UP FRONT
Home Video Games:
The H idden Threat
Conventions are, as a rule , very special events. And
the annual Amusement and Music Operators of
America Convention is no exception. Not only does it
provide a marvelous gathering spot for thousands of
industry members, but it also marks the beginning of
another coin-op year.
Considering the current attitude within the coin-
op amusement fraternity-the concern over the indus-
try 's first slowdown in several years-operators will
look to this year's AMOA show for signs of a strong
recovery ahead , for indications the industry has deeply
rooted strength. This year's AMOA show, then, will be
something extra special.
Ever since the onslaught of Midway's Space
Invaders, the industry has been riding the crest of the
video boom. During that time, player population
soared and home video games became a national
obsession. As the public became more avidly aware of
computer games, it consequently became more
sophisticated and demanding in its appraisal of what
our industry had to offer.
People have enjoyed the coin-op hits of the past-
and , some might contend, all too soon the current
pieces-on their own TV sets. Players are beginning to
notice less of a difference between coin-op games and
home cartridges, and although manufacturing execu-
tives continue to insure us that home video quality will
never catch up with arcade technology, the trend
poses a very real threat to our future.
The fierce competition for the home video dollar
has driven home game producers, cognizant of
massive profits available if they succeed, to increase the
10
quality and excitement of their games at a quickening
pace. If the thrill of a home game ever becomes com-
parable to the excitement of an arcade piece, the
latter's existence would be seriously threatened .
If our industry is intent on increasing, or at least
maintaining its present share of America's entertain-
ment dollar, it must continue to lead the way in the
advancement and development of video game tech -
nology. The only sure way for this industry to guarantee
its future is to dramatically increase the entertainment
gap between home and coin-op games.
Home pool tables never really hurt the coin-op
pool table market although a lot of people thought
they would . But then pool is a game in and of itself, and
pool tables are all basically the same. That cannot be
said of video games. Video games are quite different
and are best compared to motion pictures.
Not many people will leave their TV sets and go to
the movies and see some old rerun or some mediocre
film that they never heard of. But every time a motion
picture like f . T. or Raiders of the Lost Ark comes
around, just about everybody, sooner or later, runs out
of the house to see it. There's a lesson to be learned
there. And, this year, it had better be learned.
;;;;i&¥=-
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher
PLAY METEP.. December 15. 1982