GORF Questions

FrizzleFried

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I have a few questions regarding Gorf...

(1) I thought the lamp in the stick lit up when you press the fire button? Mine lights up when you DON'T press the fire button. Is this right?

(2) Are all the bezels misaligned with the light boxes under it for SPACE CADET, SPACE COMMANDER, etc? Mine seems to be about 1/4"+ off to the left from the light boxes. I assumed the light boxes were misaligned but when I removed the bezel I was surprised to see they are mounted to a box that is mounted to the side of the cab... they didn't "slip". The bezel sits tight with the right side so I can't push it right... not a huge thing but it would be nice if the proper part of the bezel lit up completely, etc...

(3) During the 2nd screen... I noted that one of the yellow ships moved off to the side of the screen... in an area that the players ship can't move to... and sat there... for like 5-7 seconds or so.... then zipped back in to the "field of play". I've seen this happen twice so far. Is this a common thing?

(4) During the Galaxian screen... I've been killed by what appears to be the SCORES left over when you shoot a guy... if I run in to one, BAM!

(5) During the Galaxian screen... I've mysteriously died at least 4 or 5 times now... I really didn't see any bullet hit me (though I have to say the bullets are freakin' SMALL on this screen so perhaps I've somehow missed it 4 or 5 times?)... it's almost as if there is an invisible bullet that I'm getting hit by. Bug? Common?

I have to admit though GORF is one bad-ass game in it's original cabinet...the sounds... the controls... it just rocks. The fact that even MAME screws up this game in emulation makes this one helluva good pickup.


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(1) I thought the lamp in the stick lit up when you press the fire button? Mine lights up when you DON'T press the fire button. Is this right?

I think so.

(4) During the Galaxian screen... I've been killed by what appears to be the SCORES left over when you shoot a guy... if I run in to one, BAM!

It'd be cool if the programmers did this on purpose.
 
I have a few questions regarding Gorf...

(1) I thought the lamp in the stick lit up when you press the fire button? Mine lights up when you DON'T press the fire button. Is this right?

(2) Are all the bezels misaligned with the light boxes under it for SPACE CADET, SPACE COMMANDER, etc? Mine seems to be about 1/4"+ off to the left from the light boxes. I assumed the light boxes were misaligned but when I removed the bezel I was surprised to see they are mounted to a box that is mounted to the side of the cab... they didn't "slip". The bezel sits tight with the right side so I can't push it right... not a huge thing but it would be nice if the proper part of the bezel lit up completely, etc...

(3) During the 2nd screen... I noted that one of the yellow ships moved off to the side of the screen... in an area that the players ship can't move to... and sat there... for like 5-7 seconds or so.... then zipped back in to the "field of play". I've seen this happen twice so far. Is this a common thing?

(4) During the Galaxian screen... I've been killed by what appears to be the SCORES left over when you shoot a guy... if I run in to one, BAM!

(5) During the Galaxian screen... I've mysteriously died at least 4 or 5 times now... I really didn't see any bullet hit me (though I have to say the bullets are freakin' SMALL on this screen so perhaps I've somehow missed it 4 or 5 times?)... it's almost as if there is an invisible bullet that I'm getting hit by. Bug? Common?

I have to admit though GORF is one bad-ass game in it's original cabinet...the sounds... the controls... it just rocks. The fact that even MAME screws up this game in emulation makes this one helluva good pickup.


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Yes, the light boxes are off center. They were probably stoned when they designed it.

The laser attack screen, yep they will hide off to the side where you can't shoot them, then buzz back in randomly. If you shoot an alien and the points value appears (on any screen) and you run into that before it disappears you will die. Probably a bug, and not a purposeful part of the programmer's vision. You can hide in the lower left of the screen infinitely if the last alien is one of the laser shooters....

The joystick light is supposed to be lit....and when you fire it goes out.

the purple galaxians fire that "extra" bullet when they near you...that's probably what killed you. Watch out for that.
 
I'll make some closer observations on my Gorf tonight and report back. I just recently got it moved into the basement and haven't had a lot of time to play.
 
Thanks for the confirmations. It seems the game is working as-intended. Awesome. I'll keep an eye out for the purple galaxian's fire... you're probably right.

I also noticed that the scoring is a little different on the Galaxian screen than in Galaxian. 300 for the two "top" ships no matter how many guys they drop with or what order you hit them in. Too bad... that is one cool thing I liked about Galaxian.

Overall I am very impressed with this game though... from 1980 to have not 1, not 3, but 5 different screens is pretty freakin' cool.
 
Thanks for the confirmations. It seems the game is working as-intended. Awesome. I'll keep an eye out for the purple galaxian's fire... you're probably right.

I also noticed that the scoring is a little different on the Galaxian screen than in Galaxian. 300 for the two "top" ships no matter how many guys they drop with or what order you hit them in. Too bad... that is one cool thing I liked about Galaxian.

Overall I am very impressed with this game though... from 1980 to have not 1, not 3, but 5 different screens is pretty freakin' cool.

You'll find different point values for the UFOs and the "jumping" gumdrop dude on the space invaders (astro battles) screen.....
 
You'll find different point values for the UFOs and the "jumping" gumdrop dude on the space invaders (astro battles) screen.....

Yeah... I noticed that. I try to get the bouncer dude at the get-go... The saucers that go across the screen at at 100pts I believe and the ones that stop then go back are at 200pts I believe.

I also noticed that unlike Space Invaders, you can shoot the invaders down to less than 8 and still have saucers appear. If you kill the 8th guy on the screen in SI, the saucer stops appearing.
 
Gorf is a great game, I couldnt get my joystick appart to replace the bulbs, so mine doesnt light up. but as for game play mine plays just like yours.

my favorite is on the first level when you have 1 or 2 invaders left, if you fire really quick, the processor cant keep up, and the invaders slow down. i would like to see you emulate that on your mame cabinet.
 
Gorf is a great game, I couldnt get my joystick appart to replace the bulbs, so mine doesnt light up. but as for game play mine plays just like yours.

my favorite is on the first level when you have 1 or 2 invaders left, if you fire really quick, the processor cant keep up, and the invaders slow down. i would like to see you emulate that on your mame cabinet.


It does...I always thought it was an emulation bug.
 
Yeah... I noticed that. I try to get the bouncer dude at the get-go... The saucers that go across the screen at at 100pts I believe and the ones that stop then go back are at 200pts I believe.

I also noticed that unlike Space Invaders, you can shoot the invaders down to less than 8 and still have saucers appear. If you kill the 8th guy on the screen in SI, the saucer stops appearing.

The saucers that go across the screen I have seen 100 and 200 points, the one that stops and travels back across I have seen 200 and 250. The gumdrop dude I have seen 200, 250, and 300 (on astro battles); and even 150 when it appears on laser attack or the galaxians screen.

When the astro battles screen begins, if you go straight up with your ship and pause for just a bit...then fire, you will hit the gumdrop dude every time. It's funny, because as it is blowing up it still unloads all the invaders....

I never noticed the SI saucer thing....I'll have to pay more attention on my SI and do the 8 ship test.
 
Have been looking through old posts to try to find out about the GORF joystick lamps. Mine have been cut out. I tried to wire it up but no lights and no laser fired so i am looking for a picture if someone can post? What time of Lamp should be in there also? and How many Volts?

Thanks,
 
Have been looking through old posts to try to find out about the GORF joystick lamps. Mine have been cut out. I tried to wire it up but no lights and no laser fired so i am looking for a picture if someone can post? What time of Lamp should be in there also? and How many Volts?

Thanks,

It's a #74 mini lamp.....rated at 14 volts.

If your Gorf is an upright, the lamp is driven by one of the transistors on the "rank light" board. If you've got a cocktail or mini, it got a small separate driver board....that drives the joystick light.

Edward
 
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I have a few questions regarding Gorf...

(1) I thought the lamp in the stick lit up when you press the fire button? Mine lights up when you DON'T press the fire button. Is this right?

(2) Are all the bezels misaligned with the light boxes under it for SPACE CADET, SPACE COMMANDER, etc? Mine seems to be about 1/4"+ off to the left from the light boxes. I assumed the light boxes were misaligned but when I removed the bezel I was surprised to see they are mounted to a box that is mounted to the side of the cab... they didn't "slip". The bezel sits tight with the right side so I can't push it right... not a huge thing but it would be nice if the proper part of the bezel lit up completely, etc...

(3) During the 2nd screen... I noted that one of the yellow ships moved off to the side of the screen... in an area that the players ship can't move to... and sat there... for like 5-7 seconds or so.... then zipped back in to the "field of play". I've seen this happen twice so far. Is this a common thing?

(4) During the Galaxian screen... I've been killed by what appears to be the SCORES left over when you shoot a guy... if I run in to one, BAM!

(5) During the Galaxian screen... I've mysteriously died at least 4 or 5 times now... I really didn't see any bullet hit me (though I have to say the bullets are freakin' SMALL on this screen so perhaps I've somehow missed it 4 or 5 times?)... it's almost as if there is an invisible bullet that I'm getting hit by. Bug? Common?

I have to admit though GORF is one bad-ass game in it's original cabinet...the sounds... the controls... it just rocks. The fact that even MAME screws up this game in emulation makes this one helluva good pickup.


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Not that it's necessary since this has all been answered already, but being a fellow GORF owner, I'm just confirming these things from my own experience. Yes, to #1 and #2. It's all normal and like that for mine as well. #3 I have seen happen on occasion, not all the time, though. #4 I've had this happen to me as well. #5 They're not invisible, but yes, the bullets are small and sometimes hard to see while concentrating on so many other things on the screen.
 
Anyone ever taken the time to add some spacers to the lamp box under the bezel to get it to line up with the bezel?
 
Anyone ever taken the time to add some spacers to the lamp box under the bezel to get it to line up with the bezel?

I thought about it for about a day, but it never bothered me that much overall. As long as I can see where I'm at in the ranking, I'm fine with it.
 
The fact that you can crash into the scores always pissed me off about that game and those tiny galaxian shots suck too, I always felt ripped off when I'd die by either of those ways. Of course the machine mockingly laughs at you. :D
 
The fact that you can crash into the scores always pissed me off about that game and those tiny galaxian shots suck too, I always felt ripped off when I'd die by either of those ways. Of course the machine mockingly laughs at you. :D

I guess thats why you sold It to me :)
 
I have an issue with my machine,if that's what it even is? On my screen while playing there is a full screen grid of evenly spaced black dots all over the screen and they surround my ship. If I move my ship and touch any of the dots I explode. What the hell is this!!??? When I first got the game running the other day it never did this. Does it happen when you mess with the dip switches? I changed two of them around and this seems to be when the issue started.
 
Okay,I took pics of what I was talking about. See the dots surrounding the ship? The area around them is the farthest I can move the ship or I explode. I have the dots on the title screen also but they are blue. You are only supposed to see the white stars.
 

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