Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1994-April - Vol 16 Issue 2

-..J....-rAR TECH JOURNAL
April 1994
WILLIAMS
MIDWAY
BALLY
STAR TREK:
NBA JAM II:
JUDGE DREDD
NEXT GEN
UNAUTHORIZED
WEAK UPPER
PLAYERS
FLIPPERS
Luo
NoTE
Kerry Messana
Betson Advance
Syracuse, New York
David G. Stanley
Snyder Amusement Co.
Easton, Pennsylvania
Larry Munday
Pojos of Idaho
Boise, Idaho
PROBLEM AREA
SUBJECT
PROBLEM
I have found a small area of con-
cern on this piece. Make sure the
lugs for the right-hand cannon
are bent up somewhat.
STAR *TECH received an in-
quiry from an operator wanting
some information on the rumor
of unauthorized players in NBA
Weak upper right flipper. This
problem could happen on any of
the new pins using an opto-cou-
pler for flipper control.
Jam/I.
PRECAUTION
If they are not there is a chance
they could hit the metal bracket
that holds the service outlet.
MuRPHv's I.Aw
#1602
Good judgment
comes from
experience,
and a lot of
SYMPTOM
BETA TEST
The software originally in some
of the NBA Jam /l's (that where
in various locations for field test-
ing) had 70 hidden characters.
Seven of those were deemed "not
appropriate" by the National
Basketball Association (NBA).
Four of those seven were charac-
ters from Mortal Kombat II.
APPROVED VERSION
The final release, that was ap-
proved by the NBA, has 60 hid-
den characters including the pro-
grammers of the game -which are
also in the original NBA Jam.
Basketball players that are not on
current NBA rosters do not ap-
pear in NBA Jam II -i.e. Magic
Johnson and Michael Jordan.
When in the test mode the flip-
per had plenty of power, but in
the game play it was very weak
and erratic. That told me the
mechanism and the Fliptronic
board were ok.
SOLUTION
The next step was logical, check
the cabinet switches. Ah ... ha!
Whatever happened to gold flash
contacts? Replacing the opto-
coupler cured the problem.
NOTE
In diagnosing this problem, I
found the built-in diagnostics to
be an asset. Thank you Williams/
Bally for the constant improve-
ments in your products.
experience
comes from
bad judgment.
MFG PHONE
&
FAX
See page 21 for updated manufacturer
Customer Service phone & fax numbers.
------------------5-----------------
April 1994
...;,..'"'TAR. TECH JOURNAL
Monitor
Problems?
BALLY WINS
MIDWAY
INJUNCTION
MORTAL
AGAINST
Get our tech pub
TESTRON
Monitors:
Symptoms/Solutions
includes all monitor articles
from 1990, 1991, 1992 &
1993 for only
1
$39.95
1
Order Prepaid or COD
STAR* TECH Journal,
Post Office Box 1 065
Merchantville, NJ 081 09.
A Reminder...
;
,f
If you have purchsed the
S*T) Article Index Data Base,
fil
~
please remember to mail in
your registration card.
This will enable us to send your
free index updates when they :;~
~
I
...... becom~·-· ~=~-~1-~ . .' . . ... --.-...
Address Change
We've Moved!
We are no longer at
18 North Centre Street.
Please Note:
Send all correspondence:
PO Box 1065
Merchantville
New Jersey 08109
KOMBAT
RESET PROBLEM
Bally Midway
3401 Nort4 California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
Kerry Messana
Betson Advance
Syracuse, New York
SUBJECT
SYMPTOM
On February 7, 1994, Midway
Manufacturing Company ob-
tained a preliminary injunction in
the U.S. Federal District Court in
Albany, New York, against
Testron Koin Kits, Inc. and
Stephen Hochman. The injunc-
tion order, based on allegations
of federal copyright and trade-
mark infringement, prohibits the
advertising or sale of enhance-
ment kits containing copies of
Midway's smash hit video game
Mortal Kombat. The kits were
being sold by mail under the
name "Mortal Kombo Kombat".
Game randomly resets.
This prompt action against
Testron evidences Midway's re-
solve to permit no infringement
of its software, trademarks and
intellectual property. Midway will
now seek money damages from
Testron consisting of all profits
made from the sale of enhance-
ment kits and the names of all
Testron customers from whom
Midway will then require the re-
turn of the illegal enhancement
kits sold to them by Testron.
Midway is a coin-op pin, video
and novelty game mfg and a sub-
sidiary of WMS Industries Inc.
1
CAUSES
• Possibly a power sup-
ply problem, I have seen
the pot on that supply get
noisy and intermittent
and that could cause it.
• How about the Burn-
In test. Run it while your
collecting the location,
see if there are any
ROM/RAM failures.
• If you have another
MKI and can't seem to
narrow it down try swap-
ping the logic board with
the other to see if the
problems move with the
board or not.
~
• Check the audits for
watchdogs.
STJAWECI H
oftfha
------------------6-----------------

Download Page 5: PDF File | Image

Download Page 6 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.