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NEWS BULLETIN BULLETIN NEWS ...Mr. Mr. Nakamura, Nakamura, president president of ofNamco Namco Limited Limited inin Japan, Japan, resigned resigned from from 's board of directors during Atari's annual shareholders meeting Atari Games Corp. Atari Games Corp.'s board of directors during Atari's annual shareholders meeting June. He He had had been been chairman chairman of .of the the board board for for the the last last three three years. years. Another Another inin June. of Namco, Namco, resigned resigned along along with with Nakamura. Nakamura. The The board member, member, Mr. Mr. Kawakami Kawakami of board of a major interest in resignations stem primarily from Namco's acquisition resignations stem primarily from Namco's acquisition of a major interest in aa competitor and and the the resultant resultant conflict conflict of ofinterest. interest. The The remaining remaining board board of ofdirectors directors competitor of representatives from Warner Communications, Inc., a major is composed is composed of representatives from Warner Communications, Inc., a major ofAtari Atari Games. Games. The The resignations resignations do do not, not, however, however, signal signal aa change change in in shareholder of shareholder of Atari Atari Games. Games. But But Namco Namco Limited Limited and and Nakamura Nakamura will will no no the management management of the longer have direct involvement in the day-to-day operations at Atari Games. longer have direct involvement in the day-to-day operations at Atari Games. ofAtari Atari Games Games Corp., Corp., and and the the business business Namco remains remains aa major major shareholder shareholder of Namco relationship between between the the two two companies companies isis unchanged unchanged as as well. well . relationship . .. . . . . . . . . . . .Chicago's . Chicago's Bally Bally Manufacturing Manufacturing Co. Co. has has sold sold its its pinball pinball and and video video game game WMS Industries, Industries, whose whose subsidiary, subsidiary, Williams Williams manufacturing business business to to WMS manufacturing Electronics, is Bally's main pinball competitor. The deal had not been officially officially Electronics, is Bally's main pinball competitor. The deal had not been WMS will will buy buy Bally's Bally's coin-op coin-op assets assets completed atat press press time, time, but but reports reports are are that that WMS completed $8 million. There will be three separate divisions: WMS, Williams, and for about for about $8 million. There will be three separate divisions: WMS, Williams, and ofsales sales and and marketing, marketing, Bally Midway. Midway. Marty Marty Glazman, Glazman, Williams' Williams' vice vice president president of Bally said the the distribution distribution network network will will not not change. change. "Williams "Williams distributors distributors won't won't become become said Bally distributors, and vice versa,'' he said. The deal will include Linc-Smith, Bally distributors, and vice versa," he said. The deal will include Linc-Smith, Bally's cabinet/silk cabinet/silk screening screening division, division, Glazman Glazman said. said. "Quite "Quite aa few few Bally Bally Midway Midway Bally's Electronics," Glazman Glazman added. added. One One employees have have been been offered offered jobs jobs atat Williams Williams Electronics," employees such employee is Joe Dillon, who is expected to return to Williams as the vice such employee is Joe Dillon, who is expected to return to Williams as the vice president of ofmarketing. marketing . president Smart Industries' Industries' Clean Clean Sweep Sweep single, single, double double and and triple triple cranes cranes have have . .. .. .. .. . . .. ..Smart been approved approved as as legal legal by by the the gaming gaming commissions commissions inin Maine Maine and and Washington Washington been ''They did tests and studies of of our our State, two states where they have been illegal. State, two states where they have been illegal. "They did tests and studies of skill skill than than games games of ofchance," chance," said said Jeff Jeff games and and found found them them toto be be more more games games of games Smart. "Also, "Also, the the commissions commissions found found that that the thejoystick joystick and and the the program program operating operating Smart. the claw allowed movement in all directions, giving the player full control.'' Clean the claw allowed movement in all directions, giving the player full control." Clean Sweep isis distributed distributed in in Maine Maine by by Rowe Rowe International International of of Dedham, Dedham, Mass. Mass . and and by by Sweep Music-Vend Distributing Co. of Spokane, Wash. in Washington State . Music-Vend Distributing Co. of Spokane, Wash. in Washington State. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Sixteen .Sixteen people people were were booked booked recently recently in in Jefferson Jefferson Parish, Parish, Louisiana Louisiana on on gambling charges, following a month-long investigation by the sheriff office's vice gambling charges, following a month-long investigation by the sheriff office's vice 25 squad into into electronic electronic poker poker machine machine payoffs. payoffs. Undercover Undercover officers officers were were paid paid 25 squad cents per per game game after after accumulating accumulating more more than than 40 40 replays replays on on the the machines. machines. After After cents reaching the limit, replays were eliminated from the machines with a switch or aa reaching the limit, replays were eliminated from the machines with a switch or magnetic device. device. The The new new administration administration under under Gov. Gov. Buddy Buddy Roemer Roemer has has pledged pledged magnetic to continue these crackdowns on illegal payoffs. to continue these crackdowns on illegal payoffs. August 1988/PLA Y METER 3 August 1988/PLAY METER 3