mancuso@psuvax.UUCP (Pat Mancuso) (01/16/84)
I once played with a video game that I found stuck in the setup mode. The
game was TRON, and the setup mode really had a lot of features to it.
The mode was controlled by a 'menu' that was controlled by the joystick.
This menu allowed the operator to go to several submenus that controlled
sections of the setup.
There was an input test mode, where the name of each input would be flashed
onto the screen when any button was pressed (including the one and two player
buttons!), and the digitized position of the knob was continuously displayed.
The only way to get back to the main menu was to tilt the machine (according
to the instructions on the screen).
The sound check mode allowed you to test all of the sounds that could be made
by the machine. There was a 'menu' of sounds that was controlled by the
joystick. When the sound that you wanted to test appeared, you pressed the
fire button. There was a 'return to main menu' entry to get out of this one.
The history mode allowed you to check the duration and score of games played
(divided into less than 1 min, 1-5 min, etc.), and the number of coins that
had been put into each of the two coin slots, and the number of extra lives
that had been awarded.
The program mode allowed you to change the number of coins/credit for each
coin slot (for $ .25 and $1 coin slots I would imagine) and the number
of credits needed per game. It also let you set the bonus levels, and
the number of tanks per game. The skill level for the game could be set
from 0 to 9 , although I don't know if 0 was the difficult or easy level.
I set the game up with this screen to the maximum benefit of the player
(5 credits/coin, 5 games/credit, 5 tanks, very low bonus level) but I could
not get out of the setup mode to try out my handiwork. I turned the machine
off, and back on again, but that didn't help. So...
I was very suprised and disturbed by the history and skill level functions
of this game. The operators of the machine could set the skill level very
low to introduce the game, and then make it harder when the history screen
showed them that they were losing money.
Does anyone know how to get the machines in and out of the setup mode?
Would resetting the game be considered theft of services or some such
nonsense?
---
Overall there is a smell of fried onions. (fnord)
:+: Pat Mancuso
:+: Penn State University
:+: {burdvax, allegra}!psuvax!mancusosaj@iuvax.UUCP (02/15/84)
#R:psuvax:-41500:iuvax:6700002:000:1035 iuvax!apratt Jan 18 12:03:00 1984 ** The way to get out of set-up mode (most or all video machines have them) is to "tilt" the machine. Inside the coin-slot cover (the case-hardened panel which takes a circular key) there is a switch not unlike (modern) "tilt" switches on pinball games. If you slam the cover too hard (hard enough to jiggle the coin sensor), this switch activates and the game resets itself, at least to the extent of losing all the credits on it. That's to discourage violence. The switch's other use is to enter set-up mode. You perform a funny routine, like holding the slam switch and pressing "fire" at the same time, and the game goes into set-up mode. You then page through set-up mode by hitting the slam switch again (and again and again, if there are lots of options to set). Note that you're not actually slamming the machine: you, the operator, have a key, and you've opened the coin-slot door. This is first-hand info for Tempest, and vague memory/easy conjecture for other games. -- Allan Pratt ...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!apratt