February 1987 (1Dl
STAR*TECH Journal
The Player/GRAND LIZARD
VENDING: 1986 NAMA Convention
By John 'Root' Pilarchik
Pennsauken, New Jersey
By John Batistic
Cleveland Coin Machine Exchange
Cleveland, Ohio
This four flipper pin game from Williams
Electronics, I found to have an excellent,
fast playing field with just the right
amount of skill shots to go for -without
becoming too crowded.
The player can multiply his/her score from
2X to lOX by hitting out 6 targets,
(L-I-Z-A-R-D) located on the lower left
side of the rrachine. I found these targets
to be in easy flipper range. Located right
on top of these targets is a slot that
will hold up to three balls, giving the
player multiple-ball play when released.
There is a bonus hold over, advance value
target and 20,000 - 100,000 point targets
all in easy shooting range of the top two
flippers -located in the top middle of the
rrachine. In short, there's points to be
made all over this game!
GRAND LIZARD offers the player the Free
Ball and Special Shot, both of which I
found to be a fair challenge. On each side
of your bottom flipper buttons is another
set of buttons which, when pressed,
activate what is called "Magna Save". When
the playing ball is about to go down
either side, you push the Magna Save
button to activate a magnetic-like force
that will freeze or shoot the ball out to
keep your ball alive; (the old side shake
used to work pretty well for me but this
new method, I must admit, I found to be a
great plus).
The score settings were set at 800,000 for
the first game (very reasonable),
2,000,000 points for your second game,
which is not too bad -considering the rrany
ways the player can rack up points.
GRAND LIZARD with its fast playing field,
sharp flipper action and many ways to go
for points rrade this game a fun,
challenging machine to play.
Good job on this one.
Play on ... Root.
The 1986 NAMA Convention and Exhibit
celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the
founding of NAMA (National Automatic
Merchandisers Association), and salutes
the centennial of vending in the United
States. This year (1986) also marks the
40th year that there has been a National
Exhibit by NAMA.
'!his years exhibit was the biggest one of
all (Chicago, IL), -with over 200 major
suppliers and manufacturers participating
on the floor, rraking this the world's
largest exhibit of its kind.
A feature of the exhibit this year was the
Centennial Vending Gallery. The Gallery
contained color'photographs of rrachines
selected through the years by Richardson ~
Vending ~ny, Los Angeles, CA and by
the Canteen Corporation, Chicago, IL.
Richardson Vending is the oldest corrpany
in the vending business, having been
founded in 1908. The Canteen Corporation
was founded in 1929 and was the first of
the nationwide vending operations.
'!he Vending Centennial Gallery was made
possible by a grant from Coin Acceptors,
Inc., st. Louis, MO.
you can imagine, there were many things
to see at the NAMA Exhibition. This
convention is certainly worth your time if
you are in the vending business. I wish I
had more space to elaborate on new models
and other highlights at the show but I
will say that vending is getting more
sophisticated and technical all the time.
As
Next year, the NAMA Convention and
Exhibition will be in Philadelphia -and I
am certain that you all will want to
attend.
~.
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