GAMES FOR THE NAV~ FLEET
Sailors stationed on board sl1ip 1nay
soon be playing coin-op video ga1nes in
their le isure tin1e. Atari attended the first
Fleet Habi tabili ty Symposiun1 sponsored
by the U.S. Navy in San Diego. The
objective of this symposiun1 was "to
develop ideas and proposals that will
strengthen the quality of life aboard U.S.
Navy ships", according to Vice Admiral
R. P. Coogan . This was an excellent
opportunity for industry to 1neet with
Navy 1nanagers an d Fleet personnel to
make forn1al reco1nmendations to i1n-
prove the habitability of sl1ipboard life.
One of these recon1n1endations
included the placen1ent of coin-operated
video games on ships as part of the
recreational facilities progran1. Captain
R. P. Perry, Director of Special Services
for BuPers, was enthusiastic about the
concept of placing electronic gan1es on
ships. "The games can provide excellent
recreation for sailors. They also can be
effective as therapeutic and skill develop-
ment aids," he com1nente d in the
Recreation Workshop .
Several deterrents to tl1e imple1nent-
ation of the gan1e progra1n were dis-
cussed. The n1ost significant of tl1ese is
tl1e minimal availability of space on ships.
The use of prin1arily table games whicl1
can also be used for other functions an d
space saving wall ga1nes for this purpose
was recommended to allev iate this poten-
tial problem . Special safety requirernents
will also be identified prior to i1nplen1ent-
ation of the progra1n. The use of tokens
for p.Jay was suggested to help control
cash as well as offering an opportunity
fo r special prices and pro1notions of
gan1es on the ships.
The outco1ne of the symposiun1 and
IN THE NEWS
wo rkshop was qu ite positive. Special
require1nents for gan1es will be defined
and a test progran1 implen1ente d in the
near future. Don Osborne, ·Western
Regional Sales Manager, said, "We are
looking forward to working with the
Navy on tl1is progra1n. We are optimistic
that it will provide a new market for
Atari products which will bring 1nore
enthusiastic players to the gan1es."
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Lenore Sayers, Atari Sales Representative,
watches a Nav_y Captain pla_y Airborne Aven-
ger1'M at the Habitability Show.
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Navy officers enjoy playing Tourna1nent
Table™ and Super Bug™ & Canyon Bomber
(2 Game Module TM).
AMAZING FUN
Steve Shoeinak er poses with "J'be Best", Atari
pinballs.
- Pittsbu rgh, PA, Post-Gazette (March
15, 1978) "Pinball Craze Bounces Into
Hearts of Wi de Mix Seeking Fun,
Escape," by Gabriel Breton
"What common interest do doctors,
lawyers, legislators, college stu dents
and nu1nbers writers share? Perhaps
n1any are unwilling to admit it, but
the answer is pinball, which has
con1e to sound, with all its bongs
and bells, as An1e rican as The
Star-Spangled Banner .... "
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Lately, it seems tl1e coin-op games are
making headlines in n1ore newspapers in
1najor cities across the country . Good PR
articles are cropp ing up in Sunday
supplen1ents and even the front pages.
The following are a few excerpts of w~at
l1undreds of thousands are readi ng in
tl1eir local papers:
The Fun Factory at Redondo Beach,
Ca li fornia, is an an1azing gan1e center
where you can find almost any game you
could think of. This location is unique in
its "can1p" artistic style created by Steve
Shoe1naker, an artist as well as a very
successful operator. It's about the size of
a footba ll fie ld and packed with ga1nes,
prizes, and players having fun . The lineup
of Atari pinba ll gan1es has been labeled
"Tl1e Best" and Steve reports that tl1eir
collections have been superior. If you are
in Southern California, the Fun Factory
is worth a special trip to see.
- St. Louis, MO, Globe-Democrat
(March 4, 1978) "Pinball Ace", by
Frank Gla1nmanco
"Now that pinball has earned its
share of respectability, coming out
of the s1nokey pool halls and
barroon1s, young pi nball athletes
are all over tl1e map ."
- Indianapolis, IN, Ne.vs (Marcl1 15,
1978) "Pinball Players Seek to Control
Spinning Steel," by Jean Jensen
"As Minnesota Fats was to pool,
the artfu I dodger is to pin ball.
Tl1at's the moniker for a skilled
player of this diversionary gan1e
that's been raised to the level of
an art ."
- Chicago, IL, Tribune (February 15,
1978) "Pinball " by Mark Con klin
" In case you haven't no tice d,
pin ball n1achines are tu rning up in
just about any establishment that
has son1e extra room an d people
standing around with quarters in
their pockets: theate r lobbies,
grocery
stores,
laundromats,
taverns, gas stations, pizza parlors,
motel and l1otel lobbies, hamburger
stands, departn1ent stores, and
bowling alleys. About the only
place you can't find then1 is in a
governn1en t building. Give the1n
•
t1n1e
.... "
Articles like these are a big boost to
the industry . Not only do they inform
the many unaware readers, but they help
bring our unage out of the dark ages.