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FROM THE THE EDITOR EDITOR FROM Isn't our industry Is n't ou r in dustry more than than video? video? more I know that this editorial should Ffrankly, beabout aboutthe theACME ACMEand andIIhave haveevery every intention intention F be rankly, I know that this editorial should coveringthat thatsubject. subject. But Butthere thereare aresome someother other ofofititcovering things II would would like liketo to say say first. first. things I got quite a few comments onmy my last lasteditorial, editorial, I got quite a few comments on ranging from those who love the movie ''Somewhere 4ranging from those who love the movie "Somewhere Time,'' to todistributors distributorswho whocalled calledto totell tellme mejust just ininTime," why they buy certain ... uh ... less-than-desirable why they buy certain ... uh ... less-than-desirable gamesfrom frommanufacturers. manufacturers. And Andjust justwhy whydo dothey? they? games Because some manufacturers have a way of threatenBecause some manufacturers have a way of threateningdistributors distributorswith withloss lossof oflines. lines. "We ''Wedistributors distributors ing value our lines and can't afford to tell a manufacturer value our lines and can't afford to tell a manufacturer takehis hisgames gamesand andput putthem themwhere wherethe thesun sundon't don't tototake shine,'' offered one rather disgruntled distributor, shine," offered one rather disgruntled distributor, who,for forobvious obviousreasons, reasons,didn't didn'twant wanthis hisname nameused. used. who, Another went a little further, but I couldn't possibly Another went a little further, but I couldn't possibly printwhat whathe hesaid. said .The Thedistributors distributorsare arebeing beingscrunscrunprint ched in the middle of the classic rock and a hard place. ched in the middle of the classic rock and a hard place. Domanufacturers manufacturersreally really feel feel that thatififthey they produce produceaa Do bad game their distributors owe it to them to takepart part bad game their distributors owe it to them to take of the burden? Distributors sure don't have the luxof the burden? Distributors sure don't have the luxuryofofforcing forcingoperators operatorstotoshare sharethe thefinancial financialburden burden ury badgame. game. ofofaabad There arethose thosemanufacturers manufacturerswho whotruly trulybelieve believe There are a distributor/manufacturer relationship is a partnera distributor/manufacturer relationship is a partnership,and andthose thosewho whodo dodeserve deservethe thehighest highestpraise. praise. ship, The distributors who bitterly related horror stories The distributors who bitterly related horror stories about certain manufacturers were quick to mention about certain manufacturers were quick to mention somethat thathave haveearned earnedtheir theirloyalty. loyalty. IIdon't don'thave haveto to some mentionthem themhere herebecause becausethey theyknow knowwho whothey theyare. are. mention Better yet, the distributors know who they are. ComBetter yet, the distributors know who they are. Companies that that have have the the attitude attitude that that once once aa game game isis panies sold-it's sold, will lose in the end. Loyalty goes two sold-it's sold, will lose in the end. Loyalty goes two ways . ways. Backtotothe theshow. show.There Therewere wereaacouple coupleof ofoutstanoutstanBack ding video games but most were about what wasexex-ding video games but most were about what was pected. Operators inspected other types of equipment pected. Operators inspected other types of equipment little closer, closer, trying trying to to find find ways ways to to increase increase aa little revenues. Jukeboxes proved they haven't losttheir their revenues. Jukeboxes proved they haven't lost appeal; there were some outstanding offerings from appeal; there were some outstanding offerings from jukebox manufacturers. I'm excited about a new jukebox manufacturers. I'm excited about a new American manufacturer manufacturer soon soon to to be be announcedannouncedAmerican PLAY METER/ April 1989 88PLAY METER/April 1989 Yankee Games Games (isn't (isn't that that aa great great name!). name!). Ed Ed Yankee Pellegrini of of Atlas Atlas Distributing Distributing and and Incredible Incredible Pellegrini Technologies(who (whogave gaveyou youCapcom CapcomBowling) Bowling)have have Technologies formedthe thejoint jointventure ventureand andwill willbe beintroducing introducingtheir their formed first game, Grudge Match. It looks pretty good! Isn't first game, Grudge Match. It looks pretty good! Isn't thought-provokingthat thatLeland, Leland,Atari, Atari,and andeven evenExExititthought-provoking idy,had hadtop-rated top-ratedgames gamesatatthe theshow showand and were werethe the idy, result of American research and development! And result of American research and development! And now,there therewill willbe beanother anotherAmerican Americancompany companyofferoffernow, ingthe theindustry industryproduct. product. Looks Lookslike likethe theAmericans Americans ing areininthere thereworking. working. are But ... the talk theshow showseemed seemedtotofocus focuson onhome home But ... the talk atatthe videogames, games, or orNintendo Nintendoas ashome homevideo videogames gamesare are video better known. Operators seemed to vent their frustrabetter known. Operators seemed to vent their frustrationson onNintendo, Nintendo, forgetting forgetting that thatjust justabout aboutevery every tions other company is feverishly pumping out software to other company is feverishly pumping out software to support the systems. I have one question for all of you support the systems. I have one question for all of you operatorswho whohave havelabeled labeledNintendo Nintendoaatraitor traitortotocoincoinoperators op.Have Haveyou youever everlost lostmoney moneyon onaaNintendo Nintendogame? game? op. Think way back to Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong , Think way back to Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong, then to to the the original originalVS. VS. system. system. Now Now think thinkabout about then someofofthe theother othercompanies companiesscattered scatteredaround aroundthe theexexsome hibithall. hall. hibit I refuse getinto into aa lengthy lengthydiscussion discussion on on home home I refuse totoget video games , but I'd like to point out that Nintendo video games, but I'd like to point out that Nintendo hascontinued continuedto tosupport supportits itscoin-op coin-opdivision divisionwith withaa has libraryofoftitles titlesfor forits itsPlayChoice-10 PlayChoice-10and andconversions conversions library operators have asked for. It seems you have givenup up operators have asked for. It seems you have given on them long before they are ready to give up on you. on them long before they are ready to give up on you. I'msort sortofoftired tiredofofhearing hearingcomplaints complaintsabout aboutNintendo Nintendo I'm screwing up the industry. This is not the video game screwing up the industry. This is not the video game industry. It's It's the the coin-op coin-op entertainment entertainment industry. industry. industry. When we start saying that one company is destroyWhen we start saying that one company is destroying our industry, we better start assessing just what ing our industry, we better start assessing just what our industry really is all about. D our industry really is all about. Valerie Cognemich ValerieCognevich Cognevich Valerie Editor Editor