Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1996-April - Vol 18 Issue 2

STAR*TEcH
Journal
April 1996
,----------7
, Tech Library ,
... continued from page 13
: STAR* TECH Journars
Tech Library comes
1
I complete with every
I
service manual
I
published.
series pins for monitor inputs,
fork lugs for power supply screw
terminals. I like to carry a small
selection of Molex connector bod-
ies so I can replace burnt or dam-
aged ones as well as make cable
connections on the spot.
:
SAVE OVER
:
I
I
I
I
25%
:
and control buttons
FYI
Coin entry/return button - those
amber plastic things where the
post breaks off the back. Keep a
couple of coin acceptor return
lever springs as well.
~
STAR* TECH Journal neither
operates, distributes nor manu-
factures coin-operated equip-
ment. It's sole purpose for being
is to compile technical and
informational data considered
valuable for dissemination to its
paid subscribers. Comments or
suggestions pertaining to this
service are a/ways welcome.
~
~
SURFING THE
INTERNET?
VISIT STAR*TECH]OURNAL's
HOME PAGE ON THE
Hardware - every nut, bolt, or
screw I find in my work either
goes back where it belongs or it
goes into my hardware tin.
Twenty years later I have quite a
collection. I use a tin container
from tea leaves, but a piece of the
wife's Tupperware should work as
well. I like to keep a couple things
separate: carriage bolts and nuts
for joystick mounting, sheet
metal screws for power supply
mounting and many other uses,
drywall screws ("all purpose"
screws) for cabinet repair, coin
mech mounting screws, E-rings,
roll pins, set screws. I find that
empty fuse boxes with their slid-
ing lid are handy for storing some
of these small items.
WORLD WIDE WEBB
http://www.cyberenet.net/~startech
STAR*TECH Journal can be
reached through the "Information
Highway" also known as the Internet.
Leave email addressed to:
[ startech@cyberenet.net [
Keep your tools organized, get
what you need, and always use
the right tool for the job, and you
can take pride in what you can
do out of one tool box.
SOURCES MENTIONED
Microswitches- to fit your joysticks
r
48
POUNDS OF I-CAN-FIX-ANYTHING!
Lfor morf!..l_nformation see_p_a~ 23:....1
Renewal Time?
Your subscription expiration
date follows your account
number located on the top
line of your mailing label.
Renewal notices are sent 3
issues in advance.
WELL, THAT'S MY TOOL BOX,
Electronic components- I like to carry
a small selection of capacitors for
monitor and power supply repair,
1 and 3 amp diodes (I stock fast
recovery types, too, for power sup-
ply repair), some pinball type tran-
sistors, and a big 35 amp bridge
rectifier.
Fair Radio Sales
1016 E. Eureka St.
Lima, Ohio 45802
419-223-2196
Fx: 419-227-1313
Jensen Tools
7815 So. 46th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85044
800-426-1194 or 602-968-6231
Fx: 800-366-9662/602-438-1690
Techni Tool
5 Apollo Rd
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
610-941-2400
Fx: 610-828-5623
W. W.Grainger
Branches everywhere
800-473-3473 for catalog
While you are calling for cata-
logs, you really should get to
know the WW Grainger company.
They are an industrial supply
company with branches in all
fifty states. Their phone-book-
sized catalog includes tools and
power tools, warehouse items
like parts shelves and bins and
hand trucks (two wheel dolly),
and Dayton motors. Dayton mo-
tors come in a thousand types
and you see many of them work-
ing in redemption equipment
and elsewhere. It is a lot cheape1
to buy these motors from the"
source than from the game
maker, and often a lot faster.
April 1996
CID
Too MANY P1Ns?
My vendor feels like he "just
bought" Johnny Mnemonic, and
since then we've "seen" Congo,
A 73, and Mario Andretti come out,
with Attack From Mars about to
become available, Tales of The
Arabian Nights to follow along
with Goldeneye and Capcom's Air-
borne. All in about a 5 month pe-
riod!
Now consider that since he
bought]ohnny Mnemonic, the only
videos he bought were one Virtua
Cop II, one Area 57, one Open Ice,
and 4 Marvel Super Hero's. About
the only other 'contender' was
Fighting Vipers.
Consider that all of these have
been pulling in approx $300+ for
him per week while a new pin
can't compete with that. Yes, a
pin is longer term profits, but
game operators want cash now.
So, how in the world can a game
• operator possibly justify buying even
half of the available pins?
Considering the promise of At-
tack From Mars, Goldeneye, Air-
borne, and Tales of the Arabian
Nights, I think he should get them
all ... but I'll be lucky if he gets 1
or 2 or them.
Journal
STAR*TECH
Bulletin Board System
Chris Hehman
Triangle Pinball League
Raleigh, North Carolina
It just feels like there are too
many games coming out...am I
right?
STAR*TEcH
Get Online for FREE!
The point: Too many pins com-
ing out too quickly. And I think
a lot comes down to WMS/Bally
putting out 2 games at once in
rapid production. The pin mar-
ket just can't justify the operators
getting as many or more pins
than videos. At least not right
now. If pins were popular enough
where people were waiting to
play where there was a big row
of pins, it could be justified ... but
not now.
Speaking as a player (and
cu$tomer), my ideal arcade
would have a mix of- the newer
and older games. If limited to 6
pins, it would have:
Qty: 4 "permanent" games that
don't change often. Games like
Twilight Zone, The Addams Family,
Funhouse, Star Trek the Next Gen-
eration, Indianajones, Tommy, and
so forth that I just don't get tired
of playing. I'm less likely to go
to an arcade if I'm not sure I'll
always find at least one game
worth putting quarters in.
Qty: 2 "new" games that are the
latest and greatest. Rotate them
every month or so to get a good
sampling of what's out then:. I'm
more likely to go to an arcade if
I think they might have a new
game, and less likely if they
haven't changed their lineup in
several months.
Share game service information
with coin-ops across the
country and the world.
OPERATORS AND TECHNICIANS
postproblemslsolutions.
We all encounter frustrating
maintenance headaches as the
course of doing business in the
coin-op game world.
Going online with your prpblem
or solution can save yoM.
and others time & money.
This service is provided
FREE
to paid subscribers of
STAkkTECH Journal
To access the Bbs through your
computer, you'll need a modem
and communications software.
Items you probably already have
with your system. If not, they are
an inexpensive purchase -and
well worth the investment towards
a more efficient coin-op business!
Bbs: 610/251-9387.
(8/1/N)
Speed: Up to 9600 baud.
Check It Out!
Log On&
Post Often

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