Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1994-February - Vol 15 Issue 12

j.._--r:AR TECH JoURNAL
February 1994
MORTAL
ROVING GANGS
KoMBAT
RIPPING OFF
PCBs
II
SOFTWARE
Todd Erickson
Summit Amusement
St. Paul, Minnesota
Todd Erickson
Summit Amusement
St. Paul, Minnesota
LOOKOUT
SUBJECT
For at least the past 6 to 9 months,
a gang of young men has been
going around the country helping
themselves to video game PCBs.
Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam
have been the hands-up favorites
for these new electronic bandits.
Mortal Kombat II will of course
jump to the #1 position shortly.
The revision 2.1 chips have been
available for Williams/Midway
Mortal Kombat II for some time
now. Not all operators, however,
are aware of this. Your distribu-
tor is responsible for getting the
updates to you.
I would be most concerned with
NBA Jam, Mortals and the new
Raiden II because of earnings and
demand -this of course makes
these PCBs more valuable in the
black market. Capcom Super
Street Fighter should also be
watched because it's a system
PCB. In my area, the gang was
able to remove about 30 PCBs.
Their favorite targets to hit are
bowling alleys.
DON'S
VI DE 0
CORNER
Video Card
Games
8 Line
Machines
Don Powell
DON'S VIDEO REPAIR
EXCHANGE
They are available, on exchange,
from your distributor. The play-
ers are demanding version 2.1
play and a few have instructions
for the moves.
HYPE
This is another factor that is caus-
ing the player hype (most play-
ers will only play the new 2.1 ver-
sion) and strong earnings. An-
other clever move by Williams.
Shelbyville, Tennessee
CHERRY
MASTER
GARBAGE IN
SQUARES
SYMPTOM
SECURITY NEEDS
Williams has been clever enough
to build a hasp system into the
rear of their latest games. By
turning the plates around you can
install a pad lock on the rear of
the cabinet.
On conversion cabinets, I recom-
mend using the Lock America
security plates. It might also be
useful to install a baffle to make
rear access harder. Electronic
alarms are also becoming neces-
sities on these games and should
be considered.
Video garbage inside the
squares.
CAUSE
BOTTOM LINE
One or both Rams at lo-
cations 60 and/or 80
have failed.
It's bad enough to lose your
money in a break-in, but, losing
a PCB is worse -much worse.
Alert your locations to be on the
lookout for this new menace.
Remove the suspect
Rams. Replace and verify
proper operation.
SOLUTION
------------------7-----------------~
j.._""r:AR TECH JOURNAL
February 1994
WILLIAMS DIP SWITCH
Vs CMos Co1NAGE
Now, You Don't Have To
Thumb Through That
Worn, Torn, Dog-eared
Set of Indexes Anymore!
Kerry Messana
Betson Advance Dist.
Syracuse, New York
Just by pressing a few keys you can access
S*TJs complete database of information by
manufacturer, model or type. This is a very
user-friendly program with a pop-up window
system for ease of use & on-line help screens.
COINAGE OPTIONS
Williams video games using the Y-Unit and T-Unit
board systems allow you the option to use dip
switch or Cmos coinage. Cmos coinage is easier
to use because it allows you to make changes right
on the screen using front panel controls. Dip
switch coinage requires that you open the cabinet
up to get to the dip switches and also requires that
you have the manual in front of you. You could
also use the hit and miss approach by putting the
game in self-test and go into the dip switch test
mode and it will tell you how the switches are set.
Designed for Coin-op Service Managers, Field
Techs, Shop Techs or anyone who needs to
find game service information fast! Use the
Multi Search Locaforfunction to find what you
need, print the list or print a query form and
mail or fax it to S* TJfor reprints of those articles
you might be missing. What could be easier!
Every article ever published by STAR*TECH
Journal is indexed in this self-loading data-
PROS/CONS
base, from the first issue in Volume One
(Mar79) to the current volume. Updates every
12 months with the first one free when you
return your registration card. Act now! $69.95.
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1! :: ; ! !: ! ~~!~!!~~~I~ J.~~~~ ~e!.~~~~!:! !: ~~I.~:
I
Please send __ disks@ $69.95 (+ 4.50s/h)
Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Company: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Of the two coinage options, each has its own vir-
tues and drawbacks. For ease of use Cmos coin-
age wins. However, it does have a drawback.
Should you lose battery-backed memory for what-
ever reason, you will lose your coinage setting. It
will go back to a factory default condition.
This may or may not be the way you want to have
the game set. Dip switch coinage is more depend-
able in that it is fixed and cannot be lost if the
system should do a full factory reset.
Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wmcu SHOULD You UsE?
City, State, Zip: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Depends on conditions in your area and in the
... continued on next page.
I Specify:
□ 5-1 /4" (3601()
or
□ 3-112· (7201()
Disk I
System Requirements: IBM and compatible com-
puters. minimum 384K memory. Dos 3.0 or above.
MGA, CGA, EGA or VGA graphic video system.
1 : ttt
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~!~;~;;;~~j;=;ii
~FG PHONE
&
FAX
See page 2I for updated
manufacturer Customer
Service phone
& fax numbers.
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