.... News briefs .... news briefs .... news briefs .... news briefs .... news briefs .... ne
council committee meeting October 26. It read in part: "The bell-clanging
game is apparently becoming even more of a ra 9,e for school kids in the city's
neighborhoods-much to the chagrin of grownups." Councilwoman June Eisland
from The Bronx noted that the machines appear in pizza parlors and luncheon-
ettes . .
"Mrs. Eisland said the pinball machines-and the recent proliferation
of video-electronic games is 'changing the quality of life' in the city. "The
numerous game arcades sprin ging up have made one congressional hopeful so mad
that he brought a baseball bat to the hearing. 'If they don't pass (legisla-
tion) I'm going to get concerned citizens to bring bats and hockey sticks and
throw a picket line in front of these places, • declared George McDonald, who
next year will challenge ... the Upper East Side's 18th Congressional District
(seat)," reported the Post.
Last June, the city had changed the 1 ~ ~· so t hat any business estab-
lishment located more than 200 feet from an elementary school could operate
four game machines. Previous regulations allowed only bars and amusement
parlors to offer pinball, but the appearance of games ''i'ilegally" in pizza
parlors and other locations led to loosening the restrictions. (For a meth-
odology on dealing with local governing bodies, read Michael Mendelson's
commentary in Play Meter, November 15, pages 24-25.) ........................ .
... .. .. . New York City operators are being hit with the same label as porno
book shops. An analysis of this problem will follow in Play Meter ........... .
.. .. .... Hoei International of Tokyo has announced that it has granted Sega
Enterprises and Rock-Ola Manufacturing the rights for its video game Jump Bug.
The new game was unveiled at the Japan trade show and at the Rock-Ola booths
at the AMOA show in Chicago. Sega has rights to all areas except the United
States and introduced the game in Japan in December. Rock-Ola will begin
manufacture of the video game in the U.S .................................... .
... ..... Ross B. Scheer, president of the Special Markets and Products
Division of Bally Manufacturing, has announced his resignation from that
position effective February 1. He stated, "My decision to leave Bally was
difficult. However, we reached a mutually agreeable understanding that would
free me to pursue business opportunities in the amusement and gaming
industry." .................................................. . ............... .
........ Thomas Leon of Thomas Leon's Kiddie Rides has been appointed as the
exclusive import agent for Whittaker Brother Kiddie Rides of England.
Whittaker Brothers is a producer of Kiddie Rides which has shipped kiddie
rides for years around the world. Presently, Whittaker features 14 different
rides as specially modified with U.S. 110 volt motors for the U.S. market. In
signing the pact, Leon's company will stock a large inventory of equipment as
well as all parts necessary to service customers after the sale. This
arrangement gives Leon one of the largest assortments of different kiddie
rides in the indus t ry. Leon now represents R.J. Newborough England, Bafco-
England, Continental Amusement-U.S.A., M.H.I.-U.S.A., U.B.I.-U.S.A., M.K.C.
Designs Ltd.-England, and with Whittaker makes eight major factories which
Leon has available ......... . ................................................ .
. .... ... Atari announced that it has achieved a "first" in coin-op video
games by obtaining ~anadian Standards Association certification on its
Asteroids Deluxe and Tempest games. This came on the heels of UL listing of
Centipede as well as these two games for consumer safety standards .......... .
. . . . . . . . Also at Atari, Charles S. "Skip" Paul, 32, has been named senior vice
pr esident and general counsel. Paul, who joined Atari in 1979 and has served
as its general counsel, has a background in corporate law and has served as
law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court ............ .
........ The Amusement Device Manufacturers Association announced that Amstar
Electronics Corp. of Phoenix has been accepted as a member of ADMA. Hank
Vandendop, Amstar president, stated that his firm will be an active and
contributing member to advance the coin-op amusement industry ............... .
PL AY METE R, F bru ary 1 . 1982
89