Play Meter

Letters to
the editor . • •
interest.
Promotors are most affected by
advertising a realis tic price for
machines and realistic takings in the
columns and papers used by the pro-
motors. They should be hampered
as early as possible before they can
establish a cash flow from investors
as this gives them considerable
strength in offering new equipment
in competitio n with established
operators.
They will generally tell investors
that the established operators are
antagonistic to them because the
operators do not wish new people to
start up in the business. Surprisingly
this is readily believed.
In large scale operations such as
the recent Red Baron episode here,
early investors are used as refer-
ences to support newcomers while
the income from the newcomers is
used to pay the early investors,
supporting the argument that the
high returns exist. These high
returns, however, are not being met
from machine takings.
Geo rge V. Campbell
Camp b ell Amusement Machines
Ea st Bris bane
Queens land, Australia
One man's ripoff
As a footnote to Mike Shaw's fine
article about video game theft (Play
Meter, February 1), I offer this little
tale: One of my customers, Michael
Askwith, operator of a chain of
Northern California arcades called,
"Crazy Mike's ," only recently found
out how determined video game
thieves can be.
Mike's arcades are located in the
lube rooms of independent gas
stations. These structures are, as
you probably know, built of steel
frame and panels, have few windows,
and are properly wired with alarm
systems. In addition, the location in
question is well lit and visible on
three sides from a major intersection
in Citrus Heights, California.
So much for the deterrents. On
the morning of January 31, someone
pulled a truck up behind the arcade,
using it then as a battering ram to
punch out one of the steel panels
which forms the back wall of the
building. After the initial impact, the
panel was peeled back as if by a giant
can opener, leaving a hole big
enough for man or game.
The perpetrators made off with
only one game, a Pac-Man upright.
Perhaps they were interrupted, as
eleven other games in the arcade
could have been loaded within
minutes. This theft could not have
been accomplished without some
noise being made, given the smash-
ing in of the wall. The alarm system
never sounded as only the windows
and doors were wired.
I've heard of "PacMania," but this
ts ridiculous!
Burne Dougherty
B&D Distributors
Fresno, California
Blue sky down under
Reference your recent articles
regarding 'soft shoe salesmen' or as
we call them promotors, here is
information which may be of
PLAY METER , Ma y 1 , 1982
Audio VisuGI
Amusements
Offering the finest
new and used
equipment
REPRESENTING LEADING FACTORIES
• SALES, PARTS, SERVICE •
ARCADE PLANNING
SPECIALISTS
Over 50 beautifully reconditioned
solid state pinballs avai lable
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST,
NOW TRY THE BEST
WE'RE EAGER TO SERVE
1809 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
(314) 421-5100
For further information, call Pete Ent r inger
(collect )
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