Gottlieb System 1
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1 Introduction
Of the big 4 pinball makers, Gottlieb was slowest converting from EM to Solid State, producing EMs into 1979 while Bally, Stern, and Williams had all abandoned doing so in 1977/early 1978. The Gottlieb system 1 boardset was designed by Rockwell International, to directly replace the EM logic from the earlier machines. Consequently System 1 games play almost exactly like an EM, just with Solid State scoring.
The playfield layouts were solid EM-esque designs, with rock-solid Gottlieb mechanical parts. Unfortunately, the electronics were not as robust in terms of longevity - exhibiting major problems with connectors, battery corrosion issues, and unavailability today of essential system chips.
2 Games
Title | Date of Release | Production# | ROM | Sound | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleopatra | 11-1977 | ~7300 | A or 409 | Chimes | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Cleopatra' and a 2-player EM 'Pyramid' |
Sinbad | 05-1978 | 12950 | B | Chimes | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Sinbad' and a 2-player EM 'Eye of the Tiger' |
Joker Poker | 08-1978 | 9280 | C | Chimes | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Joker Poker' |
Close Encounters of the Third Kind | 10-1978 | 9950 | G | Chime board | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' |
Dragon | 10-1978 | 6550 | D | Chime board | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Dragon' |
Charlie's Angels | 11-1978 | 7950 | H | Chime board | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Charlie's Angels' |
Solar Ride | 02-1979 | 8800 | E | Chime board | Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Solar Ride' |
Count-Down | 05-1979 | 9899 | F | Chime board | Also produced as a 2-player EM 'Space Walk' |
Pinball Pool | 08-1979 | 7200 | I | Chime board | |
Totem | 10-1979 | 6643 | J | Sound board J-SND ROM | |
The Incredible Hulk | 10-1979 | 6150 | K | Sound board K-SND ROM | |
Genie | 11-1979 | 6800 | L | Sound board L-SND ROM | |
Buck Rogers | 01-1980 | 7410 | N | Sound board N-SND ROM | |
Torch | 02-1980 | 3880 | P | Sound board P-SND ROM | |
Roller Disco | 02-1980 | 2400 | R | Sound board R-SND ROM | |
Asteroid Annie and the Aliens | 12-1980 | 211 | S | Sound board S-SND ROM | Only available as a single player game |
Conversion kits for system 1 from other manufacturers:
- (circa 1982) Movie (Bell Games, 4p)
- (unknown date) Sky Warrior (IDI, 4p)
- (circa 1982) Tiger Woman (IDI, 4p)
- 1984 Sahara Love (Christian Automatic, 4p, production 150) [conversion of Sinbad]
- 1986 L'Heaxagone (Christian Automatic, 4p, production 150) [original playfield design]
- 1985 Jungle Queen (Pinball Shop, 4p) [playfield based on Gottlieb's Jungle Queen]
3 Technical Info
3.1 Chimes vs. First gen chime board
The first three System 1 games: Cleopatra, Sinbad, and Joker Poker all used EM style chimes. Starting with Close Encounters of the Third Kind through Pinball Pool, a first generation chime board was used that generated three tones. The chime board used the same three solenoid drive transistors for input as the chime units, making them interchangeable.
3.1.1 Converting from Chimes to Chime Board
This is a stub.
3.1.2 Converting from Chime Board to Chimes
This is a stub.
3.2 Power Supply
Pics, etc.
3.3 CPU Board
Pics, etc.
3.4 Driver Board
3.5 Sound Boards
Pics, etc.
3.6 Display Boards
Pics of 6 digit display and 4 digit status display, etc.
3.7 Setting up a Game for Free Play
Early Gottileb solid state pinball machines, prior to 1990, did not have a free play option available within the game settings. With this simple modification, a game can be set up for free play. First, identify the diode strip in the bottom of the cabinet. Once the diode strip is found, locate the credit button and coin switch strobe line wires. The wires will be located on the left of the diode strip - the non-banded side of the diodes. Below is a list of the wires.
Credit button wire - Green-White or Brown-Yellow-Yellow
1st coin switch wire - Orange-White or Brown-Red-Red
2nd coin switch wire - Brown-White or Brown-Orange-Orange
Solder a small lead wire from the credit button wire to any of the coin switch wires. Make certain that the diode, credit button wire, and coin switch wire are still soldered securely to the diode strip terminal when finished. If soldering is not an option, use a small alligator clip test lead. Now, when the credit button is pressed, a credit will be incremented and decremented. A game can be easily started without the need to open the coin door to trip the coin switches anymore.
4 Problems and Fixes
4.1 Power Driver Issues
This may not apply to some, as MPU might have been part of it.
4.2 MPU Issues
4.3 Power Supply Issues
4.4 Display Driver Board
Possibly doesn't apply to some, can't think of an example.
5 Game Specific Problems and Fixes
Example would be servo controller on Independence Day pinball
6 Repair Logs
Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.