Atari Asteroids Service manual
TM-143
3rd printing
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Operation, Maintenance
and Service Manual
Complete with Illustrated Parts Lists
GAME SERIAL NUMBER LOCATION
Your game’s serial number is located on the outside rear of the game. The
same number is also stamped on the chassis of the TV monitor, Game PCB
and Regulator/Audio PCB. Please mention this number whenever calling your
distributor for service.
Published by:
ATAR I IN C
1265 Borregas Avenue
P. O. Box 427
Sunnyvale, California 94086
Operation, Maintenance
and Service Manual
Complete with Illustrated Parts Lists
Copyright © 1979 by Atar i, Inc. All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any mechanical,
photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic re
cording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or other
wise copied for public or private use, without permission from the publisher.
Lithogra phe d in the U.S.A.
1J
A
ATARI
A W a r n e r C om m unica t i ons Comp a ny
Ast e roid s
Table of Contents
1 Location Setup
A. New Parts................................................................................................... 1
B. Game Inspection....................................................................................... 3
C. Game Installation....................................................................................... 3
1. Voltage Selection...............................................................................
2. Interlock and Power On/Off Switches
3. Game Fuses.........................................................................................5
D. Self-Test Procedure.....................................................................................5
E. Game P lay...................................................................................................8
1. Attract Mode.........................................................................................8
2. Ready-to-Play M od e.............................................................................8
3. Play Mode.............................................................................................8
4. High Score Initial M od e.......................................................................9
..............................................
. .
3
. .
3
2 Maintenance and Repair
A. Cleaning................................................................................................... 12
B . Fuse Replacement.....................................................................................12
C. Opening the Control Panel .......................................................................12
1. Leaf Switch Replacement...................................................................12
2. LED Switch Replacement...................................................................12
D. TV Monitor Replacement...........................................................................14
E. Printed Circuit Board Replacement
F. Fluorescent Tube Replacement
G. Game Operation.........................................................................................16
........................................................
.............................................................. 1 6
3 Illustrated Parts Lists
15
ii
Lis t of Illustrations
Figure 1 Overview of G am e.................................................................................. 2
Figure 2 Installation Requirements...................................................................... 3
Figure 3 Power Supply.......................................................................................... 4
Figure 4 Interlock and Power On/Off Switches.................................................... 4
Figure 5 Location of Self-Test Switch, Volume Control and Option Switches . 5
Figure 6 Self-Test Procedure................................................................................ 6
Figure 7 Option Switch Settings.......................................................................... 7
Figure 8 Opening the Control Panel ....................................................................13
Figure 9 TV Monitor Removal................................................................................14
Figure 10 Game and Regulator/Audio PCB Replacement
Figure 11 Fluorescent Tube Replacement............................................................16
Figure 12 Power Distribution..................................................................................17
Figure 1 3 Signal Distribution..................................................................................18
Illustr a t ed Parts Lists:
Figure 1 4 Final Assembly........................................................................................20
Figure 1 5 Control Panel Assem bly........................................................................22
Figure 16 Asteroids Game PCB Assem bly
Figure 17 Regulator/Audio PCB Assembly............................................................28
Figure 18 Power Supply Assembly for X-Y Gam es................................................30
Figure 19 Main Harness and Component Assembly............................................32
Figure 20 Fluorescent Light Assem bly..................................................................33
Figure 2 1 Coin Door Assem bly..............................................................................34
Figure 22 Front Bezel Assembly............................................................................36
Figure 23 New Coin Door........................................................................................38
........................................................... 24
...................................
15
Ast er o id s
iii
Ast er o id s
---------------------------------------- NOTE----------------------------------
If reading through this manual does not lead to solving a certain
maintenance problem, call Tele-Help™ at the Atari Customer Service office
in your geographical area, as shown in one of the two maps below. Order
all parts from the California office.
WEST and CENTRAL U.S.A.
Parts for all Atari Customers. Sales and Service.
Atari Coin-Ορ Customer Service
1344 Bordeaux Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telex 17-1103
(Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 4:00 pm Pacific Time)
From California, Alaska or Hawaii
** (408) 745-2900
From anywhere else in this area
** toll-free (800) 538-1 611
EA S T U.S.A.
Sales and Service Only
Atari Inc.
New Jersey Customer Service Office
Cottontail Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873
Telex 37-9347
(Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 5:00 pm Eastern time)
From New Jersey
** (201) 469-5993
From anywhere else in this area
* * toll-free (800) 526-3849
A. New Parts
The Asteroids game has three new parts. If you
have worked on Atari games in the past, then you
should be aware of these important differences. The
new parts are:
• Power Supply Assembly. It covers a wider
voltage range than before, has higher reliability,
a smaller overall size, and all fuse numbers and
fuse amperages are marked directly on the metal
chassis.
• Game PCB Circuitry and TV Monitor. Most video
games to date have used the raster scan method
of display. This game uses vector generation
with X and Y axes to allow greater contrast, a
greater number of moving objects on the screen,
and lines at any angle to be “drawn” on the
screen.
Throughout this manual, wherever one of these
three new parts is mentioned, you will see this sym
bol in the page margin:
Ast e roid s
Figure 1 Overview of Game
2
Ast e roid s
B . Game Inspection
This new game is ready to play upon removal from
the shipping carton. However, your careful inspec
tion is needed to supply the final touch of quality
control. Please follow these steps to help us insure
that your new game was delivered to you in good
condition.
NOTE
Do not plug the game in yet!
1. Examine the exterior of the game cabinet for
dents, chips, or broken parts.
2. Unlock and open the access panel of the
cabinet and inspect the interior of the game as
follows:
a. Check that all plug-in connectors (on the
game harness) are firmly seated. Replug
any connectors found unplugged. DON’T
FORCE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. The
connectors are keyed so they only go on in
the proper orientation. A reversed edge
connector will damage a PCB.
b. Check that all plug-in integrated circuits
on the game PCB are firmly seated in their
sockets.
A WARNING
To avoid possible unpleasant electrical
shock, do not touch internal parts of the
TV monitor with your hands or metal ob
jects held in your hands!
C. Game Installation
Figure 2 Installation Requirements
Power
Temperature
Humidity
Space Required
Game Height
1 . Voltage Selection
Before plugging in your game, make sure that the
voltage selection plug on the power supply (see
Figure 3) is correct for your location’s line voltage.
Check the wire color on the plug and see if it is cor
rect per the list below.
Line Voltage Range Voltage Selection Plug Color
90-110 VAC (100) Violet
105-135 VAC (120) Yellow
200 - 240 VAC (22 0) Blue
220 - 260 VAC (240) Brown
2. Interlock and Power On/Off
Switches
17 5 watts
Oto 38° C (32 to 100°F)
Not over 95% relative
65 x 79 cm (251/2 x 31 in.)
184 cm (721/2 in.)
c. Note the location of the game’s serial
number— it is on the metallic label on the
back of the game cabinet. Verify that the
serial numbers also stamped on the Game
PCB , Regulator/Audio PCB and TV Monitor
are all identical. A drawing of the serial
number locations is on the inside front
cover of this manual. Please mention this
number whenever you call your distributor
for service.
d. Check all major subassemblies such as the
power supply, control panel and TV monitor
for secure mounting.
To minimize the haz ar d of electrical shock while
working on the inside of the game cabinet, two inter
lock switches have been installed (see Figure 4) .
One is located behind the access panel and one is
behind the coin door. These switches remove all AC
line power from the game circuitry when a door is
opened.
Check for proper operation of the interlock
switches by performing the following steps:
1. Unlock and open the access panel and the coin
door.
2. Plug the AC line power cord into an AC outlet.
3. Close the access panel and coin door.
3
Figure 3 Power Supply
Figure 4 Interlock and Power On/Off Switches
Ast er o id s
4 . Set the power on/off switch to the on position.
Within 30 seconds the TV monitor should
display a picture.
5 . Slowly open the rear access panel. The TV
monitor picture should disappear when the
panel is opened approximately 2.5cm ( 1 inch).
Close and lock the access panel and repeat this
step with the coin door.
6 . If the results of step 5 are satisfactory, the inter
lock switches are operating properly. If the TV
monitor doesn’t go off as described, check to
see if the corresponding interlock switch is
broken from its mounting or stuck in the on
position.
3. Game Fuses
For continued protection of your game, as well as
for the safety of the players, fuses must be replaced
only with fuses with identical ratings. These ratings
are shown in Figure 18. See the Schematic Drawing
Package for fuse functions.
Information on the TV monitor fuses is contained
in the TV monitor manual that is supplied with this
game.
D. Self-Test Procedure
This game will test itself and provide data to
demonstrate that the game’s circuitry and controls
are operating properly. The data is provided on the
TV monitor and the game speaker; no additional
equipment is necessary.
Part of the self-test procedure includes a display
of the operator-selectable game options. Therefore,
we suggest you run the self-test procedure anytime
you need to change the game’s options.
To run the self-test, follow the instructions out
lined in Figure 6.
Figure 5 Location of Self-Test Switch, Volume Control and Option Switch
5
Ast e roid s
Figure 6 Self-Test Procedure
INSTRUCTION
1. Set self-test
switch to on posi
tion (see Figure 5) .
RESULTS IF TEST
PASSES
TV monitor displays
picture as shown in
Figure 7.
RESULTS IF TEST FAILS
RAM F A I L U R E is indicated by a sequence of from 1 to 6 tones. A low-frequency
tone is heard for each good RAM chip. A much lower frequency is heard for a
failing RAM chip. The sequence stops with the last failing RAM chip. To restart
the sequence, press the Reset pushbutton on the game PCB or set the self-test
switch to off, then again to the on position. Identify the bad RAM chip with table
below. Example: Three tones, then a tone of much lower frequency indicates
failure of RAM chip R4.
TO N E #
RO M/P RO M FA I LURE is indicated by two columns or lines of numbers in the
upper left-hand corner of the display. The number in the left column or first line
indicates the failing ROM/PROM chip(s). Identify the bad ROM/PROM with table
below.
The number in the right column or second line indicates the failing data bit of
the failing ROM/PROM. Identify the bad bit with the second table below. If more
than one bit is failing, the displayed number(s) are hexadecimal combinations
of the numbers shown below. Examples:
1) If bits D2 and D3 fail, C is displayed.
2) If bits D2, D3 and D7 fail, 8C is displayed.
3) If bits D4 and D5 fail, 30 is displayed.
4) If bits D1, D3, D5 and D6 fail, 6A is displayed
RAM CHIP LOCATION
D2
E2
M4
R4
N4
P4
2. Activate all
control panel and
coin door switches.
When satisfied with
test, set self-test
switch to off posi
tion.
1 PLAYER START
and 2 PLAYER
START LEDs are
lighted. High-
pitched click for
each activated
switch.
DISPLAYED NO. FAILING ROM/PROM
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
DISPLAYED NO. FAILING BIT
1
2 D1
4
8 D3
10
20 D5
40 D6
80 D7
RA MS EL SI GNA L FA I L UR E is indicated by a BANK ERROR or PAGE SELECT
ERROR message at lower middle of display.
1 PLAYER START and/or 2 PLAYER START LEDs not lighted.
High-pitched click sound is not heard for any particular switch.
N/ P3
F1
D/E1
C1
K4, L4
F2, L1
H2, J1
K1, J2
DO
D2
D4
F2, H1
L2, L1
H2, J1
M2, M1
J2, K1
N2, N1
6
Figure 7 Option Switch Settings
To change toggle positions of the switch assembly, you
need not remove the game PCB. The switch, usually col
ored blue, is easily accessible when the game PCB is
mounted in place.
Ast e ro i d s
When changing the options, verify proper results on the
TV monitor display during self-test. A switch toggle in the
on position is indicated by a 0 for that switch on the TV
monitor display. A switch in the off position is indicated by
the number 1.
Toggle Settings of 8-Toggle Switch
7 6 5 4 3 2
On
On
On
Off
On 1 Coin* for 1 Play
Off
Off Off
on Game PCB
On
On
Off
On
On
Off
Off
Off
On
Off
On
011
On On Right Coin Mech x 1
On Off Right Coin Mech x 4
Off On Right Coin Mech x 5
Off Off
Sugg ested settings ar e shown in i llust rat i on at r i g ht.
* Note: In the U.S. and Germany only, a “coin” is defined as 25® or 1 DM. If your game
also has $1, 2 DM or 5 DM mechanisms, you must set the center and right coin
mechanism factors as per your choice.
Option
English
German
French
Spanish
4-Ship Game
3-Ship Game
Center Coin Mech x 1
Center Coin Mech x 2
(B oth settin gs are for left
mech , if a 2-mech doo r )
Right Coin Mech x 6
Free Play
1 Coin* for 2 Plays
2 Coins* for 1 Play
SW ITCH CTR· C 0 IN ME CH
TO GG LE 1 M U LTIPLIER (LEFT
MEC H O F A 2-MEC H D OOR )
Photog raph above shows toggles 1, 2,
4-7 on, and to ggles 3 and β off.
RIGHT C O IN MEC H
MU LTIP LIER
Toggle Settings of 4-Toggle
Switch on Game PCB
4 3 2 1
On On Thai 1 Baht/1 Baht, German 1 DM/1 DM, U.S. 25Φ/25Φ,
Off On German 2 DM/1 DM, German 1 DM/5 DM, U.S.
On Off No coin d oor is c ur re nt ly d esign ed for t hi s confi gura
Off Off German 1 DM/2 DM/5 DM
For Games Having These Coin Doors:
Belgian or French 5 Fr/5 Fr, Swiss or French 5 Fr/5 Fr,
U.S. 25Φ/25Φ/25Φ, Japanese Y100/Y100, Swedish 1 Kr/1
Kr, U.K. 10 P/10 P, Australian 20 1/20®, or Italian 100
L/100 L
25<t/25< t/$1, or U.S. 25<t/$1
tion .
Option
All 3 coin mechanisms are
same denomination; all
register on one coin
counter.
Left and center mechanisms
are same denomination;
right mech is another
denomination. Requires two
coin counters.
Left mech is one denomina
tion; center and right mech
are another denomination.
Requires two coin counters.
Left, center and right mechs
are 3 different denomina
tions. Requires three coin
counters.
7
Ast e ro i d s
E. Game Play
the center of the display. Four large asteroids ap
pear and drift in from the outer edges of the display.
Atari’s Asteroids game has five possible modes
of operation: Attract, Ready-to-Play, Play, High
Score Initial, and Self-Test. Self-test is a special
mode for checking the game switches and com
puter functions. You may enter this mode at any
time. When entered, all game credits are cancelled.
1 . Attract Mode
The attract mode begins when power is applied to
the game, after a play or high score initial mode, or
after self-test. This mode is continuous and is only
interrupted when a coin is inserted and accepted or
when in self-test. In this mode, the TV monitor
displays two possible pictures. Both pictures have
three score values across the top of the screen and
a message that states the number of coins for a
game. The middle score represents the high score
to date. The left score is for player 1. The right score
is for player 2.
One picture displays asteroids and an occasional
enemy spaceship “ floating” across the screen. The
second picture displays up to 10 of the highest
scores since the game was last powered up or since
the last self-test. These two displays alternate every
16 seconds.
2. R e a d y- to - P la y Mode
This mode begins when sufficient coins hav e
been accepted for a one- or two-player game. It ends
when the 1 PLAYER START or 2 PLAYER START
pushbutton is pressed. When this mode begins, the
message
the center score at the top of the screen. The
displayed pictures are otherwise the same as those
shown in the attract mode.
PUSH START flashes immediately below
3. Play Mode
If the 2 PLAYER START pushbutton is pressed,
the following picture is displayed: the PLAYER 1
and PLAYER 2 scores become 00, and the number
of ships for the game appears below each score.
The player 1 score also flashes as the message
PLAYER 1 appears below the high score to date.
Two seconds after the 2 PLAYER START pushbut
ton is pressed, the PLAYER 1 message disappears.
The game ship for player 1 appears at the center of
the display as four large asteroids appear and drift in
from the outer edges of the display.
By pressing the LEFT ROTATE and RIGHT
ROTATE pushbuttons on the control panel, the
player may aim a spaceship toward any of the
asteroids. By pressing the FIRE pushbutton, the
player may shoot at the asteroids.
When shot, each large asteroid divides into two
medium-sized asteroids and the game adds twenty
points to the player’s score. Medium-sized
asteroids, when shot, divide into two small-sized
asteroids, and the player receives fifty points. Small
sized asteroids, when shot, will completely disap
pear, and the game awards 100 points to the player.
When players have shot all asteroids, a new set of
large asteroids again appear and drift in from the
outer edges of the TV monitor display. At the begin
ning of the game, four large asteroids appear. At the
beginning of the next cycle when large asteroids
reappear, there are six, the next time eight, and
thereafter ten— to increase player challenge.
At any time during game play, a flying saucer may
appear from either side of the display. The game
awards players 200 points for shooting a large
saucer and 1000 points for a small saucer. (The latter
is a smaller target for players, though not any faster
moving than the large one. It also shoots more ac
curately.)
The play mode begins when either start push
button is pressed. The mode ends when the player's
last ship of the game is lost.
If the 1 PLAYER START pushbutton is pressed,
the following picture is displayed: the PLAYER 2’s
score disappears; the PLAYER 1’s score becomes
00 , and the number of ships (3 or 4, depending on
the operator’s setting) for the game appears below
that score. The message PLAYER 1 also appears
below the high score to date. Two seconds after
pressing the 1 PLAYER START button the PLAYER 1
message disappears, and the game ship appears at
8
The player’s objective in the game is to shoot and
destroy as many asteroids as possible before all his
or her spaceships are destroyed. A ship is destroyed
if an asteroid or saucer smashes into it, or if a flying
saucer shoots it. To prevent losing a ship, the player
may press the THRUST pushbutton to move out of
the path of an asteroid or saucer. As an emergency
maneuver, players can press the HYPERSP ACE
pushbutton: the ship disappears and reappears at a
random location on the display— however, possibly
right on top of, or in the path of, an asteroid. The
ship may also explode on reentry.
A st eroi ds
The game awards an extra ship each time a
player’s score reaches multiples of 10,000; i.e., one
ship is awarded at 10,000 points, another ship at
20,000 points, etc.
When the last ship of the game is destroyed, the
message GAME OVER appears below the high
score. This message remains for 3 seconds before
the high score initial mode begins.
4. High Score Initial Mode
At the beginning of the high score initial mode,
the player instructions appear at the top of the
screen, and A
the display. Players enter initials one character at a
____
appears at the lower center of
time. By pressing the LEFT ROTATE pushbutton,
the displayed character steps through the alphabet
from A to Z. By pressing the RIGHT RO TATE
pushbutton, the character steps backwards through
the alphabet from A to a blank, then from Z to A.
Once the game displays the desired letter, players
should press the HYPERSPACE pushbutton to
record the letter; then an A appears in the next
space.
If players need only two letters for their initials,
they should use the blank between Z and A in one of
the three locations. Pressing the HYPER S PACE
pushbutton a third time will cause the initials and
game score to b e transferred to the “ 10 highest
scores” listing that appears during the attract mode.
9
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