Do you think this could turn in a mame cabinet ?

[freak]

I have recently discoverd a shop where i can get lots of crystal maze machines (if i want).

I have one standing in the garage at the moment and wass wondering if this wass a good cab to turn in to mame machine.

I also want to know if anyone knows where i could get more info on this machine.

i know this is a machine were you could win money, but i still think that it could turn in to a great retro cabinet

[RayB]

Hmmm. I'd hold on to that one. How common is the machine? KLOV does not have a listing for it. My Googling only results in pages about a UK game show around 1990-93.

Is the game any fun?

[JCL]

Anything can be made into a MAME box.

That is an interesting game. Surely someone knows something about?

It looks like (from google) that it was a quiz game, maybe based on a TV show? Are you in the UK?

I googled "crystal maze" arcade cabinet and got some hits, especially on fruit machine sites.

[freak]

I'm from belgium and the guy were i got it  has like 20 standing in his warehouse. If i want one i just have to go there and load one up

I also did a search on google and i found the pic in my first post and also the links about the game show.

id on't know if the game is fun, cause the one i have at home doesn't work, but i'm sure some of the others will still work

But sites that have some info on the game i didn't find

[JCL]

Google is your friend:

Google Link

On a fruit machine site, a mention:

Mention

It seems there are 2 games called "The Crystal Maze" one with trackball, one without. One is a plain fruit machine, while the trackball one is a SWP (skill-with-prizes).

Google Cache

Other stuff (lots of dead links where google cache works):

Google Cache


http://www.mameromlinks.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=989

Google Cache

Google Cache


Here's a fan site for the show it was based on:

http://uk.geocities.com/evilpixiekazza/htm/crystalmaze.htm

As an aside, it seems like a lot of arcade game fans hate fruit machines and things like them. That may be why there is so little information on them. They are not emulated by MAME, but other emulators may support them.

Good Luck

[quarterback]

WTF is a fruit machine and why does JCL keep saying it?

[quarterback]

Oddly enought, a "Fruit Machine" ends up being very similar to what I imagined every time I saw the phrase used in this thread.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_Machine

Code: [Select]

The fruit machine is a jocular term for a device developed in Canada that was supposed to be able to identify homosexuals. The subjects were made to view pornography, and the device measured the pupils of the eyes, perspiration, and pulse for a supposed erotic response.

The fruit machine was employed in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s during a campaign to eliminate all homosexuals from the civil service, the RCMP, and the military.
Oh, and it also happens to be "a British term for a slot machine. "

[TOK]

Can't really see how deep the control panel is from your pic, but since it's deep enough for a trackball, I think that'd make a cool cab. I would yank the panel and make a new one, so the machine could be put back to stock if you wanted.

[freak]

What do you mean TOK ?

Building a new control panel for this machine (wass planning on doing this)

or pulling this control panel and make a new cabinet ?

I would like to try if i could make this one into a mame cabinet, i can go wrong somewhere cause i know where i can get another one lol

[Grasshopper]

Looks like it would make a great MAME machine. Nice screen angle. If I lived in Belgium I'd snap one up.

As far as MAMEing a classic machine is concerned, the fact that a guy has a warehouse full of these machines and is giving them away for free suggests that they are not sought after by collectors.

If you have the room then I suggest you take two, one to MAME and the other to keep as a Crystal Maze (just in case they become valuable).

[danny_galaga]

yeah, mame that baby and get another one 'just in case' (",) . its got lots of colour and shiny bits. you wont have to do much i think. my own view is to avoid a frankenpanel though as it would detract from its look...

[TOK]

What do you mean TOK ?

Building a new control panel for this machine (wass planning on doing this)

or pulling this control panel and make a new cabinet ?

I would like to try if i could make this one into a mame cabinet, i can go wrong somewhere cause i know where i can get another one lol

What I mean is that I wouldn't alter the original panel on that machine, since it appears to be intact. I'd remove it and use it as a template to build one with sticks/buttons and trackball.

[Minwah]

I've seen plenty of Crystal Maze games in the UK, but not being a big gambler/fruity fan I've never played it, FWIW.

[ray_slup]

it looks like it would make a good jukebox

[Level42]

WTF is a fruit machine and why does JCL keep saying it?

I don't know for the UK, but in Holland (and because more then half of Belgium also speaks Dutch (well kinda') I guess we'd also call it a Fruitmachine (actualy Fruit Automaat). The name clearly comes from the cymbols on the rolls that are (were) always cherry's, pears, pineapple's, banana's, grapes, grapefruites etc.

There was a very long time that in The Netherlands, these machines were actualy not allowed to pay out. You just played for the points. Of course, every place that had one or more of these machines payed out "under the table" because else no-one would play those things. Luckely government understood they could never control it and allowed them to pay out directly in the end, but there are still very strict rules about them here.

I personlay don't like them, these and the photoplays killed the videogames & pinballs in small places like bars, cafetaria's etc where only 1 or 2 machine's are.

Anyway, even though sometimes the rolls have been replaced with CRT's, every machine that pays out is usualy called a "fruitmachine" here...

So what do you call these machines in the US ? Slotmachines ?

By the way, welcome freak, nice to see someone in the "neighborhood"
O and yes I would Mame it and pick up a second one for keeps....

[paigeoliver]

It looks fine to me. If I were in your shoes I would take all 20 of them.

[Bones]

I have a curious question.....

Based on where the coin slot is, does there appear to be any damaged from dropped coins around the monitor or "control panel" areas?

And yep! I reckon it would look very cool as a mame machine, it's very colourful and fun looking.

[freak]

thx for all the reply's guy's

I think it would be difficult to use the control panel thats in there now, if i want to get 2 sticks on there and some buttons it would become very crowded on the control panel.

So maybe i should make a new control panel and if possible use the trackball thats in the machine now (would that be possible ?).

I'm also going to get another (working one) this week, cause i'm interested to see what sort of game it is

There is no damage on the monitor or control panel fromdropped coins, the cab itself looks like its new with the usual dead bugs and dust inside :p

thx for the welcome level42, nice to see some dutch speaking guy's on this board also

greetz

[paigeoliver]

Don't try to make them 2 player, the monitor is offset. They would make great single player machines though, or you could link a pair of them.

[freak]

Don't try to make them 2 player, the monitor is offset. They would make great single player machines though, or you could link a pair of them.

Yup your right, one player would be the max for this cab

In that case i can hold the origenal control panel i think

[Tiger-Heli]

So what do you call these machines in the US ? Slotmachines ?

Slot machines are usually referring to the older "one-arm bandit" style machines with the mechanical reels.

In the US, these are usually referred to either as "Adult Arcade Games", "Video Poker", or "Adult Video Games".  At least in South Carolina.

I always thought the references were odd, because you would see store after store with signs advertising this, and I would always wonder "Why does everyone want to play Gal's Panic around here?"

[danny_galaga]

in australia theyre called 'poker machines' or 'pokies'...

[Minwah]

In the US, these are usually referred to either as "Adult Arcade Games", "Video Poker", or "Adult Video Games".  At least in South Carolina.

'Video' implies to me the game has a screen (crt or whatever).  Fruit Machines just have mechanical rollers (& a lot of lights), no screen.

Aussie pokie machines are a totally different thing also.

Maybe true fruit machines are only used in the UK & Europe?

[Tiger-Heli]

In the US, these are usually referred to either as "Adult Arcade Games", "Video Poker", or "Adult Video Games".  At least in South Carolina.

'Video' implies to me the game has a screen (crt or whatever).  Fruit Machines just have mechanical rollers (& a lot of lights), no screen.

Aussie pokie machines are a totally different thing also.

Maybe true fruit machines are only used in the UK & Europe?

See beginning part of my reply:

Slot machines are usually referring to the older "one-arm bandit" style machines with the mechanical reels.

They have them in the U.S., although oddly, only in major casino spots, such as Las Vegas, Altantic City NJ, Cherokee NC, and Biloxi MS (maybe again in the near future).