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FROM THE TIIE EDITOR FROM WELCOME BACK, BAC~ EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT POLL! POll! WELCOME Ifact, it's been t's been been gone gone for for aa year. year. It's It's been been missed. missed. In In t's fact, it's beenmissed .miss~d. more more than than we we ever ever .thought thought it would. But m this issue we are welcommg back it would. But in this issue we are welcoming back our old old friend, friend, the the equipment equipment poll. poll. However, However, it's it's been been our revised and andimproved improved and and should should help help more more than than ever ever revised to give you an idea of what's hot and what's not. to give you an idea of what's hot and what's not. In our ourrecent recent state state of ofthe the industry industry survey, survey, operators operators In said that they depended heavily on other operators said that they depended heavily on other operators for advice advice on on what what toto buy buy and and what what games games looked looked for good. So So we we thought, thought, why why not not let let operators operators talk talk to to good. other operators operators through through the the magazine. magazine. other Here'swhat whatwe we did. did. We Wehave have operators operatorsfrom fromvarious various Here's sections of of the the country country giving giving us us their their lists lists of of top top sections games for the month. These are not manufacturers' games for the month. These are not manufacturers' arcade chains, chains, they they are are operators. operators. They They are are operators operators arcade who buy buy virtually virtually all all of of the the new new equipment equipment so so their their who lists should should give give you you aa much much clearer clearer picture picture on on how how lists those games are doing. Unfortunately, if you ask several those games are doing. Unfortunately, if you ask several operators their their favorite favorite or or "top" "top" game, game, you you will will operators assuredly get get several several different different answers answers depending depending on on assuredly what they they are are comparing comparing each each game game to. to. An An operator operator what who hasn't bought a new game since Sea Wolf will who hasn't bought a new game since Sea Wolf will naturallygive giveaamuch much different differentanswer answerthan than an an operator operator naturally whose latest latest purchase purchase isis still still hot hot off off the the assembly assembly whose line. This new format should give a better view of of line. This new format should give a better view the state state of of equipment equipment inin the the field. field. the would like like to to add add something something that that II think think is is II would tremendously important important that that may may be be too too far far down down tremendously on operators' operators' priority priority lists. lists. Return Retum On On Investment. Investment. on An operator operator recently recently pointed pointed out out that that his his best best return return An on investment right now is Xenophobe since has on investment right now is Xenophobe since itit has been further further reduced. reduced. "It "It may may not not be be the the top top earning earning been game, or or even even inin the the top top twenty twenty earning earning games games but but game, at the price you can buy it for now, it is the best at the price you can buy it for now, it is the best return on on investment investment II have have had had inin aa long long time." time." return certainly makes makes aa lot lot of of sense sense but but I'm I'm sure sure itit can can ItIt certainly be difficult and time consuming to determine the return be difficult and time consuming to determine the return PIAY METER/February METER/ February 1988 1988 1212 PLAY on your your investment. investment. ItIt isis understandably understandably much much easier easier on to quickly see ''how much" money each game is making. to quickly see "how much" money each game is making. However, there there may may not not be be anything anything more more important important However, rightnow nowthan than truly trulyassessing assessingthe the return return on on investment investment right on your your games. games. Many Many times times II have have heard heard operators operators on claim that during the boom they were just shuffling claim that during the boom they were just shuffling money through through their their businesses, businesses, not not making making the the money tremendous profits profits that that were were often often publicized. publicized. Sure, Sure, tremendous there was was more more money money coming coming in, in, but but there there was was an an there awful lot going out, too. awful lot going out, too. While you you are are looking looking over over our our new new equipment equipment While poll, consider your methods for determining your true true poll, consider your methods for determining your return on on investment. investment. Can Can you you honestly honestly say say that that you you return know which which games games would would top top your your list list of of the the best best know when itit comes comes to to your your return? return? How How about about the the worst? worst? when Keep it in mind when you automatically vow to buy Keep it in mind when you automatically vow to buy only the the top top games. games. The The highest-earning highest-earning games games do do only not necessarily necessarily have have the the best best return return on on investment. investment. not I hope you give it some thought and when you do, do, I hope you give it some thought and when you would you you take take aa few few moments moments to to drop drop me me aa line line would explaining your your formula formula for for determining determining return return on on explaining investment. Maybe Maybe we we can can do do some some sharing sharing with with each each investment. other. The more operators know, the more they are other. The more operators know, the more they are able to to evaluate evaluate their their businesses, businesses, the the better better off off the the able entire industry industry really really is. is. entire /l ~ Cognenich tf~n//;, /J Valerie "f~evich Valerie Cognevich Editor Editor