Play Meter

He does
everything
but walk
Williams Electronics' Gorgar, the
world's first talking pinball machine,
makes it difficult to believe that action
does indeed speak louder than
words .
Gorgar verbalizes seven different
words to form eight different phrases
and commands according to a
player's performance. In addition,
the game emits thirteen different
reverbating sounds to the back-
ground sound of Gorgar's beating
heart-which accelerates and be-
comes louder as the score builds.
Designing the first talking pinball
game is the latest in the continuing
development of the use of sound in
Williams' games. When the firm
opened its doors in 1945 , the use of
sound usually was limited to the
ringing of bells, buzzers, and chimes
that used an electro-mechanical
solenoid plunqer system .
In January of 1979 , Williams
released its Flash which featured
continuous background sound in-
creasing in pitch and frequency as
play advanced.
And now, Williams introduces
Gorgar-the pinball machine that
talks. Does its action speak louder
than its words?
J
PLAY METER, January, 1980
lntec premiers
computer age
'token •
The lntercard, an alternative to
coin-operated vendinq machines , is a
magnetic card reader using ma~­
netic cards bearing identification
codes that are repeated a number of
times equal to the number of
purchases the possessor is entitled to
make.
The card is slipped into the
obliterating device, mounted on the
vending machine , and if the code is
recognized as valid , the go-ahead will
be given for the product to be
distributed. Otherwise, the card will
be rejected. Each time a product is
distributed , the code (read and
accepted) is cancelled out as part of
the card is cut away.
Among the advantages of such a
system are that the part of the card
re levant to the purchase cannot be
reused; the cutaway pieces are
collectible in a special drawer that
enables the owner of the vending
machine to keep a constant check on
the quantity of products being sold;
and the possessor of the card
immediately can assess how many
further purchases he can make.
Since coins are not used , an operator
can control the price, eliminate
skimming, eliminate change hassle ,
e liminate counting , sorting and
wrapping of coins, and perhaps best
of all , the operator has his money in
advance.
97