory though. I've seen a video online with another Invaders that also had the tank. Even though a tank firing at Aliens seems more appropriate to the theme, I'd still love to get the more visible ray gun.
    If I could find an owner who was willing to measure up and photograph the gun for me, I could make a model and get it 3D printed.

    The other issue is that the spinning saucer won't score. It has board that is dedicated to it, but some of the copper plate has been worn away and repaired... probably incorrectly. I'll need to try and find some good photos of that as well.

    Maybe I'll post up a separate repair thread with the game title. Might find more hits that way.
    I wish there was a place to locate owners of these machines... similar to Pinballowners

    #24 5 years ago

    I've got a fully working Bally Target Zero blacklite em arcade game for sale for $1000/bo. It is a game where you are flying over an airport and oil refineries and have to fire missiles at the targets on the ground. Very cool game. Unfortunately, I can't make Allentown this year, but the game is available to see and play anytime in Phoenixville, about 1 hr south of Allentown.

    #25 5 years ago

    Drano , i am sure you are savvy with these forums. but if you do a forum search for invaders from outerspace youll see posts with a few people saying they have one. i just read one thread where someone bought that motor disc from michael weaver. i dont know if michael is on here im sure he is but he heads the woodrail group on facebook. maybe he had/has the gun or other parts. also attached is the image of what i did on that stepper . looking at it it we werent sure if the center key should have attached to the half circle? those fingers were terribly worn however that copper tape did make connection .( im not sure if i did more to this or not since this photo )

    midway stepper (resized).jpgmidway stepper (resized).jpg
    #26 5 years ago

    Thanks! I'll definitely try that first and see if I can get the saucer scoring.

    I haven't had time yet to hunt down any other owners, but thanks for the lead.

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