"There is no doubt that
the video bubble has
burst, and this side of the
industry is now left to
those people who have
sound financial backing
and produce quality
machines. We place our-
selves in that category.
We are confident in the
future. "
Bold words indeed from
a man in his mid-twenties
who formed his company
less than a year ago and
has spent only five months
involved in the video
industry.
The expression of confi-
dence was uttered by
Richard Bowyer, 25-year-
old Managing Director of
Tickertime Ltd., with all
the confidence and self-
assurance of a man twice
his age and with twice his
experience in the amuse-
ment machine industry.
But he is not a brash and
cocky young man. Just
quietly confident in
himself, his company and
his product. He has a keen
analytical mind and has
not entered the business
without completing an ex-
tensive research pro-
gramme, listening care-
fully to what operators
liked or disliked about
current models, and
taking advice from those
in a position to give it.
rORS
Richard's confidence is
shared by Ray Edge,
Managing Director of the
well-known Oaklodge
Automatics, who held a
preview party for Ticker-
time Ltd., at the County
Hotel and Restaurant,
Coleshill, Birmingham.
Oaklodge are handling the
distribution side of
Tickertime.
"The ideas of Ticker-
time are fine," said Ray,
"and although as a com-
pany they are new to the
game I am confident that
they will take off. "
This view is shared by
the Sales Director of
Oaklodge, Jim Hanlon.
"They have good products
and their price is right, "
said Jim, "they have no
problems for the future. "
The
outstandin g
feature of Ti c kertime
Video machines, whi ch in-
clude the ' Puckman ':
Leisure Play - September
TICKERTIME SHOW A
TOUCH OF CLASS
• Richard and Louise Bowyer.
'Phoenix'; 'Space Panic'; and they come in a full
'Scramble'; 'Astro Blas- range of exciting colours.
ter' and 'Plaides', is their
Richard said: "Gremlin
fibre glass cabinets, the Sega in California have
RB 21 , which brings a new already granted us
dimension to cabinet licence to manufacture
design.
their games, " Richard
They are sleek and continued, "We buy the
attractive with a tough boards from them and
durable, wipe-clean sur- build the machines at our
face. They have a full 20" Sutton Coldfield factory.
colour screen and a large
"Being in a position to
capacity steel cash
drawer. There is no doubt produce our own cabinets
about their suitability for is a big advantage. We
up -market sites. They can gear our production
would not be out of place to demand. This keeps us
in the bar or lounge of the sound financially.' '
most exclusive of hotels
"At the moment," said
• Tickertime Machines on parade.
Richard, "we are develop- ··
ing our own games which
will be aimed at the over-
seas market as well as the
U.K.
"We hope to be in
production in time for the
ATE," he said. "Of course
the machine will be
thoroughly site-tested
before it goes out. "
Tickertime have spent
a lot of time on the design
of the cabinet and a great
deal of interest is being
shown in their machines.
Conversion to another
game is a simple matter
and the button banks will
cover the new games.
Richard Bowyer has
offices in Burntwood,
West Midlands, where he
formed the company in
October 1980 with his
charming and attractive
sister, Louise, who acts as
company secretary.
Louise said: "What we
have tried to do is
produce a cabinet which
suits the operator."
Jim Hanlon of Oaklodge
said: " I think they've
already succeeded and
we are looking now for
agents to work on a long-
term basis."
Financial Director
David Neville says: "Al-
r ea d v several large
operators and manufactu-
rers are showing a keen
interest in Tickertime.
Things are going very well
and we look to the future
with confidence."
The preview party was
well attended by repre-
sentatives of the industry
and it was enthusiastic-
ally received.
Martin Taylor of Bell-
Fruit said: "It's a nice
exhibition and Tickertime
deserve to succeed. We
have had their Plaides
operating for some time
and it has been very
successful.''
I have one criticism of
these video machines -
the heat generated by the
lights under the control
buttons. After playing the
machine for a short time
my fingers were burning.
However, Richard Bowyer
assures me they are
aware of the problem and
it is being sorted out
immediately.
MIKE NEWTON
Page Nine