BRIEFS
(continued)
the issues before voters , contending the games are " not in the best
interest of the town , based on past experience ." The town of ~rank
l in is currently being s u ed by Wilfred Dunnebier for $100 , 000 ln
punitive d a mages for de n ying his application to tra n sfer his video
game licenses ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
In March 238 unlicensed coin - op games at 75 sites in east St .
Louis were se i z~d in surprise inspections by t h e Illinois Department
of Revenue agents . Two arrests were made and untaxed cigarettes con -
fiscated in an effort to crack down on tax f r aud . . . . . . . . . · . · · · · · · · · · ·
Some gambling machines were exhib i ted and their literature dis -
tributed in violation of the rules at the NAO Amusement Expo in Tokyo,
March 16 - 17 . The Nihon Amusement Operators Association, show sponsor,
had announced it would exclude gambling mac h ines and any publications
featuring them .
Fifty - nine firms exh i bited video games and kiddie
rides , and the number of exhibitors exceeded that of the first NAO
held last year . Namco , Nintendo , Nichibutsu , Universal, and other
leading manufacturers , however , did not exhibit their products . This
has led some to question the significance of t h e expo ... . ..... .. . . .. .
"Perhaps Ar my recruiters should visit local video arcades to
find the fighter pilots of tomorrow ," David Ledecky of International
Resource Development stated . According to the 169 - page study pro -
duced by the Norwalk , Connect i cut , based firm , " simulators are begin -
ning to look more like video games , and video games like rudimentary
simulators ." The study also points out that important similarities
exist between simulators and video games in that both attempt to dup -
licate the real world and teach certain skills ... . ....... . .. ... .. .. . .
Bally Distributing Corporation has acquired Central Ohio Sales
in Columbus , bringing the number of Bally distributing branches to 16.
Central Ohio Sales will serve as a national clearingh ouse for all
used equipment from Bally Distributing locations as well as Bally ' s
Aladdin ' s Castle network . Dick Gilger will remain general manager and
Jim Fernella as sales manager at Central Ohio Sales ..... . . .. .. . . . ... .
Status Game Corporat i on raised $4 , 262 , 500 through a public
offering of 775 , 000 units of stock.
Each u nit consists of one share
of common stock at $5 . 50 a share and a warrant to purchase a share of
common at $5 per share .
Irving Yaffa , chairman of the firm which mar -
kets video games , stated that " proceeds from the transaction , which
were $3 , 420 , 000 after expenses , are being used to expand research and
development programs , to increase sales and marketing efforts , to
purchase inventory , and for added work cap i ta l." The company had its
Video Draw Poker and Video Ro ul ette tested and approved recently by
the Nevada Gamlng CommlsSlon for sale and u se in that state . Status
Games is broadening its base in Nevada and seeking entry into New
Jersey and the international gaming markets , a company official said .
Universal U. S . A . Inc . h as filed s ui t in federal court against
Eagle Conversions ( also known as Glak ) for distributing illegal ver -
sions of Mr . Do ! Bi ll Cravens , Un i versal ' s marketing director , dis -
closed that UniVersal will a l so file s u it against three other com -
panies for selling mail order p i rated cop i es of t h e game .
" We ' re
going to protect our game . We don ' t want to see t h e ope r ato r get
hurt ," Cravens said .
134
PlAY METER. June 1 5. 1963