Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1982-October - Vol 4 Issue 8 - Page 12
12
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1982
GAMES IN '83
By Todd Erickson, Summit Amusement, St. Paul, MN
Our industry has made more changes in the last year
than any other year. The coming year will bring forth
even more changes than the past. The new games just
released have shown as much or more strength than
past releases. Movie theme games will become a thing
of the future. This will put them in the public limelight
upon release. The new "E.T." game to be released by
Atari next year will be an automatic hit because of the
movie. "Tron" by Midway was an excellent promotion
for a first effort with a movie theme. The games the
public is playing have shifted. The same space games
that have been good for the last few years are no longer
our backbone. The operator that is still depending on
these games will find his business dropping. He will
blame saturation and the poor economy. He will
probably not be an operator past 1984.
The manufacturers have just started giving us
bookkeeping features and game adjustments. Too
often the difficulty level must be different in bars and
arcades. Many games are good in only arcades or
street locations. Difficulty may be the reason. To
determine this, the manufacturers normally give us the
average playing time and other details such as: number
of bonus features of the game, or average rounds. The
player must get a fair return for his coin. He must also
feel as he plays the game that his skills improve. All
these numbers are going to mean something. When the
game is installed on location, the game should keep
track of playing time at 30-second intervals. This way,
if we find out we have 50% of our plays under one
minute, we know that the game has to be changed. The
same game may have many people playing lengthy
games; the average playing time may be over 2
minutes. On multi-wave games it will be necessary to
know how many plays got into each wave. Again, if the
game is too hard or too easy it can be adjusted to the
location. The ratio of average playing time is also
going to be important. This ratio will show how well
the players are learning the game. If the ratio remains
constant, it means they are not learning the game!
People are only playing it once or twice. As the ratio
becomes larger, it means there are a lot of people
getting into the game. These numbers may also help
the manufacturers and operators choose their games
earlier. The game must also have more feature adjust-
ments. There must also be a non-resetable counter in
the software for coins. This is necessary if more
security is desired.
Many items on the games should be standardized.
I feel like a fool trying to find the " on/oil" switch on
certain games. Locks are another thing that irritate me.
The coin door takes everything from a ¾" to a 1 ½i ".
Keying the games alike requires a large stock of cams
and locks. Some of the brilliant people who make the
locks have designed them so the lock breaks if the door
is pried open. The cam should be the weak link of the
system. The car manufacturers don't use steel rod
bearings. If they did, the crank shaft would wear out
instead of the bearings! All cash boxes must have a
provision for a padlock. It would be helpful if all cash
boxes were nonaccessible from the back of the game
and, if they're removed by prying an unlocked door, an
alarm should go off.
Controls are a major source of service calls on
video games. Many times a second firebutton can be
installed (such as "Zaxxon" or "Scramble"). IfWico
lexan buttons are used, it helps to eliminate buttons
from breaking and dirty points. Aircraft nylon nuts, if
used on controls, should have a provision so they can
be easily removed or replaced. Wico joysticks have
been a big help to me. If something should possibly
break, I always have the part handy. IfI were using 6
different types of joysticks, I would possibly not have
all the available extra parts.
JUKEBOX PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED
By Charles Maier, Chuckie Wuckie Enterprises, N.E. Philadelphia, PA
Jukebox Collector Newsletter -$20a year(monthly).
Published by Rick Botts, 2545 SE 60th Ct., Des
Moines Iowa 50317
Wanted: Backdoor for Seeburg P148
For Sale: Original Wurlitzer amplifiers
This is what Rick Botts' J .B.C. is all about. If
you've got an extra one, or are short one, for 10¢ a
word you can acquire or sell one. This is the ideal
arrangement for the amateur or professional collector
and the vendor who needs a part for an old machine
still on the street. Why junk a 426 Rock-Ola with a bad
transformer or a broken glass if you can locate one at a
reasonable price?
Each issue starts with "news" concerning shows,
collectors, parts availability. Rick also lists new
subscribers and who referred them. This is followed by
any interesting letters and then the feature articles.
Past ones have been interviews with collectors and
authors, how to buy an old machine, product reviews,
and service tips. And then come the ads - at least
fifteen pages - a mix of classified ( I 0¢ a word) and
full page ($50, camera ready). Some are from major
part remanufacturers, some are from the guy on the
street who needs that one part to get his one machine
working. Also included are ads for records and other
publications. There are quite a few photos, most sent
by collectors, but because they are not pros, combined
with the bond paper that the issue is printed on, the
quality is usually only fair to poor.
If you restore old machines or have a back room
full of old parts, JBC will definitely save or make you
"CAVEMAN '1/ MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICING ACCESS TO MONITOR
I . Open the cabinet door and loosen the front
moulding locking arm.
2. Pivot the front moulding upward, discon-
nect the connector A9Pl / A9Jl , slide the
moulding forward, and remove it from the
game. (See Figure 1.)
A9P1 /A9J1
Note: Caution label stresses removal of ball from outhold
before lifting playfield for monitor safety.
Figure I
3. Slide the playfield glass forward and remove
it from the game.
4. Pull the playfield toward you until it rests
on the upper right and left mounting brackets.
Note: The color monitor contains HIGH
VOLTAGES delivering LETHAL
quantities of energy. Do not attempt to
service the monitor until you have
shorted the anode plug on the picture
tube to ground.
5. Remove the two wing nuts and associated
washers at the front of the monitor, and
carefully lower the monitor to the bottom of
the cabinet. ( See Figure 2.)
A17J1
money. As Rick remarked in the June issue concerning
the monthly issue cost, "It is 2 packs of cigarettes, or 3
cans of Pepsi, or 6 M&Ms, or 1 gallon of gas. I guess
that's the price you pay for thrills. "
"Nickel A Tune" Published monthly.
$25 a year. 9514-9ResedaBlvd., Suite 613, Northridge,
CA 91324
This new magazine is a fascinating collection of
photos, history and technical articles dealing with
jukeboxes from Day One to about 1959. In fact, one
article traces the history of the word jukebox. The
entire magazine is printed on glossy paper, which adds
to the quality of the photos. Sadly, the first issue was
all black and white.
Articles in the June 1982 Premire Issue include a
history of the Gabel machine, a photo story on
wallboxes, and a product review on 7 8 RP .M. records.
There is also a photo story on a recent auction in
California and an article about the PIO, Wurlitzer's
first juke.
Offered with a charter subscription are six free
classfied ads (30 word). The magazine is limited to
music and this is important. In the past, magazines
would appeal to jukebox collectors and then start
running articles on pins and slots. I hope that there is a
big enough market to support this new magazine and
that it continues on its editorial course; that being to
" inform you and help promote a new era in the
hobby." Even if you do not own any collectable
machines now, you will enjoy this trip down Memory
Lane.
Figure 2
A17J2
A12P9
WING NUTS
(BOTH SIOES)
For Removal of Monitor
1. The monitor's three plugs, Al2J9, Al 7Jl,
and A I 7 J2 should be disconnected and
placed clear of the monitor.
2. Remove the two ¼" x 20 hex nuts on the
hold down angle bracket.
3. Lift the monitor straight up and remove it
from the cabinet, observing that all cables
are clear of the yoke and monitor chassis.
4. For reassembly, reverse the aforementioned
procedure.
Coortesy of Gottlieb"s technical newsletter ··on Target'".
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1982
GAMES IN '83
By Todd Erickson, Summit Amusement, St. Paul, MN
Our industry has made more changes in the last year
than any other year. The coming year will bring forth
even more changes than the past. The new games just
released have shown as much or more strength than
past releases. Movie theme games will become a thing
of the future. This will put them in the public limelight
upon release. The new "E.T." game to be released by
Atari next year will be an automatic hit because of the
movie. "Tron" by Midway was an excellent promotion
for a first effort with a movie theme. The games the
public is playing have shifted. The same space games
that have been good for the last few years are no longer
our backbone. The operator that is still depending on
these games will find his business dropping. He will
blame saturation and the poor economy. He will
probably not be an operator past 1984.
The manufacturers have just started giving us
bookkeeping features and game adjustments. Too
often the difficulty level must be different in bars and
arcades. Many games are good in only arcades or
street locations. Difficulty may be the reason. To
determine this, the manufacturers normally give us the
average playing time and other details such as: number
of bonus features of the game, or average rounds. The
player must get a fair return for his coin. He must also
feel as he plays the game that his skills improve. All
these numbers are going to mean something. When the
game is installed on location, the game should keep
track of playing time at 30-second intervals. This way,
if we find out we have 50% of our plays under one
minute, we know that the game has to be changed. The
same game may have many people playing lengthy
games; the average playing time may be over 2
minutes. On multi-wave games it will be necessary to
know how many plays got into each wave. Again, if the
game is too hard or too easy it can be adjusted to the
location. The ratio of average playing time is also
going to be important. This ratio will show how well
the players are learning the game. If the ratio remains
constant, it means they are not learning the game!
People are only playing it once or twice. As the ratio
becomes larger, it means there are a lot of people
getting into the game. These numbers may also help
the manufacturers and operators choose their games
earlier. The game must also have more feature adjust-
ments. There must also be a non-resetable counter in
the software for coins. This is necessary if more
security is desired.
Many items on the games should be standardized.
I feel like a fool trying to find the " on/oil" switch on
certain games. Locks are another thing that irritate me.
The coin door takes everything from a ¾" to a 1 ½i ".
Keying the games alike requires a large stock of cams
and locks. Some of the brilliant people who make the
locks have designed them so the lock breaks if the door
is pried open. The cam should be the weak link of the
system. The car manufacturers don't use steel rod
bearings. If they did, the crank shaft would wear out
instead of the bearings! All cash boxes must have a
provision for a padlock. It would be helpful if all cash
boxes were nonaccessible from the back of the game
and, if they're removed by prying an unlocked door, an
alarm should go off.
Controls are a major source of service calls on
video games. Many times a second firebutton can be
installed (such as "Zaxxon" or "Scramble"). IfWico
lexan buttons are used, it helps to eliminate buttons
from breaking and dirty points. Aircraft nylon nuts, if
used on controls, should have a provision so they can
be easily removed or replaced. Wico joysticks have
been a big help to me. If something should possibly
break, I always have the part handy. IfI were using 6
different types of joysticks, I would possibly not have
all the available extra parts.
JUKEBOX PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED
By Charles Maier, Chuckie Wuckie Enterprises, N.E. Philadelphia, PA
Jukebox Collector Newsletter -$20a year(monthly).
Published by Rick Botts, 2545 SE 60th Ct., Des
Moines Iowa 50317
Wanted: Backdoor for Seeburg P148
For Sale: Original Wurlitzer amplifiers
This is what Rick Botts' J .B.C. is all about. If
you've got an extra one, or are short one, for 10¢ a
word you can acquire or sell one. This is the ideal
arrangement for the amateur or professional collector
and the vendor who needs a part for an old machine
still on the street. Why junk a 426 Rock-Ola with a bad
transformer or a broken glass if you can locate one at a
reasonable price?
Each issue starts with "news" concerning shows,
collectors, parts availability. Rick also lists new
subscribers and who referred them. This is followed by
any interesting letters and then the feature articles.
Past ones have been interviews with collectors and
authors, how to buy an old machine, product reviews,
and service tips. And then come the ads - at least
fifteen pages - a mix of classified ( I 0¢ a word) and
full page ($50, camera ready). Some are from major
part remanufacturers, some are from the guy on the
street who needs that one part to get his one machine
working. Also included are ads for records and other
publications. There are quite a few photos, most sent
by collectors, but because they are not pros, combined
with the bond paper that the issue is printed on, the
quality is usually only fair to poor.
If you restore old machines or have a back room
full of old parts, JBC will definitely save or make you
"CAVEMAN '1/ MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICING ACCESS TO MONITOR
I . Open the cabinet door and loosen the front
moulding locking arm.
2. Pivot the front moulding upward, discon-
nect the connector A9Pl / A9Jl , slide the
moulding forward, and remove it from the
game. (See Figure 1.)
A9P1 /A9J1
Note: Caution label stresses removal of ball from outhold
before lifting playfield for monitor safety.
Figure I
3. Slide the playfield glass forward and remove
it from the game.
4. Pull the playfield toward you until it rests
on the upper right and left mounting brackets.
Note: The color monitor contains HIGH
VOLTAGES delivering LETHAL
quantities of energy. Do not attempt to
service the monitor until you have
shorted the anode plug on the picture
tube to ground.
5. Remove the two wing nuts and associated
washers at the front of the monitor, and
carefully lower the monitor to the bottom of
the cabinet. ( See Figure 2.)
A17J1
money. As Rick remarked in the June issue concerning
the monthly issue cost, "It is 2 packs of cigarettes, or 3
cans of Pepsi, or 6 M&Ms, or 1 gallon of gas. I guess
that's the price you pay for thrills. "
"Nickel A Tune" Published monthly.
$25 a year. 9514-9ResedaBlvd., Suite 613, Northridge,
CA 91324
This new magazine is a fascinating collection of
photos, history and technical articles dealing with
jukeboxes from Day One to about 1959. In fact, one
article traces the history of the word jukebox. The
entire magazine is printed on glossy paper, which adds
to the quality of the photos. Sadly, the first issue was
all black and white.
Articles in the June 1982 Premire Issue include a
history of the Gabel machine, a photo story on
wallboxes, and a product review on 7 8 RP .M. records.
There is also a photo story on a recent auction in
California and an article about the PIO, Wurlitzer's
first juke.
Offered with a charter subscription are six free
classfied ads (30 word). The magazine is limited to
music and this is important. In the past, magazines
would appeal to jukebox collectors and then start
running articles on pins and slots. I hope that there is a
big enough market to support this new magazine and
that it continues on its editorial course; that being to
" inform you and help promote a new era in the
hobby." Even if you do not own any collectable
machines now, you will enjoy this trip down Memory
Lane.
Figure 2
A17J2
A12P9
WING NUTS
(BOTH SIOES)
For Removal of Monitor
1. The monitor's three plugs, Al2J9, Al 7Jl,
and A I 7 J2 should be disconnected and
placed clear of the monitor.
2. Remove the two ¼" x 20 hex nuts on the
hold down angle bracket.
3. Lift the monitor straight up and remove it
from the cabinet, observing that all cables
are clear of the yoke and monitor chassis.
4. For reassembly, reverse the aforementioned
procedure.
Coortesy of Gottlieb"s technical newsletter ··on Target'".
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).