Welcome class! This is where we learn that not all games of the same name are alike. The cabinet and art designers may have changed a few things during the production run of the game (this list does not include prototype machines where the state of the artwork was in flux). Some color changes are intentional, while some may have just been caused by mixing new ink batches, or were mistakes. The ones listed here are artwork changes or other cabinet anomolies. Here's a list of some well known (and some not so well known) differences that may make your game unique:
One marquee shows only Q*bert swearing like he does during the game when he
gets killed. Another version, shows just the title of the game "Q*bert". Both versions aren't too hard to find, but it is speculated that the non-swearing version is more common.
Resource: Pics available on the web.
This one can only be theorized about, but certain Asteroids games have a
backglass which has the instruction text half in white, and the other half
in yellow. It is possible that these are "Gold" versions of the machine;
machines which were produced after the 10,000 units mark. Normally, the
backglass instructions text is all in white.
Resource: I've seen at least two gold text backglasses
at Iowa auctions, and one in Chicago.
Joust originally was designed to use optical joysticks similar to Sinistar's
49-way joystick, but with only 2 sets of optos (one for left and one for right).
As a cost reduction move, the joysticks were changed to two-way joysticks.
Anyway, some NOS Joust control panel overlays have large circle cut outs
for the joystick; this overlay was made for the opto sticks version of
the control panel, and is not an error. The other version just has two
small ovals.
Resource: I've owned an NOS opto version,
and you find the other version on most any Joust game.
If you look at the original Sinistar manual, you will see that the overlay
around the joystick shows a space ship heading in each of the 4 directions.
However, most Sinistars I've seen have a simple pattern of lines coming out from
the joystick. I think the ship version is an earlier production run, due to the
fact that it is on the original manual.
Resource: I have seen both NOS overlays, side by side.
There were apparently two different versions of Robotron side art. One version has the "8" shaped so there is a point on the top and bottom, while another, more common version has the flattop "8" shaped similar to the marquee and control panel graphic.
Resource: Pics available on the web
The standard Robotron cabinet edge curves from the monitor to the control panel,
and then goes straight down. However, there are some versions of the cabinet
which curves down from the monitor to the control panel, and curves back
under the control panel and then down.
Resource: I've owned the regular one, and saw the curved
one at an Iowa auction
There are two different AstroBlaster marquee versions; one is a dark blue background, while the other is a much lighter blue/green background. Also, the green one has some artwork changes from the blue one.
Resource: I've seen each in person, with the marquees side by side.
The blue version has sharp "+" pattern in the background, while the purple version has a fuzzy or blurred "+" pattern. This is definitely an artwork change, as the "Eliminator" text is actually higher in one marquee than the other.
Resource: I own both kinds.
Different colors.
Resource: Zonn Moore owns both
Different colors.
Resource: Christopher Moore
I've seen two different versions of an upright Wizards of Wor cabinet. One has
a specific large door below the coin door for the coin box. The other one just
has a single coin door from which you access the coin box. I'm not sure as to
which one is more common.
Resource: Mark Davidson
Bally Midway changed their game "Kick" to "Kick Man", hoping to draw in the
Pac-Man crowd (Pac-Man is featured in both versions of the game). The cabinets
are the same, but the marquees changed after serial number #1600. This is the
only instance I can think of where a game's name was changed AFTER production.
Resource: Star Tech journal articles. I also used to own
a "Kick" game.
According to a Playmeter magazine showing the promo for Quantum, the pyramid is
on the right, but collectors have games where the pyramid is on the left. An
issue of Atari Age also shows the pyramid on the right, leading me to believe
left pyramid machines are a later version.
Resource: Playmeter, Atari Age.
Atari released Asteroids Deluxe, but got a lot of complaints about glare due to
the position of the backglass. A modification was done such that further
cabinets had the top of the backglass positioned more towards the player to
prevent/reduce glare. Apparently this was also done with Warlords (but I've
never seen a modified Warlords to confirm).
Resource: Google, seen in person
One version I've seen, if you look from the back, simply has two colors screen
on the back of the plastic lower art (beneath the control panel on the upright).
There is a big orange circle screened behind the center circle, and the rest is
screened white. On yet another piece, the lines are separately screened (and
has a much better visual appeal).
Resource: Seen them side by side
The Dark Side version is extremely dark grey compared to the normal one,
although all other colors match. The part numbers from the original to the dark
version do not match. In fact, on the dark version there is "V1195" in white,
and another part number in black. Maybe there
were some repro done in November of 1995? Not sure about this one.
Resource: Seen them side by side
One version of the control panel overlay has the instructions and the figures of the game
shown above the control panel, divided by a line down the middle. Another version has the
objects on the right side of the control panel divided again with an additional line, with
some difference in the instruction text and size of objects. Both say Rev A. Not sure which
is more common.
Resource: pics on the web
The original overlay (039827-04 Rev A - VE0300) has a light, cyan blue. The later
revision (Rev. B.) has a
darker sky blue. The Rev B blue doesn't match the rest of the cabinet (including the marquee)
as well.
Resource: Scott Caldwell has both
Both look the same, but different background colors.
Resource: Scott Caldwell has both
Some Tail Gunner uprights have a white interior to the sides, and some are black. Not sure about which is more common.
Resource: KLOV, me
There are two different types of Tail Gunner overlays.
Resource: Mark Capps
O.K. class, your assignment is to report any additional differences you've seen between games of the same name. Hand in your assignments here.