Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1990-June - Vol 12 Issue 4

Ninja
Gaiden IC Seating
TeCDlO
Midway Galaga
Older WG Monitors
Jim Santa Cruz
Tecmo Inc.
Carson, California
James Beck
Greater Southern Distributing
Atlanta, Georgia
PROBLEM
Nirya Gaiden can develop various intermittent
SYMPTOM
problems. This board, as well as most new game
boards, contains several custom, surface-
mounted controller IC chips.
The screen on the Midway Galaga video, which
uses the Wells Gardner monitor, changes to a
dominant green or blue background with verti-
cal retrace lines. The color amp drivers are all ok.
CAUSE
CAUSE
A common problem with these chips is that, with
time, a pin(s) can become disconnected from the
board. This can cause many different symptoms
from loss of partial video to total reset (lock-up).
More than likely, it's CR'f failure. The indication
is that there is probably oxidation particles
laying between the electron gun and either the
heater or G 1 grid.
SOLUTION
To clear this problem on Tecmo boards, first call
SOLUTION
our customer service tech to help you to isolate
which chips and which section the problem is in.
Secondly, check each pin's contact by carefully
pushing out on it one at a time.
REPAIR
If you are an experienced solderer, you may
want to attempt these repairs yourself, but
remember: These pins are closely seated next to
each other and that this is a semi-difficult
procedure. Resoldering the intermittent con-
nection is the only sure way to eliminate future
contact problems.
NOTE
If you do it and repair it yourself, great! But, if
you in any way damage the chip or board, you'll
be looking at an expensive manufacturer repair
job. Finally, if you'd rather we did the repair, call
your local distributor to set up a board r~tum.
For more information, contact Jim Santa Cruz
at Tecmo Inc.
Ill . .
Since this is a very old and used monitor, before
you replace it (on what now is a marginally
profitable game) try this: Blow it out!
I have had good results blowing off these shorts
with a B&K brand CR'f rejuvenator. This test
unit provides a charge designed to free the
internal tube elements of shorts from small
particles and will either cure it or finish it for
good!
Inside King Arthur's Round Table
James Carrico
California Coin
Mission Viejo, California
Let me acquaint you with California Coin's new
product, King Arthur's Round Table, a dedicated
single player rotary merchandiser.
I was one of the persons directly involved with the
development of King Arthur's Round Table
(KART). Th.is included electronic hardware and
software development and engineering of all
mechanical assemblies. So, lef s get started!
KITS
Also available is a single player rotary merchan-
diser kit designed to be installed in a standard
video game cabinet. However, due to size dimen-
sion restraints from cabinet to cabinet, the kits
will be released in versions specifically designed
for a particular group of cabinets.
One kit is designed to convert Atari cabinets
such as Arabians, Centipede, Dig Dug, Gravitar,
and Space Duel.
Another kit covers the series of cabinets pro-
duced by Williams such as Robotron. Joust,
MAIN FEATURES
Briefly, play features include:
• Operator adjustable arm motor speed
(instead of turntable speed to prolong the
life of.the motors) to adjust skill level. • Fully
(operator) adjustable Nudge feature from no
nudge to 100% of the playfl.eld surface to
adjust skill level. • Two independent coin
inputs with 16 different coin/credit op-
tions. • Playtime can be any of 8 levels
including 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 seconds
or unlimited. • Play can be limited to one try
or numerous tries within time remaining. •
Play can also be limited to one win or
numerous wins within time remaining. •
Also, instead of credits, game may be set so
player may purchase time units in any
multiple of 5 or 10 seconds up to 60 seconds
per coin with a maximum play time of 99
seconds (this also supports multiple coin
bonuses). • Coinage settings also support
bonus plays like 3 plays for 50 cents or 5
plays for 1 dollar etc. • Tilt alarm and
system shut down with 15 second, self
resetting timer or latching, requiring man-
ual reset.
Moon Patrol.
A third kit should cover your wonderful Midway
series such as Pac Man. Pac Man Plus, Ms. Pac
Man. Galaxi.ans, etc.
KIT COMPONENTS
The kits will include an electronic control center,
a new power supply, and all wire harnesses, all
mechanical assemblies, and an artwork pack-
age including a header insert, control panel
overlay, control panel instruction decal, and a
Diorama insert (covers the interior of the cabinet
around the playfl.eld). All of these are oversize to
be cut-to-flt with guidelines as to the recom-
mended dimensions.
The hopper, which is found in the bottom of the
machine, automatically replaces capsules that
the player has won and has a capacity of over
300 plus - 2 inch capsules.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
If desired, with the above options, the operator
may set the machine for "play 'til win" allowing
it to be operated as a novelty vendor.
Control Board includes audio for coin in, game
in play, arm in motion, and time expired.
Counter options cover left and right coins in and
wins out.
If you are interested and would like to discuss
price or availability please contact California
Coin 714/455-0888.
NOTE
Leland Corp. assembled and tested over 250
KARTs in the San Diego area. At this time,
Leland has not commited to license and build
KARTs since no licensing agreement has been
reached.

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