4-Player Skee-Ball?

keithsarcade

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I just picked up a ton of Skee-Ball parts and this stuff was among them. 4-Player Skee-Ball display, plexi and 2 computers. One computer is model SBC-1-A-FP24 and the other is SBC-1-B-xxxx (too lazy to go downstairs and look for the last 4 digits). Both have a 5-pin connector in place of the normal 6-pin I'm used to (meaning the standard model S display doesnt work with these). I have never seen this 4-player setup before. Anyone know anything about it? Havent tried it in my machine yet but I'm tempted to see how it works.

Also almost all of the computers I picked up come up with "990" on the score display for a few seconds before going to the normal attract mode. Does this mean anything?
 

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Thats a pretty rare machine...the 4 player Skee ball machines, are my favorite. For each player , it drops 3 balls for each round, and there are 3 rounds (so you get nine balls). If I remember correctly, the display used the large connectors (P11 and P12).
 
Yes it does. The only testing I've done so far is powered up the computer and display. It comes up with the 990 then goes into what I believe is the normal attract sequence. Other than that one connector the computers look exactly the same as the standard S model so I'm guessing I can try these out in my setup. Are the 4-players worth about the same as the standard? more? less?
 
Very cool find. I've never seen or heard of these. I've had plans to eventually disassemble my skeeball rom and create some other games to choose from, multi-player included. I like the 3 balls per turn idea. Thanks for posting about this!
 
You could probably convert your machine, the only issue I can think of is the rocker arm release that was found on the 4 player machines. It is a modified (shorter) rocker arm, that only allowed three balls to drop. If you just kept three balls in a standard rocker arm, it would probably work as long as none of three balls got lost. It will drop the 3 balls, and wait for them to be played, and then drop them again, and once more for the last round. Can't remember if it had a start button? Another cool thing is that it plays a different melody for each of the three rounds.
-Mark

I worked at Skeeball for few years back in 2000-2004 doing board repairs....I probably got 1 of these a year to repair. Pretty rare machine, and If I were to own a Skeeball machine, this would be the one.
 
I tried it out. It works. You need at least 4 balls for a standard rocker, it cycles to the next player too fast for the last ball to catch up. As mentioned, 3 balls per round per player and 3 rounds. The start button is pinball style, meaning hit it once for one player, twice for 2 and so on, then hit the service button on the left to start the game. I only noticed a different music for the 3rd round. Otherwise it's the standard skeeball sounds I'm familiar with.

Going to sell the kit if anyone's interested. It will be pricey but will include the computer, display panel & plexi, and maybe another goodie or two. The display panel works excetp for a few segments (cold solder joints) that I will likely fix before letting it go. Also have some of the the single player stuff if anyone's in need, basically 2 complete setups just like the 4P kit.
 
Got these parts from welove80s. For anyone curious, model S parts will plug into and work in a model H machine with no modifications to the harnesses.
 
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Thats pretty cool. Seems like it would keep all 4 players involved more then just watching 3 other complete games waiting for your turn.

Does it play a regular 9 ball game if there is only one player?
 
Thats pretty cool. Seems like it would keep all 4 players involved more then just watching 3 other complete games waiting for your turn.

Does it play a regular 9 ball game if there is only one player?

No. The machine is loaded with only 3 balls. It releases the balls again after every third ball until the game is over. Single player is just like multiplayer play, but with only one score progressing.
 
Yeah, you did. Many thanks for all of the extras! It's on my eventual to-do list. Didn't bother me as much when it only did it at the begining of a game. I gotta say though, I miss those model H sounds.
 
Never knew there were different sounds. I thought the only difference was the addition of 100 point rings. Now you got me wondering what the model H sounds like.
 
I was looking at the 4 player machine ... I called berry and he told me to pass on it ,,,they only built up less than 100 unites and they no longer have parts.. and they had problems with the programing as well ..

So yes it a very rear machine....
 
Very cool I have never seen the 4 player! I played in and did all the maintenance for a local Skeeball leauge for years until they switched over to the crappy beer ball machines.
 
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