C.O.C.A. Times

penny, you turn the "twister" looking knob on the up-
per right side of the door. This same knob also resets
the cannons for the start of a new game. The play card,
Photo D spells out the rules of engagement.
The game is visually attractive. This particular mod-
el sports the Showman's paint scheme common to ma-
chines that have ridden the fun fair circuit a few times
too many. I would never consider altering one of these
painted cabinets; the design only adds to the charm of
the machine.
Not too many of this particular game have survived.
Several reasons, I think. First, the play of three balls
makes the game slow as compared to the allwins that
were beginning to gain traction around the same time.
With their vertical track and single ball action, allwins
were faster and more exciting. With the Bomb Drop-
per's tilt tray ledge, one could spend minutes rolling the
balls back and forth waiting for the exact moment to
drop the bomb on the unsuspecting cannon below. This
might be fun for the players but I doubt the operators
enjoyed the long play quite as much. Plus, three balls
with Bomb Dropper versus a single ball allwin guar-
antees a longer play. Faster play translates into faster
accumulation of money in the operator's box.
The second problem is the game design. It you miss
with the first cannon ball, you've lost the game. Two
subsequent cannons down is still a loser. Hope can be
extinguished early which is never a good feature. Did
Kim Kardashian dump Kris Humphries down BEFORE
the marriage? I think not, Binkie. Just like real life, the
best game design keeps you hoping right up until the
bitter end.
Photo C
•
Any game that involves guns, war or sex is guaran-
teed to appeal to a male audience. Bomb Dropper has
two out of three going for it. Had the game been devel-
oped for today's market, you can be sure that the Kar-
dashians would be on the playfield. "Boob Dropper?"
Now that's a winning idea!
•
In rt Coln nd turn Top
Knoh on Right.
Ouldc: B 11
b) turnln
Hnndlc: on
ft.
hen Hall I In d ''°'""' po • •
lion, pr
Coln
r turn
The End
Photo D
15