Journalist Tool

Kineticist

  • HDashboard
  • IItems
  • ↓Ingest
  • SSources
  • KBeats
  • BBriefs
  • RIntel
  • QSearch
  • AActivity
  • +Health
  • ?Guide

v0.1.0

← Back to items

Episode 358 - 1973 Sega Galaxy

For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·11m 41s·analyzed·Mar 3, 2016
View original
Export .md

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.018

TL;DR

Deep technical analysis of 1973 Sega Galaxy, a rare Japanese EM with innovative plastic-based playfield mechanisms.

Summary

Nick Baldrige provides a detailed technical and aesthetic analysis of the 1973 Sega Galaxy, a Japanese single-player electromechanical pinball machine. The episode covers the machine's unique engineering choices (Molex connectors vs. Jones plugs, sealed relays, keyed connectors), distinctive playfield mechanisms (solid plastic pop bumpers and slingshots with microswitches, walking magnet), scoring system, and artwork. Baldrige emphasizes the rarity of Sega EMs in the US and expresses curiosity about the long-term durability of the plastic mechanisms.

Key Claims

  • Sega Galaxy uses Molex connectors instead of Jones plugs, which are smaller but less reliable over time

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige, describing technical specifications of the machine based on hands-on repair experience

  • Games with Jones plugs tend to have fewer connection problems than games with Molex connectors

    medium confidence · Nick Baldrige, based on 'several years of repairing various different eras of games from all different manufacturers'

  • Sega Galaxy features solid plastic pop bumpers that pivot and actuate microswitches, rather than traditional rod-and-ring mechanisms

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige, describing the unique mechanism design observed in videos and technical examination

  • The slingshot mechanism uses solid plastic pieces that are pressure-activated by the ball hitting them, similar to the pop bumper design

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige, technical description of the machine

  • Galaxy includes a walking magnet mechanism similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula that moves the ball across the playfield

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige, comparison to known solid-state machine mechanism

  • Sega Galaxy has three main connectors in the back box with different keyed sizes to prevent incorrect installation

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige, technical description

  • The bonus inserts on Galaxy are not rollover buttons and their increment mechanism is unclear

    medium confidence · Nick Baldrige: 'I have no idea how they incremented but they appear to be able to be incremented'

  • Sega EMs are rarely seen in the US

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige: 'You just don't see them in the US all that often'

  • Nick Baldrige has never played a Sega EM, only watched videos

    high confidence · Nick Baldrige: 'I've never played one or any Sega EM for that matter'

Notable Quotes

  • “games with Jones plugs tend to have fewer connection problems than games with Molex connectors. You have much larger pins in a much larger area, of course, and it's a lot more noticeable when you accidentally destroy a Jones plug pin than it is when you accidentally mangle a molex pin”

    Nick Baldrige@ 2:22 — Core technical insight about connector reliability trade-offs based on repair experience

  • “Their pop bumpers, instead of a standard rod and ring, actually were a solid plastic piece that would pivot when the ball hit it from any angle and this would actuate a microswitch under the playfield”

    Nick Baldrige@ 4:15 — Description of a unique design innovation in the Galaxy

  • “You just don't see them in the US all that often.”

    Nick Baldrige@ 5:31 — Commentary on the scarcity of Sega EMs in the American market

  • “I wonder how the plastic holds up, because if you're smacking the ball around, how quickly until the plastic breaks?”

    Nick Baldrige@ 6:11 — Express concern about durability of innovative plastic mechanism design

Entities

Nick BaldrigepersonSega GalaxygameSegacompanyWilliamscompanyBallycompanyChicago CoincompanyAllied LeisurecompanyBram Stoker's DraculagameFor Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast

Signals

  • ?

    historical_signal: Analysis of 1973 Sega Galaxy as a Japanese take on electromechanical pinball design, incorporating influences from American manufacturers (Williams, Bally) while introducing unique innovations

    high · Detailed comparison of Sega's design choices to Williams and Bally engineering; description of Japanese-specific mechanisms like Molex connectors and plastic pop bumpers

  • ?

    design_innovation: Sega Galaxy features unique solid plastic pop bumper and slingshot mechanisms that pivot on microswitches, contrasting with standard rod-and-ring designs

    high · 'Their pop bumpers, instead of a standard rod and ring, actually were a solid plastic piece that would pivot when the ball hit it from any angle and this would actuate a microswitch under the playfield'

  • ?

    product_concern: Expressed uncertainty about how plastic mechanisms in Galaxy hold up under extended play; concern about plastic component failure

    high · 'I wonder how the plastic holds up, because if you're smacking the ball around, how quickly until the plastic breaks?'

  • ?

    restoration_signal: Discussion of connector choice implications for machine reliability and repairability, based on hands-on repair experience across multiple eras

    high · Detailed analysis of Molex vs. Jones plugs and their relative reliability; observation that 'games with Jones plugs tend to have fewer connection problems'

  • ?

    technology_signal: Sega's use of Molex connectors instead of Jones plugs represents an alternative engineering approach with different reliability trade-offs

Topics

Electromechanical pinball engineering and technical designprimarySega pinball machines and Japanese pinball historyprimaryConnector reliability and longevity in pinball machinesprimaryInnovative playfield mechanisms (pop bumpers, slingshots, walking magnets)primaryPinball machine artwork and aesthetic designsecondaryPinball restoration and repair practicessecondaryRarity of Japanese pinball machines in the US marketsecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.75)— Baldrige expresses genuine interest and enthusiasm for the Galaxy's innovative design features, particularly the artistic presentation and unique mechanisms. He uses phrases like 'really interesting' and 'pretty neat' repeatedly. However, there is some uncertainty and skepticism about durability and longevity of plastic components, which tempers the overall positivity slightly.

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.035

0:00
What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only. This is Nick Baldrige. Tonight I wanted to talk about a Japanese pinball machine. It's 1973's Sega Galaxy. Galaxy is a single player electromechanical pinball machine. and it's got some really interesting features and pretty fascinating mechanisms.
0:36
So, first let's talk tech. Alright, let's get through some technical stuff because I find it really interesting. A lot of the mechanisms are similar to Williams EM, but some are similar to Bally. For example, their flipper coils are the odd double-terminal flipper coils of certain Bally EMs.
1:08
Their relays are all sealed relays that plug into a board. This is similar to an automotive application. and you did start to see those in, say, Chicago Coin or Allied Leisure machines. What's really fascinating, though, is that instead of Jones plugs, Sega issued that and instead used Molex connectors.
1:42
Now what's interesting about this is that Molex connectors are definitely smaller than Jones plugs. However, as we've seen over and over through the ages with solid-state machines, they are much less reliable than a Jones plug. Each, of course, have their place, but what is interesting, or has proven itself out to me
2:13
over several years of repairing various different eras of games from all different manufacturers is that games with Jones plugs tend to have fewer connection problems than games with Molex connectors. You have much larger pins in a much larger area, of course, and it's a lot more noticeable when you accidentally destroy
organization

high · Detailed technical discussion of connector sizes, reliability, and keying mechanisms

  • $

    market_signal: Sega EMs are rare in the US market, suggesting limited distribution or importation of Japanese machines

    high · 'You just don't see them in the US all that often'; 'I've never played one or any Sega EM for that matter'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Sega's design approach mixed American EM influences with innovative Japanese interpretations, including hardwired relay boards and keyed connectors

    high · Detailed technical breakdown showing hybrid design approach: 'A lot of the mechanisms are similar to Williams EM, but some are similar to Bally'

    • 2:45
    a Jones plug pin than it is when you accidentally mangle a molex pin Now you can certainly have Jones plugs off by one and various other things and Sega did try to prevent that by having keyed connectors which are different sizes. So there's three main connectors in the back box, and those three connectors cannot be interchanged. The relay boards had their incoming and outgoing connections hardwired, so they're
    3:27
    directly soldered to the board. That's an interesting choice because it means that you have to desolder the entire board to remove it. Of course, that's not unusual. If you had to remove, say, a score reel board from the assembly, you would have to desolder 10-11 wires. But just an interesting choice. Now aside from the choices here with the wiring,
    3:59
    Sega also had some interesting playfield mechanisms that were unique. One was used on Galaxy, and it's their pop bumper assembly. Their pop bumpers, instead of a standard rod and ring, actually were a solid plastic piece that would pivot when the ball hit it from any angle and this would actuate a microswitch under the playfield. When it did so, a coil would fire which would
    4:29
    shove the plastic piece back into its default position. This would have the effect of firing the ball, rocketing it around, very similarly to a rod and ring. Likewise, Sega's slingshot mechanism was unusual. It relied upon pressure, which was put upon the mechanism by the ball, in a similar way to the pop bumper mechanism that Sega had, where it's a solid plastic piece,
    5:04
    and if the ball hits it with enough force it'll actuate a microswitch which will activate a coil which will fire the ball away by forcing that mechanism back into the upright position. Very cool idea and it really makes me wonder having seen a YouTube video of this galaxy in motion I've never played one or any Sega EM for that matter. You just don't see them in the US all that often.
    5:40
    But having watched a video it makes me wonder how these mechanisms held up over time Obviously with a single switch underneath there really not a whole lot to break It would be harder for the mechanism to lock on since it used a microswitch It'd certainly be possible for it to, but you'd probably discover it before things got out of hand, because you'd hear an interesting noise.
    6:11
    But more than all that, I wonder how the plastic holds up, because if you're smacking the ball around, how quickly until the plastic breaks? I'm sure many of you have worked on EM pinball machines and you've seen what happens to pop bumper bodies or even solid state machines pop bumper bodies that the rod and ring has bit into or the ball has been able to hit because the pop bumper did not fire
    6:43
    or any other of a hundred possible maladies with pop bumpers well the pop bumper bodies being made of plastic break pretty easily. But, you know, I'd really love to see the inside of one of these pops and what it looks like. So, moving on from that, this game has a third very interesting mechanism, and that is a magnet
    7:14
    that will walk the ball all the way across the playfield. Very similarly to Bram Stoker's Dracula's, mist magnet, for any of you who have played that game. There are two different kick-out holes, one on the left and one on the right, and depending on the position of the magnet under the playfield, and potentially some other units of which I'm not aware, the ball will start walking from one side to the other.
    7:47
    Pretty cool. It is pretty cool. so other than that this game has a ball saver post which comes up between the flippers and a ball gate which will return your ball to the shooter lane on the right hand side most of the switches will register 500 points with some offering 1000 and some offering 3000 Pops score 10 unless they're lit
    8:20
    and then they will score 100 per hit but one of the interesting things which I'm unclear on is the bonus inserts there are 5 different inserts each of which are labeled 1000 points those are not rollover buttons and I have no idea idea how they incremented but they appear to be able to be incremented, and I'm almost positive that you can collect them by traveling from left
    8:56
    to right or right to left. So let's talk about the artwork on Galaxy, because it's pretty interesting. you've got astronauts which are on a spacewalk or escaping from some kind of hideous monstrosity or several of them arranged across the playfield there's a rocket flying away
    9:27
    towards a target in the upper right which awards your special or 3,000 points if special is not lit. Up at the top, you've got a UFO-looking thing around the ball arch, and there's a lot of blue, yellow, pink, and orange on the playfield. Very interesting color palette. Looking at the back glass, you have what appears to be a punk rock astronaut
    9:58
    with spiky hair, which you can see through his helmet, and spikes around his boots. Seems rather impractical for an astronaut to wear, but what do I know? And in the background you have stylized UFOs and rockets, mountains, and other items. I actually like this artwork quite a bit. I think it's pretty interesting.
    10:32
    One of my favorite pieces is the explosion which is happening as the ball moves from left to right across the playfield. I think that's pretty neat. Games with a really nice pattern in the background where the ball can move from left to right or right to left is always fascinating to me. I like artwork that brings that ball travel feature to the fore.
    11:05
    Well, that's all for tonight. Thank you very much for joining me. My name again is Nick Baldrige. You can reach me at foreamusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, or you can call me on the bingos line. That's 724-BINGOS-1, 724-246-4671. You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at Bingo Podcast. You can follow me on Instagram, also at Bingo Podcast. Or you can listen to us on our website, which is foramusementonly.libsyn.com
    11:36
    Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.