Play Meter

Issue: 1979 November 15 - Vol 5 Num 21

G"tting
ston"d
Atari introduces Asteroids , an
exciting one or two player adventure
game with its new Quadrascan video
system .
Players compete to destroy the
oncoming asteroids and enemy
saucers. Waves of asteroids ap-
proach from all directions . Accurate
respon se buttons are used to control
ship rotation and thrust .
The rapid fire is directed to hit the
asteroids , deflecting them in different
directions and shattering them into
smaller pieces . Enemy saucers ap-
pear randomly , shooting as th ey
approach the player's ship , adding
danger to the space adventure .
The hyperspace button can be a
last-minute escape from unavoidable
disaster; however , there is the risk of
destruction upon re -entry at an
unknown point. Asteroids' action
provides the excitement and thrills of
avoiding danger and destruction with
quick reflexes and developed skill.
The score builds with each
successful hit shattering rocks into
small fragments for high scoring.
Large asteroids score 20 points ,
medium are 50 pOints, and small
ones are 100 points each .
Hitting enemy saucers offers the
best scoring potential with 200 pOints
for the large one and I , 000 for the
small one . Operators can adjust the
game to three or four ships per play
and bonus ships for each 10,000
points scored.
High score initial display of the top
10 scorers in the attract mode
challenges players to test and
develop their skill .
PLAY METER. November. 1979
A ,,,al
tim"
machin"
William's new pinball, Time Warp .
now in production at the company's
Chicago factory . features a triple
sound option and futuristic curved
flippers .
There are two ways to make a
special, two ways to advance the
bonus multiplier , and two ways to
collect the bonus . A five -bank of
drop targets steps a player through
four time zones , advancing the bonus
multiplier in each zone, culminating
with an automatic special. Warping
the ball into the top eject hole in one
of four other time zones also
advances the bonus multiplier . Place
the eject hole in the fifth dimension
from a three-bank of drop targets ,
and it will award an extra ball .
The multiplier can advance to a
record -breaking lOX . Making A -8 -C
roll overs twice activates a time tunnel
bull 's-eye target for a special. Rico -
chet into another eject hole from any
three of five jet bumpers or make it
automatically as the ball returns from
the time tunnel and collect all the
bonus that has been built-up .
For technical considerations , Time
Warp provides William s front-end
programming that originated with
Flash . There is also memory lock that
protects all game adjustments when
the coin door is closed .
A triple sound option allows
selection of futuristic sounds, musical
notes , and one of several back -
ground soun ds including the exciting
background from the Flash game .
Time Warp , available with an
optional dollar coin chute , has the
playfield action and graphics to
captivate the pinball enthusiast ,
company officials note .
123
Som.thlng to h.lp
you count QII
thQt mon.y
Putting th.
~Sho. Shin. Boy'
out of busln.ss
Coin operated machines are see-
ing an unusual new peer with the
debut of Active Automatic Sales
Corporation's new Sutton shoe
polisher model 300 .
The model 300. which currently
requires a 25-cent insertion , soon will
be available in a 50-cent model. A
fluorescent illuminated display sign
lights the top .
A compact unit measuring 38
inches high , 22 inches wide , and 14
inches deep , it weighs 100 pounds
and comes in a reshippable carton .
The manufacturer , who notes that
the unit is designed for low main-
tenance , comes with a damage-resis-
tant formica finish . Installation re -
quires a 110 volt wall outlet, and the
lock-equipped service door is located
in tbe rear .
The wax polish comes in eleven-
ounce containers which should last
for approximately 200 shines .
Counterattack is a new one- or
two-player game from Sun bird to be
unveiled at the AMOA Show in
124
Mekatronics, Inc ., Port Washing-
ton, N.Y., has announced the
availability of two new NCL Coin
Counters. Model NC-800 is a
manual-feed unit with a capacity of
1200 coins, while the NC-81O has an
automatic feed and holds up to 2500
coins . Both models will operate at
1800 coins per minute . Nine preset-
table stops are built into each unit,
enabling lots ranging from ten coins
up to be counted in quick succession .
NCL Coin Counters are easy to
operate: simply drop the coins into
the hopper , set the "coin count" dial
to the number ot coins to be counted
reset the display to zero and press the
"start" switch . Counting automatical-
ly stops when the preset number of
coins is reached . Both models will
count, sort, or count and sort at the
same time . Two controls-one for
coin thickness, one for coin dia-
meter-allow the units to be pro-
grammed for any size coin.
An optional extra-large hopper is
available for each unit, increasing the
capacity of the NC-800 to 4000
coins, the capacity of the NC-810 to
4500 coins . A coin wrapping acces-
sory is also available .
Chicago .
Counterattack's theme is an aerial
attack of a twenty-first century
Th" S"cond
S"QSOn
Atari is incorporating the team
approach into its new version of Atari
Football. New offensive and defen-
sive strategies highlight action for two
or four players .
The game features new plays
including field goal scoring opportu-
nities .
Under the four-player system , the
quarterback and end are controllable
by offensive players while defenders
control both defensive backs . In the
two-player version , the computer
takes over the wide receiver and one
defensive back .
The new game offers an add-a-
coin feature, and includes new
multiple pass plays, score conver-
sions, kick option, and scrimmage
line market , in addition to its most
definitive characteristic, team play .
megatropolis by flying saucers . The
microprocessor randomly launches
saucers onto the full -color backlight-
ed scene from either side at various
levels and speeds .
The game pits players against
player in a true test of ability to hit a
moving target with a realistic sound-
ing laser shot. The objective is to
blow the target out of the sky as it
passes through the player's side of
screen . If the player misses , the
saucer continues across the sky and
into range of the opposing player's
laser who has a chance to blow it up .
Because the player has the first
shot at a target moving through his
hit zone and also those missed by his
opponent , the player with the most
hits is the winner .
The computer may fly one or as
many as three saucers at a time . As
the game progresses, the saucers
move faster,
PLAY METER, November, 1979

Download Page 121: PDF File | Image

Download Page 122 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.