Play Meter

Issue: 1977 June - Vol 3 Num 11

Up to Eight
Can Play New
Atari Game
Shooting
The Bird
Midway's newest video game
features that elusive desert bird,
Road Runner and his assorted group
of "what-nots".
Road Runner is a gun game with
electronic sounds to fit the charac-
ters and electronic music to coincide
with the situation .
The game displays via a shot
explosion on the video tube where
the gun was aimed. In addition, the
targets go to pieces when hit and
score from 100 to 500 according to
the object hit. There are multiple
targets on the playfiel<;1 at the same
time.
Other features for Road Runner
are that at the end of each game the
player's score, the previous score,
and the daily high score are
displayed .
Also included is an adjustable
timer, five languages, micropro-
cessor logic boards, double 25 cent
chutes, 23 in. solid state monitor
and a full size rifle .
Cabinet dimensions are 28 Y:z in .
(72cm) wide, 38Y:z in . (98cm) deep
and 67 in . (170cm) high.
Quik Sort Sorts Quik
" Quik Sort" coin sorting trays,
from ABC Coin Sorting Mfg . Co .,
form a fast, compact shaker-sorter
system that can separate up to $50
in mixed coins in 20 seconds. The
color-coded device allows operators
to separate mixed coins in a quick
and simple operation .
An improved set of coin tubes are
56
available with the system to stack
and count pennies through quar-
ters. Each tube has a " Visual Vue"
slot to allow detection of slugs, bent
and undersized coins by the user.
Up to 12 rolls of coins can be
counted and packaged per minute
using these tubes.
ABC Coin Sorting is located in
Plano, Texas.
Atari, Inc. has announced an
eight player driving game, Sprint 8.
In the tradition of Indy 800 with the
added challenge and action of
Sprint 2, Sprint 8 is a spectacular
arcade game with many new
features to increase overall appeal
and assure reliability .
Up to eight players select one of
five tracks for the competition using
Each
the track change button .
player, with a different color car,
races at top speeds, skidding
around corners, shifting, and crash-
ing into barriers . For fewer than
eight players, white computer con-
trolled cars compete and give the
added challenge of traffic on the
track . A durable 2-speed shift, gas
pedal and steering wheel provide
fast acceleration and precise control
of the cars .
" Indy 800 was introduced in 1975
and is still considered to have
extraordinary earnings. The return
on investment for Indy 800 set new
industry records ," says Marshall
Caras, director of marketing . " The
market demands for a new high
attraction eight player driving game
are met with Sprint 8."
Sprint 8 will attract even more
players with the five tracks flashing
in rotation while not in play. Once a
coin has been inserted , there is a 10
second count down for the compet-
itors to choose a track and for other
Each player
players to join in.
scores 5 points per lap . The score is
displayed in front of each player's
position in the same color as his car.
'Th e leader's score flashes to add to
the excitement and challenge .
Atari has combined the best play
features from their top driving
games in Sprint 8. Additionally, the
built-in self-test program for trouble-
shooting any potential problems
assures maximum income potential.
Sprint 8 is engineered for the
highest reliability w ith fewer parts
and rugged construction for durabil-
ity .
Video Bowler
New
Flipper
Suspenseful
Sunbird Corp ., a Minneapolis
company specializing in electronic
games, recently announced the
release of their new video game,
Super Bowler .
Super Bowler accommodates up
to four players, providing them with
authentic bowling action and scor-
ing . The ball actually travels across
the screen, causing the pins to
disappear as it strikes them . A
built-in audio system highlights the
action on the screen with the sound
of the ball being released and
traveling down the alley, a gutter
ball , pins being hit, pins falling, and
the cheers and whistles of the
crowd whenever a strike is thrown.
Super Bowler has adjustable
volume control, a selectable beer
frame display, and a Pro / Amateur
switch which allows the players to
select their own skill level.
The Sunbird game operates on
100/ 115 volt AC or 230 volt AC
50 / 60 HZ. A test switch on the
front of the lamp board simplifies
on-location circuit checks and lamp
replacement . And the unit comes
complete with operating and main-
tenance manual, coin box, remote
control, and a one year warranty.
Home Pinball
Wico has announced entry into
the growing home entertainment
field with the introduction of a new
electronic home pinball game, Big
Top.
" The game has the scoring,
lighting, action and skill shot
features found on the commercial
games, " said Games Division Man-
ager Frank Happ, "but it will cost
substantially less. Happ said the
game will retail for about $450 and
carries a 9O-day limited warranty
backed by nation-wide service.
Wico's Big Top features solid-
state electronics with digital display
score board . Other features of the
home flipper include electric ball
return , dual chime sounds, auto-
matic ball count, spinning target,
three bulls-eye targets, two action
kickers and two electrically operated
individual flippers .
Cabinet construction is of ~ in.
and 3f.t in . wood composite with
steel legs with levelers . The game's
overall dimensions are 63 in . high,
43 ~ in . long and 20 ~ in. wide.
Shipping weight is 143 pounds.
The game will be manufactured in
Wico's 85,000 sq . ft . game division
plant in San Marcos, Cal.
Supplement Out
Wico Corp., Niles, III., has
announced publication of "All New
from Wi co, " a catalog supplement
consisting of 16 pages of new items
for the amusement and vending
industry.
Items shown in the
supplement are not listed in Wi co's
1977 catalog .
Highlight items include a new
security item for flipper and ciga-
rette machines, specialty tools for
video games, and plastic signs for
food machines.
"Sally's Hang Glider is as tricky as
the sport for which the game is
named," commented Paul Cala-
mari, Bally sales manager, announc-
ing volume delivery this week of the
new four-player flipper pinball.
" The trickiness of Hang Glider,"
Calamari explained, "is based on the
interlocking functions of a centrally
located kickout hole. a bank of 5
drop targets and the build-up out-
hole bonus."
For example, a ball shot into the
kickout hole, when adjacent special
light is lit, scores special. The light
lights when all 5 drop targets are
downed for the second time and
subsequent times in each ball
played. Skilled manipulation of the
ball can score several specials with
each ball shot.
Outhole specials may also be
scored by the bali's crossing left or
right out lane rollovers with adjacent
special light lit, the lights alternat-
ing, left and right, after the bonus
score is at the 15,000 top mark .
"Here again," Calamari said, "the
drop targets and kickout hole are
i nvo Ived . "
Although bonus advances 1,000
for ball contact with any of a variety
of bonus-advance skill objectives, a
major factor of bonus building is the
kickout hole, which advances bonus
1,000 for each 'kite' lit under the
hole. One 'kite' is lit for each drop
target knocked down .
" What happens the first time all 5
drop targets are dropped?'" asked
Calamari. "Again we have Tinkers
to Evers to Chance' - targets to
kickout hole to extra ball. The first
drop of all targets lights the extra
ball light under the kickout hole.
Then ball in hole lights 'same player
shoots again: qualifying the out ball
to return to shooter tip as an extra
ball .
"So, throughout the playfield,
while numerous scoring objectives
are included, the interlocking influ-
ence of kickout hole, drop target,
and bonus are constantly apparent.
"The only thing not tricky about
'Hang Glider' is collections," Cala-
mari concluded. "Location tests
already indicate that 'Hang Glider'
will set some new profit records ."
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