Atari's only electro-mecahnical game....

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....for sale right here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1974-Atari-F1-E...ultDomain_0&hash=item588d00ca39#ht_653wt_2207

Atari F-1

Never knew Atari actually did a elektro-mechanical game, even though this is the only one....

This is what Wikipedia says:

F-1 is based on electromechanical (em) projection technology. The race track is a pre-rendered animation stored on film and projected on the screen. The player's opponents and the player themselves are static transparent pieces within the machine that are also projected on the screen. Steering and collision are done through direct mechanical control.
This game is the first and only projection game released by Atari. It also was the first game licensed from Namco by Atari, a practice that would increase by the early 80's.



Doesn't seem to be on KLOV and the arcade flyer archive.

Here's some more info:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/arcade/arcade75.html
 
Well it _is_ listed on KLOV
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=18156

And the flyer's there too:
11000101.jpg
 
Interesting - i never knew Atari made an electro mechanical. Eagerly waiting to see the auction close, wondering what something like that goes for - extremely rare, yet unknown.
 
Interesting - i never knew Atari made an electro mechanical. Eagerly waiting to see the auction close, wondering what something like that goes for - extremely rare, yet unknown.

Technically, it's a Namco product, not Atari. Definitely an interesting piece of history, but in my eyes as much Atari as Dig Dug, Pole Position, Kangaroo, or Arabian (blech.)
 
Auction like this kill me. It does not look like the photos are of the actual item for sale.

Very interesting history though, thanks you for posting,

Chris
 
That is really awesome! I never knew Atari made any sort of projection game like that.

But I don't believe this was the only electro-mechanical made by Atari. Wasn't "Touch Me" technically electro-mechanical?

http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=12694

EM is typically used to describe games that use electronics, but that implement their logic in mechanical elements. Touch Me looks like it is just electronics and they call it a computer game on the flyer.
 
I remember seeing this game at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk arcade when I was a kid. Best part of the game is when a player would hit another car. The whole screen would change and display exploding cars. It was pretty entertaining.
 
For sure. You can see where it has been poorly cropped and touched up, just compare the pic to the flyer.

So I sent a message asking for real pics.....
 

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This is what Wikipedia says:

F-1 is based on electromechanical (em) projection technology. The race track is a pre-rendered animation stored on film and projected on the screen.

Wow, this is just plain wrong. The race track is not on film, it's (like the cars) a plastic model... Similar to the way games like Speedway from Chicago Coin work.


Actually Atari made a fame called Triple Hunt which I think was a EM game.

Triple Hunt is a videogame: http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10193

In later years Atari did some more EM games: http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...r=&manu=378&source=&submit=Search+the+Archive
 
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EM is typically used to describe games that use electronics, but that implement their logic in mechanical elements. Touch Me looks like it is just electronics and they call it a computer game on the flyer.

would atari gumball rally then qualify as an EM? car is moved around by magnets on a cable system..

11000301.jpg
 
Most people use it based on how the game logic is implemented. Look at the pins for a great example. EM pins implement their game logic in mechanical elements. SS pins utilize micro-controller circuitry for their logic. However, both game types have a multitude of mechanical and electronic elements and technically qualify as EM. Even a resistive touch megatouch is utilizing mechanical elements to its design and utilizes both the electrical and mechanical engineering disciplines. Anything with a traditional coin slot is mechanical. ;)

So if that F-1 has a micro-controller circuit and firmware controlling the big spinning disc, then I wouldn't call it EM. If it keeps track of where cars are and does collision detection based on mechanical elements attached to that wheel, then I would certainly consider it EM. My $.02 anyway...
 
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