Atari Coin Connection

Issue: Vol 3 Num 5 - 1980 May

Asteroids'" Champ
In the
last issue of the
Coin Con-
n ectio n, we reported a high score on
ASTEROIDS™ of 1,000,000 points.
records were meant to be
Well,
broken, as the saying goes!
Duncan Brown
of Charlottesville,
Virginia, broke that record on
29. Duncan reported that he
March
game of ASTEROIDS for
and one-half hours, scoring
played one
fifteen
7,200,620 points.
playing, there were
extra ships left.
When he
still
quit
twenty-two
Promotions
ship on the side of the screen and
waits for the enemy saucer to come
out. The player has a distinct advan-
tage over the enemy saucer because
the saucer is usually not as agres-
sive as the player,
An ASTEROIDS game modifica-
tion is now available to help cut
down on excessive player game
times. (See related articles in this
issue.) This modification will
the
make
enemy saucer more agressive.
WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN
WAITING FOR! ATARI Asteroids
now available for pur-
games in the location as well. Player
enthusiasm is sure to Increase good-
toward your business.
As an example, during February
and March, Music-Vend Distri-
Do you see this happening in your
locations? This picture was taken
recently at the Mountain View Time
Zone near Atari, Eric Ginner and his
friend, Samir Mehta, achieved a score
of over 8,000,000 points after playing
more than two and one-half hours.
REMINDER
t-shirts are
As stated
chase from your ATARI Distributor.
These navy blue t-shirts are
Connection, with summer on the
way, now is the time to recondition
your “seasonal” games. We have
main plexiglass available for such
games as Drag Race, Breakout, Sky
Diver and all the Triple Hunt games.
Contact your ATARI Distributor to
place your orders.
make
great
giveaways,
premiums.
location
and
Supply
prizes,
advertising
is
limited
so
place your orders now!
Atari Brings
Atari
Home the
jumping fences and win-
ning ribbons? Sounds unlikely? Not
exactly... Meet J.T. Perry of Los
Gatos, CA, and her ‘junior jumper’
Atari Superstar. Together they
walked away from the Indian Hills
Schooling Show in March with 2

first,
2 second and one
fifth place
ribbons.
J.T. has always enjoyed riding
horses, beginning with her first
pony ride when she was six years
old. Now, at age sixteen, J.T. is an
accomplished equestrienne. She
purchased her 4-year-old registered
thoroughbred last November and
decided to
name him
Atari Super-
star. “I had played alot of Atari
games and always thought they
were the best. I wanted a strong,
positive name for my horse and lik-
ed the sound of Atari Superstar, or
just Atari for short,” she explained.
TOURNAMENT
Tournaments are a great way to
increase your location revenue.
Tournaments not only add dollars
will
Service Specials
available in small, medium, large
and extra-large sizes. They will
ASTEROIDS
to the cashboxes of the featured
games, but add revenue to other
Duncan has been pla3hng ASTE-
ROIDS since January at Noel’s Sub
Shop and Game Room near the Uni-
versity of Virginia. Before his
record-breaking game, Duncan had
spent alot of hard-earned money
learning how to play ASTEROIDS.
Duncan’s ASTEROIDS technique
is much the same as other expert
players have reported. He leaves a
couple of small asteroids on the
screen so that the larger ones do not
appear. He then places his space-
for
Profits
in the April issue of Coin
about 24 shows a year
presently training for the
is
Pacific
Classic”
Atari,
Horse
to
Inc,
Center “Spring
be held April 18-20.
wishes J.T. and Atari
Superstar the best of luck!
ASTEROIDS™
tournament at Goldie’s and the New
Century Tavern in Seattle, Washing-
ton.
Four ASTEROIDS games in
Goldie’s
and three ASTEROIDS
games in the New Century Tavern
were used for the tournament. Over
a six week period, one color televi-
sion was given away bi-weekly to
the player with the highest score.
This promotion was so profitable
that the operator and the locations
have decided to continue the con-
test. $50 cash prizes wBl be given
away each week through the sum-
mer to the highest scoring player.
The highest score recorded to date is
approximately 135,000 points.
TECHNICAL
TIP
Asteroids
Modification
Blue
J.T. enters
and
buting sponsored an
As a result of inquiries regarding the
achievement of extremely high scores
on Asteroids, we have developed a
modification that will accomplish the
following:
When the small flying saucer enters
the screen, it fires immediately in the
direction of the player. The missiles
also have a wraparound capability.
Originally, the program was entered
so that the saucer would go one-sixth
way across the screen before fir-
without wraparound capability.
There are two revisions currently in
the field. ROM revision 02 has the flip-
flop capability, version 01 does not.
Kits are available Immediately from
your Atari distributor. To determine
of the
ing,
which kit you require, check ROMs on
your Asteroids PCB. If ROM code is
“-01”, order kit no. 08-0303009. If
code is “-02”, order no
08-0303008.
ROM
Operators of the Eighties
May Profile: Raiph Winfield
-
Burnaby,
This month’s Operators of the
Eighties introduces Ralph Winfield
Ralph’s company
is
B.C.,
highly estab-
the company as a whole, rather
than just a product,” Ralph stated.
He further stresses the impor-
tance of flexibility. “Throughout
the years, opportunistic operators
were the ones who adapted to
changing trends with an open mind.
The bluest change I’ve seen is the
transition to highly professional
operating procedures, particulary
lished and one of the largest in
Canada, operating over 1000 pieces.
The company’s route operates with-
in a 200 mile radius of Burnaby in
addition to a “country” route 900
miles away. Ralph Automatic
operates in almost every kind of
street location and also supplies
equipment for a chain of seven ar-
cades.
in
UNDERSTANDING THE
CANADIAN MARKET
terms of bookkeeping methods,”
he noted. Ralph’s company now
utilizes computerized accounting
records to monitor and document
average earnings, down-time, pric-
ing, and other factors that assist in
financial assessments.
Ralph’s business philosophies
evidence a thorough evaluation of
the marketplace.
He emphasizes
several variables which differen-
tiate the Canadian market from that
of the U.S.
• The size of the Canadian popula-
tion is significantly less than that of
the U.S. and also more sparsely
populated. As a result, he has a vast
territory to cover and his travel
costs are high. To minimize equip-
ment downtime, his staff is techni-
cally qualified to implement on-the-
spot repairs.
• Equipment costs are 40% higher
due to Canadian duties and tariffs.
Labor costs are also higher in
Canada. To recover his high over-
head and extreme costs, it is essen-
tial to maximize returns by taking
progressive steps in game pricing
and split percentaging. Many of his
games are priced at BOC/play and he
Canada
tors. “Of primary importance is the
emphasis we place on service. By
providing maximum service with
the latest methods, we are selling
of Ralph Automatic Coin Machine,
Ltd. With 15 years in the business,
utilizes the multiple coin options as
well. Ralph also breaks away from
the traditional U.S. split of 50-50 by
initiating 60-40 splits with his loca-
tions.
*
A
conservative attitude toward
coin games prevails in Canada. Pin-
ball was legalized only three years
ago and the public acceptance has
been gradual. Ralph makes exten-
sive efforts to stimulate awareness
and interest in games. His locations
are encouraged to initiate tie-in pro-
motions and in most cases, he bears
part of the cost.
SUCCESS FACTORS
With the many years of his ex-
perience, Ralph can attribute his
successful business to several fac-
FUTURE OUTLOOK
In response to the upcoming
trends he foresees, Raiph com-
mented, “The industry is beginning
to turn towards a volume business
in order to
and
become more
lucrative
to justify the rising costs of
and the loss of the
operating
quarter’s buying power.” In the
meantime, Ralph Automatic Coin
Machine, Ltd. will continue to seek
untouched locations with hopes of
expanding the player base.
Atari commends Ralph Winfield
for his progressive approach in the
coin-op business. His ability to
assess the marketplace and adapt
according to current and foreseen
changes is sure to result in his con-
tinued success.
I
Atari, Inc.
1265 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, California 94086
Bulk Rate
U.S.
Postage
PAID
Sunnyvale, CA
Permit 317
A
ATARI

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