Museum of Soviet slot machines. How slot machines appeared and why they disappeared in the USSR How to play through special USSD commands
Museum of Soviet slot machines- 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 - Sea battle
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. If 20 targets are hit, you are given the right to 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 management of thermal and nuclear power plants, enterprises of the chemical and petrochemical industries.
Four of you can race (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 together, 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 used in the museum in great demand- Strength meter
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 :))
A group of teenagers won at a push-pull machine. I saw it myself, out of the corner of my eye, but it just made me smile and I didn’t intervene. Everything is absolutely legal (later I’ll tell you why it’s legal)! Moreover, the winnings are “1 to 1”, that is, every first one. How to win against a pusher machine? Now I’ll tell you how to win. We all remember how this machine works!? If we don’t remember, I’ll tell you. There are various prizes on the shelves: smartphones, cameras, cameras and others. The red lights on the buttons blink randomly. By pressing the button at a certain time, if it coincides with the “light” being turned on, the pusher pushes out the prize, which falls into the tray. You open the tray from below and take the prize. That's the whole principle. But, since the lights blink very quickly, it is impossible to get into the right one, because they blink randomly. But, in case of a “coincidence”, the solenoid pushes out the prize. As a rule, the machine itself with a pusher is located somewhere on the outskirts of the store, in a dark corner where there is no one, people do not walk. Its main weight is at the bottom, and 2/3 of the top is light. Why am I talking about weight? Now you will understand! The guys just surrounded the machine gun in a friendly crowd so that no one would see, they didn’t shout, they didn’t make a fuss - without attracting attention to themselves, but - just tilted the machine towards you by 13-15 degrees and carefully and quietly put it in place. Remember - I said Legal? Nowhere is it written that you can’t tilt the machine while playing 😉 Almost all the heavy prizes fell into the tray from the shelves of the machine: cameras, cameras, watches, toys, and something else. Shielding one boy with a crowd, who carefully, squatting and tactfully, scooped up all the prizes into a black bag. Then he quickly left the store. His place was replaced by another - already with a backpack, into which he also began to stuff free swag. While I was standing in line at the checkout with groceries, the other three who were blocking me simply walked slowly out of the store, discussing something. The guys looked to be about 16 years old 😉 Later, when I finished shopping, I decided to see what was left? The machine was intact, fully working, nothing was broken, some lights were blinking in demo mode, but there were no prizes on the shelves. Some simple toys were lying underneath (stuffed toys) in the tray, it was visible through the glass - apparently they didn’t just take it. He told me what he saw. When I left the store, there was no trace of the guys. The funny thing is that no one noticed this, neither the guard nor the people (cashiers usually sit with their backs turned). Then, after two weeks, the machine gun was generally removed from there. Their entire “Operation Y” took about 3-4 minutes. Well, apparently they were preparing and looking for a suitable machine gun in stores. Damn bully. Hahahahahaha!!!
The biography of Soviet slot machines dates back to the 70s of the last century. Then, completely non-core factories—enterprises of the defense-military complex—were tasked with producing the first models, since they had at their disposal the most powerful and Hi-tech. In total, there were 23 manufacturers who systematically delighted Soviet citizens with new entertainment.
The best developers, engineers and electronics specialists worked for this. There was no financial crisis and no money was spared. The average price of the device ranged from 2-4 thousand rubles.
During the existence of the USSR, they managed to produce about 70 entertainment machines, but in the 90s the collapse came, the 15 kopecks with which visitors usually paid completely depreciated, it became expensive to maintain parks and the devices of those times simply lived out their usefulness.
Technically, Soviet slot machines can be divided into two groups: mechanical (or electromechanical) and electronic (based on discrete logic or microprocessors). The latter usually used a TV screen to display the game plot, that is, they are typical arcade gaming machines. As a rule, these are quite original designs, although with the possible borrowing of foreign ideas, but implemented on a Soviet technical basis.
Soviet arcade slot machines (AIA) are arcade games produced and distributed on the territory of the republics former USSR. They were usually installed in the foyers of theaters, circuses, cinemas, Palaces of Culture, amusement parks and the like. in public places. Sometimes the machines were “collected” into independent specialized “Game Library”, “Game Halls” or “Slot Machine Halls” (not to be confused with modern halls, in which machines and slot machines are installed for gambling). They had no competition, since Western designs were not represented on the Soviet market.
Like any other arcade games, Soviet AIAs were intended only for entertainment, without providing any other prizes other than the so-called “bonus game” for the player’s successful actions. Or, in other cases, souvenirs and small items such as chewing gum, chocolate, soft toys, keychains, etc. “Souvenirs” periodically appeared in “Crane” type machines, such as small bottles of alcohol (most often cognac) and commemorative coins, inserted to more actively attract players. Some of the machines (mainly with minor changes) was “ripped off” from Western models without much fanfare. But we also had our own, original developments.
There was no age limit for playing slot machines. The only limitation could be the player's height. Although even the smallest ones found a way to play, placing wooden trays or bottle boxes under their feet to reach the control buttons.
The machine was activated by lowering a 15-kopeck coin into the coin acceptor; the player received the opportunity, depending on the type of machine, either to play for a certain (usually a very short 1-3 minutes) time, or to make a certain number of gaming attempts (for example, shots). After which the game stopped until the next payment, unless the bonus game was won, which gave the player additional free time or several incentive attempts.
Later, in connection with the replacement of Soviet coins with Russian rubles (or other monetary units in circulation in the republics of the former USSR), coin acceptors were modified to accept new coins, or they used tokens similar in size to the old 15 kopecks, but with a different value. Often the coin acceptors were simply sealed or clogged, and the operator turned on the machine for the player after payment.
As children, we most often began the game by sticking our fingers into the coin return window, hoping to find a coin there that had been forgotten by our predecessor.
Middle-aged and older people probably remember the “Battleship” machine guns that beckon with lights and sound effects, “ Accurate shooter", "Rally", "Submarine", "Air Combat" and others. How much pocket money saved from school lunches was smuggled there by the children!
Most of the Soviet arcades did not have intricate gameplay and were quite simple (although this simplicity did not imply ease of play), but since the mid-80s of the last century, domestic full-fledged arcades have appeared, with changing game screens. One example of such arcade games is the game “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” nicknamed “Russian Zelda” in the West. True, it’s difficult to say whether this is a compliment to the developers or a reproach for being secondary. In any case, these games were remembered, they were loved, and the people who played them remember “those times” with pleasure to this day.
The peak of the heyday of slot machines in the USSR 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.
Sea battle
Probably the most famous domestic slot machine, without which no self-respecting gaming hall could do. And, apparently, the first. An analogue of the American slot machine Sea Devil.
The machine simulated a torpedo attack from a submarine against surface targets.
The player looked through the periscope, which revealed a sea panorama with enemy ships periodically appearing on the horizon. It was necessary to make an adjustment for the speed of the ship and press the “Fire” button, located on one of the periscope handles. Next, it remained to monitor the torpedo, the path of which was illuminated under the surface of the “water”. When hit, the player heard a sound and saw a flash of an explosion, and the ship “sank”, or after the flash it turned around and followed reverse direction. If he missed, he continued his movement. In just one game it was possible to make 10 torpedo launches. If they hit 10 ships, the player received the right to a bonus game - 3 free launches. A significant disadvantage of the machine gun was that with proper skill, sinking ships was not difficult.
Visual depth was created using mirrors, and the fact that the player saw a ship far away on the horizon was just an illusion. In fact, the mechanism of movement of the ships was almost close to the player, somewhere at the level of his knees.
Air battle
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.
Hunting
An electronic shooting range with a light (or electromechanical) rifle, which existed in many modifications: “Winter Hunt”, “Lucky Shot”, “Safari”, “Sharpshooter”, etc.
For example, in “Winter Hunt” the player had to hit moving targets (animals and birds) flickering on the screen with a landscape of a winter forest depicted on it from a certain distance.
In “The Hunt” itself there was no screen, but rather forest scenery, from behind which animal figures appeared. The “swamp” version of the game was called “No fluff, no feather!”
Sniper
An electronic shooting range where the player had to hit twenty stationary targets with a rifle within a minute. After a successful hit, the illumination of the corresponding target went out. With good shooting, the player was entitled to a bonus game.
Interestingly, the hit control system was located in the stand of the machine gun. There was also " Feedback“—an electromagnet that simulated recoil when fired.
Turn
An analogue of the famous home board game “Driving”. The machine simulated the movement of a car along a ring road with obstacles in the form of overpasses and passing cars. To receive the bonus game, the player had to drive a certain number of “kilometers” without collisions, which were counted on the counter. 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.
Penalty
A wall-mounted variation of pinball with all the elements inherent in pinball - a ball, a hitting handle, and a playing field with obstacles and prize zones.
With the help of a lever, the ball was thrown up, the player had to calculate the force of the impact in such a way that when it rolled back, the ball hit the goal and did not end up in the penalty area.
Towns
Controlling the bat with a joystick, the player had to hit standard city targets moving across the screen. 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, a player who spent no more than 24 bits on this was awarded 40 bonus throws.
Horse racing
An exact copy of Steeplechas with Atari. Up to 6 people could play at the same time. In a single-player game, the player competed with the computer. But it was more interesting to play against other people. It’s funny that the game was black and white, and the “multi-colored” tracks were given by colored ones glued to the screen stripes.
The Little Humpbacked Horse
The game was released on the TIA MC-1 platform and was the first full-fledged arcade game for Soviet AIA. In total, the game had 16 screen levels, during which the main character had to overcome obstacles and fight enemies.
Tap
By controlling a mechanical hand, it was necessary to try to get a prize from the transparent body of the machine. Usually they had soft toys, chewing gum, chocolate and other little things. The hand was controlled by two buttons responsible for moving the “hand” forward and sideways. When the button was pressed, the “hand” moved until the button was released (or until it stopped). There was no “reverse” and you had to accurately calculate the moment when to release the button. When the button responsible for lateral movement was released, the “hand” automatically lowered and tried to grab the prize it was above. With a successful capture, the “hand” opened above the prize receiver tray, and the lucky one could get his reward out of it.
Basketball
The machine was designed to be played by two people. The player’s task was to “throw” more balls into the opponent’s basket in the allotted time than he could manage. 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. 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).
Football
A game better known in our country as “shish kebab” (and called “fussball” in the West), intended for two to four players. Kicks and passes were carried out by rotating the handles of the rods, on which figures of football players were “mounted” (hence the name “shish kebab”). At the same time, the figures of football players on the rod changed their angle of inclination, which made it possible to strike the ball. The rods could also be moved back and forth, changing the horizontal position of the players. Having hit the opponent's goal with an accurate shot, the player received a point.
Hockey
A game that was not much different from its “home” version, which many Soviet children dreamed of getting for their birthday. The main differences were the dimensions and the presence of a glass cap that covered the field and protected the puck from flying out of it, and the player figures from curious children's hands.
Astropilot
The first attempt to create a device with a space theme. The player had to control spaceship, trying not to crash into elements of the landscape and successfully land. The joystick was used, and as a result, points were awarded.
Tankodrome
Driving a very maneuverable and nimble tank model along an obstacle course, simulating an attack and defeat of stationary targets scattered around the perimeter of the playing field.
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 operating room Windows 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 their fist on punching bag or hammer on a spring. 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 most high 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 from the highest quality and most expensive materials. Meanwhile, finding an American or Japanese slot machine from the 80s is an almost impossible task.
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 is an extra game time. The only machine that gave out any prizes was the classic “tap machine”. The player could use a mechanical arm to pull out 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.
I don’t know what influenced me more in favor of spending half a day in the museum of Soviet slot machines - the desire for nostalgia or the desire to improve my professional skills in the field of games by once again turning to history computer games using slot machines as an example? In any case, both needs were satisfied.
The museum has branches in St. Petersburg and Kazan, I was able to visit the main one in Moscow on Baumanskaya street 11, not far from the Baumanskaya metro station. The museum is open daily from lunch until 20 - 21 hours. I really liked that even in evening time Sunday There weren't many people at all. By the way, somewhere in the information about the museum I managed to find out that in the morning (before 13:00) you can hold a party for children there, and in the evening (after 20:00) you can have a party for adults. You can also rent slot machines, as they boasted at the Lebedev Studio, which created the official website of the museum. Of course, the first impression turned out to be very vivid, because indeed, this is a time machine, it seemed to me that I was in the late 80s in Vitebsk, in the lobby gym on Kirov Street, it was there that I first met the “Safari”, “Winter Hunt”, “Battleship”, and “Gorodki” slot machines.
Carefully! There are a lot of photos under the cut.
The description of the museum from Yandex Posters seems very accurate to me
The dreams of any “perestroika” child and more come true here! Having received a handful of 15-kopeck coins, you can go explore the hall, which is filled with painfully familiar slot machines, among which there are very unusual and rare examples. Each visitor is given the right to play 15 slot machines.
And on the excursion you can also learn a lot of different interesting things. It turns out that slot machines were invented and created in the middle of the nineteenth century in America. They reached the Soviet expanses in the summer of 1971 along with the World Exhibition of Amusement and Slot Machines, and immediately caused an unprecedented stir among visitors.
And after 4 years, the first domestically produced slot machines were created based on purchased exhibition samples. And they were assembled not just anywhere, but in military factories. After all, it was there that the necessary capacities and advanced technologies of that time were concentrated. Imagine, more than twenty defense factories were working then for the benefit and joy of the pioneers! And they were expensive back then - almost as expensive as a car.
The museum contains about 50 different slot machines, and the search continues. And all - to the delight of the grown-up “children” Soviet era».
Speaking of the excursion, it is really interesting. In addition to the history that is on the official website, you will be able to look under the lid of the machines, learn the operating principle of not only naval combat, which turned out to be not so simple, but also the soda machine.
And we will tell you that slot machines were invented in America in mid-19th century century. A soviet man I saw them in the summer of ’71, when at the Central Park of Culture and Culture named after. Gorky opened the World Exhibition of Amusements and Slot Machines. A month and a half of long queues and a full house. People saw real devices: with cowboys, birds, music and colored lights. The visitors were simply delighted.
Slot machines
To better understand what it is, let’s take a closer look at some of them that were familiar to me from childhood and that arouse the greatest interest. Unfortunately, it is not possible to consider everything, and there are more than 40 species, within the framework of this article for obvious reasons.
Sea battle
The assault rifle has been produced at the Serpukhov plant since 1974. The structure of this unit is well explained on the official website; for me personally, it was surprising to learn that it turned out to be designed completely differently from what I expected. I couldn’t even imagine how far the engineering thought had gone in its creation, I mean, first of all, the design solution and the use of mirrors. This machine is rightfully considered the most recognizable machine of the Soviet era after the soda machine.
A lot of good photos and a detailed description of the machine is on the official website at the link above.
Periscope view.
I like the fact that in addition to the player, anyone can watch what is happening through the window.
Torpedo attack
Some especially popular slot machines After some time, a younger, improved brother appeared. This is what happened with the “Battleship” slot machine - it had a sequel in the form of a slot machine for two players “Torpedo Attack”.
Soda machine
It’s a pity, but in order to try soda in the museum you need to buy separate tokens. On the excursion you will get acquainted not only with appearance machine, but you can also look inside.
Winter hunting
The machine is also familiar from childhood, which became popular even before the advent of 8-bit game consoles with a pistol and the games Duck Hunt or Wild Gunman.
Doublet
Two-player version of Winter Hunt. It is much more interesting to play because there is a competitive effect.
Highway
The machine is notable for its gaming controls with a steering wheel and pedals. You can play together. The game is difficult, it is almost impossible to beat the computer in single player mode. The official website even has a PDF with a scanned instruction manual.
Towns
I also happened to play this game at a very young age. I noticed a peculiarity - playing in the emulator is fundamentally easier than a slot machine due to the convenience of using a mouse instead of a joystick. Right now, I easily managed to get into the bonus game on my first try. Although 2 coins on the machine did not bring me half as much success. The control in the machine is the most primitive version of a joystick with a button at the end.
Avtorally-M
Completely insane gameplay by today's standards. To be honest, I much prefer semi-mechanical machines compared to fully electronic (aka TV slot machines), they are enjoyable and interesting to this day. Take, for example, a sea battle, an air battle, they are not standard. And slot machines based on CRT output have, of course, irretrievably lost their ability to arouse interest, with very rare exceptions.
Safari
This is precisely the rare exception when a television machine can be interesting. True, in the museum I came across a copy with a black and white screen, although I remember very well that the game was in color. But that didn’t stop me from happily putting a few coins into the machine and trying to get the bonus game.
Yes, indeed, I was convinced that the stripes for different animals were painted in different colors.
Sniper
My friend and his girlfriend, who were company when going to the museum, actually occupied all the rifle genre rifles.
turnip
This slot machine remains unconquered for me. It was probably inoperative, because... always showed 116.
Horse racing
This time, although I didn’t have a chance to play this copy, I know first-hand that the machine is worthy of attention, primarily because of the storm of emotions it can cause when six people play it at the same time!
Not long ago I saw a similar game mechanic in one of the TV programs, in which players call on the phone and control the game through the phone.
Basketball
I love the design of this machine and especially the fonts, they give me a deep sense of nostalgia for the 80s, because at that time it was the standard sports font that was used to decorate all the halls and stadiums.
These slot machines were once very popular; I remember this one could often be found even after the decline in the popularity of slot machines already in the 90s.
There are several of these machines in the museum, but we noticed that the one on the first floor gives advantages to the red ones, since the springs are in key positions They work much better than the blue ones.
Football
A classic board game in which you need to control the lines of football players by turning the handles. The only difference from board game The design includes an electronic goal counting and a protective cover for the playing field.
Hockey
Also a game that became famous even before the advent of slot machines.
Quiz
As you can guess from the photo of the machine, it allows you to test your knowledge of road signs.
But I personally didn’t have a chance to play and understand the rules.
Submarine
The essence of the game is very reminiscent of “Sea Battle” and “Torpedo Attack”. I really liked the hologram of the surface of the seabed, I did not go into details of the technical implementation, but this thing will create a visual impression until 2020 for sure.
Tankodrome
Good electronic-mechanical automatic machine. The goal of the game is to hit all enemy targets in two minutes without hitting any mines. The game is difficult to control - there are two levers as controls, this is not a world of tanks.
Air battle
One of my favorite childhood games. Very cool game design: starting with the view from the cockpit, ending with the control joystick stylized as a real fighter. Please note that in those days it was not possible to issue complex logic, but the designers went all out on the design and setting of the slot machines, most of which are replete with fake sensors and controls.
Good game process: enemy planes are constantly maneuvering, you need to catch them in your sights. Very reminiscent of Top Gun, which appeared much later on the 8-bit gaming platform.
Probe
One of the most popular types of slot machines in which, by controlling the mechanical flabby arm of the terminator, you need to draw prizes and gifts. During the Soviet era, these machines were filled with real interesting toys; my father several times pulled out plastic toys for me, a racing car, for example.
Since the price of a gaming session is very low, the machine in the museum is filled with the simplest gifts.
01
The game consists of two parts, the first is reminiscent of “Highway” - the task is to get to the burning building as quickly as possible. In the second part, the playing field changes to the facade of a building with burning windows, which you need to hit with a fire hose and put out the fire by pressing the button on the fire nozzle and the gas pedal. I really regret that I did not pay enough attention to this exhibit.
Circus
One of the varieties of the pinball machine that was popular in the West at that time. The Soviet copy once again speaks of some secondary nature in Soviet industry slot machines.
The machine is very playable, although in order to assemble any insignificant row of flashlights, serious experience is needed.
Telesport
An automatic machine that needs no introduction.
Please note that machine gun 01 is clearly visible in the background.
Overtaking
Not a bad machine, the process is repeated by the Magistral. However, this machine is much more interesting because it is semi-mechanical and all visual sequences are created by mirrors and light.
Do you know what I mean?
Turn
One of my favorite slot machines, although I can’t say that I have the patience to play it more than 2 times in a row. The player will have to drive a holographic model of a car and make his way along the highway in a bend. Unfortunately, the driver's seat was not very comfortable for me (you can see this in the photo below). The creators of the slot machine tried to make its controls as similar to the real thing as possible and added to the machine not only a steering wheel and pedals, but also a gear shift lever. However, even at first speed I had difficulty ducking between cars and bridge walls.
Tap
The “Crane” machine gun is a variation of the “Probe” machine gun.
Icebreaker
“Icebreaker” is not “Magistral”, although the games have similar goals. “Icebreaker” is much more interesting with its setting and visual design. I strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rules before playing; in addition to the full forward lever, there is also a reverse lever. Interesting sensations from the process.
Puck! Puck!
One of the most interesting slot machines from the point of view of the gaming task. The slot machine provides for the game of two players with fundamentally different tasks, the hockey player’s task is to score the puck, and the goalie’s task is to deflect it. Another successful mechanical implementation of the visuals - I love it when the action takes place with real figures and not with pixels on the screen. I recommend trying this machine.
Accurate shooter
A successful variation of the game "Sniper". 
Lucky Shot
One of the most addictive shooting games.
Break a leg!
Based on the variety and popularity of slot machines, one can discern the interests of the Soviet average person - sports, shooting range, cars, military equipment. In the museum, I counted at least 6 types of machine guns using models of small arms.
Interceptor
TV slot machine. If we take all the television ones, which I have a very cold attitude towards, then, in my opinion, this is one of the most interesting models due to the successful design of the machine itself: the design does not boil down to simple controls
and the screen, as is done with most other devices, but beats military theme and is replete with sensors and light bulbs.
Fighters
A type of television slot machine. I lost sight of it and didn’t read it.
The Little Humpbacked Horse
The game was released on the basis of TIA-MC-1. TIA-MC-1 - Television Game Machine Multi-frame Color with interchangeable gaming programs, one of the most famous Soviet slot machines.
And here are screenshots from the game itself.
This game, by the way, is available in a version for Android and is called Humpbacked Horse.
If anyone is interested in the TIA-MC-1 platform, you can find the TIA-MC Emulator on the Internet.
The Snow Queen
The game was released on the basis of TIA-MC-1.
Billiards
The game was released on the basis of TIA-MC-1. Currently, the game is unlikely to seem interesting.
Python
The slot machine is based on the Photon platform, which was based on the PC8000 (a brother of the ZX-Spectrum). These machines were produced at the very end of the era of Soviet slot machines.
Pay attention to the ascetic management. I can imagine how in the early 80s children dreamed of such a machine at home, although they had no idea that such a product cost half the price of a Zhiguli car.
Believe me, I did not list all the slot machines that are installed in the museum and, moreover, not all that were manufactured in those days. Don't believe me? Toga here is the complete list.
For those who would like to get even better acquainted with the slot machines of the Soviet era, but who do not want to go to the museum for this, there is a simulator. Of course, the whole point of Soviet slot machines is precisely in the sensations from them, the oak controls and others that can evoke nostalgic feelings , little things.
Naturally, I made a complete local copy of the 15kop.ru site, so if at least one link stops working, let me know, I will definitely launch a copy on my site.
Instead of conclusions
— Is it worth going to the museum for academic and professional interests?
— Of course it’s worth it, moreover, it’s worth it even if you just wanted to remember the 80s not only by touch but also by taste (I mean the surprisingly accurate adherence to the Soviet soda recipe).
— Is it worth going there with a child?
— It’s worth it, but it seems to me that it’s worth going either with a very young child up to 6 years old, or with an adult after 14, because Children from 6 to 14 already have their favorite games, for example on the iPad or PC, and they are unlikely to appreciate your efforts. And children after 14 should go based on relative considerations general development, such as go to historical museums.
— Is it worth going with friends?
— It’s worth it, but you need to pay attention to the fact that fun company The best slot machines are “Basketball”, “Football”, “Hockey”, “Horse Racing” and “Doublet”. The rest can cause deep despondency and disappointment.
I discovered that the topic of the history of computer games is very interesting - later I will definitely publish previously prepared material about my first computer, the ZX-Spectrum 48k.
