Immediatt;
Delivery
on
Nintendo/Donkey Kong
Venture Line/Looping
Gremlin/Turbo ( cpt)
Gremlin/Zaxxon
Midway /Ms. Pac-Man
Williams/Robotron
Atari/Dig-Dug
coming soon:
Tron • Kangaroo
From
CENTRAL
the prompt
delivery people
Representing all major
manufacturers
We have the best recon-
ditioned games in the
country-no brag, just
fact.
CENTRAL
DISTRIBUTING CO.
3814 Farnam St.
Omaha, Nebraska 68131
402/552"-5300
"Our prompt delivery
really sets us apart."
10
copy game or having your old game
hearings and has been working with local
illegally converted .
officials to stem the tide of unfavorable
Alexander F. Kress
legislation. I strongly urge you to do the
President
same. One of the ways is to get to know
Coin Machine Distributors, Inc.
your politicians. They constantly run fund
Elmsford, New York
raisers and need your support. Do you
remember the last time you supported
them?
Positive publicity is another way to
combat adverse legislation. The machines
The Penmont Company is a member of
you have that distributors will not take in
the AMOA and has video game m~chine
trade can be donated to local hospitals,
investments in Oklahoma , Missouri,
child care centers, youth centers, etc. You
Arkansas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico.
give the machine, get your name and
We have become increasingly alarmed at
picture in the paper, get a letter thanking
the continuing bad newspaper, radio, and
you, and then deduct the value of the
TV publicity the overall video game busi-
machine from your taxes. Another idea is
ness has been getting in the local press.
to donate all the proceeds from a machine
Public opinion is very difficult to change
for one day to a local charity. Instead of
once it becomes established. All of this can
giving them the cash, write out a check for
be translated into new legislative action
the full amount as a donation.
which may not be in our best interest. Any
We have a film that Atari recently spent
ambitious uninformed politican or news
$100,000 to produce. A large segment of it
reporter could champion a cause against
was filmed in the Tri-State area, especially
the video business, while we sit by quietly
Westchester County. This film is ideal for
saying to each other that some affirmative
use at local town meetings. Also, it can be
public relations action should be taken . It
shown at Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, etc.
is imperative that the AMOA solicit the
The second major situation facing us
support of the game manufacturers, dis-
today is the copy games and conversions.
tributors, and operators to combat the
The New York area seems to be a major
prevailing negative publicity.
trading marketplace for these activities. I
I understand that someone has devel-
would like to point out some negative
oped a news media relations package.
items concerning copies and conversions.
Would you please put me in contact with
I. They are illegal! All major manufac-
the persons responsible for developing and
turers are instituting lawsuits and some are
distributing the data .
seizing machines. Although there have
Barry J. Talbot
been few seizures in the metropolitan New
Penmont Company
York area, certain manufacturers have
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
said that this is their next target area.
2. If copies continue, it will stifle major
[Ed . Note: The Amusement and Music
manufacturers' investment in research
Operators Association, in conjunction
and development. This industry would be
with the Amusement Device Manufac-
nowhere and will not go anywhere without
turers Association and the Amusement
this research and development.
and Vending Machine Distributors Asso-
3. If you decide to sell your route, for
ciation , has produced a manual for public
whatever reason, the purchaser is not
relations that is available to all its members.
going to give you the value for copy games
Also, Atari has released a seventeen-
as he would for originals.
minute video presentation, and accom-
4. Generally, the copies do not earn as
panying literature , it calls the Community
much income as the originals.
Awareness Program which can be obtained
5. SERVICE. That's what this business
through any Atari distributor.
is all about. Because of the unavailability
These efforts are the beginning of an
to get copies and conversions repaired at
industry resonse to its current public
major distributorships, the second-rate
relations problem . Hopefull y, there will be
service from the company who produced
more hard-hitting developments in this
the copy or conversion is what you have to
area in the immediate future.]
rely on. Most of the copiers do not last in
business very long.
6. FINANCING. Copy manufacturers
Something on your mind you want to
want to get paid on the spot. Major distrib-
uent? Got a gripe? Full of praise? Ha ue a
utors offer terms and financing to qualified
question? If you haue comments on the
businessmen.
coin operated entertainment industry,
write to Play Meter. Our "Letters to the
7. Last, but not least of the problems,
Editor" columns are dedicated to you,
which is especially prevalent in Queens,
the operator/ reader.
New York , is the fact that certain operators
All/etters must be signed; if requested,
feel that since they have not as much
only initials will be used or the name
invested in the copy or conversion, they are
withheld from print. Please include
willing to give sixty percent commission to
return address (although, for the sake of
the locations. This will surely be the down-
your priuacy, addresses will not be
fall of this industry.
printed.) All letters subject to standard
I strongly urge you to give these points
editing. Be concise.
much thought the next time yo u might be
tempted to consider purchasing an illegal
Two situations
PLAY MH£R, \u\-y '\, '\~1.