STAR*TECH JOURNAL/MARCH 1983
4
TECHNICIAN COMPONENTS GROUP
QUALITY REPLACEMENT
SEMICONDUCTORS
AVAILABLE FOR THE
ELECTRONIC GAMES
INDUSTRY,
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
MANUFACTURERS:
• ATARI
• BALLY
• CINEMATRONICS
• EXIDY
• GOTTLIEB
• GREMLIN
• MIDWAY
• STERN
• WILLIAMS
AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL
TCG DISTRIBUTOR
Rush me a FREE Electronic Games
cross reference Gulde #CR10
By Todd Erickson, Summit Amusement, St. Paul, MN
ATARI'S "POLE POSITION" NOTES
Atari has just gotten back into the driver's seat as the foremost manufacturer of driving games. "Pole
Position" is so realistic, it is more of a driving simulator than just a game! The game had been in
development for two years in Japan by Namco. Some of the last Namco-developed games were "Dig-
Dug", "Galaga", and "Pac-Man". "Pole Position", unfortunately, costs more than most games.
Return on investment is still the most crucial factor. This game has been the dominant, number one
game in every location I have it in. Longevity is the main consideration when buying a game today.
Strong driving games have always been good. "Sprint II" is a 1976 game and it still earns in many
locations. Sega's "Monaco" earns the same as most new games.
Graphics will give a game high initial earnings, but not longevity. The game must play well in order
to have lasting player appeal. " Pole Position" has both good graphics and indeed plays well.
( A question I have in reference to this game is wondering how the consumer division will duplicate
it!)
COMPANY NAME
YOUR NAME
* ATARI'S "POLE POSITION" NOTES* ATARI'S "DIG-DUG" DIFFICULTY ADJUSTMENT
*ATARI'S " BLACK WIDOW'/"GRAVITAR" UPDATE
* THE OPERATOR'S BUSINESS STATUS* SEGA "TAC-SCAN" CONVERSION KIT
* BALLY/MIDWAY "SUPER PAC-MAN" DROP OFF
* BALLY/MIDWAY "PAC-MAN PLUS"
TITLE
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
PHONE NO.
CLIP AND MAIL TODAY TO :
NEW-TONE ELECTRONICS/TCG
DEPT. G1/44 FARRAND STREET
BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY 07003
You are probably asking yourself how they ever made this game so realistic. Namco engineers
placed G-meters in a race car a.nd learned exactly what forces the cars are subjected to while racing,
then they incorporated this into the software of the game. The game costs a lot of money, but it was
spent in development. It is not a 90-day wonder that someone put together quickly.
The only maintenance problem I have had is that the gas pedal does not return all the way up. It
must return when the game is powered up to get maximum throttle.
ATARI'S "DIG-DUG" DIFFICULTY ADJUSTMENT
This game has had an excellent response. In fact, it has had such high player appeal that many people
have learned the game well enough to play for extended periods of time.
There are four levels of difficulty: A, B, C, and D, that are adjustable. When you receive the game
it is on Level B. The game comes from the factory with the first extra life at !Ok and every 40k
thereafter. When the game is moved or installed in a new location, I recommend setting the extra life at
10 and 50 with the difficulty level at B. The reason for this is that the extra 1 Ok between bonus levels
will make it more difficulty for the advanced player while Level B will allow the beginners a fair shake.
ATARI'S "BLACK WIDOW''/"GRAVITAR" UPDATE
WE
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Video Games
Domestic & Foreign
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formerly with Bally
Send your
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119 Robin Road
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
(305) 339-6601
Early last year Atari was testing "Gravitar" and had some fine reports. The market shifted as they
released the game. It seemed the public wanted cartoon games. The "Asteroids" -type game is dead
today. Atari had geared up for a good run as the market shifted. Atari, like all big manufacturers, has to
plan months ahead for what they are going to build. Consequently, they were caught with a lot of
unused parts and new games. Now the good part: Luckily, Atari has a game that they could change
"Gravitar" into - "Black Widow". They will be changing their games and, for a small charge, they
will sell the operator the necessary parts, received through their distributor. I feel that this is a very
responsible move and shows good use of Atari's resources. They have replaced a marginal game with
a better one that will help the operator.
THE OPERATOR'S BUSINESS STATUS
As we all know, business is down now. We have all had many record years in a row. Several operators
have now slowed their buying or stopped buying new games in respect to their growth. Business may
be down, but it isn't bad. The amazing part of this industry is that we are giving the majority of our
profits away to the location! The operator who doesn't buy properly today and places guarantees on
his new equipment, or a 60/40 cut, will not be with us in the future.
SEGA "TAC-SCAN" CONVERSION KIT
With all the early problems that plagued" Space Fury", we now have an excellent conversion for this
game. I changed my game to a " Tac-Scan". This is one of the best kits on the market for a return on
investment. Every Sega X-Y game should be changed to "Tac-Scan".
BALLY/MIDWAY "SUPER PAC-MAN" DROP OFF
This game has not had the longevity that it should It earned very well at first, but then dropped. It is
my feeling that this game is too hard. The game has adjustable levels of difficulty which is good. The
player plays other "Pac-Man" -style games and it gives the bonus at 10,000. On "Super Pac-Man",
the bonus is at 30,000 and 100,000! I feel that the first level should be 10,000 with the second level
adjustable. This is not available, however. I contacted Stan Jarocki from Bally /Midway and he sent a
telegram to Namco to see if they could change this feature. I hope to have a reply before the AOE
show.
BALLY/MIDWAY "PAC-MAN PLUS"
Excellent kit - should be installed on all "Pac-Men".
*
MURPHY'S LAW
#501
If you mess with a thing long enough, it'll break.