Star Tech Journal

SOlR1f IECH JOURNAL
THE TECHNICAL MONTHLY FOR THE AMUSEMENTS INDUSTRY
P.O. BOX 1065, MERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY 08109.
SEPTEMBER
1985
INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS
*****************
Game: KIXX Soccer
*****************
Important note: When replacing the
light bulb, use only a 28 volt bulb No.
1683.
The reason for this is that the
eJector solenoid is on the same circuit
128 volt supply) as the light and they
both draw considerable current. These
two devices are,now isolated from the
main electronics. Previously, any
problem with the lamp resulted in
potentially damaging problems with the
main logic boards. This design set-up
results in a much more reliable game.
Do not use any other bulb than the
11683 -otherwise, PoSSible overheating
and resultant burning problems can
arise.
************
NINTENDO
******fffffflllllllllffffffffffffff
Bame: VS. DualSyste■, VS. UniSystem
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
SubJect: Bun Games
~
black with no raster visible. If you
sti 11 continue to have problems,
further adJustment may be necessary,
Also, be sure to check all gun
conr,ect ions and p, c. board capacitor
modifications as outlined in the "Gun
Kit Manual".
************
ARACHNID
************************
Game: ENGLISH MARK DARTS
************************
SubJect: Ne111 Player Change Pushbutton
for 5000 series Dart Games
To install Arachnid's new Player
Change Pushbutton !Part No. 723), some
ll!odifications to the existing game are
necessary;
(Warning: Disconnect electrical power
before attempting service.)
1 l Remove Main CPU board from game.
2l Remove old Pushbutton and alU11inum
bezel from lexan caption panel.
3) Enlarge hole in lexan panel fr0111
. 900" to .970" (this isn't much so be
careful l. Use a round file and check
size often by trying to insert
pushbutton frorn front (without switch
attached at this point).
4) When hole is large enough, insert
pushbutton, fastening with nut from
behind lexan circuit.
5) Enlarge hole in main printed
circuit board using a 1-1/4" chassis
punch. Center the new hole in the area
where there are no traces. You wi 11 cut
some close to the edge of the board,
but these are not used.
6) Change connectors on the two Black
wires to 1/4" spades.
7) Reinsert PC Board into the game.
8) With board in place, attach wires
to middle connector and the connector
closest to you (looking in from the
back of the game).
The gun games on the VS. System
ir,corporate a gun that is a
light-sensing device. At the time the
trigger is pulled, the screen becomes
black for a moment except for the area
around the targets which is white. This
is seen by the player as a flash on the
screen. If the gun is aimed at a target
during this 1110111ent, the game will
register a hit.
Because of this type of operation,
the brightness of the monitor becomes
crucial, and if misadJusted, the gun
may have problems registering a hit. If
the brightness is too low, the gun may
miss a hit. If the brightness is too
high, the gun may miss a hit no matter
where it is pointed on the screen. It
also may hit the wrong obJect, or it
may not register a hit at all.
There are three controls on the
mor,i tor which may have to be adJusted
to gain optimum operation. These
controls are brightness, sub
brightness, and the screen control.
Wher, the game is credited land before
it is started), the controls should be
adJusted so that the background around
the start characters is completely
Note 2: If switch were wired
backwards (N/C instead of N/O) Player
change will work but never go to "THROW
DARTS'.
If there are any questions or
suggestions, please feel free to
contact Gene Harlan, Chief Engineer.
STAR•TECH JOURNAL, September 1985,
Volume 7, Number 4. Copyright (cl 1985
by Star Tech Journal, Inc. All rights
reserved. Address inquires to: POB
1065, Merchantville, NJ 08109.
Subscription rates: USA $56, Canada
S63 (SUSI, Other countries $98 ($US).
STAR•TECH JOURNAL !ISSN 0739-1048) is
Note 1: The light bulb is not used in
this button.
1-.....JLIMBER
4 .
Dtr ;· A EAST
HfHHHHfH
Game: COMMANDO
**************
Problem: Collections down and
extremely long playing times.
Reason: Software error. The first fe111
thousand COMIIIANDO games produced
contain a program bug which allows the
player to be immune from elimination,
If the player, at the very beginning
of the forest scene, locates the first
set of double palm trees and PoSitions
them an inch or so from the bottom of
the screen (this can be done by
scrolling the top of the picture
video), the player then can hide
between these palas and pick off the
enemy without ever being hit.
Solution: Prograa replacement. The
two memory chiP5 are located on the
middle board 1856e5-A of the
three-board set that is the main
electronics package. Their board
locations are 8M (27128 Epro■ l and 9M
127256 Eproml. They are both in
sockets .
The ne111 prograa will heave grenades
at the player any time he is stationary
in any video location longer than 3 to
5 seconds.
Distributors should have the updated
Epro115 !rev Fl, contact them for a no
charge swap,
***********1(
SABLE
RASTER SCAN MONITOR TIPS
By Dennis Sable
Technical Manager
qomstar
forrance, CA
There are actually only 6 sections in
a raster scan 110nitor. In this brief
summary I will attempt to outline a few
basic problems and their solutions,
Caution: Be careful when checking
voltages. The monitor contains so■e
very high voltages even when turned off
or when it doesn't seem to be working.
Section 1
"LOW VOLTAGE" PRIMARY POWER SUPPLY.
Problem: No Power
Check:
published monthly on the first of the
mor,th via 1st Class Mai 1 in North
America, via Air Mail elsewhere.
James Calore: Publisher/Editor.