thetick1 Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) I just loved this Space Invaders knock off. It still works to this day. My son played it once and while but since the AFP arrived he has not touched it. Super Galaxy Invader by Bandai (the Godzilla toy guys!) from 1979 Edited February 14, 2018 by thetick1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Tarzilla Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 I just loved this Space Invaders knock off. It still works to this day. My son played it once and while but since the AFP arrived he has not touched it. Super Galaxy Invader by Bandai (the Godzilla toy guys!) from 1979 That was one of my first also back in the late 70s, love the moonscape background effect. Mine is long gone but I picked one up at PRGE 2016 My first as a kid was either Mattel Battlestar Galactica (also picked up one at PRGE) http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/Battlestar.htm or Mattel's Football http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/FB.htm I had them at the same time when they first came out in the late 70's, I may have even gotten both at the same time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) .... Mattel's Football http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/FB.htm I had them at the same time when they first came out in the late 70's, I may have even gotten both at the same time. I had that one also actually I think the football was my brothers. I had the basketball one. They are either at my brothers or still in the old junk closet at mom house. I might have go through my old junk at mom's yet again and see if I can find either or both. Edited February 14, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_me Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) I believe I got Auto Race for Christmas 1977. In Canada, at the time, I had no idea these things existed and opening my present I remember thinking "what is this?" My impression was that my father got it in the US before they came to Canada. I could be wrong but that was what I thought. I was so impressed that my father found this thing without my having to ask for it. Edited February 14, 2018 by mr_me 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dendawg Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 My first was a Tomy Digital Derby, followed by a Merlin, then a Raise the Devil pinball game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BydoEmpire Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Not sure which was first, but I remember playing a lot of both Mattel Football and Entex Space Invader. Edited February 15, 2018 by BydoEmpire 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) heh Entex Space Invader was the best! You could even count shots for 30 point UFOs, and do little tricks like shooting the top invader so the bottom invader couldn't shoot. By the way, the game is sim'd and playable in Mess/Mame.. kind of cool to play it on the computer. When I was a kid there was a lot of playground chatter about a "little Space Invaders" which now I know where just rumors. But back then I still asked my mom to look for it and eventually she came back with an electromechanical game called "Attack Invader" (below). Let me tell you it sucked. Then eventually Bandai Missile Invader came out and I was all "That can't be it because there's only 1 invader!". Then the more advanced sequel Super Galaxy Invader (pictured above) came out and that was a little better. It wasn't until Entex Space Invader came out that I felt that we had a decent Space Invaders game though.. and of course after that there was a huge flood of little invader handheld games which continues to this day. I think if we had the current Mini Space Invaders game I would have had a heart attack since that is exactly what I was imagining during those playground rumors of 1978. Edited February 15, 2018 by NE146 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 ... then a Raise the Devil pinball game. I have been searching long and hard off and on for a couple years now trying to get the Black Knight version of that with no luck or really bad timing missing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 I'm curious would something like this little gem count? (Wildfire Pinball) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdKhHXQht0Y This came out in 1979 and is both surprisingly solid given the limitation to do pinball but also solidly built. A few years ago locally I picked this up for $10 at a flea market like new in the box and it's one of the rare few I still pull out and play, even can take an ac adapter if you can find a match. THAT was my first LED game! I spent hours on that game. It had a sticker on the back that said "Electronic Device - DO NOT DROP!". My dad read that sticker out loud to me when he gave me the thing. He was always telling me not to drop things. Anyway this game is a lot of fun... Or was. I bought one on eBay a few years ago (my childhood original one was traded to my older brother for an Entex Space Invaders handheld, he in turn traded it to someone else). So yeah, once my son is old enough to understand the concept of "DO NOT DROP" I'll place it in his hands and see how much fun he has with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 I have been searching long and hard off and on for a couple years now trying to get the Black Knight version of that with no luck or really bad timing missing out. One went tonight for 405 bucks on eBay. Wanted to bid on it, but don't feel like a divorce. Did you see the one that went for 80 bucks last week? Yeah. I didn't. But that happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 No because I stopped looking for it actively because there's no set value. I've seen them for some years back now going under $50 or up to like you said $400~. There's no rhyme or reason other than just because of the Black Knight license. The mechanics are same as Raise the Devil so some are paying normal-ish raise the devil price for a different coat of paint, and nutters in a bid war or who just don't care are paying 8x the value too. Either way I really am more happy with that WIldfire I have. It still surprises me I found it laying out on a table like that at a flea market so cheap. Despite the LED limitations it's remarkably accurate and fun for what it is and that's all that really matters and my little kid when I let her use it likes it too. She's very careful with things so I don't worry so much about her using some of my old toys and games as they don't end up smashed. It would be nice to get a compatible OEM power supply for it as it gobbles up 6AAs just to power it which is a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+thanatos Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 I had the Entex Space Invader (and still do!) as well. I remember many a rainy weekend afternoon taking forever to get up to 999. Also have the Tomy baseball that had a red LED, but the gameplay is mechanical. I assume that's the one I had first since it's older. http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Diamond.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 (edited) space invaders was never my own.jpg Oh man that's bummer. Once I had a C64 I was not allowed to get a gaming console. I missed owning all NES / SNES / Sega consoles since my C64 was "good enough" according to my dad even compared to a Sega or Amiga. I saved up my own money for a Lynx without telling my dad and I had to keep it hidden. As he was only paying for a new PC as I needed to write papers for school. My first year in college I wrote papers using GEOS on my C64 and printed with my MPS-801 printer as my dad and I could not scrounge up enough money to buy a PC my first year in college. If he would have found out about the Lynx he would have never bought me a PC. Edited March 5, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Oh man that's bummer. Once I had a C64 I was not allowed to get a gaming console. I missed owning all NES / SNES / Sega consoles since my C64 was "good enough" according to my dad even compared to a Sega or Amiga. I saved up my own money for a Lynx without telling my dad and I had to keep it hidden. As he was only paying for a new PC as I needed to write papers for school. My first year in college I wrote papers using GEOS on my C64 and printed with my MPS-801 printer as my dad and I could not scrounge up enough money to buy a PC my first year in college. If he would have found out about the Lynx he would have never bought me a PC. I think that experience shaped me to this day. Right now, my finger is hovering over the "buy" button for this $500 Xbox One X with Destiny 2 and GTA 5, free shipping, no tax. I already have an Xbone which I hardly ever play (who has time??), and I kinda hate both Destiny and GTA. And yet ... new toy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) I think that experience shaped me to this day. Right now, my finger is hovering over the "buy" button for this $500 Xbox One X with Destiny 2 and GTA 5, free shipping, no tax. I already have an Xbone which I hardly ever play (who has time??), and I kinda hate both Destiny and GTA. And yet ... new toy! Don't buy it ... retro games are a lot cheaper and more fun ... as I'm playing Skylanders Spyro with my son on 2DS XL. Edited March 6, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Don't buy it ... retro games are a lot cheaper and more fun ,,,as I'm playing Skylanders Spyro with my son on 2DS XL. I didn't ...and I (probably) won't ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 No because I stopped looking for it actively because there's no set value. I've seen them for some years back now going under $50 or up to like you said $400~. There's no rhyme or reason other than just because of the Black Knight license. The mechanics are same as Raise the Devil so some are paying normal-ish raise the devil price for a different coat of paint, and nutters in a bid war or who just don't care are paying 8x the value too. Either way I really am more happy with that WIldfire I have. It still surprises me I found it laying out on a table like that at a flea market so cheap. Despite the LED limitations it's remarkably accurate and fun for what it is and that's all that really matters and my little kid when I let her use it likes it too. She's very careful with things so I don't worry so much about her using some of my old toys and games as they don't end up smashed. It would be nice to get a compatible OEM power supply for it as it gobbles up 6AAs just to power it which is a lot. First, I agree that it's hard to imagine an LED pinball game better than Wildfire. I fully agree. I love the thing and was extremely happy to find one in great condition and get it back in my life. Also feel that way about Entex Space Invader. Funny, I think that was the game my older brother traded to me in exchange for Wildfire, although I eventually lost it. Anyway that has a special place in my heart because I got one super cheap on eBay a few years back because it was in as-is condition. I think I paid more for shipping than the actual item. Took a chance there. Anyway sure enough it needed a good cleaning and two LEDs replaced, but now there's pride in fixing it. The two LEDs I replaced, which is one bullet and one position of your ship, are noticably brighter, but that's kinda amusing too. Now I'm on a weird tangent here, but wouldn't it be fun to replace ALL the LEDs in one of these with super-bright ones? I mean, it might actually cause optical damage, but it would still be kind awesome. You could change the colors too, to a point, if they still had about the same voltage drop rating. Also I remember as a kid bringing it to a baseball game and not being able to see it in bright sunlight. This would solve that. Not that this was a common problem... My friend's dad never brought me to another baseball game probably because I tried to just play videogames during the thing. Well, you can't take the jungle out of a tiger. Ok... Sorry about the digression, but I wanted to ask... So is the LED Black Knight pinball game really the same innards as a Raise the Devil? Like, same gameplay different paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slab0meat Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) First, no idea. But a few that stand out: Mattel Baseball & Football Merlin Little Professor (edit: I had some two-player basketball game with controls on both ends of it later on... and some non-LED game where you have a dial controller, controlling a base or something with a red button that shoots a missle upwards.. there are ships going across (one low level, one higher), with a target, and the game would make a buzzing/zap sound when you hit them.. I even think there was film or something that made the things move.. I really need to look that up or see if my parent still have it). edit #2: here's the basketball game: edit again: Hit and Missile Edited March 6, 2018 by slab0meat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 From what I could research of it a few years back when I first started taking an interest it is just a repainted Devil with that Black Knight game. You're seriously eating 100s of dollars potentially for paint and different colored plastic. That's why I don't ever get it as I'm not stupid enough to pop that kind of money over the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 This is a great reality check for me. Thanks. I actually own the full size pinball game, so finding the handheld always seemed like a nice novelty to go along with it. I can't stand the artwork on Raise the Devil tho... Just looks seriously ugly to me. I wish I could find a high quality scan of the Black Knight Entex plastic... I'm not above altering a Raise The Devil handheld if that's the only difference. I'd just need to get it reproduced on a transpancy and it would save me hundreds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwalla Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 My first LED handheld was Electronic Quarterback and I played the heck out that thing. I would play it in the dark when I went to bed until my Mom yelled at me and threatened to take it away. I got Mattel Football II not long after and Space Alert too. In Elementary school we swapped each others' games and it was the coolest thing at the time. I used to have most of these units collected with box & manual but sold it years ago - I just keep my favorites loose..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwalla Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Oh man that's bummer. Once I had a C64 I was not allowed to get a gaming console. I missed owning all NES / SNES / Sega consoles since my C64 was "good enough" according to my dad even compared to a Sega or Amiga. I saved up my own money for a Lynx without telling my dad and I had to keep it hidden. As he was only paying for a new PC as I needed to write papers for school. My first year in college I wrote papers using GEOS on my C64 and printed with my MPS-801 printer as my dad and I could not scrounge up enough money to buy a PC my first year in college. If he would have found out about the Lynx he would have never bought me a PC. Oh yea. In High School I created all of my reports and term papers using C64 Paperclip with a Star Gemini 10X Dot Matrix printer. Seems like a lifetime ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 The only red handheld LED I ever owned was in the form of a laser pointer. Not exactly a game, but like in the image below a LOT of fun! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) The only red handheld LED I ever owned was in the form of a laser pointer. Not exactly a game, but like in the image below a LOT of fun! Haha I remember coming back from college during summer of '90 with my new Radio Shack laser pen. I seriously spent hours with my mom's cat chasing the laser pointer. It was so cool back in 1990! Edited March 8, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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