Old 'Skill' Submarine Bombing Game
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:35 pm
Morning chaps,
For some reason, I've just recalled an old skill game I played about 10 years ago on holiday in Jersey. I'm not sure if it was a beast that was indigenous to the Channel Islands, or if it was ever over here on the mainland?
Well, I used to make a good £10 or so off of it every evening when in the hotel bar. It was a standalone unit, and I can't remember the name of the game, or even how the cabinet looked.
You were a small boat at the top of the screen, and you could move it left or right across the 'sea' with (i think) a rollerball, or it may have been buttons. There were a number of small submarines that would make their way across the sea at various depths. Destroying them would award a varying amount of points. At the top of the screen was a classic 'prize line', which you would move up with each succesful bombing of a submarine. I seem to remember the top prize being £4.80, although again, I may be mistaken there.
The skill was in the aiming of the depth charge, and timing it right so as it would hit the submarine.
The funny thing was, the 'dynamic' prize line almost seemed to be random. Most attempts, would see it at £1 or so for the top prize, and (again, I think) £4.80 on the odd occaision. You could also see what the prize structure was like prior to playing. This of course, opened up a possibility: turning the machine off and on would present a different prize structure each time. As it was in a side room of the hotel bar, this was not a problem. Plus, it only took seconds to reboot. If the top prize was above £3, the lower tiered prizes were pretty much low hanging fruit, ripe for the taking.
OK, so it was a slow way to make a tenner or so, but good fun. As I say, this was a while ago, and I may have some of the detail incorrect, but had anyone else ever played this one?
PS: I think it was 20p a pop!
For some reason, I've just recalled an old skill game I played about 10 years ago on holiday in Jersey. I'm not sure if it was a beast that was indigenous to the Channel Islands, or if it was ever over here on the mainland?
Well, I used to make a good £10 or so off of it every evening when in the hotel bar. It was a standalone unit, and I can't remember the name of the game, or even how the cabinet looked.
You were a small boat at the top of the screen, and you could move it left or right across the 'sea' with (i think) a rollerball, or it may have been buttons. There were a number of small submarines that would make their way across the sea at various depths. Destroying them would award a varying amount of points. At the top of the screen was a classic 'prize line', which you would move up with each succesful bombing of a submarine. I seem to remember the top prize being £4.80, although again, I may be mistaken there.
The skill was in the aiming of the depth charge, and timing it right so as it would hit the submarine.
The funny thing was, the 'dynamic' prize line almost seemed to be random. Most attempts, would see it at £1 or so for the top prize, and (again, I think) £4.80 on the odd occaision. You could also see what the prize structure was like prior to playing. This of course, opened up a possibility: turning the machine off and on would present a different prize structure each time. As it was in a side room of the hotel bar, this was not a problem. Plus, it only took seconds to reboot. If the top prize was above £3, the lower tiered prizes were pretty much low hanging fruit, ripe for the taking.
OK, so it was a slow way to make a tenner or so, but good fun. As I say, this was a while ago, and I may have some of the detail incorrect, but had anyone else ever played this one?
PS: I think it was 20p a pop!
