Star Tech Journal

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Open Forum
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Q. I need a technological edge in the games
I operate to beat the increasing sophistica-
tion of the home games. What does the
manufacturer plan on doing to give me that
edge?
A. Sega
One of Sega's strong points is the contrast of the
Coin Operated game vs the Consumer game.
Any person who has taken an adventure in
AfterBumer Deluxe could not realistically com-
pare this to the home game. Even a player on an
AfterBumer Upright game with the realistic feel
of a jet fighter control would have a hard time
with the Consumer product.
Some of our games even use a medium resolu-
tion monitor to enhance the graphics. Many
companies are trying to market the consumer
game in a Coin-Op cabinet. The player can tell
the difference in graphics and play.
Toe consumer product has become more so-
phisticated over the years, but the Coin-op
product has not remained stationary. With more
powerful processors, the Coin-op product will
stay ahead of the consumer line.
Currently we are closer to the consumer product
because they just released a new line of 16 bit
processor games but it does not have the Ram or
the feel of a Coin-op. Soon the Coin-op game will
take the leap into the next level of microproces-
sors. When this happens the next generation of
coin-op games will change again and the spread
between the consumer and Coin-Op will widen.
A. Atari
Atari Games has used medium resolution
monitors to give better pictures then home 1Vs.
We have used unique controls, i.e. Paperboy,
HardDrivin' (feedback control) and head to head
competition with 2 monitors ala Cyberball2072.
We are continuing to work on 3D graphics,
better audio, more Rom, new controls and new
games.
Q. Why don't manufacturers solder connec-
tions to the control panel? I have a lot of
problems with them coming off.
A. Sega
Time is money. Back in the 70's most connec-
tions were soldered. This meant there had to be
a quality control person to look at each joint to
make sure there was the correct amount of
solder and the connection was not a "cold joint".
When AMP first came out with their automatic
terminal machines people were very hesitant
and the connections were not always as good as
the good old solder, but they were fast. With
todays metals, and plating even NASA and
Department of Defense have approved the wire
crimp for non space programs. The only problem
I'm aware of is if you use oversize crimps on a
terminal then there can be a problem.