Star Tech Journal

6
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/JANUARY 1983
DON'T SIT
ON YOUR
"Asteroids"!
Convert to new hot full
color games with
XC-100 Asteroids
Cabinet Conversion Kit.
All you need is PCB.
XC-1 00 KIT
*$495.*
This is a super kit. It is
well engineered and
can be installed in less
than 2 hours. Your
total satisfaction is
guaranteed.
* *
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
Kit Includes
19" Color Monitor
Isolation Transformer
Heavy Steel Monitor
Mounting Bracket
(allows both vertical
and horizontal
picture tube
mountings)
Picture Tube Bezel
Tinted Plastic Safety
Screen
Choice of Control
Panels with Joystick
and Buttons
Monitor Bracket
Template for Easy
Mounting
All Required Hardware
Clear Plastic Top
Attraction Panel
Easy Instructions
*
WVGO, Inc.
Send Check or Order UPS COD to
On J/,,e ~'lvlce ha,1 ...
AMOA '82 ... THE OPERATOR'S VIEWPOINT
By Todd Erickson, Summit Amusement, St. Paul, MN
Again, AMOA had an excellent show in Chicago. Emphasis was placed on more
beneficial seminars. This had to be a result of the success of the AOE show last
spring. The trade shows of the future are going to have to do more than show the
operator what is on the distributor's showroom floor. If they don't, the attendance
will drop.
I don't feel that there were any surprises at the show. This doesn't indicate,
however, that fine equipment wasn't displayed. But most of the hot equipment is
already on the market. I feel the hit of the show was "Joust". This game has been out
for many weeks.
Gottlieb had their first hit video, "Q•Bert", at the show. This is an in-house
product that appeals to both men and women. As a general rule, the vast majority of
the long-lasting games have had a male and female parallel appeal. Congratulations
to them.
"Front Line" by Taito has been a top earner. This game's earning level is similar
to "Jungle King" ("Jungle Hunt") when it was first introduced. One word of
caution: it may break an occasional micre>-switch, with the amount of play this game
receives. Keeping a few micre>-switches in the game would be a good idea.
"Pole Position" by Atari has to be their next big hit. "Millipede", I feel, is an
excellent update to "Centipede" where good "Centipede" players exist. The
longevity of this piece will make it an excellent investment.
Midway's " Super Pac-Man" should follow in true "Pac-Man" style. I feel that this
will be better placed in an arcade than in a street location. "Baby Pac-Man" will be a
nice novelty game. "Pac-Man Plus" is a new update kit for the original "Pac-Man".
Nintendo introduced "Pop-Eye". This will be a game to watch when it is
released. Universal's " Mr. Do" is a cute game from one of the small guys that I feel
is worth watching.
I also feel that income from pins in general will be going up this year. Sega had
their video disk system at the show. The price will be high, but it may be the answer
to a low-priced update game.
The game market today has not dropped. The yield per game has dropped.
Consequently, the operator must cut service costs by preventive maintenance, and
by purchasing the right games for each particular location. By doing this, the
operator will be able to maintain the profitability he has had in the past.
News Bits/EEPROMS
The EPROM may soon be a thing of the past as Intel, SEEO,
General Instrument, National Semiconductor and Hitachi are
expected shortly to introduce 16K, 5V EEPROMs (electrically
erasable).
NINTENDO
"DONKEY KONG" BUTTON QUICK FIX
Problem: The orange full-sized button
on some " Donkey Kong" games is
losing its top half.
Quick Fix: Putacarpet tackwithaflat
head stuck in the bottom of the button.
15000 Main Street
Gardena, CA 90248
Thanks to Marty Stein of Pinball Wizard, Annandale, VA
213-516-9525
MURPHY'S LAW #411
A shortcut is the longest distance between two points.