Atari Coin Connection

Issue: Vol 7 Num 11 - 1983 December

"
DECEMBER 1983 VOLUME 7 NUMBER 11
id you miss FIREFOX in New Or-
leans? Well , so did we! Disappoint-
edly so. No, the rumors that the
Russians had stolen it back were unsub-
stantiated but not squelched, since they
provided a bit of comic relief needed by
all. In truth, even the "A" Team can be
plagued by "one of those things" from
time to time.
Don Osborne, Vice President of Market-
ing, explains: "Technical difficulties
prevented us from previewing the new
LASERVIDEO™ product at the AMOA
Show. The FIREFOX project team has
been on an incredibly tight schedule
with no margin for error. Unfortu-
nately, technical difficulties arose
unexpectedly. And, as has always been
our policy, we are staunchly committed to
maintaining the discipline of not introdu-
cing a game until it is right."
Well, not to worry. Plan B goes into effect.
The FIREFOX coin video game will be
launched in a four-city promotional
tour for special previewing by opera-
tors in early January. Details of where
and when the events will be held are
available from your Atari distributor.
So, it's onward and upward for the ad-
vent of 1984. Operators everywhere, bet-
ter ask Santa for a new crash helmet, be-
cause in January you will be flying the
fastest, most sophisticated video game on
the face of this earth!
-
•FIREFOX is a trademark of Warner Bros. Inc. © 1983 Warner
Bros. Inc. © 1983 Atari, Inc.
Meet Me in St. Louis at the
All New Atari AdventureSM
Grab Mom, Dad, Sis, and Brother, too! Ata-
ri Adventure, a dynamic new concept in
family entertainment centers, enjoyed a
rousing grand opening on November 19 at
the Northwest Plaza shopping mall in St.
Louis. The feature that puts the specially
designed center in a class by itself is the in-
corporation of fun in both computer learn-
ing and video game playing. The facility
combines a computer learning center, new
technology display area, and a "high tech"
game room all under one roof. That ac-
cessibility to a wide range of entertainment
choices makes it a natural "hot spot" for
family-oriented leisure.
'We feel Atari Adventure is unique be-
cause it fuses fun and learning, streng-
thening the link between play and compu-
ter literacy," commented Barry Sullivan,
Vice President of Atari Adventure. 'We feel
uniquely qualified to bring the traditional
game room to an innovatively higher level
as an entertainment and educational form."
The learning center uses the ATARI XL
computer line in a classroom setting. Stu-
dents, homemakers, businesspeople, and
senior citizens all have the opportunity to
interact with user-friendly ATARI computers.
They are able to purchase time segments
at the computer work stations, whether it
be to do homework, balance a checkbook,
compose music, print a letter on a word
processor, or any number of other applica-
tions, including the variety of available
game software from which to choose.
Special classes are offered for those wan-
ting to become computer literate or ad-
vance skill levels. An instructor is stationed
in the area to provide help and advice.
The new technology center is a show-
case for the latest in technological ad-
vancements. Guests are welcomed to liter-
ally 'touch tomorrow" as they are among
the first to get "hands-on" experience with
video game prototypes and other experi-
mental electronic equipment.
continued on last page
IINTHERIIAD
AMOA Recap
Bob Harvey, Western Regional Sales
Manager, gives a post-show rundown on
the exhibited ATARI product:
• What can you say about Pole Position
II, a sure-fire winner by birthright, but that
it was unquestionably the best buy at the
show. The enhancement kit takes a great
game and makes it greater! Just watch the
earnings curve start heading up, up, up
again!
• Large arcade owners were excited over
TX-1~ the three-monitor driving dream
machine, as a showpiece. The tremen-
dous response we saw to our sneak pre-
view confirmed our own evaluations that it
is a sensational and unique product. Atari
will make it available to the market in Feb-
ruary/March of 1984.
• The kids there at the expo loved MAJOR
HAVOC™! It represents a new type of
space/maze game and has tested strong-
ly with particular arcade appeal.
• Operators were disappointed not to be
able to see the actual Fl RE FOX game;
however, they were excited over the con-
cept and the display that we had. Come
January, the wait will have been worth it!
• Many operators still see STAR WARS
as the number one game in the field. They
are continuing to buy it with confidence.
• To tell the truth, it was the first time for
some operators to see Crystal Castles™,
as we have not shown it at any other show.
But now that they've seen it, substantial
orders are being placed.
AMOA Award
*TX-1 is manufactured by Atari, Inc. under license from Namco.
TM and © 1983.
As determined by a vote of the AMOA mem-
bership, Pole Position* has been named
"1983 Most Played Videogame" based on
the criterion of most money earned. Don
Osborne, V.P. Marketing, accepted the
award for Atari at a special awards cere-
mony held in New Orleans.
Mike Watson, press relations director of
Canada's 40-location Wizard's Castle ar-
cade chain, wrote in with the following
news of good cheer:
Wizard's Castle Co-Sponsored
Toronto Metro Santa Claus Parade
Wizard's Castle, a chain of coin-operated
family amusement centers in Canada,
sponsored a large fantasy-themed float in
the world-famous 1983 Metro Santa Claus
Parade, which was held in Toronto on Sun-
day, November 13. A child's delight for
featured extensive coverage of the Metro
Santa Claus Parade with CBC-TV and
CBS:rv reaching a total combined au-
dience of some 32 million viewers across
the continent. The program was aired live
in Canada by CBC at 1 :00 p.m. on
November 13 while U.S. viewers watched
it on Thanksgiving day, from 9:00 a.m. to
noon on the CBS network channels.
During the superbly produced and nar-
rated show, the Wizard's Castle ''Toyland
Band" float received a detailed descrip-
tion concerning the float's originator, giv-
ing a giant boost to arcades, arcade
games and their operators across Cana-
da and the U.S. Already a good corporate
citizen, the Wizard's Castle chain has
helped propel the video amusement in-
dustry into the forefront beside some of
North America's finest companies through
eighty years and long-funded by the giant
Eaton's department store chain, the pa-
rade was supported this year by private
sponsors such as Coca-Cola, General
Motors, Irwin Toy, Mattel, McDonald's
Restaurants, and now, Wizard's Castle
Family Entertainment Centres!
The event, which featured 21 floats, put
Wizard's Castle in a position to project a
positive image for the entire video amuse-
ment industry. Major television networks
its co-sponsorship of the parade in con-
junction with the other notable firms.
Paul Janda, Vice President of the ar-
cade chain, said: ''As a long-time viewer of
the Metro Santa Claus Parade, I'm very
happy to see this event continued for the
enjoyment of all children-large and
small. We at Wizard's Castle are proud to
help fill a public relations gap, left open by
others in our industry, by supporting worth-
while family ventures such as this one."
..lohn Q 0po,..!.OI'
123 Ar"OMSil Aqnu.
VtoieoYUtit,. 'ffY 12.34$
Dear Atari,
My pe..n.n,t,r -.no I ow
UPf Ut,t.u~
on .. a,up
"°"
Wtui. m0'f'lllt OUI' g.l
~
'° "1l0Cber, ...
cont Thopmeuppo0
!E
,
I.
'•
·\ :...
. I •
-
-
I

'-.!..:!../ .
~
~
IT'S YOUR
BUSINISS
, , . . . . . _ ..... _..
.....
..- .. --•---
---
---
'Pole Position is engineered and designed by Namco. manufac-
tured under license by Atari, Inc. Trademark and © Namco 1982.
Tips to Play AND Operate By!
Our three-part series of the "Bentley
Bulletin" proved very popular. A coin-op
ad placed in Electronic Games, which
came out in November, offered players
the opportunity to write in for a set of their
own tips. Over 250 requests were receiv-
ed within the first two weeks.
In a second similar effort, we are an-
nouncing available copies of the "MAJOR
HAVOC STAR JOURNAL' in the January
issue of Electronic Games, appearing in
December. Because the game fuses
space wave action with maze-running ad-
venture to deliver incredible depth, the an-
ticipated response for "helpful hints"
should be equal to or even greater than
that for the Bentley Bulletin trilogy.
We strongly suggest that you make
playing tips available to your customers.
Tack up copies near the respective ma-
chines or distribute them to your own mail-
ing list. The hints decidedly stimulate play
action (especially on the part of novice
players) as well as access those ad-
vanced players to higher levels more ra-
pidly-which actually decreases the aver-
age game time!
Players become more intrigued when
they learn of challenging intricacies and
"secrets" within the game play ... imply-
ing more "bang for the token"! This situa-
tion gives the game increased "staying
power" as they become determined to
master the strategies offered. Besides-
you don't have to tell them everything-
just enough to whet their interest and de-
sire to play!

Download Page 1: PDF File | Image

Download Page 2 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.