Publisher and Editor:
Ralph C. Lally II
Editorial Director:
David Pierson
Managing Editor:
Ray E. Till ey
Administrative Assistant:
Valerie Cognevich
Art Director:
Katey Schwark
Circulation Manager:
Ren ee' C. Pierson
Typographer:
Sharon McCall
Technical Writers:
Randy Fromm
Frank Seninsky
Correspondents:
Roger C. Sharpe
Patrick Matthews
Mike Shaw
Charles C. Ross
Stephen Czetli
Robert Rosenhouse
Robert Karp
Mike Bucki
Marion Cutler
Roger Pearson
Classified Advertising:
Valerie Cognevich
Advertising Manager:
David Pierson
European Representative:
Esmay Les lie
Illustrator:
Bob Giuffria
PLAY METER, December 1, 1981.
Volume 7, No. 22 . Copyr ight 1981 by
Skybird Publishing Company. Play
Meter (ISSN 0162-1343) is published
twice monthly on the1stand 15th of
the month. Publishing offices: 508
Live Oak St. , Metairie, La. 70005 ;
Mailing address: P.O. Box 241 70,
New Orleans 70184, U.S .A. ; tel.:
504/ 838-8025. Subscription rates:
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$100 , air mail on ly. Multiple-
subscription orders: 2-9, $20 eac h ;
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each. Advertising rates are availab le
on request. No part of this magazine
may be reproduced without
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manuscripts. Second-class postage
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additional mailing offices.
Postmaster : Send Form 3579 to PLAY
METER , P.O. Box 24170 , New
Orleans, La. 70184.
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England, Northwood 29244.
PLAY METER , December 1 , 1981
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 22/DECEMBER 1, 1981
I.AY
Eil\c
The Twice Monthly Publication for the Coin Operated Entertainment Industry
BPA Circulation Audit applied for
43
AMOA Show Features:
Games Exhibits Preview: page 43
Operators' Views on Key Issues: 55
AMOA Exhibitor List : 60
Chicago Guides: 80 and 84
102
Why Parents Oppose Coin-Ops: What the Industry
Can Do
Local opposition to game rooms is often irrational-
but is a naggingly persistent problem for operating.
Mary Claire Blakeman explores some tactics to win
citizens over to the side of good, clean, fun arcades.
113
The New Wave in Game Fraud
An investigative report by Mike Shaw reveals the
workings of blue-sky salesmen in this first of a series of
articles aimed at keeping industry markets on the
honest level they had attained-until the sharks
came.
116
'Family' Games Provide an Operating Alternative
What Alter Tornado Racers have to offer to arcades
and parks is explored by Play Meter staffer Sharon
McCall. What she finds is an interesting and flexible
games operating method for many locations.
Other feature articles in this issue include: The Industry Is On A Roll (by
Dick Welu) , page 97; Location Contracts in the Industry To.day (Part
Two), 111; ShowBiz Pizza's Tie-In with Games & Automatons (by Valerie
Cognevich), 121 ; "Bang's"-an Operation with Nostalgia (by Bill Kurtz) ,
123; The Handicapped's Arcade Employment Aid (by Steven Czetli),
142; Taito: Building on a Giant, 146; Electronic Games Record Holders,
163; Does Adding Machine Tape Lie? (by Joseph Arkin), 165.
7
Editorial
10
Guest Editorial
13
Mailbox
14
Coinman Interview with Norman Pink
16
Equipment Poll
38
News: Top Game Winners of 1981
99
Business Myth of the Month
138
Music Programming
168 ' The Arcade School
172
Technical Topics
176
Viewpoint on Video
178
Critic's Corner
183
New Products
About the Cover: Williams Electronics, Inc. pulls off a coup, winning 6 of the 8
Play Meter Awards, including Best Video and Best Pingame for 1981.
3