Museum of Soviet Game Machines

Life in our high-tech society offers plenty of excitement with very realistic inter active computer games. It is difficult to imagine that a short time ago electronic entertainment was completely different: huge and cumbersome but, seemingly, machines with soul.

At the excursion you will learn that playing machines were invented in the USA in the middle of the XIX century. Soviet citizens first saw them in the summer of 1971 when the «International exhibition of amusement park equipment and playing machines” opened in Gorky Park. It was one and a half months of endless queues and complete excitement. People saw devices with cowboys and colorful birds, with music and bright lamps inside. It was totally fascinating.

But, of course, no Contracts were signed. The Soviets bought all the exhibits and, using their infamous reverse engineering skills, four years later the first Soviet game machines appeared. Playing machines were made at military plants with spare industrial capacity and, advanced for era, technology. Twenty two Soviet military plants were creating pioneers’ happiness!

The «plan» for game machines production was purely business. Soviet engineers were trying to put in as much of modern electronics as it was possible. The cost of one game machine ranged from 2500 to 4000 rubles, almost the cost of a car!

In the museum you can also see the unique Soviet advertising pre- production samples. The booklets were made in futurist manner and promised «unrealistic feelings in real life!»

Original kopek coins give you an opportunity to play on fifteen different game machines which are included in the cost of the excursion.