Chexx Or Super Chexx Hockey - What's the diff?
Teaganm
anything much about them. What's the difference between the regular &
super? Anything special I need to know about these? Also, looking
for one in the New England area. Thanks - steve
m...@msn.com
the newer ones.
Super Chexx handles and gears and different and are designed to last longer
'Chexx' games. SC aslo comes with different teams, sounds and a different size dome.
If you ever noticed the CHEXX sells for about 500-600 used? There are reasons
for this, they want to get ride of them.
in...@icegame.com
The main improvement is time counts for each period and "shots on goal" is
tracked in the dome's scoreboard. The original blue game used three "ICE" lights
to indicate the period, where the red Super Chexx used an actual LED to count
down time in the period. The puck is magnetic, and in front of each goal is a set
of reed switches underneath the plastic playfield. As the puck goes over the
switches it closes the switches. This gives a "shot on goal" read-out on the score
board, and the crowd produces an "OHHHH" noise (the "OHHHH" noise though
is present in all versions of Chexx hockey right from 1983). On Super Chexx any
time the reed switch in front of the goal is closed, the shot on goal LED
increments. If the puck goes into the goal, it rolls down an aluminum rail and passes
another magnetic switch. This is what scores the goal and of course the crowd noise
responds to the goal. A moment later a solenoid automatically kicks the puck up
from under center ice and onto the playing field to continue play (the Boo button
can also be pressed anytime to eject the puck manually). The game is timed (adjustable),
but will continue to play past the set time until a goal is scored.
On Chexx/Super Chexx there is always a winner. The game continues play even after
game time has run out until a goal is scored (the game is purely mechanical in regards
to the players and puck, and can not stop play if the puck is on the ice). If a goal is
scored tying the game after the end of the game time (even though by NHL hockey
rules the game would be over and the winner declared when time ran out), sudden
death is played (this is indicated by the period number flashing on the score board
or the ICE lamp cycling left to right). If the game is 'over' (time has run out) and say
the score is 2-to-1, and the losing team scores tying the game, the puck is returned
to the ice and the game continues. This is sudden death. The reason the game does
this is because there is no way to stop a game when time runs out unless a goal is
scored and the puck is not kicked out to the ice. The machine wants to ensure there
is never a tie.
All Chexx hockey games play the U.S. national anthem (Super Chexx can also play the
Canadian anthem) at the beginning of the game (2001 and later games the anthem
actually sounds good - earlier games and the singer sounds sick!) There is even a "boo"
button to get the crowd to make a "BOOOO" noise (used to eject the puck too), and to
abbreviate the national anthem and eject the puck at the beginning of the game.
USA vs. Canada (or Home vs. Away) Super Chexx. Notice the Canadian team is
red and white.
The wrong side decal is installed on this 1994 version (it should be a white strip decal).
The original USA vs. Russia blue Chexx game (with a newer Super Chexx playfield).
The Russian team is pure red.
In Canada the 1983 style (long Moog CPU board) Chexx game was
marketed with a RED base and Canada vs. Russia. Also it plays the
Canadian national anthem.
Chexx Hockey Size.
The Chexx hockeys have a footprint of 36" square and 31" tall. Most home doors
are 29" to 31" wide. So to get a Chexx hockey into the house, the playfield needs
to be removed and the base turned sideways so the 31" width can make it
between the door pillars. This creates significant problems as most doors are
30" wide. Why Chexx used this height dimension probably made sense to them,
but for an average home owner, it creates difficulties getting the game in the house.
Because of this in the last few years the Chexx hockey has been available with
a split-base, which splits into two pieces.
Dating a Chexx Machines.
There is no easy way to get an exact manufacturer date for a Chexx hockey machine.
The best way I have found is using date codes from the parts in the game.
For example, on 1988 and later Chexx machines, I look at the large transformer in
the upper left corner of the CPU board. It will have a date code stamp in WWYY
format. WW is the week (01 to 52) that the transformer was made, and YY is the
year. So a date code of 0396 means the transformer was made during the 3rd week
of 1996, and the Chexx game was made sometime during 1996 (the serial number
on this game was started with 9E6, so perhaps that indicates 1996 also, but I am
not sure). A date code of 5093 means the transformer was made during the 50th
week of 1993, and the Chexx machine was made sometime during 1994 (remember
this date code will be a bit earlier than the actual manufacturer of the machine).
On the long CPU board Chexx hockey games I use the manufacturer code of the
chips on the CPU board. I use the date codes from the 6502 processor and the
6810 RAM. These date codes are in YYWW format (8304 means the chip was
made during the 4th week of 1983, and the game was made sometimes during
1983).
Chexx Hockey Problems.
As for problems with the Chexx Hockey game, often the gearbox for the hockey
players strips, wears or binds. At $14 to $30 per gearbox (depending where it's
bought), it can be expensive to replace all 10 gearboxes, but it is often needed.
If opposing players touch and the control sticks are turned, neither player should
be able to turn ("strip") the gears easily. If they can, the gearbox is worn and needs
to be replaced. There are also clear plastic washers that hold the player to the
gearbox, and often these are missing or broken. The plastic playfield can wear
its blue and red lines due to puck movement, and generally look bad or even crack.
The playfield is replacable at about $115. And of course the plastic dome can
scratch or crack, usually starting to crack around the allenhead bolt attachment
points. Again the dome is replacable but it is really expensive. Lastly the scoreboard's
digital readouts can lose segments or even entire digits, and need replacement or
repair.
Advice: if you have a broken Chexx game, don't bother calling ICE and asking for
help, as they are not helpful. When I have called (and I am an experienced tech
working part time for a shop that sells ICE products), these guys were useless with
even simple questions unless you taked to JP in the Tech department (he seemed
to be the only person that knew much about these games). So basically if you buy
a Chexx game you're on your own. So make sure you get it from a shop that will
support you. Because of this I hassitate to recommend ICE products for home use
unless you know a good repair person.
The 1993 to 2000 style Super Chexx CPU board. This board is from a
1994 Super Chexx (due to the 5093 date code on the transformer). Notice
the large transformer, which provides power to the board. The small
transformer is the scoreboard's florescent light ballast.
A 1988 to 1993 "small" Chexx CPU board using a 6502, 6522, 6116 RAM and 2732 EPROM.
Note the ballast transformer for the florescent scoreboard, different power supply
section, no ticket dispensor connector, and the 6502 processor (pre-68HC11).
The "CAN" on the one ROM indicating this is a Canadian Chexx that plays the Canadian
national anthem. Notice the 4 position DIP switch and volume at the right.
The Moog-made and designed 1983 to 1988 Chexx CPU board.
This board is mounted to a metal door the width of the coin
door, but the height of two coin doors. On the outside of the
door is a large heatsink. This door is on the opposite side
compared to the coin door. It uses a 6502 processor and 6522
PIA chips, a 2716 program EPROM, a 6810 RAM, eight 52164 64k
bit sound ROM chips, and custom Moog 40 pin sound chip.
Chexx CPU board General Information.
Above is an Ultra Chexx logic CPU board. The newest (2001 and later) Super Chexx
CPU board is just slightly different than this board. Basically the same board, but there
is a small daughter board with two 27040 EPROM chips and two TTL chips to support
the additional ROM. The newest version of the Super Chexx CPU board with the
daughter board which appeared around 2001 has much better sound and speech
(hence the bigger ROMs to hold the improved sound/speech). On the newer CPU
board for example, the U.S. national anthem is much more clear and doesn't sound
like the singer is sick(!), as in the earlier Chexx and Super Chexx games. Also on the
2001 and later CPU board version the Buffalo Sabers hockey team's announcer
was hired to do voice overs for the latest Chexx CPU board's sound. The older
square 1993 and later Chexx CPU board can be sent back to Chexx and for about
$100 they will upgrade it to the latest version. Unfortunately the first generation
long and skinny CPU board can not be upgraded.
Teaganm
came from a website, since it references photos. Can you post the
address? I'd like to see the accompanying photos. The next question
is... Does anyone have a Super Chexx for sale in the Connecticut area?
Steve
chuk
> Thanks! That's a boatload of info! It looks like some of that info
> came from a website, since it references photos. Can you post the
> address? I'd like to see the accompanying photos. The next question
> is... Does anyone have a Super Chexx for sale in the Connecticut area?
> Steve
I have a regular chexx in CT for 900. Gears re-built, newer dome off a
super chexx (but not new). Newer playfield (but not new).
Teaganm
I' d like to take a look at this. Can you drop me an email off list
so we can set up a time & place. I sent you an email but haven't
heard back, so I assume it was lost.
Steve
On Jan 20, 6:35 pm, chuk <n...@barncade.com> wrote:
> Teaganm wrote:
> > Thanks! That's a boatload of info! It looks like some of that info
> > came from a website, since it references photos. Can you post the
> > address? I'd like to see the accompanying photos. The next question
> > is... Does anyone have aSuperChexxfor sale in the Connecticut area?
> > Steve
>
> I have a regularchexxin CT for 900. Gears re-built, newer dome off asuperchexx(but not new). Newer playfield (but not new).
in...@icegame.com
http://www.marvin3m.com/arcade/chexx.htm
Ice games are located just outside Buffalo NY and retail for a walk in customer for $1995
and they sell refurbished ones for $1700.
Good luck on your search!