Play Meter

Up Front
AMOA EXPO
PIOMISES EICITEMEHT
T
he AMOA Expo is the promise of
new-product excitement, and this
show certainly. will live up to that
promise. The razzle-dazzle of excep-
tional graphics, terrific new sounds,
and unique concepts are expected to add up to some
surprising new games.
Play Meter is proud to be among those offering
something new this year. The magazine has been
redesigned to make it more attractive and easier to
read. The new look is our way of letting our loyal
readers and advertisers know that we are planning for
an exciting future. We're happy to be able to present
a new concept and get first-hand compliments and
criticisms from our customers, which is what the AMOA
show is all about.
The manufacturers are geared up and waiting for
compliments and criticisms also. This is bound to be
the year of the cranes, and the show should be a
perfect forum for comparing advantages of the variety
of product. The AMOA has scheduled a seminar on
merchandisers, and anyone considering investing in
this equipment should make it a point to attend the
seminar.
There has been much debate and speculation on
the legality of these machines, and many companies
have made claims about their equipment passing legal
muster. The situation brings to mind the controversy
over gray-area games only a short time ago. I am
not saying there are any gray-area problems with the
cranes, nor do I intend to compare them with
gray-area games specifically, but as with video games
previously, they are coming on very strong. Cranes
are showing up in all kinds of locations in almost
every city. And as this industry is all too aware,
success of the equipment is likely to attract the
interest of local governments. And once government
gets interested--well, it probably won't be to help
operators make more money.
I think everyone needs to be cautious. Don't be
tempted to wrap a bill around a plush or use similar
enticements. Cranes and merchandisers are making
more money consistently than anything has for a long
time. They have been a boon to the coin-op industry,
and I'd like to see the phenomenon grow and not be
stymied by unreasonable laws.
Operators have endured too much taxation and
regulation not to know how devastating they can be
to a business. But, for the most part, the industry
has settled down. Bob Lundquist, in this issue's
"Coinman Interview," said what everyone has felt:
"The industry finally hit bottom, and now is the time
to start rebuilding. You don't start rebuilding a city
while the war is still going on."
As the industry rebuilds and strengthens, the games
you will see at the show will be some of the best
ever. And though there are bound to be some good
kits shown, there· also will be a large assortment of
dedicated games as manufacturers try to stop copiers.
The AAMA is not holding back when it comes to
fighting copiers and parallel importers, and it is
working with the Japanese and the South Korean
government. In fact, in David Snook's report on the
Japanese show, you can read about how manufacturers
are saying "no more" to the copiers.
As you begin your journey into the AMOA's won-
derland of innovation and technology, stop at every
booth--you just don't know where the next great idea
will come from.
ti~~~
Valerie Cognevich
Director of Advertising/
Executive Assistant
October 1986/ PLAY METER 7