VOLUME 7, NUMBER 21/NOVEMBER 15, 1981
Publisher and Editor:
Ralph C. Lally II
Editorial Director:
David Pierson
Managing Editor:
Ray E. Tilley
Administrative Assistant:
Valerie Cognevich
Art Director:
Katey Schwark
Circulation Manager:
Renee' C. Pierson
Technical Writers:
Randy Fromm
Zac Oliver
Frank Seninsky
Correspondents:
Patrick Matthews
Roger C. Sharpe
Charles C. Ross
Irving Blackman
Mary Claire Blakeman
Lee Shearer
Jane Peterson
Marion Cutler
Classified Advertising:
Valerie Cognevich
Typographer:
Sharon McCall
Advertising Manager:
David Pierson
European Representative:
Esmay Leslie
Illustrator:
Bob Giuffria
PLAY METER, November 15, 1981 .
Volume 7, No . 21. Copyright 1981 by
Skybird Publishing Company. Play
Meter (ISSN 0162-1343) is published
twice monthly on the 1st and 15th of
the month. Publishing offices : 508
Live Oak St. , Metairie, La . 70005;
Mailing address : P.O. Box 24170,
New Orleans 70184, U.S.A. ; tel.:
504/ 838-8025. Subscription rates :
U.S. and Canada-$25 ; foreign :
$100 , air mail only . Multiple-
subscription orders: 2-9, $20 each ;
10-24, $17 each ; 25 or more, $15
each . Advertising rates are available
on request. No part of this magazine
may be reproduced without
expressed permission . The editors
are not responsible for unsolicited
manuscripts. Second-class postage
paid at Metairie, La. 70002 and
additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to PLAY
METER , P.O . Box 24170, New
Orleans, La. 70184.
European Office: PLAY METER
Promotions,
"Harescombe "
Watford Road , Northwood Middx.
England, Northwood 29244.
PLAY METER , November 15, 1981
~I.AY
The Twice Monthly Publication for the Coin Operated Entertainment Industry
BPA Circulation Audit applied for
8
Annual Operator Survey Results: King Video and his
Court
The TV-type mode is still No.1 with profit-making
operators, but other forms of coin-operated amuse-
ment show healthy signs of life. These and many other
areas of the State of the Industry are made clear by the
annual survey results detailed here.
16
Overview of Operating: 1981
The growth of the operating sector, its stamina and
business methods today are analyzed by Editorial
Director David Pierson . Games sales and game
revenue, as well as the operating population-all hit
record levels this year, as the results of the annual Play
Meter poll show.
24
Most Needed: A Watchful and Cautious Eye
Operator Michael Mendelsohn lays out a reasoned
defense plan for operators facing the "star chamber"
of local governing bodies which attempt to foist
unfair restrictions on coin-op. His call for unity in the
ranks bears reading and emulating.
43
Copyright: The Status in Great Britain
U.S. games manufacturers have been engaged in a
worldwide battle to protect their rights in original
games. London correspondent Roger Pearson
explains how the fight for proprietary rights must
necessarily be waged in the United Kingdom at the
present.
DEPARTMENTS
6
Up Front
7
Mailbox
21
The Idea Bank
26
News
46
Equipment Poll
53
Music Programming
55
The Arcade School
59
Technical Topics
63
Viewpoint on Video
67
Critic's Corner
71
New Products
75
Classified Advertising
82
News Briefs
3