expert, able to play the game until
too exhausted to press another
button. This is pure skill-something
that pinball as we know it cannot
possibly achieve.
As long as you have a ball (or two
or three) banging around posts,
bumpers, slingshots, etc., you will
not have a pure skill game. Although
expert pin players can stay on a
game for hours, expert video players
can get much more playing time
overall for a quarter because there is
little element of chance that they will
lose.
As a pinball enthusiast and
operator, I find this to be video's
biggest fault. The money made on a
video while the players are learning
the game is electrifying, but the
money lost on experts tying up the
machine potentially all day is
distressing.
However, that is of no concern to
the player, which is one reason video
is on the rampage.
Another reason: Would you
rather watch a movie or a slide
show? That's a lmost what the appeal
of video as against pinball has
become. Most videos present a con-
stantly moving game environment
requiring full attention, while the pin-
ball player focuses on the ball and, no
matter how innovative, an often-
motionless playfield.
The intimidation factor Roger
mentions is not really germane to the
issue at all. What could be a more
intimidating experience than one's
first game of Asteroids? Yet, is it not
the most popular game in the
industry's history?
There may be people out there
who are intimidated by new pinball
machines and features therein, but
these are not true pinball players-
and more than likely not video
players, either. Few true game
players back away from a challenge.
Whither goeth pinball? Naturally,
to incorporate TV machines and
features into pinball itself. I'm sure
this idea is not revolutionary in the
Chicago factories. And I wouldn't
shy away from a bet that the pinball
industry is biding its time (what else
is new?) with the current "multi-
craze" before introducing TV-
pinballs (rudimentary at first, no
doubt) to an eager amusement
community.
In fact, my psychic tendencies
have afforded me a vision of the first
such game, so I will spoil the surprise
unveiling planned by the industry
and tell you that the name of this
game will be ...
"Euel Pong."
Paul M. Thiele
Los Angeles
Home games' effect
For all the operators contemplating
the effects the home game cartridge
market will have on their Missile
Commands and Asteroids, I pose a
question of more serious con-
sequence.
The limited power of the Atari and
Matte] home games prevents them
from coming close to the action and
sounds of the coin-op versions. But
how many of us realize that the
$1000 home microcomputer (Apple,
TRS 80, etc.) has thousands of
inexpensive game programs
available to it, some of which
accurately copy the sounds,
graphics and action of the most
popular coin-op games.
As the decade progresses, the
home computer will become so
affordable, half the households in
America will have one in the living
room. Why should dad and kids
spend their money at the arcade
when they can play "Defendant" and
" Asteroid Field" at home for free?
Let's face the possibility that
people will become saturated with
video games and may tire of them
altogether. Maybe we shouldn't
write off pinball so quickly-after all,
you can't copy a Jungle Lord and sell
it at Sears.
Evan R. Wessel
Mercury Amusement Company
Ardmore, Pennsylvania
[Ed. note: Continuing discussion of the
home games' impact on coin-op has
included 'The Satellite in Your Liuing
Room,' Play Meter September 1 issue,
and 'Don't Panic Pinball Operators' July
1 issue.]
Something on your mind you want
to uent? Got a gripe? Full of praise?
Ha ue a question? If you haue
comments on the coin operated
entertainment industry, write to Play
Meter. Our "Letters to the Editor"
columns are dedicated to you, the
operator/ reader.
All letters must be signed; if
requested, only initials will be used
or the name withheld from print.
Please include return address
(although, for the sake of your
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The mark of quality for the world market
of coin machines
1981 confirmed by:
• 8.967 trade v1s itors
- 62% -top level manag~mcn t -
• 150 exh1b tors on 12.000 m 2
exhib't'o" area
• the results of the exh1bltor survey
new business connections: 96%
- d1rect orders booked: 82%,
in the f1eld of vending machines: 73%-
- pos1t ve judgement of business
subsequent to the fa1r: 98% -
0
lma
IMA '82 is building towards
an all-round sucess
and wil l enhance worldw1de 1ts
reputation as the leadmg trade fa1r
of all the branches of I he co1n
machine trade.
IMA '82 - If you want to succeed,
you ought to participate.
Heckmann GmbH,
Fai r management IMA '82
Kapellenstr. 47
D-6200 Wiesbaden, Germany
Tel. 06 121/52 4071,Telex 04 186518
21.-24.January 1982
Frankfurt/Main,Fair Grounds
3. International amusement and vending trade fair
PLAY METER, September 15,1981
9