some of the ICs they used were socketed and with time (and perhaps transportation to a few too many midimaze parties) those connections would start to fail resulting in more bombs than one would like.

there were two solutions: take the device apart and reseat the chips methodically, one by one. -or- lift the machine 3" off the desk and drop it flat to produce a terrifying crunch sound, if you dared.

the second method was more effective and less risky in the end.