Hi! They are rare. They are hard to play. And, you have probably never seen, heard of, nor played most (or any) of them.
Right, I am talking about Laser Disc arcade video games.
Nevertheless, they are extremely prized collectibles of the bygone Golden Age of arcade video games.
Why are Laser Disc arcade video games so rare?
Because, they required so much maintenance of the game system hardware (moving parts do not have long lifespans).
Laser Disc arcade games almost always had "not working" stickers on them. So, into the scrap pile many went.
Back then, I owned a few, but none ever worked. So, into the scrap pile they went.
Click the links below in Section "B" to go to the Killer List Of Videogames (KLOV) for detailed history about each of the Laser Disc arcade games and how they are played.
A) Ace Amusements Dragon's Lair Laser Disc games multicade:
Laser Disc multicade machine -
Graphical User Interface (GUI) menu screen -
Game play screen shots -
B) Laser Disc Multi Game System Operation Guide:
This is a work in progress, check back for updates.
1) Astron Belt
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6951
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 6
Controls - joystick, red button
Coins per credit - 2
Lives -
Continue mode - to start - use 2-player start button and at least 2 (or more) credits, to continue - at least 1 (or more) credits
Play notes -
2) Badlands
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6992
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 5
Controls - red button fire
Coins per credit -
Lives - 7
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - don't shoot until attacked
3) Bega's Battle
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7089
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 21
Controls - joystick, red button fire, yellow button teleport/shield
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - teleport and shield added as game progresses
4) Cliff Hanger
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7352
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 4
Controls - joystick, red button hands, yellow button feet
Coins per credit -
Lives - 6
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
5) Cobra Command
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7362
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 8
Controls - joystick, red button fire, yellow button missile
Coins per credit -
Lives - 5
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
6) Dragon's Lair
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7647
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 8
Controls - joystick, red button sword
Coins per credit -
Lives - 5
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - scoreboard on (top of screen)
7) Dragon's Lair II
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7648
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 20
Controls - joystick, red button sword
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
8) Esh's Aurunmilla
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7718
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 7
Controls - joystick, red button action
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
9) Galaxy Ranger
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7893
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 5
Controls - joystick, red button fire
Coins per credit - 2
Lives -
Continue mode - to start - use 2-player start button and at least 2 (or more) credits, to continue - at least 1 (or more) credits
Play notes -
10) GP World
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7874
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 8
Controls - joystick steering, red button shifter (low/high), yellow button gas, green button brakes
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
11) Interstellar Laser Fantasy
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8196
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 11
Controls - joystick, red button fire, yellow button burn
Coins per credit -
Lives - 5
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - burn becomes active later in game
12) M.A.C.H. 3
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8471
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 17
Controls - joystick, red button fire, yellow button bomb
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
13) Road Blaster
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9331
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 5
Controls - joystick, red button gas?, yellow button brake?
Coins per credit -
Lives - 4
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - timing is critical, one of the trickiest
14) Space Ace
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9637
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 7
Controls - joystick, red button fire/energize
Coins per credit -
Lives - 5
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - scoreboard on (top of screen)
15) Super Don Quix-ote
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9890
Players - 2
Load time (seconds) - 4
Controls - joystick, red button sword
Coins per credit -
Lives - 5
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes -
16) Us Vs. Them
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10275
Players - 1
Load time (seconds) - 29
Controls - red button bank left and machine gun, yellow button bank right and machine gun, green button fire
Coins per credit -
Lives -
Continue mode - n/a
Play notes - automatic switch to machine gun depending on game location
C) Machine General Operation Notes:
Laser Disc games are not all similar in their operation.
Here are some of the operation particulars:
1) Some games load slower than others - give them a few seconds to load, to recognize credits, and perhaps to perform other functions.
Otherwise, all of their game play is at proper speed.
2) Note to shut down the game system before machine power off. SHUT DOWN is the first menu listing. Then, wait about 15 seconds after shut down to power off machine.
3) To begin game system boot-up, power on machine. Boot-up requires about one minute until the Menu Screen appears:
4) Some Laser games require 2 coins for 1 credit, rather than 1 coin for 1 credit.
Some may require 2 credits per play, which could mean pressing the PURPLE button 2 or 4 times.
The PURPLE button is the coin button (aka, the credit button) located at control panel top-left:
5) Scroll menu with the joystick.
6) Press Player-1 start button to enter/load a game.
7) Press Player-1 start button for 3-4 seconds to exit a game and return to menu screen.
8) Press Player-1 start button to start game for one player.
9) Press Player-2 start button to start game for two players, who will alternate their game play.
10) Game play buttons are the 3 buttons to the left and to the right of the joystick.
11) Auxiliary buttons - credit, P-1 start, and P-2 start - are those to the left-most and right-most sides of the control panel.
12) Volume control/headphones jack pod is located just inside the front access door.
13) For all of the flying games, the joystick performs like an aircraft flight stick.
Thus, pushing forward on the joystick (typically moving up) is instead "nose down" for a flight stick.
And, pulling back on the joystick (typically moving down) is instead "nose up" for a flight stick.