Play Meter

Vol. 4, 4, No. No. 22 22 Vol. Dec. 1,1, 1978 1978 Dec. Staff Staff Publisherand and Editor: Editor: Publisher Managing Editor: Editor: Managing RalphC. C.Lally LallyI!II Ralph David Pierson Pierson David Marketing && Research: Research: Marketing Beau Eurell Eurell Beau International Editor: Editor: International Snook DavidSnook David Editor,Coin CoinSlot Slot Editor, Technical Editor: Editor: Technical Robin Minnear Minnear Robin GameDoctors Doctors Game Correspondents: Correspondents: Roger C. Sharpe Roger C. Sharpe ZacOliver Oliver Zac TomHowarth Howarth Tom GeneBeley Beley Gene DickWelu Dick Welu MaryClaire ClaireBlakeman Blakeman Mary ArtDirection: Direction: Art KateySchwark Schwark Katey Administrative Assistant: Assistant: Administrative ValerieMitchell Mitchell Valerie Typography: Typography: VickieLofton Lofton Vickie Circulation Manager: Manager: Circulation GloriaDering Dering Gloria Advertising Representative: Advertising Representative: Ralph C. C. Lally LallyIIII Ralph European Representative: Representative: European EsmayLeslie Leslie Esmay PLAY METER, METER, December December 1,1, 1978. 1978. PLAY Volume4,4,No. No.22. 22.Copyright Copyright1978 1978by by Volume Publishing Company. Company. PLAY PLAY Skybird Publishing Skybird published twice twice monthly monthly METER isis published METER on the 1st and 15th of the month. on the 1st and 15th of the month. Publishing offices: offices: 112 112North North RoadRoadPublishing way, New New Orleans, Orleans, La. La. 70124, 70124, P. P. O. 0. way, Box24170, 24170, New NewOrleans, Orleans, La. La .70184. 70184. Box Tel.: 504/282-0261. Subscription Subscription Tel .: 504/282-0261. rates: U. U. S. S. and and Canada-$25; Canada-$25; rates: Japan-$45;elsewhereelsewhereEuropeand andJapan-$45; Europe $50.One Oneorder ordersubscription: subscription: 2-9, 2-9,$20 $20 $50. each; 10-24, $17 each; 25 or more, each; 10-24, $17 each; 25 or more, $15 each. each. Advertising Advertising rates rates available available $15 on request. No part of this magazine on request. No part of this magazine may be be reproduced reproduced without without expresexpresmay sed permission. The editors are not sed permission. The editors are not responsible for for unsolicited unsolicited manumanuresponsible scripts. Second-class postage paid at scripts. Second-class postage paid at New Orleans Orleans 70113. 70113. Postmaster: Postmaster: New Send Form 3579 to to PLAY PLAY METER, METER, Send Form 3579 P. 0. Box 24170, New Orleans, La, P. O. Box 24170, New Orleans, La, 70184. 70184. Europeanoffice: office: PLAY PLAY METER METER ProProEuropean motions, 15 15 Great Great North North Road, Road, motions, AL 99 66 LV, LV, Brookmans Park, Park, AL Brookmans Hertfordshire, England. England. Hertfordshire, WesternRegional RegionalOffice: Office: P.P. O. 0. Box Box Western 692, Chatsworth, Chatsworth, CA CA 91311. 91311. Tel. Tel. 692, 213/882-4005. 213/882-4005. Sega reports reports earnings earnings Sega SegaEnterprises, Enterprises, Inc. Inc. of of Redondo Redondo Sega Beach, California has record net Beach, California has record net earnings of $2,477,000 or $1.30 per earnings of $2,477,000 or $1.30 per share on a primary basis and $1.26 share on a primary basis and $1.26 per share fully fully diluted, diluted, for for the the first first per share quarter ended September 30, 1978, quarter ended September 30, 1978, up from $371,000 or 19 cents per up from $371,000 or 19 cents per share for both primary and fully share for both primary and fully diluted, last year. diluted, last year. Net earnings included a foreign Net earnings included a foreign exchange translation translation gain gain of of exchange $324,000 or or 1717 cents cents per per share share for for $324,000 both primary and fully diluted, in the both primary and fully diluted, in the fiscal 1979 1979 first first quarter quarter from from transtransfiscal lation of foreign denominated assets lation of foreign denominated assets and liabilities liabilities into into U.S. U.S. dollars dollars as as and compared with a similar gain of compared with a similar gain of $94,000 or or 55 cents cents per per share, share, in in the the $94,000 1978 first fiscal quarter. 1978 first fiscal quarter. Revenues were were $15,764,000 $15, 764,000 in in Revenues the current quarter compared with the current quarter compared with $8,331,000 last last year. year. $8,331,000 The record current quarter The record current quarter revenues and net earnings were were revenues and net earnings primarily attributable to increased primarily attributable to increased volume in in both both manufacturing manufacturing and and volume and amusement amusement distribution division division and distribution game operations operations division division of of the the game company's sibsidiary in Japan. The company's sibsidiary in Japan. The higher foreign exchange translation higher foreign exchange translation gain and the favorable differential in gain and the favorable differential in currency exchange rates between the currency exchange rates between the two periods periods used used for for translation translation of of two the results of operations of the the results of operations of the company's Japanese business also company's Japanese business also contributed to the the increased increased net net contributed to earnings and revenues. earnings and revenues. The company also stated that it The company also stated that it believes its acquisitin acquisitin on on September September believes its 29, 1978 of Gremlin Industries, Inc., 29, 1978 of Gremlin Industries, Inc., a San Diego, California amusement a San Diego, California amusement game manufacturer will further game manufacturer will further strengthen its research research and and dedestrengthen its velopment and manufacturing capvelopment and manufacturing capabilities, and andimprove improve its itsU.S. U.S . market market abilities, position . position. Sega manufacturers, manufacturers, distributes, distributes, Sega and operates coin-operated amuseand operates coin-operated amusement games, in the United States ment games, in the United States and Japan. Sega is an 87 percent and Japan. Sega is an 87 percent owned subsidiary subsidiary of of Gulf Gulf+ Western owned + Western Industries, Inc. Industries, Inc. Williams' fortunes fortunes recounted recounted Williams' full-page story story which which describes describes airports airports." ." AA full-page Williams Electronics' success in reYet, Idaszak Idaszak wrote, wrote, Stroll Stroll sees sees Williams Electronics' success in reYet, capturing aa greater greater share share of of the the nothing nothing on on the the horizon horizon that that will will capturing appeared in the pinball market sweep pinball manufacturing as solid pinball market appeared in the sweep pinball manufacturing as solid Sunday business business section section of of the the state state technology technology did. did. Sunday Chicago Sun-Times October 15. "This industry," Strollsaid, said,"blends "blends Chicago Sun-Times October 15. "This industry," Stroll The article, article, written written by by Sun-Times Sun-Times the the technology technology with with flashiness flashiness and and The business reporter Jerome ldaszak excitement. I don't know where the business reporter Jerome Idaszak excitement. I don't know where the and syndicated syndicated nationally nationally by by AssoAsso- industry industry isis going, going, but but II wanna wanna be be and ciated Press, was based on an there." ciated Press, was based on an there." interview with with Williams Williams President President interview Michael Stroll. Stroll. Michael ldaszak's text text first first provided provided aa Idaszak's history familiar to all in the industry, history familiar to all in the industry, stating "Williams "Williams once once fought fought to to be be stating Allan Ross king of the pinball hill, only to watch king of the pinball hill, only to watch Bally Manufacturing vault far ahead Allan M. M. Ross Ross has has been been appointed appointed Bally Manufacturing vault far ahead Allan of the pack in 1977. Now Williams is National Field Sales Manager for the the of the pack in 1977. Now Williams is National Field Sales Manager for trying to fight back. customusic dividivicustomusic trying to fight back. "Bally buried buried its its competitors competitors sion sion of ofRowe Rowe InIn"Bally though aa Sputnik-like Sputnik-like technological technological ternational, ternational, Inc. Inc. though move-solidstate state systems systemsto to replace replace Ross Ross has has many many move-solid the old oldelectro-mechanica electro-mechanical gutsof ofthe the years years of of manamanathe l guts machines," the the article article continued. continued. gerial experience experience machines," "That meant meant new new sounds, sounds, less less gerial in marketing marketing and and "That in breakdown, somenew newgame gameoptions options distribution distributionininthe the breakdow n, some for players players and and business business advantages advantages music business. business. for music forthe thepeople peoplewho whocollect collectthe thecoins." coins." His previous previous popofor ldaszakalso also reported reported Stroll's Stroll'sbelief belief His sitionwas wasbranch branch Allan Allan M. M. Ross Ross Idaszak sition thatthe the U.S. U.S. market marketwill will expand expand with manager, Rowe, Rowe, that with manager, the probable probable lifting lifting of ofpinball pinball bans bans in in Inc., Inc., Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla. Fla. He He has has served served the sections of the country and pinball's as operations manager and backsections of the country and pinball's as operations manager and backwider acceptance, acceptance, "moving "moving beyond beyond ground ground music music manager manager of of Rowe, Rowe, wider barrooms into into shopping shopping centers and Dedham, Dedham, Massachusetts. Massachusetts. barrooms centers and Rowe picks picks Rowe Allan Ross