S*TJ MARCH 1982 3
TAITO
SERVICE NOTES
Wil.LIAMS
"QIX":
ATARI "CENTIPEDE",
"MAKE TRAX"
NEW ROM AVAILABLE
GOTTLIEB "BLACK HOLE"
I NC REASE APPEAL
"Qix" has been a refreshing new game
BYDONGRAY
RAINBOW DISTRIBUTORS
VERO BEACH, FL
USING OPTIONS
from Taito. There may be a few minor
problems with the software. Earning an
extra life is a major factor determining the
longevity of a game. Taito has just released
a new ROM set that adds this feature .
Contact your distributor for availability and
further information.
NINTENDO
"DONKEY KONG"
CABINET PROBLEMS
BY TODD ERICKSON
SUMMIT AMUSEMENT
ST. PAUL,MN
The most serious problem a game can
develop is letting the player cheat at the
game. The player has been able to take the
front glass out of the "Donkey Kong",
then reach down and place 90 credits on
the game, using the service button on the
front of the game. The ability to remove
the front plex is caused by several major
problems. The side glass supports fall off.
The top and bottom plex holders can
come loose. On early games, the top of the
plex can be hit, causing the locking bar to
slide back. A replacement locking bar can
be purchased for under $10.00 that alle-
viates this problem. The operator may
also use a wood screw to hold the existing
bar in place. The lip that enables the glass
to be removed can be reversed to make the
challenge of removing the plex more
difficult. The side supports should be
replaced with at least a I-inch stock
screwed to the side of the cabinet. This
will eliminate a person from being able to
hit the plex and cause it to flex in. I also
recommend installing a wooden shelf in
front of the monitor. This will prevent
someone from reaching inside the game if
the plex is removed.
0
Here are two recent service items reported
to S*TJ.
The first incident involved a brand new
cocktail "Centipede". On the # 1 player
side, the mini-trac ball did not work quite
right in both the vertical and horizontal
axis. At first, l thought it was a marginal
optical coupler component on the mini-
trac ball PCB. However, I soon ruled that
out and discovered that it worked properly
if you pressed very firmly on the ball as
you moved it. I then noticed that the ball
bearings on the ends of the roller shaft and
idler shaft were different from any others
that I had seen in the "Centipede" game.
Pursuing this further, I found that one
bearing on each roller shaft did not spin
freely. Oil did not help them any because
the bearing assembly was too tight. I
switched these faulty bearings with the
bearing on the ends of the idler shaft and
the game now works perfectly. I reported
this to Atari and suggested to them that
they may have received a bad batch of
bearings from a supplier because I found
two bad out of twelve on the game - not a
very good average. I should emphasize
that the bad bearings did turn, but would
not spin freely.
The second incident involved the pinball
game "Black Hole" and relates to the
manufacturers manual. On page 43 of the
Gottlieb manual for "Black Hole", you
will note that switch matrix # 34 is said to
consist of five switches. The position of
these switches on the playboard is indi-
cated on the associated drawing on the
same page. Herein the problem lies. The
four SW34s indicated at the top and
bottom of the playboard are positioned
accurately on the drawing. However, the
SW34 which is indicated as being at the
left center of the board is not at that
location. It is actually at the right center of
the board, mounted under the slingshot
solenoid, and is closed and opened by the
action of the slingshot solenoid.
BY TODD ERICKSON
SUMMIT AMUSEMENT
ST. PAUL, MN
No operator can affort to put out a pinball
without checking the percentage of replay
of the machine. If it's too low, the customer
will not play the game. If \t's too high, the
customer can possibly play the game all
day for a quarter. The player must feel
he received his money's worth or he won't
think of playing the game again. Many
videos today are programmable, thus the
operator should look at these features.
"Make Trax" by Williams is a victim of
being too difficult in several locations.
One switch makes the first screen quite
easy. This option should be ''on". Another
option is called warp hole. I feel this is a
fabulous feature and an important part of
this game. Warp hole is a black hole that
your player can go to when he gets in
trouble. It moves around the playfield at
random. I feel this feature should always
be "on".
Williams' first video, "Defenders", was a
tremendous success. Their cabinet had a
few small problems. There was no handle.
"Make Trax" has a nice handle on the
back. The vents are recessed in the back
so no liquids from a spilled drink will
enter. The new buttons are lexan, the best
button available. (I recommend using
these on "Defenders. "They are available
from Williams or Wico.) The control
panel is on a hinge for easy service. The
only criticism I have of the game is the
joystick. Similar to the microswitches, the
joystick must be moved all the way into
position. I feel the best solution for this
problem is to install a new Wico joystick.
The latest version has a larger diameter
shaft and a metal washer to protect the
rubber biscuit.
I feel this game is a "sleeper". With these
small changes, the game becomes a strong
earner. This game is not a "Pac-Man"
copy. There is a learning curve, as there is
with all new games.
STAR*TECH JOURNALNOLUME 4, NUMBER 1/MARCH 1982/COPYRIGHT 1982 BY STAR*TECH JOURNAL, INC. STAR*TECH JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED 12 TIMES A
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