Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1994-February - Vol 15 Issue 12 - Page 16
-.;,._"'TAR TECH JoURNAL
February 1994
DATA EAST
DATA EAST
JURASSIC PARK
PINBALL
SWITCH MATRIX PROBLEMS
RECORD
Dave Bushey
Russell Hall Vending
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Evan Wessel
Mercury Amusement
Havertown, Pennsylvania
SUBJECT
CHEcKIT
If you have a Jurassic Park
pingame and you have put the
head down or raised the playfield
alot -be warned- you will have
alot of switch matrix problems.
A good idea is to check all this
the next time the game comes
though the shop or a service call
is performed, it will save a lot of
time and frustration later.
PROBLEM
We had one blow Q54 three
times, not right away, then Q52
went also along with other weird
problems. Our distributor
pointed us to the upper right flip-
per bracket where the harness
goes by it. It seems that Data East
ran the harness right against the
bracket instead of 2 inches to the
left where there is plenty of room.
HOTSPOTS
There are other spots also; like
with the playfield upright, the
harness lies on the bottom of the
game -but when you put it down,
the back of the playfield scuffs
the harness. There are various
flashlamps, regular lamps and
brackets that the harnesses rub
against. Most problems occur af-
ter the game has been in a couple
locations.
SUPPORT/SOFfWARE
Surprising to me, I've had very
few electronic problems with
Data East Pins. They seem to be
very diligent about getting pro-
gram updates out and their tech
support is superb. I have heard
of nightmare lemon cases with
:s
l
OPTION
1 games like Star Wars and Juras-
Another way around the con- Ii :~ sic Park, but the overall record is
stant blowing of the switch 1 i good.
drive transistors is to use ii
~
2N5550's instead of 2N3904's. :i HARDWARE
i
They have a much higher volt- 1
1 1 The hardware does need work.
age rating and could swallow
I've had quite a few slingshot and
ii
quite a jolt without blowing
~ ballshooter brackets fracture.
:~
out.
i The plastic playfield ramps are
shoddy and should never be used
SUGGESTION
again. The metal ramps are inde-
The drivers should be spread ] structible and I was disapointed
out on the PC board layout. 1
:§
to see plastic ramps return on
~
Stacking them one behind the
Rocky and Bullwinkle.
other only serves for a tight ~
:§
work area. It's a tougher job ~ THE 0rnER GUYS
than need be replacing one of ~ For hardware quality, Gottlieb
them after they smoked or ~ games make the best impression.
blew a hole in the board. This :~ If they can get that play appeal
is quizzical since there is plenty ~ magic together, they would be
of room for them on the board. i formidable competition for both
Williams and Data East.
·».,~
I I
I
-~
· · ~ · ~-..
••
•'
•
::.S:'•.:..":s.~:.,..;;.-;; ..
Note: See page 2 7 for STAR*TECH Journal 's updated list of
music and game manufacturers customer service phone and fax numbers
Also, the Area Code Decoder has been updated with new codes.
------------------ 16------------------
February 1994
DATA EAST
DATA EAST
JURASSIC PARK
PINBALL
SWITCH MATRIX PROBLEMS
RECORD
Dave Bushey
Russell Hall Vending
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Evan Wessel
Mercury Amusement
Havertown, Pennsylvania
SUBJECT
CHEcKIT
If you have a Jurassic Park
pingame and you have put the
head down or raised the playfield
alot -be warned- you will have
alot of switch matrix problems.
A good idea is to check all this
the next time the game comes
though the shop or a service call
is performed, it will save a lot of
time and frustration later.
PROBLEM
We had one blow Q54 three
times, not right away, then Q52
went also along with other weird
problems. Our distributor
pointed us to the upper right flip-
per bracket where the harness
goes by it. It seems that Data East
ran the harness right against the
bracket instead of 2 inches to the
left where there is plenty of room.
HOTSPOTS
There are other spots also; like
with the playfield upright, the
harness lies on the bottom of the
game -but when you put it down,
the back of the playfield scuffs
the harness. There are various
flashlamps, regular lamps and
brackets that the harnesses rub
against. Most problems occur af-
ter the game has been in a couple
locations.
SUPPORT/SOFfWARE
Surprising to me, I've had very
few electronic problems with
Data East Pins. They seem to be
very diligent about getting pro-
gram updates out and their tech
support is superb. I have heard
of nightmare lemon cases with
:s
l
OPTION
1 games like Star Wars and Juras-
Another way around the con- Ii :~ sic Park, but the overall record is
stant blowing of the switch 1 i good.
drive transistors is to use ii
~
2N5550's instead of 2N3904's. :i HARDWARE
i
They have a much higher volt- 1
1 1 The hardware does need work.
age rating and could swallow
I've had quite a few slingshot and
ii
quite a jolt without blowing
~ ballshooter brackets fracture.
:~
out.
i The plastic playfield ramps are
shoddy and should never be used
SUGGESTION
again. The metal ramps are inde-
The drivers should be spread ] structible and I was disapointed
out on the PC board layout. 1
:§
to see plastic ramps return on
~
Stacking them one behind the
Rocky and Bullwinkle.
other only serves for a tight ~
:§
work area. It's a tougher job ~ THE 0rnER GUYS
than need be replacing one of ~ For hardware quality, Gottlieb
them after they smoked or ~ games make the best impression.
blew a hole in the board. This :~ If they can get that play appeal
is quizzical since there is plenty ~ magic together, they would be
of room for them on the board. i formidable competition for both
Williams and Data East.
·».,~
I I
I
-~
· · ~ · ~-..
••
•'
•
::.S:'•.:..":s.~:.,..;;.-;; ..
Note: See page 2 7 for STAR*TECH Journal 's updated list of
music and game manufacturers customer service phone and fax numbers
Also, the Area Code Decoder has been updated with new codes.
------------------ 16------------------
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).