Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1990-April - Vol 12 Issue 2

Atari Ganies
Sweeps Mfg AAMYs
New Motorola Cross
Reference Software
Atari Games Corporation was the undisputed
darling of the industry for 1989, walking away
with all three categories of Manufacturer of the
Year; Quality, Production and Design, Cus-
tomer Satisfaction and Marketing and Promo-
tion. The 1989 Distributor of the Year award
went to C.A Robinson & Co., Inc.
It has arrived!
The 1990 Motorola Semiconductor Cross Refer-
ence software is here, hot off the magnetic
presses.
Winners were announced March 10, 1990 dur-
ing the American Amusement Machine Chari-
table Foundation's Annual Appreciation Dinner
in Chicago.
They really blew out all of the stops on this one.
Along with the old stuff, they filled out the
discrete listings to include a lot of crosses to
other lines, and filled it out with their complete
line of parts, including CPUs, MCUs, TIL,
CMOS, Opto, RF, Specialty IC's and more!
It even gives part numbers on their literature
Sales achievement awards distinguish compa-
nies for sales excellence, and are available in
four levels, Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver.
packages available on that particular part. It's a
big file, but it's packed full of info. If you liked the
last one you'll love this one.
Four companies were recognized for sales excel-
lence. Atari Games Corporation was awarded a
Platinum achievement award for their video
game kit Tetris and a Diamond award for their
dedicated game Hard Drivin'. Fabtek, Inc. re-
ceived a Gold award for their kit Cabal. Konami,
Inc. was also awarded a Gold achievement
award for their kit Crime Fighters and Taito
America Corporation received four achievement
awards; Gold awards for dedicated games Chase
HQ and Operation Thunderbolt and Silver
awards for their kits Superman and U.S. Classic.
This cross reference utility is available on
The American Amusement Machine Association
is a non-profit trade association based in Woo-
dbridge~ Virginia representing the manufactur-
ers and distributors of coin-operated amuse-
ment equipment.
STAR*TECH Journal's Electronic Bulletin
Board, in the IBM software area, under the
name MOT1990.ZIP. Download via protocol and
unzip with pkunzip. For more information on
S*TJ's bbs, see page 20 in this issue.
Ozone Layer Update
Bill Eaton
NDI
Laguna Hills, California
Good news!
Chemtronics has a new line called the E-Series
This E line uses haloginated vs. chlorinated
hydrocarbons & fluorocarbons. What this
means in English is that this line of their normal
products has reduced the amount of CFCs to
less than 20% of the government standard. We
now can do our part to save the planet.
So, when you visit your Chemtronics dealer (at
any decent electronic store), or when placing
your next order, ask for the E-Series line. They
also have freeze mist and TF-plus in E form.
Only your demand will convince the electronic
chemical distributors to get this stuff out now.
Willia111s/Bally Pinball Trough Mechanism
Proble111s & Cures
William Prutzenreuter
Williams Electronics
Chicago, Illinois
Recently, a few operators stated their most often
encountered problems with the Bally pin.
SYMPTOM
The ball trough on a Bally pin is the most serious
design flaw. This part of a Bally pin has always
given me trouble. If the game is jarred, the ball
in the trough jumps, causing the microswitch
wires to slip behind the balls, now when you
push the start button, the game indicates that
all three balls are not present and does not allow
the next game to start.
SYMPTOM
Another historic Bally problem is the ball kick-
ing too hard into the shooter lane and bouncing
back into the trough. That will usually hang the
game up as well.
I thought this would have been fixed by now, but
I observed the problem in a brand new Game
Show pin. Just stretching the kickout spring
will usually work, but I always wondered how
this got by the engineers for so long.
The other Horizontal Ball Guide prevents the
ball from lifting too high up into the air. This,
too, can contribute to the ball falling back into
the trough. Typically, lower this guide if there
are still problems.
***
1990 UPDATE FOR S *T J's
MONITOR MANUAL
New! Monitor articles covered in 1989/90 publishing
year in a handy format. Over 30 new video monitor
Symptoms & Fixes that appeared in STAR*TECH
Journal's Volume 11 (March '89 - February '90).
Update your technical library with this valuable refer-
ence text. $9.95 (2.50 s/h). S*Tl, PO Box 1065,
Merchantville, NJ 08109. COD call 009/662-1080.
MURPHY'S
LAw # 1202
FACTORY SOLUTION
There are 2 adjustments for the Williams/Bally
Trough mechanism. Both are accessible via the
shooter lane with some needle nose pliers.
The first is a Vertical Ball Guide towards the
backglass. The second is a Horizontal Ball Guide
on the top of the trough.
Typically, if the ball .. bounces" back into the
trough, adjust (pull the guide away from the
backbox) the Vertical Ball Guide (thus aiming
the ball DOWN towards the plunger).
Upcoming STAR*TECH Journal
Regional Seminars
Apr 21/22
May 5/6
May12/13
May 19/20
If you adjust this too much the ball cannot go
thru the guide (sometimes you can adjust the
vertical ball guide that is furthest away from the
backbox, but normally this not adjustable).
New England Coin
General Coin
Active Amusement
Betson Pacific
Norwood,MA
Seattle, WA
Phila, PA
SanFran, CA
For more information see page 23
or call S*TJ at 009/662-1080.

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