Atari Coin Connection

H. RUBIN TO
MANAGE
EASTERN
OFFICE
ON WINNING
People love to win something. Winning
makes people feel good. This trait can be
used in many ways as a promotion to
bring new players to coin-op games.
The other evening at a restaurant in
Los Angeles, a waitress was glowing with
excitement. "I just won a free ticket to
Universal Studios," she exclaimed . A
customer in the restaurant had presented
her with the ticket just for smiling. This
is an excellent goodwill measure. Also,
the young girl wilt probably bring a friend
along with her who will pay for a ticket.
This gambit can be successfully applied
by operators as a positive public relations
effort as well as potentially increasing
intomeongames. A coupon for ·rree
games can be designed especially for this
purpose. It should be simple, but convey
A COINCIDENCE
Howard Rubin has been appointed
Eastern Regional Sales Manager at Atari.
In this position he will be responsible for
managing a new East Coast sales and Ser•
vice office, to be opened in Springfield ,
Kew Jersey. The 9,000 square foot facility,
planned to open in September, will pro-
vide additional sales and ser.ice support
for Atari distributors and, in turn, for
their customers.
"This Eastern office is in line with
Atari's comprehensive program to provide
the most extensive field service ,marketing
and information network in the coin-op
industry. Howie's experience at all levels
of sales, distribution and operating gives
him superior qualifications for his new
role at Atari," said Marshall Caras, Direc-
tor of Marketing.
_
Howie has been in the coin operated
industry for ten years. He was most re-
cently with l}etson Enterprises as Sales
Manager, Vending Division , and previously
worked in Distributor Sales with that
company.
The new facility of Atari will provide a
centrally located sales office for East
Coast distributors and will help expedite
product delivery. Additionally, there will
be a staff of technicians and customer ser-
vice representatives to facilitate parts and
service assistance for distributors. It will
also serve as an education center for
technical schools for both distributors
and operators in the East to learn more
about advanced solid-state technology
and servi~e.
Last month in Coin Connection we
said, "What if ... games were placed in
waiting rooms and patient lounges in a
hospital?"
The Chattanooga, Tenn. Times printed
the following in an article on May IO,
1977, referring to games in hospital wait-
ing rooms : "As anyone who has spent
time in one of those drab waiting rooms
knows, a person wiU do almost anything
to kill time - smoke countless cigarettes,
drink coffee and soft drinks they don't
want and read magazines tha t are five
years old and weren't worth reading when
they were new. What better and more
profitable way to keep them amused than
to provide them with pinball machines?"
THIE ATAIIUAINJS'"
an image of value and importance to the
recipient. For example, "Bearer of This
Coupon is Entitled to TEN Free Games
at ... value $2.50." The coupons should
convey a feeling of winning or being an
award for accomplishment.
The winning concept can be used for
many different types of locations, not
only arcades. Winners can be found in
restaurants, movie theaters, bowling cen-
ters, schools, or just about anywhere in
the general vicinity of the location. Win-
ners can be awarded coupons for high
bowling scores, good grades, being a
family of four, or just for smiling or
saying "hello." Winners should be care-
fully selected - to attempt to bring new
game pla}'efs7o your location. If they
enjoy playing the games, they might just
become "regulars."
TECHNICAL TIPS
F-ITM
SYMPTOM: Intermittent coin acceptance
problems. Extended play
sometimes not working.
CURE:
Adjust the microswitch near
the timer motor so it will be
actuated at the highest point
of the cam. lbis way, the
timer will run just long
enough for the actuating ann
to reset on the notch of the
cam and not on the lobe.
BREAKOUT TM
SYMPTOM: The paddle doesn't move.
CURE:
The 4016- IC should be re-
placed. Suggest substituting
a 4066 IC, which is less sus-
ceptible to static.
A PLA!::IER WRITES
Focus your eyes on an outstanding game. THE:
ATARIANSTM stands out among all other pin-
ball games in the line. The players are attracted
to it and the collections venfy it's wperiority
over other games.
Dear Atari,
I have ;ust played your brand new
Pinball, THE AT ARIANS, and in
my opinion it is the best Pinball I
have played in a long time. Besides
the great playing board I really en-
joyed the total sight and sound ex-
perience.
Vic Fortenbach
La Mesa, Calif.
14yearsold