14
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1982
* STAR*TECHJOURNAL3RDANNUALREADERSURVEYRESULTS 1982 •
Some of the information received on some
manufacturers' games is sadly lacking data
for the most common of repairs, i.e., coin
acceptors, switch repair, etc.
Access to parts availability is poor, especially
on imports.
Ann Arbor, Ml
Atari and Midway offer easy location of com-
ponents and diagnosis of a problem. They
produce quality equipment.
Why can't all pin , music and video manu-
facturers install air circulation fans similar to
the set-up on Saga's "Zaxxon"?
After 12 years in this industry, serviceability
has never kept up the pace with the advances
in technology and sophistication.
Mt. Clemens, Ml
I received no schematics with our "Donkey
Kong" games. This makes troubleshooting
very difficult. It took 3 phone calls to Nintendo
to obtain these schematics.
I've been working on Seeburg phonographs
since the LPCs and they're still bothersome.
I do 90% of our monitor problems and 50% of
our board problems, but I can't do anything
when games don't come with their schematics.
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Williams' test features do the job for you.
Everything is accessible.
Spring Valley, CA
Atari has very good service manuals.
Panama City, Panama
Fans should be standard in every video game
as per Sega's "Zaxxon".
AMl's diagnostics locate the exact problem.
Components are accessible.
Riverside, NJ
Atari and Midway are very concerned about
service. Atari is easier in this respect. Their
manuals and designs are very interchange-
able. It's a pleasure to work on these games.
Fairfax, VA
Gottlieb's service manuals and schematics
have improved a thousand times than in the
past.
Elgin, IL
Tornado remote control games are the most
difficult. Bob's Space Racers are a close
second!
Franklin Park, IL
Atari and Midway have great service per-
sonnel. They answer any questions.
Irvine, CA
Engineering orders on Williams' pins are hard
to follow.
Sumersid, Canada
have trouble with the breakage of little black
screws on Baily's pins.
In 2½ years I have never had a major break-
down in an NSM product.
Greensboro, NC
Midway has the most comprehensive manuals
and, of course, less breakdowns. Rowe's
products are reliable since there are fewer
parts. Good schematics.
Colorado Springs, CO
Programmed Flowchart-type service guides
on video games would help tremendously.
Properly trained techs are NECESSARY with
today's electronic games. Parts Replacers
who do not understand theory can cost much
money in downtime and parts destruction due
to ignorance. Highly trained techs are expen-
sive initially, but save money in the long run.
Shreveport, LA
Williams, Atari and Midway video games have
good drawings and good back up. They use
conventional P.S.U. which makes it easy to
understand and repair. They use good monitors,
either Wells-Gardner or Electrohome.
The Japanese and other manufacturers have
a long way to go in coming up to standard with
game concepts and back up.
London, England
Williams sets boards so you can test easily.
Stern's "Berzerk" is the nicestforserviceability
of boards. Boards that slide out from the front
are the best, as moving a game out to service
it causes congestion.
Sega's "Turbo" manual is enough to confuse
anyone. More explanation is needed with PC
boards and function of ROMs and RAMs in
games.
Royal Oak, Ml
I feel that Rock-Ola's jukeboxes are the most
dependable. More manufacturers should use
and develop memory map and signature
analysis charts similar to Atari's and test sets
or prints that are compatible with units like
Atari's Cat Box.
Billings, MT
Rowe/AMI products are the simplest to dis-
assemble and make adjustments. Best bill
changer acceptor.
Cinematronics' X-Y monitors are by far the
most difficult and hard to find parts. Little
documentation.
Conroe, TX
Atari has the best service manuals and self
test. Midway builds the more interesting games.
I wish they had more options and permanent
memories for bookkeeping, etc.
Pocatello, ID
Rowe/AMI machines are designed from a
.serviceability standpoint and are laid out very
logically.
Dallas, TX
I very seldom have problems with Atari or
Williams. Atari, Williams and Midway have
good manuals and self diagnostics. Boards
are easy to get to.
Topeka, KS
Seaburg SMC1 has more problems with
switches on mech., and have to be set almost
perfectly.
Bowling Green, KY
Difficulty with Cinematronics' monitors
because the failed part usually pulls other
parts with it.
San Jose, CA
Most Stern problems are little annoyances
that drive you out of your mind.
Harrisburg, PA
Williams used Aluminum Coil Sleeves which
cause a lot of metal particles to fly around in
game bed, causing contact problems. Stern
has weak documentation. Most Japanese
videos have no diagnostic software or docu-
mentation in manual. Why the push towards
signature analyzers when only one or two
manufacturers provide enough information to
use one?
Boise, ID
Atari has good board layout and documenta-
tion. Gottlieb's "Reactor" has an exceptional
manual and PCB.
Wichita, KS
It's poor engineering when it takes an hour to
get the boards out of Sega's "Zaxxon". Pinballs
can and should be improved to the point
where service calls can be cut in half. I still
All pins have service problems.
Jacksonville, FL
We thank our readers for this year's overwhelming ,
based on the number of manufacturer listings as co.
compilation. For example, in the first category over
easiest videos to service, while slightly over 34% .
The comments are selected from returned surveJ
They are independent opinions.
1. Which manufacturer's amusement mach-
ines are easiest/difficult to service?
VIDEO (Easiest)
Atari
66.48% Sega/Gremlin
6.70%
Midway
63.68% Stem
2.23%
Williams
35.75% Centuri
1.67%
Taite
8.93% Nintendo
1.11 %
Less Than 1 % Response: Exidy, Cinematronics, Universal,
Nichibutsu
VIDEO (Difficult)
Sega/Gremlin
34.07% Exidy
8.37%
Stem
26.25% Midway
7.82%
Cinematronics 21.22% Atari
7.26%
5.58%
Nintendo
20.67% Williams
Taite
11.17% Universal
3.35%
Centuri
10.61 % Rock-Ola
1.67%
Slightly Over 1% Response: Deco, Pacific Novelty,
Game Plan, Nichibutsu.
Less Than 1 % Response: Venture Line, Namco, Dynamo,
GDI, Elcon.
PINS (Easiest)
Bally
71.50% Stem
Williams
25.69% Gottlieb
Less Than 1 % Response: Game Plan, Atari
18.99%
14.52%
PINS (Difficult)
Gottlieb
Willliams
Stem
43 .57%
27.37%
13.96%
Rowe/AMI
Rock-Ola
NSM
31.84%
18.43%
7.82%
Seeburg
Rock-Ola
Rowe/AMI
30.16%
6.70%
5.58%
Bally
Atari
Game Plan
5.02%
2.79%
1.11%
MUSIC (Easiest)
Seeburg
Wurlitzer
7.26%
2.23%
MUSIC (Difficult)
Wurlitzer
NSM
5.02%
3.35%
2. Whose machines, In general, do you feel
most comfortable troubleshooting?
VIDEO
Atari
55.86% Stem
Midway
55 .30% Taite
Williams
30.16% Nintendo
Sega/Gremlin
3 .91 %
Less Than I% Response: Centuri, Universal
2.23%
1.67%
1.11%
I feel most comfortable in troubleshooting Williams pins
because they break down a lot. One tends to get good at
them.
New Haven, IN
Midway and Williams generally use better quality parts
and have less breakdown in the first place.
If the manufacturers would stop worrying about someone
stealing their designs and give a little better information
in service manuals, they'd be better off.
Washington, DC
Bally has uniform design from machine to machine.
Midway games have more service calls and are the
cheapest built. Back doors warp, etc. Design, manufac-
ture and then modify it in the field.
Chicago, IL
Sega/Gremlin games are difficult to work on because