Asteroid Annie and the Aliens (Gottlieb, 1980): faults and System 1 replacement boards
Does your Asteroid Annie and the Aliens (Gottlieb, 1980) no longer start, lose its settings or show temperamental displays? As the last pinball on the System 1 platform, this rare game accumulates the well-known weaknesses of Gottlieb electronics of the era. Here are the typical faults reported on the forums and the battery-free replacement solutions.
Asteroid Annie and the Aliens overview
Released in 1980, the Asteroid Annie and the Aliens is the very last Gottlieb solid-state pinball on System 1, and one of the rarest (around 211 units produced). Designed by John Buras and illustrated by Gordon Morison, it features astronaut Annie facing the aliens in a science-fiction setting.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1980
- System: Gottlieb System 1 (the last of the series)
- Type: solid state (alphanumeric displays)
- Theme: science fiction, asteroids, aliens
Common faults (System 1)
The Gottlieb System 1 shares a set of well-known weaknesses, regardless of the game:
- Leaking battery: the NiCad battery soldered onto the MPU board leaks over time and corrodes traces and components. It's the number-one fault — remove it without delay.
- Poor grounding: the original ground wiring is undersized and causes resets and erratic behaviour (the "ground mods" are practically mandatory).
- Corroded connectors: the Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link (46 pins), lose contact and need re-pinning.
- Power supply: unstable 5 V, tired bridge rectifiers and an overheating transformer lead to crashes.
- Displays: digits that fade, flicker or stay frozen at zero.
Asteroid Annie-specific problems (forums)
- 5101 RAM and reset circuit: these are the most common System 1 board failures, particularly raised on this game (lost settings, refusal to start).
- Battery corrosion: the MPU NiCad battery leaks and eats away the surrounding area — to be inspected and removed first.
- Late driver board: built in 1980, the Asteroid Annie should have a Driver board with protection diodes; check that they are present and healthy.
- Temperamental displays: all zeros, flicker or garbage characters, to be investigated on the power-supply and A1J2/A1J3 connector side.
- Connectors and grounds: re-pin the connectors and apply the ground mods to make the game reliable.
- Rarity: original parts are hard to find — hence the appeal of a modern replacement board.
Asteroid Annie and the Aliens-compatible replacement boards
The Asteroid Annie is built on the Gottlieb System 1, a platform known to be fragile (leaking battery, weak grounds, oxidised connectors, sensitive RAM). Pinballs Store offers battery-free replacement solutions to make it reliable again:
- Gosof — replacement sound board.
For a CPU/Driver board dedicated to System 1, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Asteroid Annie and the Aliens. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support.
FAQ — Asteroid Annie and the Aliens Gottlieb
What year was the Asteroid Annie released?
In 1980. It's the very last Gottlieb System 1 pinball, and one of the rarest (around 211 units).
Why does my Asteroid Annie lose its settings or fail to start?
Typically the 5101 RAM and the reset circuit, often made worse by battery corrosion. A battery-free replacement board, with the ground mods, fixes the problem for good.
Should I remove the battery from the MPU board?
Yes, immediately. The original NiCad battery eventually leaks and destroys the board. A battery-free replacement board permanently eliminates this risk.
Is there a replacement board for the Asteroid Annie?
Yes. Contact us for the right System 1 CPU/Driver solution; installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with free support.
How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: a few minutes, no soldering, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board keep the settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use non-volatile memory: no more battery, no more corrosion, and the settings are kept when powered off.
Step-by-step diagnosis
- Power off, visual inspection: look for any battery or corrosion traces on the MPU of your Asteroid Annie and the Aliens; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5 V and check it reaches the MPU (reflow the solder on the regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
- Grounds: apply the "ground mods" between the boards (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound).
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display with the power on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact our free support.
See also
- Cleopatra (Gottlieb, 1977)
- Torch (Gottlieb, 1980)
- Roller Disco (Gottlieb, 1980)
- Buck Rogers (Gottlieb, 1980)
