Cheating Arcade Machines Mini-FAQ, Vers.1.0
Howard Lurker
Note: This is a multiple one-time post to the following
seperate newsgroups,
rec.games.video.arcade
rec.games.video.classic
rec.games.video.arcade.collecting
This is not a proper cross-post to multiple groups at
once (this will result in any threads being split), as
the last cross-post appeared to only reach
rec.games.pinball (despite the headers all looking OK
when examined later using http://www.dejanews.com).
Apologies if you have already seen this and are now
getting it twice etc.
I don't intend to post this anywhere again.
[Start: Cheating Arcade Machines Mini-FAQ, Vers 1.0]
* Cheating Arcade Machines *
Mini-FAQ
Version 1.0 December 5th 1996 - camfaq10.txt
Compiled by: Howard Lurker
Introduction
============
This mini-FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) is a brief
summary of a popular thread on the
rec.games.video.arcade.collecting and
rec.games.video.classic news groups. Some cross-posting
to rec.games.pinball was also seen.
The thread started on 20th November 1996 when Mel
Matsuoka (melo...@pixi.com) asked if anyone remembered
fooling coin mechanisms of arcade machines by spinning
pennies into the slots.... in less than three weeks
more than eighty people had replied.
This Document
=============
Is a one-time version, I may possibly update it but I
doubt it. Don't mail me asking for copies of the latest
or anything, this document is only available through
informal distribution such as rec.games.video.classic.
I will *not* post it anywhere on a regular basis or
keep it online to the net although others may if they
want to.
By default I am discussing Video Arcade games unless
specifically mentioned otherwise (eg. Pinball). I have
not attempted to track if these exploits may have been
used on other machines (fruit machines, vending
machines etc.) and I have tried to avoid getting into
the specifics of what tricks worked on what particular
games and cabinets.
Credits
=======
Many fine people contributed to the discussion, I have
not named anyone against any items as I have no way of
knowing if they would like this to be advertised. You
know who you are! (Or use your favourite search engine
to check ;))
Disclaimers
===========
Illegal:
Most of the items listed in this mini-FAQ are illegal.
Dangerous:
A lot of them are potentially dangerous (eg. risk of
electric shock, heavy vending machines that may tip on
you and kill you, operators that will kick the crap out
of you when they catch you.)
Damaging:
Exploits listed here may well cause permanent damage or
destruction of expensive and rare machinery.
Morally Wrong:
Certainly a lot of this is morally wrong as well (eg.
you may be preventing someone from earning a living).
Having said that these things did happen in the real
world. Most of these things will not work now but did
work in the past - this is very much a retrospective
guide to the classic cheats that were prevalent in the
1980's.
This document is not intended as any kind of guide for
people to abuse machines. If anything other than a bit
of fun, it should be taken as a guide for operators to
help them spot and clamp down on this kind of fraud.
Yeah.
Don't try to do any of these things: They are old and
will not work anyway, you will get hurt or get into
trouble - have fun reading about them.
The FAQ
=======
1) Not the correct coin in the slot...
Use of lower denomination, old or foreign coins, filed
down coins, coins with silver foil wrapped around,
tokens, washers, junction box knock-outs, anything
round that will go in the slot and fool the mechanism
into thinking the right coin was inserted. Often used
in conjunction with a good spin.
2) The correct coin, but more than once...
A coin attached to a piece of string, thread, fishing
wire or any suitable cord.
Secured with glue, tape or a sticking plaster (band
aid) to attach the string to the side, or a hole
drilled in the coin and tied round. Also a groove down
the side of the coin to cater for the cord to be glued
in place.
The coin would be slowly lowered into the slot (holding
onto the string!) until the credit is registered, then
pulled a little way back up and lowered again to let it
register again and again and again...
The Coin Return button would often give back the
offending coin.
3) Flip it up the hole...
Some mechanisms would allow a small coin to be inserted
into the reject/return coin chute then a hefty spin
would send it (backwards) up the chute to register.
4) Foreign bodies in yer slot...
Insertion of a foreign body in order to trip the coin
sensor switch in the coin mechanism (often known as
'wiring' or 'dibbing').
Popular items were a coat hanger, drinking straw, thick
piano wire or guitar string.
Perhaps the most popular item was a piece of plastic
strimmer wire (as cut from a roll intended for the
garden tool for clearing undergrowth, edges etc.) bent
over into the shape of a hook. This had enough
flexibility to be able to round the bend of the chute
and trip the switch.
5) Put a clip on it...
It is said (esp. on Bally/Midway eg. Spy Hunter) that a
paper clip bent at ninety degrees could be stuck into
the left hand side of the right hand coin return to hit
the wire and get free credits.
6) Electro interference...
Used of electric cigarette lighters would often give
credits / extra men when 'clicked' on a metal part of a
video. Electro-static lighters intended for use on gas
cookers would also be used for this purpose, having a
more powerful charge, some fraudsters even extended the
filament wires for maximum potential.
7) Frying tonight...
You know that horrible 'zzzcht!' noise that a light
switch makes when it is not quite on and not quite off?
(don't try it) Well many machines would go crazy if
this was done to them, giving numerous credits.
Slightly loosening the power cord on many cocktails and
rubbing back and forth with one foot on the cord
(whilst holding the cord down with the other foot)
would tick up creds.
8) Off, On, Off, On...
(Similar to 'Frying tonight') rapid turning off and on
of some games would give free credits or put the game
into operator mode.
9) Bang, thump...
A short, sharp bang with a hard object (eg. pool ball)
or a wrap of the knuckles or a dig of the knee (ouch!)
in the right spot on the coin door would give the
credit. Watch out for them tilt switches... it is
alleged that Centipede will let out a big 'BLEEEEEAH'
sound if you do this. No credits or use other than to
amuse friends.
10) Flip ya lid...
Plexiglas front, control panel on a hinge, anything on
the front of the machine that could be loosened and
removed or lifted to allow a skinny hand inside the
machine to tick up the credits using the coin mechanism
or the operator free credit button.
11) Straw in the crack...
A folded drinking straw pushed through the crease of
the top hinge on a coin door could be used to tickle
the coin trigger.
12) Very knife...
Similarly a knife slid down the side of the door
opposite the hinges could be used to trip the operator
credit button that lives there.
13) Crow Bar...
Villains would actually crow bar the front of machines
open to steal the cash, this was quite easy as many
cabs. are made of chipboard.
14) Oh dear...
Social Engineering was commonly employed, 'Galaxian
just reset itself when we were playing doubles',
funny... if this kept happening over and over again it
got even more believable.
15) Open sesame...
Operators have been known to accidentally leave the
doors of machines unlocked. This is surprisingly
common.
16) Spill the beans...
It is not unheard of for a machines coin box to fill up
resulting in subsequent moneys being distributed onto
the floor underneath.
These might be 'recycled' for further games.
17) The key to it all...
Many cabs. will share keys, standard lock picking
techniques, use of master keys, spare keys, etc. could
be used to access credit mechanism.
18) Skip and jump...
Not sure if this is of any (constructive) use, but
laser disc games (eg. Dragons Lair) could be made to
skip by banging and thumping them.
19) No Tilt...
Some pinball's have poorly adjusted, broken or disabled
tilt mechanism. This mean the game can be tipped up and
balls kept in play. In turn this will earn credits.
One story is of a pinball 'Royal Flush' where the tilt
did not disable the Special light on the right hand
ramp, so the ball could be rocked gently over the free
game switch as many times as desired.
20) Shake it up...
Some pinballs could be shaken to activate the free
credit 'knock' over and over again.
21) Match me...
Another story tells of a pinball that would always
match if the score ended in a '10'.
22) Slide the glass...
The metal plate that holds the glass top of a pinball
in place might be loosened and manoeuvred so that the
glass can be slid down to reveal all those elusive
targets and jackpots (to be operated with sticky
fingers or the ball to be dropped in the desired place
the desired number of times).
23) Soda billing...
Early soda machines that took dollar bills could be
confused into giving back the dollar and the soda by
pressing the soda button and money return in quick
succession.
24) Can can...
Pressing two buttons at once on a soda machine results
in two cans being dispensed for the price of one.
25) A soda tip...
Very common, were soda machines that would release
various quantities of cans when tipped forward. Very
common also, were people being crushed by these very
heavy machines.
26) Armless fun...
Coke machines that you could actually put your whole
arm up inside the dispenser to trip the switch.
27) Hmmn. Tastes kind of salty...
One story tells of operators who had a problem with
salt water being squirted into vending machines which
would cause them to dispense all of their money and
goodies.
99) Pay for it...
...you tight buggers, you are far too old now to do any
of this :)
[End: Cheating Arcade Machines Mini-FAQ, Vers 1.0]