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* T J FEBRUARY 1982 3
ATARI
NINTENDO
"DONKEY KONG" * SERVICE * NOTES
"TEMPEST"* PROGRAM* BUG
BY TODD ERICKSON, SUMMIT AMUSEMENT, ST. PAUL, MN
Tempest Uprights Prior to Serial #17426
This is the first major hit for this Japanese manufacturer. Foreign
games are normally well built, but when a problem develops, it takes
awh::e to fix . Service information takes a long time to get to the
factory to cure problems. Getting parts is the biggest problem. If
parts are not available here, it may take weeks or months to receive
them. Many problems could be eleviated with different designs.
"Donkey Kong" uses a 4-way joystick. Several of my joysticks
have bent and I have been unable to purchase replacements. A
sensible idea is to install a Wico 4-way. I would like to see the Wico
bolt pattern become the standard of the industry for everyone. This
way, if parts are not available, another assembly may be installed.
Quite often, it is cheaper to buy the Wico joystick than a few parts
for a foreign assembly. The coin rejectors are not the same as ours
here . Mechanical controls and/or assemblies should be
interchangeable with ours.
If the score on your " Tempest" is greater than 170,000, there is a
12% chance that a program bug may award 40 credits for one
quarter.
These games have been excellent earners, but many players have
learned how to play for long extended periods of time. Nintendo
has released a 4-rom change to make the game more difficult. The
cost of this kit is $100.00. When the operator purchases the game
and then has to also buy this kit, it doesn't r.ppear to be fair. This
plan should have been part of the original program, with a rocker
switch to make the game harder.
One unit I own had the decals ar.d instructions removed before the
game was a few days old. It seems that a little more money should be
spent on a more sophisticated decal that couldn't be removed so
easily.
A new ROM (#136002-217) available from your distributor
replaces the ROM in location J-1 on the main PCB and will correct
the problem.
All cabaret and cocktail cabinets will have the correct ROM
installed.
TAITO
"QIX" *GAME* FREEZE-UP* MODIFICATION
Game: " Qix"
Subject: Noisy A.C . line causing game to freeze up.* Picture
flips.
Solution: Add three diodes to catch transients in A.C. line.
Parts Needed:
Quantity
1
Generic
IN6267
IN6276
IN6281
Taito Part Number
13-16267-001
13-16276-001
13-16281-001
Another fine feature of this game is that the plex can be removed by
a player. He may then reach down and press the credit button on the
inside of the coin door. 1 have had players ask me if ALL games
have a credit button on the inside of the coin doors!
Procedure: Remove power supply printed circuit board from
game. Place board so that the etch side is facing you and the writing
is readable. Remember to cut the leads of the diodes so there is a
minimum of excess to insure it will not short out to the frame when it
is put into the game.
Early games have a four board set and the newer ones have a two
board set. The PCBs are not directly interchangeable. They may be
changed with a little hard wiring.
On the top middle of the board you will see the legs ofBRl. Solder
cathode of the IN6276 to the offset leg of the bridge. Solder the
anode of the diode to the leg that is at the diogonal of the offset leg.
MIDWAY
"GALAGA" * Z80-A * CPU
CONDITION: Game goes into Ram &Rom Test or locks up while
playing.
1. Check for 4MHz Z80-A CPU at location 4M of CPU board
(A084-9 l 404-C508).
2. The D780C-l is also a 4MHz CPU.
3. At locations 4E & 41, the CPU must be the 2.5MHz Z80 or
D780C type.
4. We repeat, the fast CPU must be at location 4M.
In the middle of the board you will see the legs of BR2. Solder the
cathode ( white mark) of the IN 6281 to the offset leg of the bridge
rectifier. Solder the anode to the leg that is kitty comer of the offset
leg.
In the lower right of the board, you will see the leg of the fuse holder,
F4 and F5. Solder the cathode (white marks) of the IN6267 to one
of the four legs that etches between them. Solder the anode to the
ground etch that runs all around the board.
*Add star washer on ground strip going to coin door. Add extra
ground wire to coin door to hinge.
************
STAR * TECH JOURNAUVOLUM E 3, NUMBER 12/FEBRUARY 1982/C OPYRIGHT 1982 BY STAR * TECH JOURNAL. INC. STAR * TECH JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED 12 TIMES A YEAR.
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