with ...
Open letter to a parent
Amusement Device Manufacturers A ssociation
D es Plaines, Illinois
January 11, 1982
Mr. Peter N eill
Managing Editor
Northbrook Star
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
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Dear Mr. N eill :
Ordinarily we, as will most industries, will refrain from
responding to undocumented complaints and .1ccusations,
but, we feel, the letter from Jan Stein with regard to " V ideo
Games in Northbrook" [Illinois] requires an appropriate
rebuttal.
The so·called "greedy entrepreneurs" of video game rooms
include some rather prestigious names including W arner Com-
munications, Columbia Pictures, Gulf & W estern Industries ,
Bally M anufacturing Corporation, Pizza T ime T heatre, etc .
There are thousands of game rooms throughout the United
States operating successfully without any need for police pro-
tection . W e have no idea of what her term "corruption" refers
to, or where, or when .
Since the present -day game rooms are well designed and
constructed, and the games are played by local residents , what
does she mean by "unconducive atmosphere?"
The accusation that children will no longer be safe in
N orthbrook is ludicrous in itself. The game rooms do not
permit any smoking and most prohibit any food or beverages at
all. Liquor is never a problem as it is never permitted . As for
drugs, any teenager will tell Mrs. Shein that the schools are the
major and easy source for the sale and procurement of drugs.
W ould she propose closing the schools? ...
For the same price, just about, as a six -pack of beer a young
person can play the video games for up to two hours , and if they
are very skillful , even more. Isn 't this a pretty reasonable pr ice
to pay for so much fun? ...
It 's a great indust r y, in both consumer and coin -operated
divisions , and millions on millions of people , including more and
more women and adults are falling in love with the fun of video
games. I wonder if Mrs. Shein has eve r played Poe -Ma n?
Jo eph Robbins
President , ADMA
[Ed. N ote: Excerpts from the lllinois parent 's letter to the
N orthbrook Star 's editor follow.]
" Keep video games
out of Northbrook "
As a concerned parent of N orthbrook, I plead with the
Northbrook V illage Board not to allow the licensing of elec -
tronic video game rooms ...
W e as adults must set the ways for the growing individuals.
Let 's challege, st imulate and create the positive atmosphere for
our teenagers and young adults with activities that will benefit
their minds and or bodies, and yet fulfill their needs .
W hy would an entrepreneur of video game rooms be con -
cerned about our children, teenagers, and young adults .. . greed
is their only concern. W ill they pay the price for extra police
protection and corruption? ...
You will b drawing idle teenagers and young adults to an
unconducive atmosphere .
The type of clintele that will be attracted to the areas will be a
distraction to the N orthbrook area children , teenagers, and
young adults .
Children will no longer be safe in N orthbrook , drugs will be
more available, and liquor will increasingly be present.
N earby stores will find more theft occurring, and to avoid the
parking problems and nuisance, local shoppers will shop in
other communities ...
Please don 't let greed be the rea.r,on for voting "yes" to video
game licensing. Raise our taxes if need be to cover lost licensing
revenue , but don 't corrupt our community and the people of
N orthbrook .
Jan Shein
6
PLAY METER , April1 , 1982