STAR WARS
by Atari
[with an Ampliphone monitor]
This page is in 6 parts just like the movie and I hope you enjoy the reading. The images have my stamp on them because someone did the 'ol 'right click' thing. Then they tried to sell their game on eBay but it was my picture... D'oH
Part one - The Games Legacy
I have listened to other collectors talk about a Star Wars Cockpit with the 25" monitor tube still in it being one of the "Holy Grails" of arcade game collecting. I haven't seen one since the mid-80's when one was at Major Magic's near me. So the story goes I guess, when the HV unit went on the game most venders trashed the monitor and replaced it with a 19" WG. So, to find a Star Wars Cockpit with a 25" monitor is not very likely by today's standards and out of the 2,500 that were made in 1983 how many could have survived the "conversion" age or how many actually still had the 25" monitor tube still left in it? I don't believe there are more than 100 left intact.
I have one now though and here's the twist of all of this though. I am almost sure this is the same game I played at Major Magic's as a kid. I am almost 99% sure it is the same game. The person I bought the game from bought almost all of Major Magic's inventory when they went under in the mid-80s. He told me this is one of Major Magic's games!!!!!!! What a weird feeling it was climbing into the game....
Part 2 - The Statistics
Production numbers and original prices for the Atari Star Wars video games are:
Star Wars upright, 10,245 units, @ $2295
Star Wars cockpit, 2450 units, @ $2095
Part 3 - The Game Arrives
The game arrived at my home in February of 2002 so it wont see any action till the weather outside is at least 60*. The games artwork is incredible. Take a look.
On Feb.19, 2002 the game was being taken apart and repaired with a fine tooth comb. When its fully functional I will update the pictures and put some pictures of the game in play.
Before you go any farther, make sure your sitting down.. When you look at the next picture you're gonna say "what the hell..........." Hehe, well I'll give you a reason for it.. What I did is scan the sideart on the game. I have a complete scan of every inch of the games sideart [without coin door] and its "MINT" glass marquee.
You can see this at my buddy Tim's site: http://www.arcadecollecting.com/ Make sure, if you download anything to send him an email and thank him. What he does for everyone is great and he does deserve a big thanks.
Part 4 - The monitor work to be done
This is an image of what I saw when the back of the game was removed... A monitor that went from end to end, what an unexpected surprise when I finally received the game at my home from a vendor. I thought the game had a standard 19". All the boards were removed when the game was being transported, the game is complete except the monitor was missing the HV unit. A fellow collector Joe Bachmann said he would help with the resurrection of the game and its monitor so I sent him all the monitor parts on March 1, 2002.
Joe Totally fixed my Deflection board and installed a new Wintron High Voltage unit! I couldn't believe it when I fired her up and she played!
Part 5 - The Game Boards Arrive
The Boards for the game were professionally serviced By fastdave@fastronics.com
Please visit his site for all your repair needs.
The Board Set is ROCK solid.
Part 6 - Rebuilding the power supply
I have to rebuild the power supply. Any type of corrosion on it will make the fuse F3 pop.
Read about it in Google. article one article two
I went to Bob Roberts site and purchased 1 Atari Fuse Block [$5.00], 1 Buss MDL-20A 32volt slow blow fuse (5 pk) [$3.00], 1 Atari 35A bridge rectifier KBPC 3502 [$3.00] and 1 Atari "Big Blue" Capacitor [$7.00] for a whopping $24.00. I just want to say thanks Bob. You are the best!
And guess what? It fixed the problem. This Star wars Played for the first time since the mid-80s.
All this money and time for what?
To save the universe of course!!
email me
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