3
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/MAY 1983
AOE '83 IIlGHLIGHTS
This year's Amusement Operators Exposition, held at the
O'Hare Expo Center in Chicago (March 25-27), was well
attended and featured just about every mamifacturer and
supplier connected with the coin-operated amusements industry.
Early fears that the current depressed economic climate might
dampen the show in the form of decreased attendance were
relieved as approximately 7,000-9,000 attendees sized up the
many varied offerings. The attitude of the attending buyers,
however, seemed to be "just looking" for the most part and all
were on the hunt/or "something new and dif]erent" and a game
"able to last more than six months" from the mamifacturers.
Manufacturer highlights:
Nintendo showed their newest video release, Mario Bros.
- a two-player game which continues their series of games
involving the characters first introduced in "Donkey Kong".
Exldy had on hand their new video Fax, a question and answer
type game similar to the old Ramtek "Trivia" game but without
the tape deck and interface circuitry that was a service headache.
Housed in a heavy-duty cabinet, the game contains 2,000
questions in four different categories. Data East showed a new
video for their interchangeable game system, Bump n Jump.
Atari displayed their recent release, Xevious, along with a new
offering, Food Fight, which features an "instant replay" after
completing an especially exciting frame.
Gottlieb exhibited a new video, Mad Planets, which
utilizes their GG-111 electronics system first used in "Q*bert",
and features aggressive play and exceptionally responsive
player controls. Bally Midway showed two new videos with
the same central character, "Captain Krooz'r", namedKozmik
Krooz'r (a hybrid mechanical 3-D arcade-video piece) and
Wacko (with a slanted control panel). Also on display:Journey,
a theme video incorporating the figures of the popular rock & roll
band of the same name, Mappy- a cartoon-cype game licensed
from Namco, and a new pin, Grand Slam. Bally Midway also had
on hand their version of the old "Trivia" game called Professor
Pac-Man with 500 questions in four categories ( expandable to
2,000 questions).
Saga displayed their new video Congo Bongo which
features "Zaxxon" -like graphics, and their recent video release,
Star Trek, in an attractive new sit-down cabinet with dual
speakers and made of durable high impact ABS plastic. Stern
showed their hit video maze-style game Bagman, and Mazer
Blazer, a hybrid arcade-video piece featuring a player-controlled
gun reminiscent of old-fashioned shooting games. Also displayed
were two factory conversion kits - the previously released Lost
Tomb and a new kit called Pop Flamer.
WIiiiams brought to the show a re-engineered Sinistar,
previously shown at the AMOA last November and since
enhanced to include a split screen and fast-paced video action.
Also on display was a Joust cocktail pin with play similar to the
hit video including one- or two-player interaction for a coopera-
tive or competitive type game and Bubbles - a game for the less
intense video game player. Vending International was on
hand with their stable of non-video games including Kasco's
Driver II and Ninja Gun and Namco's Sweet Licks and Shoot
Away.
Centurl exhibited their new video, Gyress, with superior
sound effects, and a conversion kit called Guzzler. Talto
showed two new videos: Zoo Keeper- a graphically good game
with three adventures in one and Change Lanes - another video
with good graphics and a driving game in which you maneuver
over and around obstacles on land and water.
This year's AOE should prove to have its share of successful
games and hit themes, but most attendees at this show felt that
they were still looking for "the big one".
COIN ACCEPTORS, INC.
INTRODUCES NEW LOW-COST LOGIC BOARD TESTER
FOR S75-98008 and S75-9800C ELECTRONIC CHANGERS
Coin Acceptors, Inc. has introduced a new Logic Board Tester
that provides instant testing of all components of Coin co' s S 7 5-
9800B and S75-9800C electronic changer logic boards. Coin
Acceptors, Inc., known by the trade name COINCO, is the
world's leading producer of coin handling equipment for the
Vending and Amusement industries. The S75-9800 Coin
Changer is the world's largest selling electronic changer.
Coinco's new Electronic Logic Board Tester allows a
bottler's or a vending operator's regular service personnel to test
and repair logic boards in their own shops, with no need for
outside experts. The owner has complete control again. In
addition, the new tester eliminates the possibility of sending
working logic boards in for repairs. By making customers less
dependent on distant repair centers, shipping costs and serv:ice
charges are kept to a minimum while reducing the amount of
capital that must be tied up in spare logic boards.
The Coinco Logic Board Tester's simple, durable design
features electronic technology so advanced that verification of
bad logic board components is made instantly. The repairman
simply places the logic board in the slot provided, selects proper
mode, S75-9800B or S75-9800C. Next the "Test" button is
pressed and all faulty components, if any, are immediately
identified and can be replaced in minutes.
For more information, call Coin Acceptors TOLL FREE at
1 (800) 325-2646, or contact the nearest Coinco branch service
center.
Coinco's New Logic Board Tester shown with S75-9800B
Electronic Coin Changer.
Stal'kTech Journal, Volume 5, Number 3, May 1983. Copyright 1983 by Star* Tech Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. Star*Tech Journal Is published 12 times a year. Address
inquiries to: P.O. Box 1065, Merchantville, New Jersey 08109. Phone: 609/662-3432. Sta'*Tech Journal verifies the contents of the articles herein as much as possible.
However;._ any reader using this information does soat his/her own risk. Star* Tech Journal accepts no responsibility for its advertisers' activities. Subscription rates: U.S.A. -
$40.00. vanada - $45.00. Other Countries- $70.00. Please remit payment In U.S. funds. Advertising rates available upon request. Staff: Publisher/Editor: James Calore.
Administrative Assistant: LT. DIRenzo. Art/Advertising Coordinator: Paul Ehllnger. Circulation Promotion: Linda Geseking. Typesetting/Layout: Dale Meloni Graphics.
Contributing Technical Writers: Todd Erickson, Frank Becker, Mark "Bear" Attebery, Julius Robins Ill.