The best slot machines of the USSR

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Soviet slot machines are the same landmark of the time as ice cream in paper cups, badges with the image of the Olympic bears and the legendary soda with syrup. "Safari", "Table Hockey", "Sea Battle" - for a person whose childhood passed in the 80s, only these names immediately evoke pleasant nostalgia.

A trip to history

The history of Soviet slot machines began in the 70s of the last century. It was then that it was decided to launch their production and create a completely new industry in the country, inviting the best American and Japanese manufacturers. Imported developments were presented at exhibitions of gaming machines. The Americans wanted to capture this market and be able to sell their slot machines. The USSR Party could not allow this. As a result, they went in a completely different way - at first they simply bought all the exhibits, and then puzzled 23 military plants. Thus, the production of slot machines began to be established, which were similar to similar machines in Japan andAmerica.

Slot machines of the USSR successfully existed until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the reason for their disappearance is not at all in frequent breakdowns. Most of them could entertain children and adults for many years to come. The thing is that it was necessary to pay for the game with 15 kopeck coins, and in the early 90s they went out of circulation. This problem was quite solvable, and attempts were made to breathe a second life into the slot machines of the USSR. Coins with a denomination of 15 kopecks were painted black and sold as tokens or beaten out on them with the abbreviations of the clubs where the machines stood. But such a simple method did not last long. Any self-respecting student could forge such tokens.

In Soviet times there were slot machines in almost every major city. So where did you have to go to play? As a rule, they stood in parks and houses of culture, cinemas, railway stations and even in Pioneer Palaces. They did not receive such mass distribution as modern payment terminals and did not stand at every turn. Slot machines of the USSR in Moscow could be placed in places with the greatest concentration of people, sometimes even separate gaming halls were opened. Sometimes you had to stand in a long line to play.

Sea battle

This is the most popular slot machine in the USSR among children and adults of all generations. It is not so easy to win in a sea battle. To sink enemy cruisers and submarines, you need to launchtorpedoes on enemy ships. But they do not reach the target instantly, but with a slight delay, so they have to shoot in advance. If you look through the rotating periscope, it seems that the submarines are moving far on the horizon. This illusion of depth was created using mirrors, but in fact the movement mechanism of the cruisers and boats was at the level of the player's knees. Why was the Sea Battle slot machine so popular? The USSR was a militarized state, and even the games reflected the essence of the country's politics.

Air battle

Almost every cinema of that time had "Air Battle". The USSR slot machine created the image of a defender of the Motherland, and every schoolchild dreamed of becoming an astronaut or a pilot. The control stick imitates the steering wheel, and the bright design of the cockpit, light and sound special effects made it possible to find yourself in the sky. With the help of the sight, it was necessary to shoot down enemy fighters and score points. The game is quite difficult, it took a long time to hone your skills to win.

Sniper

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

Safari

Another no less popular "shooter" of the time. But it was already necessary to shoot not just at faceless targets, but at African animals moving across the expanses of the desert. The player controlled a rider and had to jump over obstacles and shoot wild animals that moved through three levels. Despite the primitive graphics, the game was in great demand among gamers of all ages.

Tankodrome

Another popular machine gun of all Soviet boys, which made it possible to determine the best tanker. At that time, Tankodrome was a fairly advanced game, and special effects took the player to the tank battlefield. According to the scenario, you need to break out of the encirclement and at the same time destroy all enemy tanks. It was not easy to win in two minutes of the session, and the minefields further heated the situation. As a reward, the gamer received an additional battle and another opportunity to prove his skills. The sound design of the game delighted men and boys - explosions and cannonades, the rumble and firing of cannons.

Magistral

Soviet developers were sure that slot machines should not only entertain, but also be useful. For example, the popular game "Magistral" should develop attention, reaction speed and logical thinking. The players had different tracks at their disposal - a training track for beginners, and only experienced racers obeyed the night road and driving in ice conditions.

Towns

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

Excitement and winning

Slot machines of the USSR never had anything to do with standard gambling and they did not give out any cash prizes. In addition, the 15 kopecks that the player spent was a completely insignificant amount, and there were no incidents associated with large losses. Sometimes, of course, it happened that in the halls with slot machines, schoolchildren spent all the money that their parents gave them for breakfast. But this is rather an exception.

The only prize was the bonus game. If the player played well, an additional round was launched. For example, the route changed, or additional torpedoes were issued. Some slot machines gave out small gifts in the form of badges. In the Pen alty slot, the player could be rewarded with a badge with the symbols of the football team.

But it quickly stopped, and the machines began to rapidly lose their positions. They were replaced by completely different games, and they themselves turned into museum pieces.

Museum in St. Petersburg

The USSR Slot Machine Museum in St. Petersburg is a spacious bright room with more than five dozengame machine models. It invites visitors not only to admire their favorite guns, but also to take part in a rally or make a few well-aimed shots at targets. The beginning of this private collection was laid quite by accident. The creation of the museum began with a conversation between comrades who wanted to stage "Battleship" at home.

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

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

Museum in Moscow

Here the employees will tell the story of the creation of each machine and give a detailed briefing. The museum contains many interesting things that allow you to plunge into the past and feel the spirit of a bygone era. In addition to slot machines, there are machines for making the legendary lemonade and milkshakes, for changing coins and other miracles 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, here you can play and even hold a children's party.

Reviews of museum visitors who managed to play slot machines and remember their youth are full of delight. It's no coincidence herethey also bring modern children, who are difficult to surprise with anything. And they play with no less pleasure. Contemporaries of Soviet machine guns are happy that they can spend time playing games with passion.

Today, for those who want to be nostalgic and feel the spirit of a bygone era, the Gold of the USSR Party slot machine has been created on the Internet. The game offers to collect combinations of Soviet symbols - a combine, the Pravda newspaper, banknotes, and more. The original design and soundtrack will give unforgettable emotions to gambling gamers.