# Episode 94 - EM Rifle Games - Smoke and Mirrors **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-06-13 **Duration:** 8m 55s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-94-em-rifle-games-smoke-and-mirrors --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge discusses the mechanics and history of EM-era gun games, explaining how they use mirrors, motorized dioramas, and rifle stocks to create interactive shooting experiences. The episode covers manufacturer history (Williams, Midway, Chicago Coin, Gottlieb), technical maintenance including score reel cleaning, and notable variants like Chicago Coin's twin-rifle games. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] EM gun games used mirrors to reflect diorama views rather than direct sight lines — _Nick Baldridge explaining core gun game mechanism_ - [HIGH] Moving targets in gun game dioramas were mounted on motorized chains — _Nick Baldridge describing diorama setup_ - [HIGH] Gun aim adjustment involved a finale disk (baked plate) with rivets underneath the stock panel — _Nick Baldridge explaining adjustment mechanics_ - [HIGH] Williams and Midway were the prominent manufacturers of EM gun games, though most amusement manufacturers made them — _Nick Baldridge discussing manufacturer history_ - [HIGH] Chicago Coin was notable for manufacturing twin-rifle gun games — _Nick Baldridge naming Chicago Coin's contribution_ - [HIGH] Score reels in gun games use clutch-driven motorized mechanisms with small nylon couplings that can break — _Nick Baldridge discussing maintenance of score reels_ - [MEDIUM] Cleaned score reels can serve for an additional 40-50 years after restoration — _Nick Baldridge offering maintenance guidance and prediction_ ### Notable Quotes > "Smoke and mirrors, a phrase which conjures images of magicians and sleight of hand, can also be used to describe the functionality of an EM gun game." > — **Nick Baldridge**, 0:00 > _Opening hook connecting the episode title to the actual mechanism of gun games_ > "You were actually not viewing the item directly... When you put in your coin you would be given a certain number of shots. This would actually fire up the motors and would light up the diorama. You would be able to see it only because there was a mirror which would point towards the diorama." > — **Nick Baldridge**, 1:30 > _Core explanation of how gun games create the illusion of direct aiming_ > "if you squeeze the trigger at this particular time pointed where it was two seconds ago you would score a hit" > — **Nick Baldridge**, 4:00 > _Explains the adjustment problem that occurs when gun games drift out of calibration_ > "They're really nothing to be afraid of. They just require patience and dedication to clean." > — **Nick Baldridge**, 12:00 > _Public service announcement encouraging restoration of gun game score reels_ > "Chicago coin in particular was notable for doing this most famously with their game twin rifle. But they made a whole series of twin gun games and those are highly collectible and allow you to compete with a friend." > — **Nick Baldridge**, 14:00 > _Highlights Chicago Coin's unique contribution to gun game design_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only podcast, EM and bingo pinball specialist | | Williams | company | Prominent EM-era gun game manufacturer | | Midway | company | Prominent EM-era gun game manufacturer, known for motorized score reels | | Chicago Coin | company | EM-era amusement manufacturer, notable for twin-rifle gun games | | Gottlieb | company | EM-era amusement manufacturer, quoted on competition | | Clay Harrell | person | Transcribed and digitized gun game sounds from A-track players | | Genco | company | EM-era gun game manufacturer | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and bingo pinball podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge | ### Topics - **Primary:** EM gun game mechanics and design, Mirror-based aiming systems and optical illusion, EM-era manufacturer history (Williams, Midway, Chicago Coin, Gottlieb, Genco), Score reel mechanics and maintenance - **Secondary:** A-track sound systems in gun games, Twin-rifle competitive gun games, EM arcade cabinet design and restoration, Motorized target mechanisms and dioramas ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Detailed technical breakdown of EM-era gun game mechanics, including mirror systems, motorized chains, and adjustment methodology (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge provides comprehensive technical explanation of how EM gun games function with mirrors, motorized dioramas, and finale disk adjustment systems - **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only podcast covering specialized EM arcade game history and restoration techniques (confidence: high) — Episode 94 focused on EM rifle games with detailed technical and historical content from podcast host - **[restoration_signal]** Guidance on restoring and maintaining EM gun game score reels with emphasis on cleaning and longevity (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge discusses clutch-driven score reels, nylon couplings, and provides maintenance recommendations for 40-50 year durability - **[historical_signal]** Documentation of manufacturer specialization in EM gun games, particularly Williams, Midway, Chicago Coin, Gottlieb, and Genco (confidence: high) — Episode identifies Williams and Midway as prominent manufacturers, Midway for motorized score reels, and Chicago Coin for twin-rifle innovation - **[design_innovation]** Chicago Coin's development of twin-rifle gun games as competitive multiplayer experiences (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge notes Chicago Coin made series of twin gun games that are highly collectible and allow competition with friends - **[collector_signal]** Twin-rifle gun games identified as highly collectible variants within the EM gun game category (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge states Chicago Coin's twin-rifle games 'are highly collectible and allow you to compete with a friend' --- ## Transcript Welcome back to For Amusement Only, this is Nicholas Baldridge. Smoke and mirrors, a phrase which conjures images of magicians and sleight of hand, can also be used to describe the functionality of an EM gun game. These games typically had a rifle stock pointed at a back glass in which was a window where you could peer in and view a diorama which was set up inside the machine. In this diorama, there would be moving targets typically. These moving targets were on motorized chains and would move about inside the diorama. Now, what's really interesting about EM Gun Games is that you were actually not viewing the item directly. Exquisitely. When you put in your coin you would be given a certain number of shots. This would actually fire up the motors and would light up the diorama. You would be able to see it only because there was a mirror which would point towards the diorama. So you are fairly far removed N Out Pinball сум bipartive blind Ng in the Distribution instructions Könette, Cappuchcia Bakay amo There was a finale disk basically a bake like plate underneath the panel that the stock was mounted to on this were set of rivets and as you move the gun left and right up and down it would apply pressure and allow I'm not sure if you're familiar with the game and knew it was out of adjustment, you would know that when the ghost or bear or whatever it was and past even though your gun was not pointing directly at it if you squeeze the trigger at this particular time pointed where it was two seconds ago you would score a hit so the adjustment on these involves lifting up the uh... field where the stock is attached and figuring out which contacts the ones which will uh... shoot that particular target once you figure that out there are adjustments underneath to the plate which allow you to make it so that the gun is actually aiming at the thing you're trying to shoot So the cabinets on these are fairly interesting. They're upright as in, you know, a classic 80s solid state video game. However they a little bit deeper and they have what amounts to a pedestal in the front Some cabs that I seen have fold down stairs which allow for a young child to climb up and play the game The prominent manufacturers of these gun games were Williams and Midway. However, most of the pinball and amusement manufacturers tried their hands at making these gun games at various times. Now there are other types of gun games which actually fire a projectile, but we're talking about the ones which have no projectile at all. Another interesting thing about these games are the sound effects. Some would ring a bell when you reached a score Threshold or when you hit a target. Others had an A-Track player which would play clips based on the target that you hit or would play constantly when you fired up the game. Of course over time, the A-Track, though a rugged tape playing mechanism, the tape inside will wear down and sometimes it must be replaced entirely. There are folks who have transcribed and digitized these gun game sounds, most notably Joshua Clay Harrell, Out laughs rằng는 금� och 이렇게omnia 맥 subtilý nú 전반 número 중자 SA Grove 내밌정의 빼는 projekt을 공유가 되면 King 사� ra Tails Lady NiccaW percentilelifting Flippers John Stukes he has a stock of some original A for these gun games Chicago Coin Genco Williams all of these manufacturers made the gun games but Midway was one of the masters In my score Reel episodes I talk about those motorized score reels that Midway used in their EM arcade games Well these gun games use these motorized score reels They clutch driven They have a small nylon coupling which can break, but they're really nothing to fear and they probably should be cleaned if you get one of these games in order to not only improve the movement of the mechanism but also to ensure proper scoring. They're really nothing to be afraid of. They just require patience and dedication to clean. And once they're cleaned, you know, they should serve for an additional 40, 50 years. So it's well worth the time if you're going to the trouble of restoring operation to one of these games to clean the score Reels. That's my public service announcement for today. Some of these gun games also had multiple stocks. Chicago coin in particular was notable for doing this most famously with their game twin rifle. But they made a whole series of twin gun games and those are highly collectible and allow you to compete with a friend. And as Gottlieb said, it's more fun to compete. Well thank you very much for joining me, my name again is Nicholas Baldridge, you can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, and you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at bingopodcast, you can find me on Instagram at nbaldridge, and you can listen to us on our website which is 4amusementonly.libsyn.com. Thank you very much for listening and I'll talk to you next time. Thank you for watching! _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 044b8005-a19a-47ec-9f4b-f92a5725570f*