What are these arcade games in Ghostbusters 1984?

Question

During the 'We got one' scene in Ghostbusters we see 2 video games and a pinball machine but does anyone know what they are?

https://www.ghostbusters.net/forums/t/arcade-games-in-the-firehouse-2191/ — Valorum, May 23 '19 at 20:54
I think you mean "2 video games and a pinball machine". They are all arcade games. — user14111, May 23 '19 at 23:38
@user14111 Just updated, thanks for pointing the out. I've always referred to video games as arcade, don't know if it's a UK thing? Anyone else like to comment? — Seamusthedog, May 24 '19 at 05:04
For you pinballs aren't arcade games? Pinball machines were the mainstay of game arcades before video games were invented. Sadly, pinball machines have been mostly replaced by boring video games, which are easier and cheaper to maintain. — user14111, May 24 '19 at 05:56
Pinball machines weren't commen in arcades in the U.K. When I was a kid — Seamusthedog, May 24 '19 at 07:38
Yeah, also UK here and I've only ever heard "arcade machines" over here used to refer to video game machines, not pinball machines. Most arcades here (at least when I frequented them in the 80's/90's) were mainly just full of video games and sometimes gambling machines. Pinball machines were more common in seaside arcades, but those also tended to have a bigger mix of other machine types (including claw machines, coin pushers, etc). — delinear, May 24 '19 at 08:25
Ah the seaside amusements. 2p waterfalls and fag reek, the 80s were great! — Seamusthedog, May 24 '19 at 08:35
@Seamusthedog - I live by the coast and can assure you that the 2p machines are alive and well; no fag reek but if you miss it you can always step outside the arcade for a minute and stroll along to the smoking area of the nearest pub :-) — Spratty, May 24 '19 at 10:15
@Spratty I work in a seaside town and still find it funny these places still exist. Can't beat a chippy on a windy day, feet in the sand and winter coat on!! — Seamusthedog, May 24 '19 at 10:26

score 43 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '19 at 22:30

43

Identified elsewhere as

Star Castle (1980)

Star Gazer (1980)

The pinball machine is called Star Gazer and is made by Stern:

The third machine appears to be Missile Command (also 1980).

edited May 23 '19 at 22:30

Jenayah

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answered May 23 '19 at 20:59

Valorum

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The leftmost one looks nothing at all like that Jump Bug game. – Martha May 23 '19 at 21:01
I like the first two, but I'm not sure about Jump Bug. The title images on the box don't look anywhere similar... one is orange and Jump Bug is blue... though I have nothing to add right now in what it actually is! – Odin1806 May 23 '19 at 21:02
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@Odin1806 - The game was referenced in the comic serial; IDW Publishing Comics- Ghostbusters Get Real 1, which tends to back up the assertion that this is the game in question. – Valorum May 23 '19 at 21:03
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Looks like Missile Command. – May 23 '19 at 21:05
@Amy - I like that... – Odin1806 May 23 '19 at 21:06
@Amy - You're not wrong. The logo matches – Valorum May 23 '19 at 21:07
So where the hell are all these referenced to Jump Bug coming from? – Valorum May 23 '19 at 21:07
This photo may be a little clearer for Missile Comand. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Zme5yPNeL.jpg – NJohnny May 23 '19 at 21:09
Haha. That is curious... And I do like fact that forums and etc. have all been wondering this for years and then @Amy comes in here and solves it in no time... – Odin1806 May 23 '19 at 21:09
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To be fair, I only looked at the other answer, scratched my head, googled the game, then commented here. Then I scratched my head again for good measure. Credit should go to FuzzyBoots and head scratching. – May 23 '19 at 21:10

score 32 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '19 at 22:28

32

From arcade-museum.com:

It's Missile Command, Star Castle and Star Gazer. There was already another thread on this not too long ago. There's speculation that the Missle Command is converted into a Ms. Pac, due to the tinge of blue in the upper right of the Marquee. However you can clearly see Missle Command on the screen.

edited May 23 '19 at 22:28

Jenayah

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FuzzyBoots

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score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '19 at 20:52

well as you see here:

https://arcadespecialties.com/arcade-games-for-sale/vintage-arcade-games/missile-command/

that's definitely the first machine shown. The issue identifying it could have arisen from the fact that many of those games went through cabinet and art revisions constantly, and very well could have contributed to minor issues causing inconsistency.

Additionally, part of the reason pinball might not have been included in many arcades, was that new york and chicago and so on, some of the bigger major cities, had actually added pinball to prohibition lists from the 40s to the 70s, which would mean there's a very high chance any arcades built/renovated during that time, would have foregone pinball in an effort to avoid excess loss, had they been nationally prohibited.

read more about it here:
https://www.6sqft.com/pinball-prohibition-the-arcade-game-was-illegal-in-new-york-for-over-30-years/

Hope that helps :)

[ image for post 1 [2 [3 [4 [5 [7

nice one, re pinball it seems to be a UK thing or more a US thing. We don't get them much in the UK were as they are a cultural piece in the US — Seamusthedog, May 26 '19 at 21:11

What are these arcade games in Ghostbusters 1984?

3 Answers3