10
STARHECH JOURNAL/MAY 1982
A Regular Monthly Feature Technically Outlining a Newly Released Game
SIBRN "FREN2Y''
By Joe Connor, Active Amusement, Philadelphia, PA
"Frenzy" is Stern's most recent video
game, and reintroduces (with slight
variations) the board tray first used in
"Berzerk". There are numerous
similarities between "Berzerk" and
"Frenzy" not only in the electronics,
but also in overall game play. At first
glance, it may appear almost identical
and in general principle, it is. However,
there have been certain features added
for renewed player appeal.
The added game features include:
1. Improved graphics (two different
attack robots).
2. Evil Otto can be destroyed with
three direct hits, but will reappear,
moving faster.
3. Solid White Walls that shots can
bounce off of.
4. Purple Walls which can be shot down for points and
to get at targets.
5. Direct contact with walls or attack robots will not
destroy Humanoid Intruder.
6. Within the maze, four different rooms produce
different obstacles at various game levels.
These added game features have been accomplished
with only slight variations to the electronic tray. These
changes are:
1. The ZPU-1001 replaces ZPU-1000.
2. The proms on the speech board have been
reprogrammed for "Frenzy".
3. The PRU-1000 (optic board) has been replaced with
an eight-way Wico joystick.
There are various reasons for these changes on the
tray.
1. The new ZPU board is said to be improved for use
with signature analysis and also prevents "rom only"
conversions from "Berzerk" to "Frenzy". (The new
ZPU must be used for "Frenzy".)
2; Speech is not used as frequently in
"Frenzy" as in "Berzerk"; hence
the reprogrammed proms.
3. "My Atari 'Centipede' doesn't move
to the right" ,t''My Gremlin 'Carnival'
misses coins", or "My Stern 'Berzerk'
won't move at 45° angles. These are
three of the more common complaints
when optic assemblies and games
are mixed. "Frenzy" will not be able
to be added to this list because of the
addition of an 8-way joystick instead
of the PRU-1000 optic board used
in "Berzerk". This board was the
single greatest failure in "Berzerk"
and will not be missed in "Frenzy".
Tray Interchangeability
An entire board tray from a "Berzerk"
and "Frenzy" also could be
interchanged with only minor difficulties. There is no
+5 VDC out to the optic board in the "Frenzy" cabinet;
therefore, any "Frenzy" tray placed in a "Berzerk"
cabinet will have no joystick control unless the optic
board in the "Berzerk" has been replaced with a Wico
joystick.
Misc. Tech. Info.
On/Off Switch - ( 1) located top right side of cabinet
Interlock Switches - (2) front and back door
Speaker - (1) eight-ohm, located on top of cabinet
Volume Control - 25K-ohm pot located inside front
door on right side
Monitor - Wells-Gardner model 19K4901. (This
new monitor resembles an Electrohome. There are two
schematics with game; neither one matches this
monitor.)
Voltage Adjustment - Only one voltage is adjustable
+5 VDC, pot is located on PS 1000.