Play Meter

FROM THE EDITOR EDITOR FROM THE .. Iof my Operators Want Qualit Qualifyy Produ Product ct ors Want Operat talk with quite a number of operators during the course theplayer. player.And Andthat thatpresentation, presentation,they theymaintain, maintain,includes includes totothe everything from the cabinet and cabinet graphics the everything from the cabinet and cabinet graphics toto the playitself. itself. Sega Sega illustrated illustratedthis this quite quite nicely nicelywith with Hang-On Hang-On play and Out Run; the cabinets did indeed add to the presentation and Out Run; the cabinets did indeed add to the presentation about certain problems or vent frustrations, I will usually the game. game. You You only only had had toto look look atat these these pieces pieces to to about certain problems or vent frustrations, I will usually ofof the follow it up with the appropriate company or seek other know they were special--no conversion kits here. I would follow it up with the appropriate company or seek other know they were special -- no conversion kits here. I would opinions. even go so far as to say that the games would have suffered opinions. even go so far as to say that the games would have suffered An operator I had a lengthy conversation with lately had the play not been coupled with special cabinets and An operator I had a lengthy conversation with lately had the play not been coupled with special cabinets and cited the proverbial good news/ bad news with the following graphics; the features combined in a dedicated game made cited the proverbial good news/bad news with the following graphics; the features combined in a dedicated game made complaint/compliment which you'll understand after you them truly something special. complaint/compliment which you'll understand after you them truly something special. read it.it. defined by byWebster, Webster,dedicated dedicatedmeans means aadevoting devoting or or read AsAs defined And although this doesn't seem to be a major issue, setting aside for a ·particular purpose, which aptly describes And although this doesn't seem to be a major issue, setting aside for a particular purpose, which aptly describes certainly not up there with the biggies in this industry, what a dedicated game is. The cabinet and graphics are certainly not up there with the biggies in this industry, what a dedicated game is. The cabinet and graphics are still it could become one. one. It's It's an an observation observation that that could could not made for any other reason but to compliment one still it could become not made for any other reason but to compliment one eventually erode erode the the confidence confidence operators operators are are beginning beginning particular game. Now, if manufacturers are serious about eventually particular game. Now, if manufacturers are serious about have with with manufacturers manufacturers and and the the industry industry inin general. general. producing dedicated games once again, I hope they are toto have producing dedicated games once again, I hope they are This operator recently bought a new dedicated game going to make quality games: · This operator recently bought a new dedicated game going to make quality games: that he he had had heard heard through through the the grapevine grapevine was was going going to to Fromconversations conversationsI've I'vehad, had,IIam amcertain certainthat thatoperators operators that From be a dynamic earner and was doing fantastic collections don't mind paying the money for a good dedicated game. be a dynamic earner and was doing fantastic collections don't mind paying the money for a good dedicated game. on location. So he was excited to try it out. But before They are not holding out for kits. But, in the words of on location. So he was excited to try it out. But before They are not holding out for kits. But, in the words of had aa chance chance toto put put itit inin aa location, location, he he had had toto do do the operator mentioned above, "I don't like getting taken." hehe had the operator mentioned above, "I don't like getting taken." some minor minor work. work. ItIt seems seems the the cabinet, cabinet, inin his his terms, terms, Considering what a kit would cost, he feels he paid $1500 some Considering what a kit would cost, he feels he paid $1500 "was the poorest quality cabinet" he had ever seen. He for the the worst worst cabinet cabin~t made. "I could have put the game made. "I could have put the game "was the poorest quality cabinet" he had ever seen. He for went on describing the problems that plagued his game in one of my old cabinets and had a better presentation!" went on describing the problems that plagued his game in one of my old cabinets and had a better presentation!" from aa caster caster breaking breaking off off toto aa hinge hinge pulling pulling out. out. "It "It he exclaimed. "The game looks like a conversion and not from he exclaimed. "The game looks like a conversion and not was so bad, I kept thinking how much better the game a very good one at that!" was so bad, I kept thinking how much better the game a very good one at that!" wouldhave havelooked lookedhad hadIIput putititinin one oneofofmy myold oldcabinets!" cabinets!" Maybe, just maybe this particular game is the exception would Maybe, just maybe this particular game is the exception he said. and not the norm--1 hope so anyway. Manufacturers should he said. and not the norm -- I hope so anyway. Manufacturers should Now that's the bad news. The game turned out to be not try to pass an obvious conversion-quality game off Now that's the bad news. The game turned out to be not try to pass an obvious conversion-quality game off everything he had hoped for as far as earnings went. as a dedicated. Operators won't stand for it--long. everything he had hoped for as far as earnings went. as a dedicated. Operators won't stand for it -- long. attractedthe the players players and andisis making makingthe the operator operatoraagood good To add add even even further further insult insult toto this this operator, operator, he he was was ItItattracted To return on investment. Since it did so well in earnings offered a parallel board of the game. "No, I didn't buy return on investment. Since it did so well in earnings offered a parallel board of the game. "No, I didn't buy the operator said he wasn't really that worried about the but it's getting more tempting when I see a manufacturer · the operator said he wasn't really that worried about the it,it,but it's getting more tempting when I see a manufacturer poor quality of the game. underscoring the presentation of a dedicated game and game. the of poor quality underscoring the presentation of a dedicated game and And although that's the good news, operators shouldn't then selling me inferior game cabinets in the guise of And although that's the good news, operators shouldn't then selling me inferior game cabinets in the guise of have to settle for anything less than quality product. dedicated games." Operators want quality games, especially have to settle for anything less than quality product. dedicated games." Operators want quality games, especially Dedicated games are making a strong comeback, no doubt . when they are paying quality prices; they want games to • Dedicated games are making a strong comeback, no doubt when they are paying quality prices; they want games to about it. it. Manufacturers Manufacturers have have stressed stressed the the importance importance of of make a fair return on investment. But quality can't be about make a fair return on investment. But quality can't be all factors of a dedicated piece making a special presentation slapped haphazardly into a game; it must be planned in. all factors of a dedicated piece making a special presentation talk with quite a number of operators during the course of my job and have to admit that most are very have to admit that most are very jobshare and experiences willing to over the phone but hesitate willing to share experiences over the phone but hesitate to be quoted. That's OK though, because when they talk to be quoted. That's OK though, because when they talk slapped haphazardly into a game; it must be planned in. IO PLAY METER/ August 1987 10 PLAY METER/August 1987