Play Meter

Issue: 1980 January 15 - Vol 6 Num 1

He does
everything
but walk
Williams Electronics' Gorgar, the
world's first talking pinball machine,
makes it difficult to believe that action
does indeed speak louder than
words .
Gorgar verbalizes seven different
words to form eight different phrases
and commands according to a
player's performance. In addition,
the game emits thirteen different
reverbating sounds to the back-
ground sound of Gorgar's beating
heart-which accelerates and be-
comes louder as the score builds.
Designing the first talking pinball
game is the latest in the continuing
development of the use of sound in
Williams' games. When the firm
opened its doors in 1945 , the use of
sound usually was limited to the
ringing of bells, buzzers, and chimes
that used an electro-mechanical
solenoid plunqer system .
In January of 1979 , Williams
released its Flash which featured
continuous background sound in-
creasing in pitch and frequency as
play advanced.
And now, Williams introduces
Gorgar-the pinball machine that
talks. Does its action speak louder
than its words?
J
PLAY METER, January, 1980
lntec premiers
computer age
'token •
The lntercard, an alternative to
coin-operated vendinq machines , is a
magnetic card reader using ma~­
netic cards bearing identification
codes that are repeated a number of
times equal to the number of
purchases the possessor is entitled to
make.
The card is slipped into the
obliterating device, mounted on the
vending machine , and if the code is
recognized as valid , the go-ahead will
be given for the product to be
distributed. Otherwise, the card will
be rejected. Each time a product is
distributed , the code (read and
accepted) is cancelled out as part of
the card is cut away.
Among the advantages of such a
system are that the part of the card
re levant to the purchase cannot be
reused; the cutaway pieces are
collectible in a special drawer that
enables the owner of the vending
machine to keep a constant check on
the quantity of products being sold;
and the possessor of the card
immediately can assess how many
further purchases he can make.
Since coins are not used , an operator
can control the price, eliminate
skimming, eliminate change hassle ,
e liminate counting , sorting and
wrapping of coins, and perhaps best
of all , the operator has his money in
advance.
97
'Oriental•
intrigue?
Invaded

once aga1n
Taito has invaded the continental
United States once more-this time
with its new Space Invaders Part II
color cocktail table , on its way to
selected distributors across the coun-
try.
The game , introduced by Taito
America at the AMOA show , is
packaged in a streamlined cabinet
design which is new to the domestic
market.
The first screen of targets is exactly
the same .as in its namesake - the
invaders appear on the screen
moving in a steady left-right motion,
with a laser base and four fortresses
in the left hand corner. The laser
base is moved left and right with a
controlled lever and the lasers are
fired by pushing the fire button.
However , Space Invaders Part II
includes a mystery UFO which
flashes on and off as it travels across
the screen.
The UFO lands on randomly
dropped invaders into vacant areas
where previous invaders already
have been shot. When one of these
invaders is hit , it will randomly divide
into two attacking invaders , in-
creasing the complexity and tension
of the game .
When the score reaches 1500
points ( operator-adjustable), a bo-
nus laser base will appear. The
appearance of this base is ac-
companied by an eerie, pulsating
sound. The game ends when all laser
bases are e liminated by the invaders
missiles , or when the invaders
overrun the base.
Delivery of Space Invaders Part II
color cocktail table is scheduled for
early January.
Exidy is touting its Side Trak has
having the "intrigue, palm-sweating
excitement of an Orient Express ."
Players score points as they pick
up passengers along the track. A
computer controlled "drone" train
opposes players, and an "authentic"
whistle-stop sound is heard.
A daily high -score display is
featured on the video, along with an
accelerated-speed control button.
Players may switch onto Side Trak to
avoid a collision.
There is an optional "beat this
score" feature, as well.
Coinage and plays are operator-
adjustable . Cabinet dim e nsions are
68 inches by 28 inches by 3 2 inches.
Buck·s
back
Gottlieb's Buck Rogers , named in
honor of that well-known sci-fi
daredevil of the same name, will
make its debut in locations around
the country soon.
As in other Gottlieb games, a most
important scoring factor is the bonus
multiplier. The major key to bonus
and the focal point of the game is the
top-center captive ball/ vari-target.
When a player flips the ball skillfully,
generating enough velocity to slam
the captive ball/ Vari-target to the top
in one shot, lower yellow drop
targets lite for multiplier and also
lights extra ball rollover.
Completing the red drop targets
scores 10,000 points and resets the
targets for repeat action . When a
player gets all the "B-U-C-K"
rollovers , the red drop target banks
resets lighting "special." Also , com-
pleting all yellow drop targets
increases the bonus multiplier or
scores 5,000 points if the multiplier is
at 5X.
The new Gottlieb Multi-Mode
arcade and musical sounds are also
featured in the game and build
excitement and tension as the game
progresses.
"Th e success of the Buck Rogers
movie, comic strip and new televi-
sion series makes it a natural subject
for a theme game," the company
noted , "and the crowds that waited
to play it at the recent AMOA show
fortell the success it will have on
location when we start to ship the
game to distributors in this month. "
·1

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