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OPERATOR OF THE '80s
Sam Eng of Sacramento, CA
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Sam Eng, with wife Cynthia, son Keith, and !WO other employee~ pause for a moment to re-
lax in front of the Token and Snack counter 1n the Odyssey Family fun Center.
Not only is he owner of a successful ar-
cade, the Odyssey Family Fun Center in
Sacramento, California, but Sam Eng is
also president of the Sacramento Valley
Amusement Owners Association.
"We formed the association to im-
prove the public image of video games in
our community, and to keep abreast of
the changing ordinances in the area,''
commented Eng. "Our initial function was
the 1st annual 'Best in the West, Great
Video Shoot-Out' for the benefit of Mus-
cular Dystrophy. It was open to all ages
with the contestants divided into three
age groups. There were 50 machines at
the site for the competition and the
contestants played 5 minutes on each of
5 machines. Grand prize was a Ms. Pac
Man* upright video game. All the regis-
tration fees went to the Muscular Dys-
Promotion
for Profit
With the summer season just beginning,
now's the time to take advantage of tradi-
tional summertime activities and use
them to promote your business.
Sponsor a local softball, Little League,
or other sports team . Provide the team
with t-shirts that have your location's
name on them to wear at the games. At
the end of the season, host a party at
your location for the team players and
their families.
trophy Association," said Eng. "We hope
this project becomes an annual event for
the association in conjunction with the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.''
The Odyssey Family Fun Center
opened about a year and a half ago. It is
located in a shopping center in the capitol
city of California. Eng decided to open
the fun center when his son, then 18
years old, developed an interest in video
games.
"We stress the family and education at
our center.' ' Eng explained. "For in-
stance, we give each student with an A
average on his report card 10 free to-
Game
kens, a B average earns 5 free tokens.''
The Odyssey Center has two types of
membership clubs. The Funtime Club is
limited to the 18 and younger crowd, and
the Happy Hour Club for the 19 and older
group. The rules are the same for both
clubs. Membership cost is $1.00 per
month. The membership entitles each
member to one token a day during the
month membership is purchased. The
member must pick up his token in person
and if the player misses a day he forfeits
the token. Month ly high score contests
are divided up according to the member-
ship group. The recent ATARI high scorer
on Missile Command® , Walt Stewart,
earned 52,454,815 points after 40 hours
and 20 minutes of continuous play at the
Odyssey Center.
The Family Fun Center publishes
weekly newsletters with world record at-
tempts on games and information of
charity marathon drives. A recent mara-
thon in April at the Odyssey Center was
to benefit a charity. Two students from
the area were chosen as chairpersons to
coordinate efforts for the pledges. One
half cent per 100,000 points was the rate
for the high score attempt on Missile
Command . There was a good turnout and
Eng said the principals of the local high
schools are all in favor of the charity
drives run at the center. "The students
really get involved," said Eng.
"We do not allow any school children
in our Fun Center during school hours.
We ask any child who comes in during
those hours if they have a schedule that
allows them to be out of class, and then
we call the school to confirm those facts.
The high school principals are especially
appreciative of our calls and the schools
in turn are great to work with on any spe-
cial events when we need their help."
Eng has worked diligently to maintain a
fun and wholesome atmosphere for his
patrons. He is an active member of the
local Amusement Owners Association
where he keeps busy promoting not only
his game center, but the whole team of
operators in the area. Eng's enthusiasm
and dedication is a definite plus for the
video game industry.
• Ms. Pac Man is a trademark of Bally Midway Mfg. Co ..
licensed by Namco-America. Inc.
Player's Name
# of Points
Date and Time
Location
Asteroids®
Leo Daniels
20 years
40,101,910
2/6/82
36 hrs 4 min
Ocean View Corp.
Carolina Beach, NC
Asteroids
DeluxerM
Kevin Gentry
2,117,570
12/29/81
5 hrs 25 min
Court Jester
Lake Charles, LA
Battlezone®
Ken Chevalier
16 years
12,900,000
2/20/82
12 hrs
Star Station 101
Atascadero, CA
CentipederM
Franz Lanzinger
26 years
2,999,999
12/6/81
6 hrs
Central Park Center
Mountain View, CA
Missile
Command®
Walt Stewart
52,454,815
4/4/82
40 hrs 20 min
Odyssey Fun Center
Sacramento, CA
Tempest™
Joe Ergo
674,437
4/11/82
20 min
Just for Kicks
Baldwin, NY