Classic Mode

Play Meter

Issue: 1985 October 15 - Vol 11 Num 19

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
UP FRONT
THE INDUSTRY ON AN UPSWING
AT LAST
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A man lived by the side of the road and sold hot
dogs. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio . He
had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers .
But he sold good hot dogs .
He put up a sign on the highway telling how
good they were. He stood by the side of the road and
cried: "Buy a hot dog, Mister! " And people bought.
He increased his meat and roll orders. He
bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade . He
got his son home from college to help him. But then
something happened ...
His son said, " Father, haven't you been listening
to the radio?
" If money stays 'tight ' we are bound to have bad
business. There may be a big depression coming
on. You had better prepare for poor trade ."
Whereupon the father thought, "Well, my son
has been to college. He reads the papers and listens
to the radio, and he ought to know. " So the father cut
down on his meat and roll orders. He took down his
advertising signs. And no longer bothered to stand
on the highway to sell hot dogs. And his hot dog
sales fell almost overnight.
"You're right, son," the father said to the boy.
" We are certainly headed for a depression."
-Author Unknown
Oh how similar is the coin-op industry to this
hot dog vendor. His enthusiasm knew no bounds ;
nor his rewards . It was how the coi n-op indus try was
before the video boom . Those who provided the
entertainment knew what they offered was good.
People enjoyed a game of pool, a favorite song on
the jukebox, or a challenging game of pinball and
were the heart of the industry. Operators knew what
their customers wanted , were experts in their field ,
and were there to provide advice and knowledge .
Then the outsiders "came home from college ."
Wall Street analysts proclaimed the industry a
success, entrepreneurs jumped on the bandwagon ,
and soon the industry was supporting thousands of
business opportunists. When the oversaturation
and resultant decline was evident, those same Wall
Street analysts, and entrepreneurs proclaimed the
industry a bust, never once considering their role in
the Scenario.
But, it's over. We're back to normal, if there
really is such a thing . We can't deceive ourselves
into believing we'll see another $9 billion year any
time soon , but let's remember that $4 billion is not
bad.
The last three months have been encouraging .
Operators are optimistic , distributors are sensing
the operators ' eagerness for good equipment , and
manufacturers are ready to provide that equipment.
I've heard comments from operators about the " fair
competition" in stark contrast to the cut throats who
infiltrated this industry during the boom . To many ,
the motto was " give the location whatever it wants
but get that location ."
The motto has changed to " keep locations but
make a fair return on investment too ." And isn't that
what it should be?
As shrewd operators cautiously declare the
industry on an upswing , I have every reason to
believe it. If a person wants to dwell on the bad , he
will find it. But if he strives to search out the good ,
that's what he'll find.
Pollyanna, an old movie with Haley Mills , is a
classic example of this attitude . Pollyanna found
good in everyone and looked for the good in every
situation . When receiving a pair of crutches instead
of the hoped for doll, she surmised that the good
was that she didn 't need to use the crutches .
Encountering a bitter old lady, Pollyanna naturally
found good in her.
It may be a trite example , but this industry hit
bottom and is now on its way up because of those
who found the good; because of those who believe
there is an industry worth the time and patience
needed to make it work . The others have gone on
to other things leaving the industry slightly bruised
but intact.
The past, though we mourned its passing , is
past . The future is just ahead, with shades of the
industry's past , but better. The industry's future is
just a walk away, a walk down to the exhibit hall. The
predominant theme of this AMOA is that the
industry is on an upswing at last .
~~
Valerie Cognevich
Editorial Director
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
8
PLAY METER, October 1 5, 1985
Letters to
the editor
• • •
r
JAMMA chairman
The coin-operated amusement
game industry a nd its technology is
founded on the fair competition prac-
tices in which each company is sin-
cerely involved in furthering the
improvement and advancement of our
industry.
But, in spite of this, there are some
companies which illegally and im-
morally copy , pirate, and smuggle
games so as to solely benefit them-
selves. This has resulted in not only
hurting each member company but
also the real creators of the games.
In order to purge our industry from
these profiteers, the members of our
industry throughout the world have
taken legal a nd administrative action
against these perpetrators. As a result
of our actions, we have been able to
slowly squeeze these fraudulent com-
panies out of our industry. We are
determined to continue our efforts for
the improvement and growth of our
industry with the support and co-
operation of eac h me mbe r.
Yet, our industry faces another
issue, the impression arcade games are
corrupting today's youth. This social
enmity has increasingly threatened
our operators who a re striving to run
sound and fair arcades.
Masaya Nakamura, Chairman
The Japan Amusement Machinery
Manufacturers Association
Tokyo, J a pan
your publication concerning m1ssmg
children and your efforts to do some-
thing about it , I was compelled to join
in and thank you for the additional
information forwarded .
Being an operator of 28 family
amusement centers based in Quebec
and throughout Ontario, Nova Scotia,
and Newfoundland, and several fast
food restaurants and family hospitality
restaurants, we feel we are in an excel-
lent position to be of assistance in this
noble cause.
The arcade industry has some-
what of an image problem. Granted ,
there are some operators that do, in
fact , match the stereotyped facade,
but this exists in all forms of business.
We can't get caught up in this seem-
ingly never ending battle with the
press. We must get back to the grass-
roots of the industry.
I doubt our industry evolved from
someone trying to make a quick buck.
It is a fun business and a service-
oriented one at that. A good portion of
those services are provided for
children.
Speaking for myself, and others
I'm sure, I feel a family amusement
center should be bright, clean, and
always supervised. These are the
makings of a safe and enjoyable
environment.
Placing posters of missing children,
providing simple advice on how to
avoid potential trouble, and staff to
consult, does not require a great effort
on the operators' part.
I cannot understand why so few
operators have offered their support
and participation . It adds to the
service we supply and assures parents
and/ or guardians that the arcade has
evolved since they frequented them in
their earlier days . After all, most of us
operators are parents ourselves.
I find the toughest people to con-
vince are the ones that haven't been to
one of our family entertainment
centers. Those that have walked in
usually admit that times have changed ,
and for the better. They may have
come looking for their children, found
them , and perhaps even played a few
games with them.
The amusement center does not
have to be associated with the pool
halls of the past. Times have changed.
Parents now, more than ever, play an
active role in their children's upbring-
ing. Whether that means watching
television with them or playing at the
neighborhood amusement center.
As parents and community minded
citizens, we must acknowledge
V.O.C.A.L.'s efforts and do our part
to help the children, and the commu-
nities in which we live.
Jack Lerner, P resid ent
Amusecor Inc.
Mo ntreal, Canada
Welcome back
Afte r years of retirement , I have
joined forces as a marketing consul-
tant for Pop-A-Shot , Inc.
I am looking forward to the AMOA
Show and would appreciate greatly if
you would let my friends in the indus-
try know that I will be at the Pop-A-
Shot booth No . 2516.
Irwin Margo ld
Lake Worth, Florida
Audio VisuQI
Amusements
OFFERING THE FINEST
NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT
YOU ' VE TRIED THE REST, NOW TRY THE BEST!!
We're Eager To Serve
1809 Olive Street, St. Loui s, M issou ri 63103
314/421-5100
for furth er in for mati o n, ca ll Pete En tri nger collect
Supports V.O .C.A.L.
Thank you for your assistance per-
taining to V.O.C.A.L. and The Hide
and Seek Foundation. After reading
PLAY METER, October 1 5, 1985
JOIN US AT AOE '86
9

Download Page 8: PDF File | Image

Download Page 9 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.