au MIMe Shaw
The National Coin Machine Institute has approved sponsorship of Students Against Drunk
Driving. The program involves a "contract for life" signed by students and their parents which out-
lines rules they agree to follow when they face a situation that could lead to driving after drinking.
Robert Anastas, founder of the program, noted that amusement operators have "a unique access to
students because amusement machines are a favorite attraction for them."
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AGMA's UL committee met with Underwriters Laboratory representatives November 15 to
di scuss new standards for amusement games. Old standards were designed for vending equipment and
not appropriate to new technologies found in video games and conversion kits. Eleven manufacturers
sent representatives to the meeting.
The latest Dragon's Lairs from Cinematronics contain new Pioneer laser disc units . The LDV 1000
is built to handle a video game' s continuous use. It also has a " track jump " feature which allows the
laser to leap forward 100 frames almost instantly, avoiding the blackouts which mar Dragon 's Lair. The
LDV 1000 co sts $1 ,200.
Pioneer said demand for the new player "is very high right now, much more than can possibly be met
by us or b y an y manufacturer."
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Exidy has licensed Fax for the home computer market. The game will be nvailable in the " Learn-
ing Fun " series of games marketed by California software producer Epyx. The company produces
learning and action games, including a cartridge titled Silicon Warriors in which the House of Apple ,
the House of Adam, the House of Peanut, and the House of Pong battle in the Silicon Valley for a
c ompleted computer program enabling the winner to dominate the universe.
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Atari revenues continue to plummet. Third quarter 1983 revenues show a 64 percent drop from
last year's figures, from $528.9 million to $187.8 million. The figures resulted in a $180.3 million third
qu arter operating loss, extending the 9 month loss to $536.3 million.
The company estimated a move to make home games that run on competitors' machines would
account for 10 to 15 percent of estimated 1984 sales of $1.4 billion . It marks the first time Atari has operated as
a third party software producer.
To bring his employees closer together, Atari President James Morgan will build new head-
quarters in San Jose at a cost of about $60 million .
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Bally an_nounced 38 cents per share earnings for the quarter ending September 30, 1983. The
san:e quarter 1n 19~2 produced per share earnings of $1.02. Company President Robert Mullane
attnbuted the earnmgs slump to " slack demand " for traditional video games. He noted he expected
the compan y' s fortunes to rebound with the production of Astron Belt , and as soon as laser disc pla yer
manufacturers can supply the industry with large quantities of the imaging systems. Mullane said he
expected laser manufacturers to meet industry demand by the end of the first quarter of 1984.
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Coin ~ontrols of Elk _Grove, lll!nois, and Coin Acceptors of St. Louis have reached an agreement
whereby Co1n Acceptors will pay Com Controls an undisclosed sum to manufacture its Entr y/Reject
Button into Coin Acceptor products.
. Coin Mechanisms Inc. of Elmhurst, Illinois, has arranged a distribution agreement with Vendall
Machmes Ltd . _of Otta~a , Canada . Ven_dall will hold exclusive distributing rights in the Canadian
~arket for C_om Mech s Com Comparttor, an electronic coin mechanism . Vendall said it became
Impressed w1th the mechanism after using it in some of its vending equipment.
94
PLAY METEP.. JanuofY ~5 . ~q~4