Grandstand Crazy Monster
 | |
| The Crazy Monster as drawn on page 1 of Grandstand's instruction leaflet, with the controls labelled | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Epoch Co. (made in Japan) for Grandstand (Adam Imports Ltd, Harrogate) |
| Type | Tabletop electronic game ("Electronic Mini Arcade Game") |
| Released | 1983[1][2] |
| CPU | Not documented |
| Memory | — |
| Storage | — |
| Display | Vacuum fluorescent display[3][2] |
| Sound | Electronic sound effects; a Sound switch turns them off[1] |
| Input | Joystick, two Action buttons, Start and Skill Level Select buttons, Power and Sound switches[1] |
| Power | Four C cells (Duracell MN 1400), or the Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor set to negative polarity[1] |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Model no. | Epoch model 36270 (Epoch's own release, Zig-Zag Monster)[2] |
Grandstand Crazy Monster is a battery-powered tabletop game with a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), made in Japan by Epoch and sold in the UK by Grandstand, whose leaflet carries a 1983 copyright.[1] Epoch sold the same game as Zig-Zag Monster.[2][4] The player guides Mr. Fred through a wood to fetch water for his fruit tree while beating off the monsters that eat the fruit, steal the water and lie in wait in the woods.[1] Grandstand sold it as an "Electronic Mini Arcade Game".[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Grandstand's leaflet for Crazy Monster gives the importer as Adam Imports Limited, Ripon Way, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, "a Member of the Adam Leisure Group PLC", with a 1983 copyright and "Made in Japan".[1] The Handheld Museum dates Epoch's Zig-Zag Monster to 1983, gives it the model number 36270 and notes that Epoch's version was sold by Grandstand as Crazy Monster; the museum's photographs show both versions in the same yellow upright case with an oval screen.[2][3] The two dates agree.
Crazy Monster is one of four Grandstand VFD tabletops for which Grandstand's own leaflet has been found, with Grandstand Astro Wars, Grandstand Firefox F-7 and Grandstand Star Force. All four are Epoch games. The four leaflets print the same battery and adaptor instructions and the same note on handling the joystick and buttons.[1][5][6][7]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maker | Epoch Co.; made in Japan |
| Microcontroller | Not documented |
| Display | VFD behind a window in an upright case |
| Sound | Electronic sound; a Sound switch turns it off |
| Controls | Joystick (left, right, up, down), two Action buttons, Start and Skill Level Select buttons, Power and Sound switches |
| Power | Four C cells (Duracell MN 1400 recommended), or the Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor set to negative |
Controls and power from Grandstand's leaflet;[1] display from the Handheld Museum.[3][2]
Crazy Monster is not covered by MAME's drivers for NEC or Hitachi microcontrollers.[8] No photograph of the inside of a Grandstand-branded unit has been published, but a Korean collector's 2026 repair of Epoch's Zig-Zag Monster photographs the board in detail: a brown main board with the Epoch logo, its solder side marked 96271, carrying the display tube, a TDK transformer marked TX-29, a power transistor and five electrolytic capacitors; a green control board marked 96272 under the control panel, joined by a flat cable; a piezo speaker; and a DC socket on leads. The microcontroller sits under the tube and its marking cannot be seen, so its part number is still not known.[9] Grandstand's earlier Epoch tabletops use NEC uCOM-4 microcontrollers (Grandstand Invader From Space, Grandstand Astro Wars and Grandstand Scramble in MAME), but nothing published shows which chip Crazy Monster uses.
The game
[edit | edit source]Mr. Fred starts at his tree and must reach the water tank at the bottom of the display through a wood with revolving doors. The door to the tank stays shut until he has beaten a woods monster by kicking a rock onto it: the Action button on the right kicks a rock to the right and the one on the left kicks it to the left. At the tank he scoops water with an Action button (a full tank holds five layers), then has about 15 seconds to get back and water the tree, which then bears a fruit. A fruit monster tries to eat the fruit and a water monster drains the tank; both are seen off with a power punch from either Action button.[1]
The Skill Level Select button chooses one of three levels before play: level 1 gives 7 chances, one monster and slow speed; level 2 gives 5 chances, two monsters and medium speed; level 3 gives 3 chances, three monsters and fast speed. The game starts at level 1.[1]
The game ends when the tank is empty and there is no fruit on the tree, when the last chance is lost, or at a perfect score of 2,000. Beating a woods monster scores 10, as does watering the tree; when the tank is emptied the fruit on the tree scores a bonus of 20 points each, or 150 if all five fruit are there. An extra chance is given at 1,000 points.[1]
Batteries and power
[edit | edit source]Grandstand recommends four Duracell MN 1400 (C) cells, not included. The game "can be operated from the mains with a Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor (not included). Set polarity switch to negative-polarity."[1] The leaflet gives no voltage; four C cells make 6 V nominal. See Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor before using the original adaptor or a modern supply.
The leaflet says the game will not operate properly on weak batteries, and that if the game malfunctions or the display is erratic the batteries should be checked or replaced. Turn the game off after use and remove the batteries when it is not used for long periods.[1] Cells left in the box leak; see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
Repair
[edit | edit source]Crazy Monster has its own repair guides:
- Grandstand Crazy Monster General Maintenance: opening the case, the battery compartment and adaptor, the controls, the display tube and cleaning.
- Grandstand Crazy Monster Troubleshooting Guide: what should happen at power-on, a symptom table, the known faults, and the display.
- Grandstand Crazy Monster Capacitor Replacement Guide: the five electrolytic capacitors on the main board.
What is known about repairing it:
- No service manual or schematic has been found. The only published repair is of Epoch's Zig-Zag Monster: its dim display was cured by replacing the five electrolytic capacitors on the main board, and its faulty controls by servicing the control pad.[9]
- Grandstand's leaflet asks the owner to move the joystick gently and not to press hard on the Action buttons, which "will not operate any faster" for it, and not to leave the game in the sun or let it get wet.[1] The Astro Wars, Firefox F-7 and Star Force leaflets carry the same note.[5][6][7]
- The 3D-printable replacement battery door made for the Epoch tabletops lists Astro Wars, Scramble, Firefox F-7 and Star Force among the games it fits, but not Crazy Monster.[10] Measure the opening before printing one.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Grandstand Crazy Monster directions (Adam Imports, 1983; six pages). Story, controls, skill levels, play, scoring, batteries and adaptor polarity.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Grandstand Crazy Monster General Maintenance
- Grandstand Crazy Monster Troubleshooting Guide
- Grandstand Crazy Monster Capacitor Replacement Guide
- Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor
- Grandstand Astro Wars, Grandstand Firefox F-7 and Grandstand Star Force: Epoch games with the same Grandstand battery and adaptor instructions
- Grandstand Invader From Space and Grandstand The Big Game Soccer: Grandstand's earlier Epoch tabletops, on four AA cells
- Category:Grandstand
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Adam Imports Ltd, Grandstand Crazy Monster: Electronic Mini Arcade Game directions, copyright 1983, made in Japan. Hosted here as File:Grandstand Crazy Monster Instructions.pdf: p. 1 (story, controls diagram, batteries: four Duracell MN 1400, Grandstand Universal Mains Adaptor, "Set polarity switch to negative-polarity", weak-battery warning; note on handling the joystick and Action buttons), p. 2 (power and sound switches, three skill levels, start button, joystick, Action buttons), pp. 3-4 (play through the wood, at the water tank, in the orchard), p. 5 (water monster, game ending, scoring), p. 6 (Adam Imports Limited, Ripon Way, Harrogate; member of the Adam Leisure Group PLC; copyright 1983; made in Japan).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Handheld Museum, "Epoch Zig-Zag Monster" (retrieved 2026-10-18): 1983, VFD, four C batteries, model 36270, "Also sold by Grandstand as Crazy Monster"; photograph of the boxed Epoch game.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Handheld Museum, "Grandstand Crazy Monster" (retrieved 2026-10-18): VFD, four C batteries, also sold by Epoch as Zig-Zag Monster; photograph of the boxed Grandstand game with its leaflet.
- ↑ Retro Games, "Grandstand" museum page (dealer's collection page, retrieved 2026-10-18): Crazy Monster, "Help Mr Fred beat the monsters and make trips for water for his orchard. Also sold by Epoch as Zig-Zag Monster."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Adam Leisure Group PLC, Grandstand Astro Wars instructions, copyright 1981 Epoch. Hosted here as File:Grandstand Astro Wars Instructions.pdf: p. 2, batteries box (four Duracell MN1400, Universal Mains Adaptor, polarity switch to negative, weak-battery warning); p. 3, the note on moving the joystick gently and not pressing hard on the Fire button.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Adam Imports Ltd, Grandstand Firefox F-7 instruction booklet. Hosted here as File:Grandstand Firefox F-7 Instructions.pdf: p. 1, batteries box (four Duracell MN1400, Universal Mains Adaptor, polarity switch to negative) and the note on handling the joystick and firing button.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Adam Imports Ltd, Grandstand Star Force instruction booklet. Hosted here as File:Grandstand Star Force Instructions.pdf: p. 1, batteries box (four Duracell MN1400, Universal Mains Adaptor, polarity switch to negative) and the note on handling the joystick and firing button.
- ↑ MAME source, hh_ucom4.cpp and hh_hmcs40.cpp (retrieved 2026-10-18). The chip lists and driver notes include Epoch Invader From Space (D552C 054), Galaxy II / Grandstand Astro Wars (D553C 153) and Astro Command / Grandstand Scramble (D553C 202); neither file lists Zig-Zag Monster or Crazy Monster.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 analo9, "1983 에포크 지그재그 몬스터 게임기 (Epoch ZigZag Monster)", Naver blog (in Korean), 25 June 2026 (retrieved 2026-10-18); also on YouTube as "Epoch ZigZag Monster FL LSI Tabletop Game repair". Repair of an Epoch Zig-Zag Monster with a dim display and faulty controls, with 60 photographs examined at full size: main board (Epoch logo, solder side marked 96271) carrying the tube, a TDK TX-29 transformer, a power transistor at S02 and five electrolytic capacitors, the microcontroller hidden under the tube; control board 96272 joined by a flat cable; piezo speaker; DC socket on leads. The five capacitors were replaced and the display was then bright; the control pad was dismantled and serviced.
- ↑ YoxxxoY Jorge (yoxxxoy), "Battery cover Epoch electronic games", Thingiverse 3399673, 2 February 2019, CC BY 4.0, mirrored on the Internet Archive as thingiverse-3399673 (retrieved 2026-10-18). The designer lists Astro Thunder, Astro Thunder 7, Firefox F-7, Astro Command, Astro Wars, Space Defender, Galaxy II, Star Force and Scramble.