3
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/AUGUST 1983
NEWS BITS/
SIAR.1{
IECH
JOU
The Technical Monthly
for the Amusements Industry
P.O. Box 1 065
Merchantville, NJ 08109
609/662-3432
AUGUST 1983
VOLUME 5, NO. 6
Publisher/Editor
James Galore
Administrative Assistant
LT. DiRenzo
Art/ Advertising Coordinator
Paul Ehlinger
Circulation Promotion
Linda Geseking
Layout
Dale Meloni Graphics
Contributing
Technical Writers
Todd Erickson
Don Becker
Mark "Bear'' Attebery
Julius Robins Ill
Mario Hudson
Frank Becker
Peter Gurko
STARHECH JOURNAL, August
1983, Vol. 5, No. 6. Copyright 1983
by Star.rech Journal, Inc. All rights
reserved. Star•Tech Journal is
published monthly. Address inquiries
to: P.O. Box 1065, Merchantville,
NJ 081 09. Phone: 609/662-3432.
Subscription rates: USA-$40.00.
Canada-$45.00. Other countries-
$70.00. Please remit payment in
US funds. Advertising rates avail-
able upon request. All manuscripts
become property of Star•Tech
Journal. No part of th is Journal may
be reproduced without permission.
Contents of the articles herein are
verified as much as possible.
However, any reader using this in-
formation does so at his/her own
risk. Star•Tech Journal accepts no
responsibility for its advertisers'
activities.
DOWNLOADING VIDEO SOFTWARE
ICs SOON TO BECOME CENTIPEDES
Downloadlng Video Software
The downloading of video software, or "tele-
distribution", is the subject of a 217-page
report from International Resource Develop-
ment Inc., a market research firm based in
Norwalk, CT. The market for teledelivery of
video software will soon be one of the fastest-
growing teledistribution markets. By 199 3,
IRD estimates that video teledelivery revenues
of$3.8 billion will surpass retail revenues from
sales and rentals of videocassettes, the latter
amounting to only $3 billion. By that time there
will be 16 million consumers regularly down-
loading movies, TV shows, special events,
educational programming, games and musical
videos.
Cable On The Defense
Interestingly enough, cable is not likely to
participate in the move to teledelivery of video
software, says IRD. In fact, the report predicts
that video teledistribution, marketed on a
subscription basis, will become a strong
competitor to cable movie channels and pay
TV systems. Consumers are likely to discover
in video teledistribution a convenient way to
bring video products into their homes in such a
way that they can view these products at their
leisure rather than according to the schedules
of broadcast network or cable movie channel
programmers.
Video teledelivery promises to be substan-
tially more lucrative than music or games
teledistribution, according to the report.
Teledelivered Games By The Wayside?
The downloading of videogames, which has
gotten off to a slow start on cable (PlayCable
and the Games Network) and which will see a
new evolution with the introduction of
GameLine (downloaded over phone lines),
may not get much further, according to the
report. "The arrival of TV-quality videogames
could severely impinge upon the future of
current downloading ventures because
enhanced videogames will not be teledeliverable,
at least not until the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Should enhanced, TV-quality games become
the next videogame craze, demand for down-
loading current video and computer games
could go by the wayside as consumers spend
their discretionary dollars on low end, interactive
videodisc players and software," observes the
report.
ICs Soon To Become Centipedes
New York, New York: Electronics magazine
reports that National Semiconductor Corpora-
tion is developing a surface-mount IC package
that is expected to eventually lead to a I" x 1"
package having 224 leads.
The new package, called Tape-Pak, will
employ what National Semiconductor calls a
tape automated bonding system. Few details
about this packaging are available, but lead
spacing may be as close as 12.5 mils. Con-
ventional !Cs have lead spacing of 100 mils.
Currently an 84-lead package, 21 leads per
side, is being shown to National' s customers.
An obvious advantage of the package is it
provides for a very high packing density. Also,
since the internal leads are very short, delay
time is extremely small. An added advantage
of the Tape-Pak design is reduced cost These
packages may be available by the end of the
year.
Note: Smaller parts will enable manufac-
turers to add more features to their products
without increasing size. Consumer products
will become more complex as customers come
to demand more and more features.
New demands will be placed on test equip-
ment and technicians. A good knowledge of
solid state devices, plus the equipment to work
on it, will be more important than ever before.
000
ARMOR CHAJN COMPANY
ANNOUNCES NEW ANTI-THEFT ANCHOR
FOR VENDING MACHINES, ELECTRONIC GAMES AND MOTEL TV SETS
Armor Chain Company has developed an
anti-theft maximum security system built
for the ultimate in protection. This new
(patent pending) anti-theft Armor Anchor
(7 ¾" x 7¾") made of carburized steel,
with a zinc blue chromate finish, is easily
installed by just drilling a hole in the side or
bottom of the machine and attaching a
chain and lock. Machines can be easily
connected to each other to stop theft. The
anti-theft Armor Anchor retails for $10. 95 .
The 30" carburized chain with I½" x I" links retails for $10.95 . Other sizes available on
request.
The 4" x 4" anti-theft Armor Anchor is available for TV sets.
Special distributor prices offered. Distributorships available.
Manufactured by Armor Chain Company, 3240 West 117th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.
Phone: 216/252-8126 .