Prize Machines
Nintendo Arcade, 1978
Prize machines are electro-mechanical, coin-operated games that reward the player with tokens if they can beat them. The tokens would then typically be traded for prizes at the arcade venue.
Nintendo is known to have produced two prize machines, both by Nintendo's star designer, Gunpei Yokoi.
Dead Line (1978)
The player controls the left and right movement of a submarine as it rises out of the sea to the surface. The sea is filled with mines, some of which are moving. If the submarine collides with a mine, it sinks back to the bottom.
The submarine rises on a rail, and has three sticks behind it. If any of the sticks collide with an obstacle or the edge of the play area, that counts as a loss.
If the player can successfully navigate the mines and reach the surface, a jingle will play and a prize medal is awarded to the player.
Fancy Ball (1978)
Balls drop from above towards a hole. The player can control the left and right movement of a set of spinners, directing the balls into high scoring areas of the play field.
If the player is able to score enough points before time runs out, they receive a prize medal to exchange.
