Gameplan Repair

Note: This page is a work in progress. Please help get it to a completed state by adding any useful information to it.

For history of Gameplan see Gameplan.

1 Introduction

GamePlan made pinball machines from 1978-1985. Their first pinball machines were cocktail size. The first full-size pinball machine was SharpShooter designed in 1979 by Roger Sharpe. The last pinball machine produced by GamePlan was called the Loch Ness Monster and only one was produced. The machine still does exist today in a private collection. GamePlan also made one widebody pinball machine called Global Warfare, which was designed by Roger Sharpe as well. The artwork was created by John Trudeau. Only ten Global Warfare machines were produced. Roger didn't realize that this design had ever been put into production until being presented with one during pinball expo.

2 Games

• Agents 777
• Andromeda
• Attila the Hun
• Black Velvet (cocktail)
• Camel Lights (cocktail)
• Captain Hook
• Challenger
• Chuck-A-Luck (cocktail factory conversion of Real)
• Cyclopes
• Family Fun (cocktail)
• Foxy Lady (cocktail)
• Global Warfare (widebody)
• Lady Sharpshooter (cocktail)
• Loch Ness Monster (prototype)
• Mike Bossy the Scoring Machine (never produced)
• Old Coney Island!
• Pinball Lizard
• Real (cocktail)
• Rio (cocktail)
• Sharp Shooter II
• Sharpshooter
• Star Trip (cocktail)
• Super Nova
• Vegas (cocktail)

3 Technical Info

GamePlan utilized the Z80 microprocessor as their CPU of choice for all of their games. The early cocktail pins used the MPU-1 board, and the full-size machines used the MPU-2 board. The only difference is the amount of RAM. GamePlan used individual driver boards for the solenoids (the SDU-1 board) and lamps (LDU-1 and LDU-2 boards). The displays on all GamePlan machines are LED displays and hold up quite well because of this. The sound system did change frequently, starting out with Chime units in the early cocktails, to solid state "hard-wired" sound boards, to sound boards that were designed using the Motorola 6802 processor (MSU-1, MSU-2).

3.1 Switch Matrix

GamePlan Switch Matrix

4 Problems and Solutions

With GamePlan using individual boards for everything, interconnects tend to be a culprit for many problems. Before you do anything, you should first unplug all boards, and check the voltages on the power supply.

4.1 Power Problems

First and foremost, replace the big capacitor! This fix a lot of issues with GamePlan pins. The actual capacitor value in this PSU-1 power supply varies, as some machines were shipped with the 25v 11,000 capacitor (typically the silver color) and some were shipped with a 15,000 25v capacitor (typically a blue color). Make note of the polarization of the capacitor, cut off the screw mounts (or desolder them), and replace the capacitor with either another screw mount or through-hole design. If through-hole, just use some hookup wire to jumper the capacitor to the circuit board.

4.2 MPU boot issues

4.2.2 Repairing Alkaline Corrosion

The #1 problem found on gameplan machines is the 3.6v NiCad battery mounted to the MPU board exploding, causing acid damage to the traces around. Early GamePlan pinball machines (SharpShooter, ConeyIsland, SuperNova) mounted the board vertically which the battery fluid would damage mostly the reset circuitry. For the rest of the games that have the board mounted horizontally (Attila, 777, Lizard, Global Warfare, Cyclopes, etc.), the damage tends to be worse, as the traces and sockets for the roms, cpu, and ctc are damaged. If you have an acid damaged board, it is possible to recover it, but it takes lots of time and patience. The best place to check out the procedure is John Robertson's page Battery Leakage Repair

4.2.5 Other MPU Repair Guides

MPU2 Repair guide on Pinside.com

4.4 Solenoid problems

Coil information (all are 24 VDC):

21-50001B used for single drop target and pop bumpers (a Gottlieb A-5194 is a close substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2).

21-50002B used for flippers (a Gottlieb A-17875 should work as a substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2).

21-50003B used for knocker and slingshot kickers (a Gottlieb A-19300 is a close substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2) when used for slingshots. When used for knockers use sleeve # 03-40012N (same as Williams # 03-7066-4).

21-50004B used for chimes (a Gottlieb A-26450 is a close substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40027N (same as Williams # 03-7067).

21-50005B used for ball return outhole (a Gottlieb A-16570 is a close substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2).

21-50006B used for ball return outhole (a Gottlieb A-17876 is a close substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2).

21-50007B used for large drop target bank reset (no substitutes available). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40038A (no substitutes available).

21-50008B used for flippers (a Gottlieb A-24161 should work as a substitute). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40008N (same as Williams # 03-7066-2).

21-50009B used for large drop target bank reset (no substitutes available). This coil uses sleeve # 03-40038A (no substitutes available).

5 Parts Substitutions & Replacements

Since there aren't really any sources for spare Gameplan parts other than other Gameplan machines, broken or worn out parts typically have to be substituted using mainly commonly available classic Bally and Gottlieb parts.

5.1 Aftermarket replacement boards

5.1.1 MPU

Aftermarket replacement MPU boards can be obtained from here:

Jim Francesangeli
Echo Lake Pinball Service & Sales
925 Marwin Dr.
Hinckley, Ohio 44233
Tel: 330-278-2228

Boards are built in batches and not always available on-demand, so you may have to request to be added to a wait list for another batch of boards.

Gameplan replacement MPU2 board

Gameplan replacement MPU2 board information sheet

5.2 Shooter Assembly

The Stern beehive housing is a direct replacement for the beehive housing found on Gameplan games.

5.5 Drop Targets

There are two general approaches to substituting broken Gameplan drop targets, and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. One uses Gottlieb drop targets, the other uses Data East drop targets

Drop target size comparison

5.5.1 Gottlieb Drop Target Substitution

Gottlieb Drop targets can be used as a near match for Gameplan drop targets, however, they will need to be modified. The slot in the center of the target will need to be lengthened. This is to ensure that the lift arm doesn't jam when the target is raised or dropped. This slot can be enlarged with a dremmel tool. Stack 2-3 blades to match the width of the slot, then lengthen the hole as necessary.

Additionally, a strip of foam or beer seal may be necessary on the reset bar in order to fully reset/raise the Gottlieb target. However, be mindful about not raising the target too high so as to avoid breaking off the foot of the target when it gets reset by the solenoid.

Gameplan & Gottlieb drop target feet comparison

This approach can potentially weaken the drop target and make it more prone to breakage. However, Gottlieb targets are a close enough size match that they can be used side-by-side with Gameplan targets (after the slot modification). Additionally, Gottlieb targets can be obtained in similar colors.

5.5.2 Data East Drop Target Substitution

1/4" spacers (or stacks of washers totaling 1/4" in height) will need to be added between the drop target cage and the bottom of the playfield. Additionally, wood screws that are 1/4" longer are also recommended to accommodate the spacers.

Data East drop targets only come in white, and cannot be color matched to the original Gameplan drop targets. Also, because of the height change required to accommodate these drop targets, and the larger face size of the targets, the Data East drop targets can not be mixed and matched with original Gameplan drop targets.

Gameplan and Data East drop target face comparison

Despite these drawbacks, this is the easier substitution approach since it doesn't require the modification of the drop targets themselves, unlike with Gottlieb drop targets.

5.6 Drop Target Cage

If most or all of the Gameplan drop targets are unusable, instead of substituting individual targets, it is sometimes possible to replace the entire Gameplan drop target cage with a Gottlieb drop target cage that has the appropriate number of spaces for targets.

6 Repair Logs

Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.