Atari Coin Connection

Issue: Vol 1 Num 3 - 1977 February

EDDIE BOASBERG COMMENTS ON PINBALL
Dear Coin Man:
My name is Eddie Boasberg. As
Marketing Coordinator for Pinball at
Atari, my job is to initiate the field
testing of the Atari pinball and to
interface with both distributors and
operators concerning all aspects of our
pinball games. I am at Atari to gather
information, comments, and ideas from
distributors and operators of our games,
ATARI'S SPAINt 2™
BREAKING RECORDS
Ray Galante of Music Vend, Seattle
says, " Our operators are reporting $200
to $300 a week collections on Sprint 2
video game which has helped to increase
their total gross income of the locations.
"Sprint 2 is earning extremely well in
this area and it has shown the longevity
that we feel will surpass many of the
other video games," says Frank Ash of
Active Amusement Co., Philadelphia.
These are just a few examples of the
reactions to Sprint 2 by operators and
distributors across the country. This game
has the extra challenge of 12 different
tracks to choose from and the competi-
tive element in both the one and two
player modes which have contributed to
its success. There is more action on the
playfield with the two automatic "drone"
cars which adds to the excitement of
each race.
The distributors also reported that
there have been very minimal or no
reports of down time on Sprint 2 by their
operators. They note that the built-in
self-test program has been extremely
helpful for pinpointing those problems
that have been reported and repairing
them quickly.
in order to insure that the Atari pinball is
the best in the market.
The Atarians TM is our first pinball,
and in keeping with Atari standards, is a
great game. By means of extensive
testing, new ideas concerning pinball
games are incorporated in The Atarians.
There are new features in our games that
have been proven in field testing, which
will greatly benefit the operators.
I am looking forward to talking to
you, both distributors and operators, to
get your comments on the game. Please
write to me and let me know your
opinions.
Look forward to nothing but great
pinballs from Atari and start playing with
the future today.
Respectfully,
- -·- - -
__ _,.
Edward J . Boasberg
Operations Manager, Pinball Division
DEBBIE SPEAR AND
CHRIS BUTTERFIELD
CUSTOMER SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVES
If there's a problem that is unknown,
Call Atari Customer Service on the phone.
Debbie or Chris will always be there
To help you with the game repair.
Together with the game technician
They 'II find out bow to fix the condition.
SITDOWN
INJll~IHIV IP>IIIYII
ROLLS
TM
Atari's exciting and highly successful
NIGHT DRIVER iM night racing game is
now available in a limited edition deluxe
sitdown cabinet design. Molded in shim-
mering black metallic fiberglass co1nplete
with colorful race car decal graphics. The
new version adds incredible realism to
this 24 - hours-at-Daytona type video
racing attraction .
Players actually sit in a simulated race
car cockpit with console mounted
4-speed shifter, quick-response steering
and realistic accelerator.
Designed for hours of replay, the
sitdown NIGHT DRIVER offers the same
profit oriented features as the upright
version.
Drivers can select one of three tracks
based on order of difficulty. The monitor
displays an illuminated twisting, turning
roadway ahead. The harder the accelera-
tion, the faster the track comes at the
player, making it harder to stay on the
track without crashing. Realism is
enhanced with screeching tires, crashes,
and the whine of changing RPM's as the
player shifts gears.
" Best" top speed and score previously
achieved for each track is stored and
displayed whenever track-selection switch
is activated.
Special operator options include
Extended Play when driver scores 350
points, and adjustable Game Time to 50,
75, 100 or 125 seconds ... a switch is
provided that also allows operators to
change the game's tracks to a different set
of three courses.
Dimensions are: Height 55", width
30", length 74".
Further information regarding availa-
bility and delivery can be gained by
contacting Frank Ballouz, Atari National
Sales Manager or the Atari Distributor in
your area.
,
DON OSBORNE
NAMED WESTERN
REGIONAL SALES
MANAGER
Don Osborne has been named Western
Regional Sales Mana6er for the Coin-
operated products division at Atari, Inc.
Mr. Osborne's primary responsibilities
will be focussed on providing closer
product sales and follow-up support to
Atari distributors in the western states.
In commenting about Mr. Osborne's
new position, F rank Ballouz, Division
National Sales Manager stated "we are
confident that Don's appointment will
add more strength to our continuing
efforts to increase two-way communi-
cation and offer more personalized
service to our distributors throughout
the west.
Mr. Osborne has over twelve years
ex perience in marketing and direct sales.
This is sort of a "fan Letter". I'm
writing to express my appreciation of one
of your coin-operated electronic games,
BREAKOUT TM . I've played it many
times in game centers here in Philadelphia
and enjoy it immensely ... when the
lunch hour rolls around in Center City,
Philadelphia, large numbers of well-
dressed junior-executive types line up at
the various BREAKOUT machines in the
4 game centers and one train station that
have them and play them for much of
their time . There's something about it
that's addictive.
Burt Benenson
Philadelphia, PA
SKILL Ea STRATEG~ WITH NEW
lD>OMllrNJOS/~ (O(l~VAll~M
Following on the heels of the highly
successful 2-player DOMIN OS™, Atari
has just announced the availability of a
4-player cocktail model of this popular
video skill game .
Features include a new hexagonal
table top fabricated from a durable
scratch and burn-resistant laminate
material.
The easy-access 19" monitor is
covered with tempered glass for max-
imum protection.
-Operator options include variable
volume control; one coin per player
credit or one coin for two or four credits,
and number of matches before elimina-
tion to three, four, five or six.
DOMINOS/4 COCKTAIL TM video
game is designed for on-the-spot main-
tenance with special easy-access service
panel, and built in self-test program.
The game can be played by up to 4
players, white vs. black "dominos",
individually or in teams. If there is less
that 4, the games' computer plays the
other positions. The last player with
points on his "score domino" wins.
"DOMINOS/4 COCKTAIL is an excit-
ing skill game as well as an elegant
furniture design" . Frank Ballouz, Atari
National Sales Manager commented. " We
believe it will fit into a wide variety of
sophisticated environments, provide great
entertainment for patrons, an d high
income for opera tors ."
TECHNICAL TIPS
SHOOTING GAMES
There are some misunderstandings as
to the function and operation of the
optic assembly used in pistols and rifles .
This generally leads to improper diagnosis
of problems.
First of all, the optic assembly does
not emit a beam or ray of light. In reality,
the optic assembly receives a beam of
light from the face of the TV picture
tube. This is accomplished by the
presence of a narrow beam width lens
mounted on the end of the assembly
which focuses on a small area of the
picture tube . The light is transmitted
through the narrow beam width lens onto
a phototransistor which converts the light
to a voltage pulse. After amplification,
the light pulse is transmitted to the
computer board for processing.
Now, if a QUACK™ or OUTLAW ™
game has the foil owing symptoms, per -
form the check list :
Symptom: Shot is random or always in
one corner on TV screen.
Cause :
Insufficient light to optic
assembly caused by :
1. Lens missing
2 . TV brightness too low
3. Dirt on the face of the TV
picture tube
4. Plex dirty or scratched.
Symptom: No visible shot.
Cause:
Insufficient light to optic
assembly, defective optic as-
sembly, or defective com-
puter board.
F-1 DRIVING GAME
Symptom: Game is sometimes in the one
coin mode rather than two
coins.
Cause:
The game timer mot or (gas) is
not in "game over position ."
Remember that the game
timer is mechanical and does
not reset to zero when power
is turned on and off.

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