Play Meter

mailbox In "Home Video" (August 1976), Laura Kreter did a nice job of reporting on the background, current status and future potential of Home Video Games. Concerning the out of court settlement between Atari and Magnavox in the last paragraph, I would like to add that the consent decree involved recognizes the validity of the TV Game patents with which I laid the foundation for this new subindustry in the mid-sixties. Over 50 world-wide patents have been sued since that time. Nearly ten years ago we played Tennis, Hockey, Handball, Volley Ball, among others-in color, I might add-in our laboratory at Sanders Associates, Inc . in Nashua, N.H. The patents which were issued as a result of mv many basic TV game inventions and those of my coworkers were later licensed to Magnavox. Several of these were involved in the out-of-court settlement you reported on, establishing once again my position as "father" of the TV Home Game Industry. Ralph H. Haer Manchester, N .H. plex , the need for accurate service information increases greatly. Our company has no handbooks as yet; we depend on game manuals for service and troubleshooting. What we really need is an article on safety precautions with IC's and L. S.I. 's. One static zap can be expensive. I know more about solid-state than my fellow employees, but I still need more. An expanded section on solidstate would be nice. Randy Bray Lynn County Amusement Albany, Ore. I do enjoy reading your magazine. Best wishes for a successful 1977. Bill Nutting Nutting Associates, Inc. Santa Clara, Cal. [I'm passing your idea along to Technical Editor Robin Minnear. Both Robin and technical writer Randy Fromm, whose first article for us appeared in the January Update, have expressed interest in responding to particuUir problems you might be having in the field. If you are having a problem and need help, or if you want to communicate the solution to a problem, please write them care of Play Meter, Box 24170, New Orleans, La. 70184. -Ed.] I'm new in the amusement field, but I've been into electronics a long time. I was born and raised in Sunnyvale, Cal., the heart of the electronics world. As video games get more com- SPECIALISTS ARCADE Arcades BRUNSWICK Karate . . . ATARI Trak 10 .. . .. .. .$945 ATARI Jet fighter ...!Ri ATARI Jaws . . .. ... .. ..IRi ATARIAntiAircraft .. . .ffli ATARI Steeplechase ... .J\li KEE formula K . . .. .IRi MIDWAYRacer . . . . . .92'j MIDWAY Gunfight . ll!li MIDWAY Seawolf. .. . . 14l!i EXIDYDeath Race ... .. . l:Ri EXIDYDestruction Derby .. .. 11\li MEADOS Cobra Gunship .. 1145 MEADOWS Bombs Away . . .. .. .. .. ... ... 845 MEADOWS DropZone4 . . ..IRi AAMTEK Baseball . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ..5!li RAMTEKTrivia . .. .J\li AAMTEK Hit Me.. .. . . . . . ... . . . 1245 U.S. BILLIARDS Shark .. ..5!li U.S. BILLIARDS Air JaiAlai ... .. .IRi FUN GAMES Tankers. .. . J\li FUN GAMES Bi Plane . . . . . .. ffli GREMLIN Trap Shoot. 92'j GREMLIN PlayBall . . .845 CHICDINSpeed King . . ... .. .. 5!li ALLIED Super Shifter &15 .. 5!li Guns . ... ... $11\li CHICOIN Coney Island . . .. .l!li CHICDIN RifleGallery ... 545 CHICDINTwin Skeet .. :Ri CHICOIN Commando CHICOINTrap Shoot .. . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. .. . ..:Ri CHICOIN Defender. 245 CHICOIN Hunt Club ... l!li . .. 245 MIDWAY HauntedHouse MIDWAY Gang Busters . .. 545 ALLIED KnockOut ... . .. 5!li ... 245 WILLIAMS flotilla .. COMPUTER GAMES Big Twin .. !Ri ... .. l!li COMPUTER GAMES Big Duke . 5!li COMPUTER GAMES Six Shooter .. Cocktail Tables DIGITALKnockDut .. .. 445 OIGITALPingPong . . .. 445 U S. BILLIARDS Survival .. .. 5!li U.S. BILLIARDSShark .. . .5!li KEE Tank . . . . . . . ... 11Ri OVER fil USED FLIPPERS IN STOCK, READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY ! CALL COLLECT. ADVANCE DISTR·I BUTING CO. TEL: (314) 652-1600 2820 N. GRAND BLVD., ST. LOUIS, MO. 63107 NSM Sales, Parts, Service In The U .S.A. Could you send me information on any short courses in video game repair? I'm a TV technician and have attended Atari's two day seminar. However, I feel I need a course on troubleshooting the games. I have also taken Kurz-Kasch's home study course, but that's mostly theory. My problem is, I know the theory, but where do you start to look for an actual problem? Charles Brenon III Brenon's Coin Machines Brownville, N.Y. [Play Meter is aware of your problem. That is why we started the Play Meter service schools. AU schools are three days and are taught be our Technical Editor, Robin Minnear of Kush n' Stuff. The next seminar is scheduled for Feb. 15-17 at the Radisson Pwza Hotel in Charlotte, N. C. For a better idea of exactly what we 're trying to do, seep. 16 of the Jan. 1977 issue of Play Meter. I might add that we intend very soon to incorporate hands-on troubleshooting experience into these seminars. -Ed.]