The best slot machines of the USSR

Soviet slot machines are just as interesting as ice cream in paper cups, badges with an image of Olympic bears and legendary soda pop with syrup. "Safari", "Table hockey", "Battleship" - a person whose childhood was in the 80's, only these names immediately cause pleasant nostalgia.

Excursion to the history

The history of Soviet slot machines began in the 1970s. It was then decided to establish their release and create a completely new industry in the country, inviting the best American and Japanese manufacturers. Imported developments were presented at the exhibition of gaming machines. Americans wanted to capture this market and be able to sell their gaming machines. The Party of the USSR could not allow this. As a result, they went absolutely different way - at first they just bought all the exhibits, and then they puzzled 23 military plants. So began to develop production of slot machines, which were similar to similar machines in Japan and America.

The USSR gaming machines have successfully survived until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the reason for their disappearance is not at all frequent breakdowns. Most of them could entertain children and adults for many more years. The thing is that it was necessary to pay for the game with 15-penny coins, and they were out of circulation in the early 90's. This problem was completely solvable, and attempts to breathe into the slot machines of the USSR a second life were still made. Coins worth 15 kopecks painted in black and sold as tokens or beat them abbreviations of clubs, where there were submachine guns. But this simple method did not last long. Similar tokens could be forged by every self-respecting schoolboy.

In Soviet times, slot machines were in almost every major city. So where did you have to go to play? As a rule, they stood in parks and cultural centers, cinemas, railway stations and even in the Palaces of the Pioneers. Such mass distribution, as modern payment terminals, they did not receive and did not stand at every step. Slot machines of the USSR in Moscow could be put in places of the greatest congestion of the people, at times even separate game halls were opened. Sometimes, to play, it was necessary to defend a considerable turn.

"Battleship"

This is the most popular gaming machine in the USSR among children and adults of all generations. In sea battle, it's not so easy to win. To sink the cruisers and submarines of the enemy, we must launch torpedoes on enemy ships. But they reach the goal not instantly, but with a slight delay, so it's necessary to shoot ahead. If you look at the rotating periscope, it seems that the submarines move far on the horizon. This illusion of depth was created with the help of mirrors, but in reality the movement mechanism of cruisers and boats was at the level of the player's knees. Why was the slot machine "Sea Battle" so popular? The USSR was a militarized state, and even games reflected the essence of the country's policy.

"Air battle"

Almost every movie theater of that time was "Air Combat". The USSR slot machine created an image of the defender of the Motherland, and every schoolboy dreamed of becoming an astronaut or pilot. The control knob simulates the steering wheel, and the bright cabin design, light and sound special effects made it possible to find yourself in the sky. With the help of a sight it was necessary to shoot down enemy fighters and gain points. The game is quite complicated, it took a long time to sharpen the skill to win.

"Sniper"

The most famous rifle machine, which resembled a shooting gallery familiar to every Soviet citizen. Shooting is performed with the help of a game gun, and the imitation of a shot is due to an electromagnet. Favorite machine guns for boys, because everyone wanted to prove their accuracy. There was also a more advanced and complex modification of this game with moving targets, and after the set of the maximum number of points an additional round was played out.

"Safari"

Another not less popular "shooter" of that time. But it was necessary to shoot already not simply on impersonal targets, but on the African animals moving along the expanses of the desert. The player ruled the rider and had to jump over obstacles and shoot wild animals that moved on three levels. Despite the primitive graphics, the game was in great demand among gamers of all ages.

"Tankodrome"

Another popular machine of all Soviet boys, which made it possible to determine the best tanker. At that time, "Tankodrom" was quite an advanced game, and special effects transferred the player to the field of tank battle. According to the scenario, it is necessary to escape from the encirclement ring and at the same time destroy all enemy tanks. For two minutes of the session it was not easy to win, and minefields further heated the situation. As a reward, the gamer got an extra fight and another opportunity to prove his skills. Sound design of the game evoked delight in men and boys - explosions and cannonades, roar and shooting guns.

"Highway"

Soviet developers were sure that slot machines should not just entertain, but also be useful. For example, the popular game "Magistral" should develop attention, speed of reaction and logical thinking. At the disposal of the players were different routes - training for beginners, and the night road and driving in the conditions of ice were conquered only by experienced riders.

"Towns"

Perhaps this is one of the country's own developments. The action was displayed on the television screen. Many children knew this fun and played it with their peers in the yards. By the rules, it was necessary to break 15 moving figures in 5 seconds of time on the sight. This game developed dexterity and reaction of schoolchildren and had no analogues abroad.

Excitement and winnings

Slot machines of the USSR never had anything in common with standard gambling and they did not give out any monetary prizes. In addition, 15 kopecks spent by the player were absolutely insignificant sumo and there were no incidents connected with major losses. Sometimes, of course, it happened that in the halls with slot machines schoolchildren let down all the money that parents gave them for breakfast. But this is, rather, an exception.

The only prize was a prize game. If the player played well, an additional tour was launched. For example, the track changed, or additional torpedoes were issued. Some slot machines gave out small gifts in the form of badges. In the apparatus of "Penalty" the player could receive as a reward the badge with the symbols of the football team.

But this quickly stopped, and the submachine guns began to swiftly surrender their positions. They were replaced by completely different games, and they themselves turned into museum exhibits.

The Museum in St. Petersburg

The Museum of slot machines of the USSR in St. Petersburg is a spacious bright room with more than five dozen models of gaming machines. It offers visitors not only to admire their favorite machine guns, but to participate in the rally or make a few well-aimed shots at the targets. The beginning of this private collection was laid entirely by accident. The creation of the museum began with the conversation of comrades who wanted to put the "Sea Battle" at home.

The creators of this museum found slot machines of the USSR in the most unexpected places. For example, one of them was found in a dump in the Moscow park. He did not work, but it was repaired, and he found a second life in the museum. Exhibits come here from all over the country.

One of the machines, "Turnip", or rather, his half, was in one of the Moscow musical schools near Moscow.

Museum in Moscow

Here the staff will tell the story of the creation of each machine and will give a detailed briefing. In the museum there is a lot of interesting, allowing you to plunge into the past and feel the spirit of a bygone era. In addition to slot machines, there are machines for making legendary lemonade and milkshakes, for exchanging coins and other wonders of Soviet electronics.

Also, the museum of automata in Moscow is furnished with past decor items, and old prints, filmstrips and retro tape recorders create a special mood.

As in the previous museum, you can play here and even hold a children's party.

The visitors' reviews of the museums, which managed to play on automatic machines and remember youth, are full of enthusiasm. It is not accidental that modern children are brought here, which are difficult to surprise. And they play with less pleasure. Contemporaries of Soviet machines are happy that they can spend time with excitement after the game.

Today, for those who want to ponostalgize and feel the spirit of a bygone era, a slot machine "Gold of the Party of the USSR" was created on the Internet. In the game it is proposed to collect combinations of Soviet symbols - combine, newspaper "Pravda", banknotes and so on. Original design and soundtrack will give unforgettable emotions to gamblers.