Bought a pinball, sort of...

[Jumpman64]

Anyone remember Bally's Rapid Fire?  It was a pinball/video game hybrid.  Apparently it did not got over all that well and didn't sell a lot.  But anyway, I saw an ad on CL for this one yesterday and snagged it, not really knowing what I was getting into:



It's now mine for the price of $60.

When I first saw the ad I thought maybe it would be a good basis for a virtual pinball machine.  Then when I saw it in person I started leaning towards doing a restoration.  But now I'm not really sure.  Few people seem to like the game.  The cabinet is unbelievably heavy.  It does not work (it sort of powers up -- a few lights turn on but that's it).  There is water damage in most of the particle board panels, although the lower box is plywood and in decent shape.

So, any thoughts or opinions? 

[ChadTower]

Restore it or pass it on to someone who would.  Too rare to part out.  Not that great a VP candidate anyway.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Nice pickup for $60.  I haven't played one but as you can tell it's not a typical pinball machine.  The aspect ratio of the backglass makes me think that could be stunning for a VP cab with backglass display.  The various parts are worth way more than $60 if you decide to part it out. 

[Jumpman64]

Totally forgot there is a pinball sub-forum.  Perhaps a mod can move it?

[Le Chuck]

For $60 I'd at least double that in trying to get it working.  If you can then it's a fun conversation piece even if it isn't a stellar title.  If it can't I think it has nice lines for a unique V-pin. 

[ChadTower]

It appears that way but it probably doesn't have good lines.  You'd be able to get something like a 19" monitor for the backglass.  You'd have trouble getting anything for an independent DMD because they don't make any LCDs that will fit in that speaker grill space unless you go really small.  Then you'd have to find a place to put your speakers because you just removed the speakers to put your simulated DMD.

[Well Fed Games]

Seems like a good base for a V-pin, get the parts to people who want to restore one in better shape and have some fun with a build! Nice grab... wish I could find anything pinball-ish locally for that cheap!

[ChadTower]

Pfft.  Look at this playfield.  This thing looks fun!

[Jumpman64]

Thanks for the opinions.  I'll mull it over for a bit.  I kind of like the idea of seeing if I can get it working for not too much $$.  If so, makes sense to either sell it as working/original, or do a full-on restore.  But I don't really want to spend hundreds to get it working, and I don't have quite enough electronics expertise to truly troubleshoot it down to the diode.  For now it will occupy a space in the garage while I finish my first MAME cab.


BTW the game itself is like Space Invaders, with the rows of aliens descending toward earth, but you twist the two joysticks to aim a barrel and fire away at them with silver balls.  At the top and sides are a series of targets.  I think it basically does some math to figure out which alien you would have to roll over first in order to hit that target.  It was apparently a straight-up copy of William's Hyper Ball.