Video Arcade Amusement Ride

[Rev. Rob]

When I was a kid, my parents used to take me to a mall in Cincinnati called Forrest Fair Mall. The mall had a lot of amusement rides; like a whole floor.

 

One ride in particular had eight or more pods attached by an arm to a central mechanism. The central mechanism would spin, and the arms would move the pods up and down.

 

Inside of each pod was a video screen and and joystick. On the video screen, there were spaceships representing each pod. The spaceships looked like a top down view of the Enterprise from Star Trek the original series. When the ride started, you took control of one of the little ships. The objective was to shoot everyone else.

 

When a player got shot, their pod would spin around two or three times, and then they could get back in the game.

 

Anyone ever hear of this? I have tried to find information on this, but can't anywhere.

[gdement]

Sounds vaguely familiar to something they had at a mall in the Phoenix area in the early 90's (like 1990 I think). I was only there once, while visiting relatives on a vacation, so I don't remember it clearly. It was a huge arcade out in the open, near the food court area, and they did have a big ride like that. I don't know if it was linked up to a video game though, I didn't ride it.

Edited October 11, 2009 by gdement

[Rev. Rob]

Sounds vaguely familiar to something they had at a mall in the Phoenix area in the early 90's (like 1990 I think). I was only there once, while visiting relatives on a vacation, so I don't remember it clearly. It was a huge arcade out in the open, near the food court area, and they did have a big ride like that. I don't know if it was linked up to a video game though, I didn't ride it.

 

You're probably thinking of Metrocenter, (a.k.a. San Dimas mall in Bill and Ted), which definitely didn't have this game/ride.

[STICH666]

Sounds like fun! I wish I could have played that.

[Rev. Rob]

Booya!!

 

I totally found it. It's called "Zamperla Telecombat." At least that's the name of the basic amusement component. The company's website has very little information, and no screenshots of any of the units with gameplay. Apparently, this more commonly sold without the videogame component.

 

This machine is an unusual combination of Amusement Ride crosses arcade game...

 

This is technically an amusement ride, so it has multiple ride vehicles, probably about 10-12 2 person pods. The ride accomodates both children and adults. Once you get into the ride and strap yourself in you are faced with a joystick similar to Space Harrier with a trigger on top.

 

[...]

 

The object of the game is to shoot down the pods on the screen, and when you hit one, the actual pod is sent spinning and it lowers to the ground to indicate a hit. If someone else hits the pod you are in on the screen, then your pod will descend as well. The pods spin around and raise and lower with movement corresponding to the way you move the joystick.

 

If anyone can elaborate on this ride, such as year of installation and futher details on its game play I welcome any comments about it.

 

http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/12/09/the-zamperla-telecombat-the-ultimate-gameride-simulator/

 

This is exactly it:

 

 

Here's some additional comments from me regarding gameplay that I left on the quoted blog:

 

It took me a lot of searching to find your article, and I thank you for it. When I was a kid, around 7 or 8, my parents took me to Forest Fair Mall in Cincinnati, which had this game/ride. I have recently been trying to dig up some information on it.

 

You asked about game play. It was a black screen with white graphics, similar to "Asteroids." I can't remember if it was vector graphics or not, but I am leaning towards that being the case. Since it was indoors, the screen was pretty easy to see.

 

Each player/pod was represented by a spaceship. It was a top down view. Each ship looked similar to the original Enterprise from "Star Trek" (the original series).

 

As you said, if you shoot a ship it will cause the player's pod to spin out of control.

 

I remember that if you start out just right you can turn sideways and kill everyone in a row as the game is beginning.

 

I was hoping to also find a ROM or a screenshot of the game, but seeing a picture of it is wonderful.

 

 

Edit: I found this image from a Telecombat ride at Marineland in Canada. (Eh?) Looks like these monitors have been updated with something more modern:

 

Edited October 13, 2009 by Rev. Rob

[Video]

Could just be a color overlay, (or an updated processor/screen) to allow them to show the galaxy for your ships to run around and shoot each other in.

 

That indeed looks cool, and I think I've seen one befor, but don't remember actually riding it

[Rev. Rob]

Could just be a color overlay, (or an updated processor/screen) to allow them to show the galaxy for your ships to run around and shoot each other in.

 

That indeed looks cool, and I think I've seen one befor, but don't remember actually riding it

 

You missed out.

 

I remember when I was a kid as soon as I figured out the ride was really a videogame I didn't ride anything else for the rest of the day.