Play Meter

like Atari uses. As stated before, the
main fault with this door is that
breakable plastic coin return flaps
are used instead of the much more
durable metal flaps. The players are
just breaking off the coin return flaps
and flipping pennies up the chutes.
The whole cabinet is generally well
constructed. The cash box area is
totally separated from the rest of the
game, making a theft of the cash box
from the rear of the game more
difficult. The chances of having a
coin get into the power supply, logic
board, or monitor areas are small.
Screened vents have been placed in
both the top and bottom of the
cabinet to reduce the head build-up,
which reduces component failure.
The purpose of the screen is to keep
components (nuts, screws, bolts)
from falling out of the cabinet and
being lost and to keep dust out.
An overlay has been placed on the
front control panel. This overlay is
textured and cannot be burned by
cigarettes or scratched. Centuri
contends it is virtually indes tructible.
This will help keep the Phoenix
looking clean and attractive when
other games' front panels have be-
come worn and burnt.
The side cabinet designs start
about three feet from the bottom of
the cabinet base and go to the top.
The areas from the bottom to the
three-foot level are of a dark color.
Black is usually used on the front.
These lower areas are prone to scuff
marks from the shoes of frustrated
players and it's therefore a good idea
to use dark colors for these areas.
Having the designs three feet from
the base greatly reduces the
possibility of having the designs
kicked and marked or: scaped up. I
have seen scuff marks on the top of
cabinets, so maybe someone can
design a scuff-proof coating.
A handle has been placed on the
rear top of the cabinet to make it
easier for one person to tilt the game
backward onto a hand truck. The
on/off switch is located on the game,
which tends to make it harder for
small kids to get at it. Children seem
to love to turn off games when they
run out of money, so no one else can
play. This usually means a service
call and lost revenue.
All in all, I feel Phoenix is a
comfortable game to play. Taking
into consideration the positive fact
that all of the controls are buttons,
there is very little maintenance
required on this game.
Write Frank. ..
It's good to see that there are
people out there who will send in
their comments and ideas. Please
send a note to "Frank's Cranks" if
you have any service tips that will be
of interest.
Games for review next issue will
be Defender and Gar/.
•
[Ed. Note: Contributor Seninsky is
president of Alpha-Omega Amuse-
ments, Inc. which operates a route
including over 50 college game-
rooms and Wizards' World Arcade
on the New Jersey shore.]
'A textured overlay on the Phoenix front control panel cannot be bur~;d by
cigarettes or scratched.
This will help keep the game looking clean and attractive.'
ARTIC
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PLAY METER, june 1, 1981
57