Ask Frank ‘the Crank’ Seninsky
Here’s the Ticket!
Pros & Cons of Replacing CRT Monitors with LCD Monitors
(Ramon Vivar, Master Tech, Alpha-Omega Amusements & Sales)
Cost: The list price for a 27 inch CRT set is $575 vs. $460 for an equivalent LCD that has the communications necessary for our industry. The CRT is heavy and bulky and must be shipped by truck at a cost of $150-$200 while the LCD can be shipped by regular UPS or Fedex. LCD wins here.
Viewable screen area: The LCD viewable screen area is approximately 15% less than that of the CRT due to the fact that LCD’s have a more rectangular width to height ratio (16:9) while the CRT has a more squarish look with a width to height ratio of 4:3. Most often the width of the cabinet opening is the limiting factor. To get the same width, you will lose picture height. If you are converting a twin driving game or one of two or more of the same model sitdowns that are side by side, you will need to convert the others as well so the game monitor screens are matched. CRT has a slight edge here.
Picture Quality: We can all notice the improved picture quality difference when an old CRT monitor is replaced with a new LCD monitor but the real reason is because it is a new monitor vs. an old one. A new CRT will show the same improvement. Although LCD’s have a much higher resolution capability, the game computer is still the primary limitation of display resolution. A new CRT will show the same picture quality as a new LCD in most cases. Call this a draw.
Plexi glass cover: Many of the latest game cabinets do not have a plexi glass protective cover. The cover was eliminated because the front face of a CRT is made of very thick and strong glass so there is no need for an extra layer of protection. On the other hand, the LCD is very fragile and can easily crack, so an added plexi glass cover is required over the bezel. CRT has the edge here.
Not all gun games can be converted to LCD: The LCD ‘draws’ the picture differently than the older, analog CRT’s. Gun games where the gun optics reads the actual scans of the picture itself for aiming are not compatible. Examples are Time Crisis series 1,2, and 3 and earlier models of the Buck Hunter series.
There are, however, two other gun aiming methods that are compatible: 1) Lost World and Terminator use an array of LED’s around the periphery of an object that generates an infrared grid that the gun optics picks up to determine where the gun is aimed; and 2) Where the gun is mounted on top of the control panel and the aiming is determined by a pair of potentiometers that read the guns movements and translates it into x and y coordinates on the screen. Check which method your gun game has before attempting a monitor conversion.
LCD conversions work for Super Bikes and Fast & Furious models. We have also done well with Mad Wave Motion Theater when the projector failed and the LCD option was a good financial decision.
Update. There is now a LCD conversion kit that has been developed by Speedy’s One Stop Repair Service. The kit includes a converter board, universal mounting brackets, screws, connectors, Lexan, and an ABS bezel. The cost is $239 with the converter board and $149 without. The converter board makes it possible to use a VESA mountable monitor locally at a large savings. For more information call Marko Mladenovich at 630 238 2227 or [email protected]. Tell him you read about this in The Redemption & FEC Report.
Big Bass Wheel-We Cannot Afford to have this Game Down
(Dave Forlano, Sr. Game Tech, Alpha-Omega Amusements)
Big Bass Wheel and Big Bass Pro get a lot of play. These games are always earning top revenues and have been for several straight years. The initial symptom is the monitor goes blank and the game no longer coins up. The simple fix is a quick reset of the power cycle and the game again works flawlessly. And then it happens again a week or two later and the reset is done again. If you track this problem, you will notice that the shutdown symptom frequency increases once it starts. And of course it starts on the older units first.
I have replaced the ATX power supplies and flash drives but this did not solve the problem. My recommended fix is to order a new advance replacement motherboard. Of course you can guess which capacitors may be the cause, or change out the cpu processor and fan, (as I also did that) but getting a ‘new’ motherboard is the best long term solution. The cost is approximately $800. This seems like a lot but in the long run it is worth it. It appears that Big Bass Wheel will be a top earner for many more years.
A Lifesaving Tool for Benchmark Games
(Dave Forlano, Sr. Tech, Alpha-Omega Amusements)
Several Benchmark games (like Monster Drop series with triple ticket dispensers) rely on ‘communications’ to let the CPU know that ticket payout has been satisfied and other operations are running smoothly. Occasionally a sound board or other device along the communications trail can suffer from failure. This results in ‘Errors’ related to communications that could stop the entire game from operating. Here is an easy fix and only takes a few seconds.
Benchmark Part # 500HNS115 (Jumper 1×4) and 500HNS114 (Jumper 2×2) are handy tools to have in your toolbox. The cost is under $10 each and you will use them over and over. Just plug the corresponding jumper to the input of the suspected devices harness and the other end to the output of the suspected device and anything past that point will return communications and ‘keep the loop closed’ and working and get rid of the Error codes.
Parts Used Commonly at Alpha-Omega Amusements Game Zones
To keep some of our older workhorse games operating these are the parts that are commonly needed at each of our high volume game locations:
Monster Drop – Ball drop solenoids and high current board. We recommend that when replacing the solenoid, the high current board should also be replaced.
Space Ballz – This is such a great game that we do not mind replacing a game power supply (there are 3 total power supplies in the game) and wrench motors.
Hoop Fever – Basket sensors.
TT2000 Ticket Eaters – Ticket eater blades and sometimes barcode board. These are the true workhorses of our operations.
Wonder Wheel – An old game that keeps earning. Belts and bearings.
Halogen light bulbs 20 watt – These are much brighter than the LED version bulbs which do last longer. Some games are not suitable for LED bulb substitution. We find that the brighter halogen bulb games make more money consistently, than the same game model using LED bulbs.
