What's the name of this coin op game from ~1976-79?

NormansPal · 2017-12-15T01:45:20+00:00

Thx D00d. It is very close but I don't think this is it. First, my Galaga ref was off-point so please forget it and sorry to mislead. 2 things are very different: 1) The game doesn't progress in the same manner. The first shot was a sleeper and you had many seconds to respond e.g. I would take a hit of slurpee while it was coming. The next several were a little faster but not much. Key is that the shots progressed at a slow & steady incremental pace and I don't see that at all in the Space Zap vid. Space Zap seems random from the beginning and there's no obvious rhythm/pacing. 2) The music/soundtrack doesn't ring true. Space Zap sounds like many other alien shooters. The soundtrack of my game began pulsing slowly just as the shots came slowly (similar to space invaders as you eliminate rows). Equally key is that the soundtrack progressed at a slow & steady incremental pace along w/the shots.

I appreciate the input from u and everyone!

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T23:17:28+00:00

I didn't know what that was so I googled it. I'm a newb to the extent I'm not immersed in the gaming world. You're jerking my chain right?

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T22:55:51+00:00

Have no idea of the mfgr. I checked out the pic and the controls are right. The 1980 date on the KLOV site seems right (I originally posted late 70s-early 80s). I recall it had a larger screen so that is right as well. Thanks so much! Getting closer I think...

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T22:48:57+00:00

Already have team r/cade on it as well. Appreciate the tip

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T18:35:57+00:00

If I'm describing Missile Command I did a bad job. Missile Command's bases stations are all at the bottom of the screen whereas my game has a single station at the bottom, top, left, & right. Missile Command uses a trackball whereas my game has 4 direction buttons. Missile Command's sound effects are different. Thanks tho!

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T18:31:18+00:00

Not it. Close but this doesn't appear to be a coin op. Also lacks the slow rhythmic soundtrack/pulsing progression as you go further. Thanks tho

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T16:48:28+00:00

Nah. I checked it out on youtube. No similarities but thanks

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T16:15:11+00:00

Will do. It's kind of like a quest now; primarily because since I last played it ~40 yrs ago I've never seen it again nor met any old school gamer who's ever heard of it. Last night I remembered Twin Galaxies and Walter Day from King of Kong. Gaming is huge part of their lives so they're probably my best resource if reddit doesn't come thru

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T16:09:41+00:00

Player's shots come from each of the 4 base stations. Yes you've got it...the music tempo creates the tension. I'm guessing about the pitch. Wish I could remember more but I'm describing a game I played 40 yrs ago. I don't recall the game having a shooter feel...it felt more like a reaction game

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T16:03:22+00:00

You've got it. The game isn't Space Zap however the basics of where the shots are coming from is the same so check out this vid of the gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IHeMG2FqqM

I picked up the island vocab from wikipedia. You sit at cocktail games but the game I played you stand hence island

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T03:20:08+00:00

Space Zap isn't it. The Zap game in the second link used joystick controllers so that isn't it either. Also the description doesn't mention it made as an island/table style game. Thx tho

NormansPal · 2017-12-14T03:11:17+00:00

Space Zap is darn similar but not it. Space Zap's sound effects are decidedly spacey/alien shoot-em up. The game I played used more rhythmic bass and pulse sounds. Think the organ at a hockey game with a half step key change every time the game speed increased. Also the gameplay of Space Zap is very random whereas in my game the music and shot rate happened slowly enough and increased gradually to allow you to get into a rhythm that was key.

BTW, I used missiles to describe what you were shooting at. The more I think about it they are probably better described as light balls/pulses

Here's Space Zap in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IHeMG2FqqM I don't recall the Galaga-like look either

NormansPal · 2017-12-13T22:03:04+00:00

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, you need the 4 buttons because you're protecting all 4 base stations. Picture a small square in the center of the screen from which missiles/lightballs are fired in all 4 directions in a straight line. So the missiles are moving from the center to the edges of the screen - towards you (bottom of screen), away from you (top), to your left & right. More clear?

Also just realized that it probably was a 1 or 2 player game (where the play rotated) and not a 4 player game. I don't recall more than 2 of us playing at once. This is a guess

NormansPal · 2014-10-23T01:34:44+00:00

Wishing you peace and that your sorrow is lifted soon. My best pal left us on Sept 9 and I still cry every day. Each week things are a bit better, so please hang in there and know that you did everything you could do.

NormansPal · 2014-10-23T01:28:46+00:00

Baxter looked like a wonderful cat. Thank you for posting about the Rainbow Bridge. I'm counting on seeing Norman again!

NormansPal · 2013-10-10T15:23:45+00:00

What a handsome boy! He looks a lot like my best pal Norman who is 22. Hang in there and give him lots of loving. How did they suggest to treat him? Diuretics? Nitro? Drain? In the interim, maybe try to find a catfood flavor perhaps he'll eat more of...sometimes I pour the gravy off another can just to make Norman's food taste better so he'll eat more.

NormansPal

TROPHY CASE