Play Meter

"The operator can actually have untrained
mechanics, " Richter said. If there is trouble with a
solid-state machine, it is almost certainly with the
conventional electromechanical equipment beneath
the playfield. But the mechanic doesn't have to
trace the problem throughout the machine. In the
diagnostic mode, the computer- by means of the
backglass scoreboard- wiU teU him immediately
exactly which switch is ailing.
If by chance that switch is working, the problem
can be almost as quickly traced to the interface
device that may not be working. These devices,
part of the solid-state circuitry of the machine, are
interchangeable and can therefore be easily tested.
If one is down, it is easily replaced: the defective
unit is puUed out and a new one snapped in. The
serviceman's time is never wasted.
"The video game is basicaUy a complicated logic, "
according to R ichter, "but this is simple. "
Ultimately, solid-state should save the operator
money, not only as far as service costs are
concerned, but when it comes to buying new
machines. Whereas prices for electromechanical
hardware are going up, prices for solid-state
hardware are actually coming down. Again, it's like
the calculator, according to Service Manager
Gilman. Skyhigh when they first came out, they're
now almost dirt cheap. Even with rising labor
costs - though there is actually slightly less labor
involved in the production of a solid-state machine
as opposed to the conventional electro-mechanical
one-manufacturers of the new machines should be
able to hold the line on prices.
PLA Y METER: Allied Leisure has been into a
number of different things, specialty games, video,
now pinball. What do you intend to concentrate on?
FISHER: Our concentration is still in building
mechanical games. In fact we're one of the few still
building mechanical games in the United States.
Two years ago, though, we did go into the pinball
business- only to be the first on the market with
solid-state. Because we're the pioneer in the field,
of course, it becomes a main objective of Allied to
teach the operator about solid-state: what is solid
state? how much easier is it to fix? and what will be
the future of pinballs in this country?
With the cost of components and building the
games going up, I have a feeling that within the
next few years, the mechanical games will be
completely priced out of the realm of the operator.
But solid-state-especially now that we're going
into micro-processing-will drop the price of the
pinball game to one that will allow the operator to
make much more money. That is, of course, our
main objective. If the operator can make more
money, he can buy more games.
PLAY METER: How does solid-state lower the cost
for the operator?
FISHER: Component-wise it's much less to build.
You have two-thirds less harnessing and wiring.
Then there are fewer mechanical things to go
wrong in the game. Service-wise that means a cost
cut of half in repair and maintenance.
PLAY METER: Yet operators have had service
problems with your solid state pins. In your view
why do they seem to be having so many service
problems?
FISHER: Actually it's not the solid-state, it's not
the board that's causing problems. The game itself
is the same and the problems that occur on our
solid -state games are the same that occur on most
every game manufactured in the world today. But
the new board scares the operator; he doesn't
understand what is in the game. The actual playing
field and the bumpers and so forth, they're still the
same and the adjustments to them are still the
same, but the operator doesn't realize that. When
something goes wrong and he opens the board, he
doesn't see 4,000 wires and all the mechanical
aspects. He immediately sees all the solid-state
equipment and the I.C.'s and the different chips in
there and he becomes very much afraid.
PLA Y METER: And then the operator assumes
that the problem he has with the game is with the
solid-state equipment.
FISHER: Right. Instantly he becomes afraid of it.
The change today in solid-state pinballs is no
different than the change many years back when we
went from tubes in radios to solid-state in radios.
The same fear and the same inhibitions took place
then as are taking place now. It is a lot easier to
stay with something you understand, taking a tube
out and taking it to the local store and sticking it in
to check it, for example, than opening up and seeing
a solid-state board when you don't even know
where to begin to fix it.
PLAY METER: So the main problem is going to be
educating the operator and particularly the
serviceman to solid-state. How can this be done?
FISHER: For the last year Allied has had schools
throughout the entire U.S. and Canada. We have
sent our chief engineers to do the training in these
(continued on page 16)
~
"With the cost of components going up, I have the
feeling that soon the mechanical games will be priced ~
out of the realm of the operator. "
;
15