Play Meter

Issue: 1976 May - Vol 2 Num 5

machines in which aren't going to destroy morality,
you're going to make money in increa ed revenues,
they'll look at it from that level.
,I would rather have the machines be accepted by
their merits and for the fact that they owe nothing to
public immorality. The machines weren't hurting
anybody, but look at the lengths and extremes past
legi lators went to destroy an industry.
PLAY METER: What can the operator do to help
get favorable legislation, to clean away the stigma of
gambling and gansterism?
SHARPE: He can clean up hi act. He can handle
his bu ine s as a business. Operators could also have
petition at their game rooms asking public support
of pinball. Another method would be a national
clearinghouse for pUblicity about pinball. Who ever
hear of the machines given to hospitals or the
machines given to science to help children with
learning disabilities. We have to play that part up,
it's been far too secretive. You know David Gottlieb
created Gottlieb Memorial Hospital out of love for his
parents and as a contribution to his neighborhood.
All the major industries in the United States have
public relations facilities to counteract any negativ-
ity, but thi industry doesn't and it should.
We, a an industry, cannot play the role of an
ostrich. We cannot stick our heads in the sand and
feel that people will go away and forget about us and
let u survive. Maybe my book in part will bring
them out of their shell a bit to edify the public as to
the merits of pinball.
No one's taken the time to make people aware that
pinball is not the Black Plague, that it's not
omething to be afraid of.
PLAY METER: How long do you think the
American public will continue its love affair with the
pinball machine?
HARPE: Endlessly. We're not going to grow
tired of it. The designers of the games, some of whom
are in their 60's, still play. Billy DeSelm at Williams
i one of the best players Ive ever seen. The old and
the young can play and await each new game
anxiou ly.
No one can ever blot out the contribution pinball
machines have made to society as a whole and their
impact on our leisure time activities. It's something
even the people who are against it have to face.
The people iri the indu try are unique; it takes a
pecial personality to work within the pinball
medium. They de erve finally a fair shak-e for what
they're doing.
E.X,c..EL
COIN M AC.f-\.l NE.
MANUFAC.-rvR(~
the cleverness in design. Can your machine
be pounded kicked, shaken, rattled and rolled?"
"Forget
t
55
[continued from page 23 ]
Visibility? You bet! Even
with room light bright, it
keeps on earning .. . for you!
Delivery now! Call :
O kl ahoma City
(405 ) 232 -9591
CULP
DISTRIBUTING CO.
See Ad Page 4
Visibility? You bet! Even
with room light brigh t, it
keeps on earning ... for you!
Delivery now! Call :
Los Angeles
(213 ) 380-5850
~LE
~~NATIONAL
See Ad Page 4
56
REVOLUTION . The tv screen --we
had all been used to watching
soap-operas, medical shows, police
always winning and those wonder-
ful commercials on how to put body
in your hair--was suddenly put in a
tall cabinet with a coin slot . This
monster represented what we ele-
ctronic engineers call the "State of
the Art" -- literally translated : "Ain't
nobody else figured out as yet what
we've done ."
The video game was a revolution -
ary event . There was no opportunity
for the industry to prepare for its
introduction and even more unfor-
tunate, practically nothing was done
by the manufacturers after its
introduction.
The pin mechanic's tool box , his
work area , his knowledge, all be-
came obsolete overnight as far as
the new technology was concerned.
I saw the first video games in
Hawaii . Upon return to Dayton in
late 1973, I began to investigate for
Kurz - Kasch and its Center for
Technical Development the possibil -
ity of our filling the gap of test
equipment and training that seemed
needed in your industry. Many
conversations with MOA, a few
distributors, a manufacturer and
some operations quickly led Kurz-
Kasch to the conclusion that here
was a segment of the industry in real
trouble--and we were in a position
to do something about it. Here' s
what we did :
1. Joined forces with A TAR I
(who started the revolution) to
conduct free schools for service-
men and mechanics to remove
the fear of the new technology
and to teach them the basics of
digital logic .
2 . Developed specialized test
equipment to remove as much
decision-making from the trouble-
shooting.
3. Taught the use of this test
equipment and troubleshooting
techniques.
We .are now on our own with the
seminars, not sponsored or tied to
any manufacturer . This is good
because we can meet any problem
in anyone's game head-on without
any conflict of interest .
WHAT'S NEXT
Just look inside a pinball mach-
ine, the staple of the amusement
industry . The re, hiding their silver
palladium contacts under layers of
dust are the same stepping relays
and electromechanical logic that has
been used in these machines for
over 30 years . Printed circuits and
Ie's, like the video games use, have
not been used -- until now .
Every pin manufacturer now has
or is about to have a digital
pin -- Come the second revolution.
You as operators, servicemen , or
distributors are not going to survive
unless you learn digital technology
and acquire the tools and test
equipment required to service these
new games .
I contend , and I' ve proven it many
times over, that a pin mechanic,
properly motivated , trained and
equipped, can troubleshoot and
repair video games and will be able
to handle the new pins in a
minimum of time .
For four years many of us have
buried our heads in the sand,
waiting for digital electronics to go
away . This technology has not gone
away and in fact , it is with us more
now than ever. Keep your head in
the sand and you'll smother . Get
with it and you 'll survive .
I apologize for this bluntness, but
unfortunately its true .
Player-against-player, or
player-against-computer.
Either way, it's action
... for you!
Delivery now! Call:
San Francisco
(4 1 5 ) 864-0400
~
~~'U'fOM1lTIC SAtES co.
ADVANCE
See Ad Page 4

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