Of all iconic objects of the Soviet era — the orb of the Sputnik, the needle of the Ostankino TV tower — none speaks to the Russian heart as clearly and loudly as the Glass.

As to what it says, well, take a guess: with a volume of exactly 250 grams, the Glass happens to divide the equally classic 750-gram bottle of vodka evenly between three friends. Hence, the whispered invitation heard daily around every Soviet liquor store: "Третьим будешь?" (Wanna be the third one?)

Secret factories, anonymous engineers and military training methods – these are the scattered origins of what became Morskoi Boi, the torpedo-launching simulator that introduced Soviet children to the world of coin-operated entertainment.