Part 3: 1978 Gottlieb Close Encounters of the Third Kind Project. Life!

TL;DR

Close Encounters restoration achieves power-on with partial gameplay; diagnostics ongoing.

Summary

Key Claims

• The machine was stored for approximately 30 years from a prominent doctor in Windsor; battery damage rotted the MPU and corroded many connectors

  medium confidence · Host clarifies he's unsure of exact storage duration but confirms significant battery damage and connector corrosion from extended storage

• Roger Cohat tested and validated the replacement driver board and replaced a bad transistor before giving it to the host

  high confidence · Host states 'Got this guy right here. 100% working according to Roger Cohat' and references Cohat's testing and transistor replacement

• The thumbtack-and-hammer technique successfully removes old terminal pins from connectors without damaging the connector itself

  high confidence · Host demonstrates and repeatedly confirms success: 'I got to tell you, my new strategy with a thumbtack and a hammer to remove these old pins is actually working really good'

• All displays power up successfully; Player 3 display needs charging but is functional

  high confidence · Host observes: 'All the displays work. Player three needs a little bit of a charge, but we're getting closer'

• The 2-amp slow-blow fuse controls the roto unit and drop target bank circuit

  high confidence · Host confirms after checking schematics: 'This 2 amp slowblow fuse does in fact control the roto unit and drop target bank'

Notable Quotes

• “I didn't exactly just put it all together and turn it on because I knew that wasn't going to work because the battery had rotted the MPU away and so many connectors are in very rough shape.”

  Mike Dus @ ~1:20 — Explains the methodical restoration approach and core damage assessment

• “You got to be very freaking careful. You can just like literally take Windex to the apron, try and clean it, and there goes your blue and red ink.”

  Mike Dus @ ~5:00 — Safety/technique advice about cleaning translites and artwork without damaging them

• “This is the finest repinning job on an edge connector I have ever done. I'm pretty happy with that.”

  Mike Dus @ ~16:50 — Host expresses satisfaction with the careful connector repinning work, having taken 40 photos to document wire positions

• “No fire started down there, so that's good... no fires on the driver board. We have general illumination on the playfield.”

  Mike Dus @ ~19:30 — First successful full power-on with playfield connected; critical safety checkpoint passed

• “I didn't actually select Close Encounters of the Third Kind on the MPU... on the older Nywump boards, it's actually dip switches that be used to change the game.”

  Mike Dus @ ~25:00 — Identifies root cause of initial issues; explains DIP switch configuration needed for game selection on older Gottlieb boards

• “Well, there's a slight chance we might actually be able to play a game here. So, here goes nothing.”

  Mike Dus @ ~27:30 — Host attempts first actual game start after DIP switch correction

• “The jury's still out on that [NWump MPU reliability], but anyway, we're getting there.”

  Mike Dus @ ~40:00 — Acknowledges concern that MPU may have stability issues (previous lock-up); indicates more work needed before final validation

Entities

Signals

• ?

  community_signal: Video content format serves as educational resource for classic pinball restoration techniques and troubleshooting workflows

  high · Host demonstrates thumbtack-and-hammer terminal removal technique, shares cleaning methodology, explains DIP switch configuration, and documents each diagnostic step

• ?

  design_philosophy: Host demonstrates methodical, documentation-heavy restoration approach using photography and schematic research to preserve original connector integrity

  high · 'I took like 40 photos just to make sure that I put these in the right slot' for connector repinning; checks schematics to diagnose fuse and transistor issues

• ?

  product_strategy: Aftermarket driver board installation and testing as replacement/supplement to original MPU circuitry to address battery damage

  high · Roger Cohat provided tested driver board with transistor replacement; host states it's '100% working according to Roger Cohat'

• ?

  product_concern: NWump MPU exhibited lock-up behavior during initial testing; host uncertain about long-term reliability and stability of the original CPU

  medium · Host notes 'I don't even know that I can trust that NWump MPU because it did lock up on me once' and references notes indicating 'it was going to game over'