Atari Coin Connection

OPERATOR OF THE '80s
The Inimitable Jay Simon
of Kissimmee, Florida
Thirty-two years old, possessed of a
photographic memory, the epitome of
razzle-dazzle showmanship, Power Play's
Jay Simon might be thought of as living in
a world of his own-an acutely audio-vis-
ual world at that. Yet, he shares his living
reverie with any and all who luckily fall
under his spell. This video pied piper
leads children into one of Florida's finest
game centers with the blessing of their
parents and the support of the whole
community -so much so that parents in a
neighboring area have started a petition
asking him to start up a second location.
Jay infuses his environment with an en-
thusiasm children can relate to: "This is a
wonderful industry we are in; there is no-
thing like video games and children (even
big kids!)." On a more serious note, Simon
says: ''You are never so tall as when you
bend down to help a child."
During the day, Jay operates a business
called Exciting Lighting that has installed
complex lighting and sound systems in
dozens of discos and roller rinks. Just over
a year ago, Simon decided to bring his
talents into an arcade of his own which he
operates at night, leaving daytime duty to
Pop Bob and Mom Hank (Henrietta).
Located on Highway 192, the gateway
to Disneyworld and EPCOT, Power Play is
a converted 7-11 store-created in the im-
age of "Tron," complete with fog machine.
A vast, synchronized to music, lighted ceil-
ing is capable of producing 256,000 col-
ored patterns in an ongoing marvel of a
show. The room also features the "world's
largest video game" produced through a
hookup that projects monitor graphics on-
to a giant 9' x 12' screen. Jay plans to
connect a sitdown Pole Position to the
screen and install a safety belt so that the
player won't fall off his seat from the reel of
larger-than-life effects.
But Simon also takes his expertise on
the road. His mobile disco system provides
free school dances and nerf dodge ball
assembly periods for younger students,
where costumed video game characters
join in the fun and talk about the technol-
ogies involved in the industry. Beyond this
school involvement, Jay and his entour-
age also visit children's wards in hospitals.
Back at the home base, "Certificates of
Achievement" are awarded to those in-
dividuals who complete the Power Play
tour of video gaming technology. Simon is
a firm believer in recognizing the educa-
tional merits of computerized games. Of-
tentimes, his effort to acquaint youngsters
with "high tech" provides their first hands-
on encounter. The award sums up what
Jay hopes to be a lasting relationship for
these kids: ''This certificate means I have
met and become friends with computers
who will not only be amusing friends, but
will teq.ch me skills which will carry me into
the 21st century."
Continuing the educational aspect of
his establishment, Jay holds regular spe-
cial-ed classes for eight deaf children.
One of his s.tudents, four year-old Angie
Guettler, whom he fondly refers to as the
"youngest patron of the video arts," can
take the wheel of a Pole Position game
and drive like a pro. She likes to think she
could drive a real car, explaining: 'Well, I
qualify in Pole Position."
Kevin Fussell of Fussell's Game Repair
Service attests that Jay Simon is the most
community conscious of all the operators
he has as clients. Jay himself estimates
that 40°/o of his gross is given back to the
community-a figure that seems substan-
tiated by the range of awards and citations
he's received from various city and county
groups thanking him for donations and
volunteer service, including Power Play's
sponsorship of little league softball and
baseball teams. Another service per-
formed is the fingerprinting of children.
For a dollar, the parent is given a record of
the child's fingerprints, plus vital informa-
tion and a color picture to supply authori-
ties if the need should ever arise. All money
is donated to the Police Athletic League.
October 31 was the first year anniversary
of Power Play, celebrated by a Halloween
Extravaganza, featuring a haunted house
and a "come dressed to play your favorite
video game" costume party. The winner
took home just that-his chosen coin-op
1!'
,..
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_.. ..,--:
Jay Simon receives a plaque in appreciation of his sponsoring a girls' softball team .
set on free play for a week. But the primo
promo that really shook the rafters was a
futuristic space odyssey rocket hoisted by
crane to land atop the roof of Power
Play-where it will remain for the next few
months. A simulated laser show added
even more special effects.
The celebration actually began in mid-
October with the kickoff of the game
room's own Octoberfest which ran straight
through mid-November. Each day em-
phasized a particular event as part of an
advertised calendar of activities, including
"Football Friday" when players could
bring in ticket stubs from any game they
saw that evening for tokens. Other events
included the furnishing of brown bag lun-
ches for day care centers invited to visit
the arcade and a "Fabulous '50s Fling"
with 1950 attire requested in order to
receive 1950 prices: tokens at 5 But ringmaster Jay Simon always has
magical promotional tricks up both
sleeves. He advises, ''.An arcade means
fun, but the fun's not just limited to games.
You need attractions in order to stay alive."
Snow in Florida? Only at Power Playl
Jay's quickly gaining notoriety as Florida's
Indomitable Snowman by more than once
having 40 tons of snow dumped in his
parking lot so that it would be visible from
the highway. Taking a new step in the
same direction, he plans to build a monu-
mental Crystal Castle out of 300-pound
ice blocks. Just like in the snow, prizes
and tokens will be hidden in the ice struc-
ture. And smack dab in the middle will be
a powered up Crystal Castles coin-op
game-protective covering and all .
Power Play also conducts unique pro-
motional fun of the more everyday variety.
Gigantic Styrofoam tokens are hidden all
over Kissimmee-near bus stops, school
cafeterias and public libraries for instance.
The retriever of each is entitled to ten free
tokens. All advertising is also created in
the form of "color me" ads-which com-
pleted are redeemable for tokens, too.
After a nonstop day and night schedule,
what does Jay Simon do to relax? He joins
in the good times at his own after-hours
party! The game center often provides
neighboring merchants, who close their
businesses in the wee hours of the morn-
ing, with a much needed recreational out-
let. They bring the pizza and pop, and
Jay's off and running again ... giving so
much to his community but getting an on-
going rush of love and support in return.