Atari Coin Connection

Issue: Vol 2 Num 06 - 1978 June

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NEW IMPROVED:
MIDDLE EARTH™
.......
The new and unique Fire Truck TM
will add profits to your location.
Fire Truck is the first driving game
that features exciting teamwork
and cooperation of the players as
they maneuver the realistic hook
and ladder fire truck through city
streets and race to the fire . For a
complete description of Fire Truck,
refer to the May issue of the Coin
Connection. This game is sure to be
a major attraction. See Fire Truck
today at your local Atari distrib-
utor's showroom.
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FIRE TRUCK™
NOW AVAILABLE
Extensive field testing of Atari's
MIDDLE EARTHTM pinball game
has provided direction for many
improvements that have been in-
cluded in the games now in produc-
tion. Not only has the earnings po-
tential of Middle Earth proven to be
one of the highest on the market
today, the serviceability and reli-
ability have been further developed
and improved significantly.
Some of the new features now in-
cluded on this dynamic pinball
from Atari include the following:
• New linear flippers with re-
placeable coils and reinforced
flipper buttons are designed
and tested for longer life.
• An improved hold down bar
that goes on and off for easy
serviceability.
• New discrete match credit and
score boards.
• New snaplock method of
mounting the printed circuit
board eliminates the springs
and problems caused by vibra-
tion.
• New multiple drop targets
have been tested to over
1,000,000 cycles without fail-
ure.
• New wireforms behind the
slingshots will minimize ball
trapping.
• New coin switch and actuator
wire will eliminate possible
faulty coining of free plays.
• New mini posts designed for
high resistance to breakage.
• Spinning targets have been re-
designed to alleviate sticking .
• Modified star rollovers mini -
mize sticking.
In addition to all of these new
features, Middle Earth comes with
a new complete illustrated parts
Atari has developed a portable
ROM/RAM Test Unit for simplified
troubleshooting in the field or in
the service shop. This unit mea-
sures only 9" x 6" x 1 1/2" and can
be easily set up on location. It will
be an extremely useful aid to tech-
nicians to quickly pinpoint prob-
lem areas on Atari games.
The ROM/RAM Tester can be used
on the majority of Atari's micro-
processor pinball and video games .
It can save many hours of trouble-
shooting time by enabling a tech-
nician to test the ROMs and RAMs
on a PC board in just a few minutes.
The tester can also be easily used to
(Continued on Page 4)
(Continued o n Page 4)
ATARI TEST UNIT
AVAILABLE
A NEW LOOK FOR SPRINT 1 TM
The exciting play action of Sprint
1 ™ is now available in a dynamic
new colorful cabinet design as well
as the sleek woodgrain cabinet to
add even more location versatility
to this high profit game. Three
bright red, orange and yellow race
cars speeding up the side of the
new cabinet with similar bezel and
front plexiglass is sure to attract
driving game enthusiasts.
In both cabinet styles this one
player driving game offers
maximum racing thrills for
players. Fast action and challeng-
ing features add up to many hours
of excitement. Twelve different
tracks changing automatically as
racers complete each lap, fast ac-
celeration and responsive 4 speed
shift controls with skids and
crashing intensify the action of
Sprint 1. Operator options provide
variety and versatility like oil
slicks, extended play, game time
and coinage. Players will enjoy the
realism of "drone" car traffic,
sounds of roaring engines and
squealing tires and racing respon-
sive controls.
Now there is a choice of two
styles to best fit the needs of
djfferent operator locations.
PINBALL MARATHON TO
HELP CHILDREN
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LOCATION TRADE
FEATURES GAMES
BEHIND THE SCENES:
ATARI'S ARTISTS
Two recent location trade maga-
zines h ave included feature articles
on games. Motel/Motor Inn
Journal, March 1978 issue, fea-
tured a story titled "Add Fun for
Guests and Profits for You," which
discussed in detail the advantages
of coin-op games in their estab-
lishments and how to select an
operator. This was written by Mr.
Sanders Letbetter, Business Man-
ager at Texas A & M University,
who had experienced the profit-
ability of games at the University
Student Center and took the initia-
tive to share his information with
a different market. Mr. Letbetter
said that he intends to write a simi-
lar article for other trade maga-
zines as well.
Restaurant Business, April
1978, included a lengthy article on
the innovative restaurants owned
and operated by Francis Barrett.
His restaurants have been reported
to have a unique appeal to all ages
including both singles and families.
The article points out that enter-
tainment is an important factor in
• the overall appeal of his locations,
and specifically states that the
Game Room is "a prominent fea-
ture" attracting customers.
These articles are excellent for
our industry. They help to increase
demand for games in more loca-
tions as well as contributing to
the positive image building for our
industry.
Atari's games are recognized as
having the highest graphic appeal
of any in the industry. Eight indi-
viduals, comprising the Graphic
Design group at Atari, are respon-
sible for this well-deserved un-
paralleled reputation. A game's
graphics play a crucial role in at-
tracting the attention and interest
of the players. The Graphic Design
team has consistently created
dynamic and original designs that
make Atari's games stand out in
any location. The exceptional
creativity of this group is further
evidenced by the many ads,
brochures, posters, etc., they design
for Atari's marketing programs.
The eight designers and artists in
the Graphics department are valu-
able behind-the-scenes people at
Atari.
-
©
A t a ri Inc . 1978
A tari's Graphic Team is left to right. Jim Arita,
Roger Hector, Steve Hendricks, George Op-
perman. Gjalt Van Der Wyk , Bob Flem ate,
Evelyn Lim, and Jim Kelly.
In a fund-raising effort to pledge
over $5,000 to charity, the Pinball
Wizzard of Des Moines, Iowa, spon-
sored a record-breaking pinball
marathon . There were over 30 en-
tries at the start of the contest, two
of whom lasted over 100 hours ,
breaking all known records.
The enthusiastic players were
trying to raise money for the local
Variety Club's drive for handi-
capped and underprivileged chil-
dren. Over 2 dozen local busi-
nessmen donated hundreds of
dollars in cash and prizes that
were distributed to contestants ac-
cording to how long they played
and how much money they raised.
Each received a pass for free games
for each hour they played in the
event. A pinball machine was
available for each entry. "One of the
favorite games mentioned was
Atari's Time 2000™," said Dick Gal-
loway, President of Pinball Wizzard.
The response to the _marathon
was superb. Not only did the Vari-
ety Club receive over $5,000 for the
children, but Tim Woods and Chris
Epps, both 17, won the top prize for
their persistent 100 hour efforts.
The local news coverage of the
event was an additional boost for
the game center. It helped to pro-
mote public relations and more
players' interest.

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