| Attract Mode |
|
When a game is not being played, it will rotate through "Attract Mode."
These screens serve a few purposes: First, they entice players to play
the game. Second, they usually demonstrate game play or give directions
on how to play. And third, they constantly change the image on the screen
so that the screen does not develop screen burn in.
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| Bezel |
|
Also known as the monitor glass. This is the glass that is located in front
of the monitor of an arcade game. It most games the bezel is silk-screened
with artwork relating to the game.
|
A Galaga bezel. |
| Board |
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Refers to the computer circuit board that contains the programming code for the game.
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A game board from Galaxian. |
| Burn In |
|
Over a long period of time, most games get a slight "burn in" on the front
of the monitor. Even when the game is off, you will notice a slight discoloration
on the monitor, almost looking like a shadow of the game. A classic example
is Pac-Man: frequently you can still see the Pac-Man maze when the game is
turned off.
While this doesn't affect game play in any means, signifigant screen burn in
can be distracting. To avoid screen burn in, don't keep your monitor brightness
turned up too high, don't leave your game on to extended periods of time (when
not in use), and be careful of games that don't have a true
Free Play mode.
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| Cabinet |
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The wooden structure that houses the arcade game.
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| Cabaret Game |
|
Also known as a Mini Game. A cabaret game Is a smaller version of an
upright game. Cabaret games are usually 75% or so the size of an upright
and typically have a smaller monitor. Many cabaret games have wood grain
finished sides, as opposed to the sideart of upright games. Obviously one
of the appeals of cabaret games is that since they are smaller they can
fit in a smaller location. Cabaret games usually had much smaller production
runs that their upright counterpart games.
|
A mini Pac-Man game. |
| Cap-Kit |
|
Refers to a package of electronic components, known as capacitors
used on monitors. Over a period of many years, capacitors tend to
“dry-out” and fail, leading to a distorted picture display, which is
somewhat common on games of our era, since the monitors are 20 years
old and usually have not been serviced in many years.
Fortunately, these capacitors can be replaced with new ones, bringing the
picture back to normal. We service all of our monitors with cap-kit to
ensure a crisp, colorful picture for years to come.
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| Cocktail Table Game |
|
A "cocktail" table or "sit-down" arcade game is like a coffee table
with (usually) adjustable legs. There is no difference in game play between a
cocktail table game and upright game, although cocktail tables usually have
slightly different artwork, two control panels
(one for each player) and
sometimes smaller monitors. Cocktail games generally had much smaller
production runs than their upright counterpart.
|
A Ms. Pac-Man Cocktail Game. |
| Coin Door |
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The metal door (usually black) that accepts quarters for game play.
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Coin door commonly seen on most Williams games. |
| Control Panel |
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As its name implies this is the panel that houses the joystick, buttons
and related controls of an arcade game.
|
A Joust control panel |
| Control Panel Overlay (CPO) |
|
A control panel overlay is the decal (usually a vinyl-like material)
that covers the control panel. Most CPOs have artwork of the game silk-screened
on them.
|
A control panel overlay for Q*bert. |
| Credit Switch |
|
A switch (usually concealed) that allows you to “coin-up” a game to play it.
A credit switch allows you to play games without having to use quarters.
Note that all of our games are either on Free Play or
have a concealed (but easily accessible) credit switch to play games. We generally
do not check the coin mechanisms for our games, since our games are mostly for home use.
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| Free Play |
|
A feature on some games that allows people to play games without using
quarters. Note that all of our games are either on Free Play or have
a concealed (but easily accessible) credit switch
to play games. We generally do not check the coin mechanisms for our
games, since our games are mostly for home use.
Not all classic games have a true Free Play setting. (For example, Pac-Man
and Donkey Kong.) While these games can be set to free play, the
screen stays at the "Start Game" screen, and it does not run through the
Attract Mode. Staying fixed on one screen is not
good for the monitor,
and greatly contributes to screen burn in. On
games like these, we will install credit switches.
|
| Marquee |
|
Is the “sign” that identifies the game. The marquee is typically located
on the front of the game at the top and has the name of the game silk-screened.
Marquees are usually backlit with highlight the game.
|
A Breakout marquee. |
| Mini Game |
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See Cabaret Game.
|
| Monitor Glass |
|
See Bezel.
|
| New Old Stock (NOS) |
|
Refers to any item or part that has never been used, but is many years
old (thus the term old stock). However, since its never been used is
considered “new”. Examples of a NOS item may be a control panel overlay or sideart.
|
| Power Supply |
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As its name implies, this is circuit board that provides power to game.
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| Raster Monitor |
|
A raster monitor is used in most arcade games from the classic era. The
monitor is much like a TV monitor and is usually 19” on upright games from the
classic era. Examples of games that use raster monitors are Pac-Man, Centipede,
Donkey Kong, Dig Dug and many others.
|
A screenshot of a raster monitor, in this case Pac-Man. |
| Sideart |
|
As its name implies this is artwork on the sides of a game. Some
games (such as Pac-Man and Joust) have the artwork painted on sides, while
others (such as Donkey Kong and Q*bert) have decals of artwork applied to
cabinet sides.
|
Asteroids Deluxe sideart. |
| T-molding |
|
Flexible, plastic molding that is on the front edge of a game. Many games have
black t-molding, although a few, such as Pac-Man or Galaxian use color t-molding.
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A Donkey Kong Game with white t-molding. |
| Track-ball |
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A round ball usually the size of pool ball that is used as the main control
in such games as Centipede, Missle Command, and Crystal Castles.
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A track ball from a Crystal Castles Cocktail table. |
| Unshopped |
|
Refers to a game that has not been restored and is usually is not fully
working. Most games from the classic era have been sitting for many years and
require a thorough cleaning as well as technical work and a good bit of
restoration before we consider them “shopped”. An unshopped game is one in
which we have not completed any restoration work. For more information on
how we restore our games see “About our games” and “Joust Restoration”.
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| Upright Game (UR) |
|
A full-size, standup arcade game, usually measuring about 5 1/2' tall, and
approximately 2 1/2' by 2 1/2'. These are the most commonly seen games.
|
| Vector Monitor |
|
Also known as an X-Y Monitor. This monitor is draws images by using x-y
coordinates, much like plotting lines on a graph. Images on the screen are
always frame based with new color in the middle. Examples of games that use
vector monitors include Asteroids and Tempest.
|
Screenshot from Tempest, a color Vector game. |
| X-Y Monitor |
|
See Vector Monitor.
|