Other functions may be accomplished by existing software. The game can reach field testing in three to four weeks instead of ten to twelve weeks. Typically one engineer and one programmer are involved in generating a new game instead of three engineers and two programmers. If a manufacturer isn't using microprocessors a competitor can quickly pass him by.
A successful run in the coin-operated game business is one that involves production of about 10,000 machines. A typical run for a game, field tested and accepted is 1500 to 3000.
Because time is so important, the reduction of in-house test time is one of the important advantages provided by the microprocessor. We have been using the 8080 in our game designs because we are very familiar with this device. Once you commit to a particular microprocessor, it is very difficult to change, along the way. We have about $125,000 worth of test equipment for the 8080 including development systems and checkout systems -- it would be a very expensive change.
After we decided to use microprocessors in our game designs, we decided to develop a universal game board. After developing one game using this board, we came to the conclusion that we needed universal game board number two.
The first board had a large amount of RAM storage, not all of which was needed. The second board was a character generator oriented system and did not have as large a RAM base. After we started working on Horoscope we decided that we needed game board number three. This is a non-video control board -- it is used to control games with lots of interaction; it has a big I/O port and a fairly slow CPU.
Besides cutting down on labor and development and test time, the microprocessor also provides a servicing advantage. Nationwide, there are 40 to 45 distributors who handle coin-operated games. They are responsible to their customers for service. If it's a bad problem the game will be returned to the factory but normally the repairs will be carried out locally. Here is where the universal game board becomes important. If a universal board is being used, the maintenance personnel will become familiar with it and become proficient servicing games in which it is used.
Our universal boards include blank areas for adding ROMs or PROMs. The decision to use ROMs or PROMs is based on timing. In the coin-operated game business there isn't always sufficient time to mask ROMs so we go to bipolar fuse-link PROMs instead.
In designing our games we want the system to be able to operate with any commercially available 8080, with 2708 PROMs, fuse-link PROMs or programmed ROMs so that availability of product wouldn't be a problem.
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