Play Meter

NEWS BULLETIN WAL-MART TO REMOVE VIOLENT-THEMED GAMES In a July memo from the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. home office in Bentonville, Ark. , the company notified its coin-op video game suppliers of the decision to "modify our amusement equipment program to make it more appropriate for general audiences." The memo called for the removal of all violent video games, such as Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Time Killers, and Lethal Enforcers by Sept. 30. More desirable equipment will take their places, including indoor kiddie rides, playtill-you-win cranes, pinball games, and non-violentthemed videos. Play Meter contacted Wal-Mart headquarters for comment. It was acknowledged that the new policy was the result of several factors , including recent publicity regarding game ratings and parental concerns. A spokesman added, "Our customer concerns are our main focus. " When asked if the company would continue to offer for sale home game versions of violent-themed video games, the Public Relations Department deferred to the merchandise buyer, who was unavailable. A call to a local Wal-Mart electronics department confirmed Wal-Mart's sensitivity to objectionable material. An employee cited several examples of audio tapes and books that the store has refused to sell, in keeping with the values of company founder Sam Walton. This move comes as no surprise to many industry m e mbers. Wal-Mart's sympathies surfaced at the spring Senate hearings on video game violence, when the company endorsed the concept of a ratings system and agreed not to sell unrated video games after a system was adopted. There are 2,056 Wal-Mart outlets in the United States and Puerto Rico. SKEE-BALL ACQUIRES NATIONAL SPORTS GAMES Skee-Ball Inc. of Chalfont, Pa., manufacturer of the classic Skee-Ball game and an extensive line of novelty/ redemption machines, signed a definitive agreement on Aug. 17 to purchase National Sports Games Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz. , manufacturer of sports-themed amusement games. The closing was scheduled to be finalized by Se pt. 1. The announcement came from Skee-Ball pre sident Joe Sladek, who said that the addition ofNSG is key to the company's continued long-term growth in domestic and international areas. According to Skee-Ball executive vice president Mark Kane, NSG provides a complementary balance to the Skee-Ball product line, strategic geographical positioning near the West Coast, and greatly enhances engineering capabilities. Immediate r e organization will involve the expansion of the Phoenix sale s resources, the merging of the engineering and design efforts, and the building of a larger facility there in 1995. NSG founders Greg Sullivan and Marshall Cook will remain with the combined entity and perform significant roles in the company's future direction. CRANES UNDER FIRE IN CONNECTICUT Referencing an existing gambling statute, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police, Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task .Poree, has declared crane-type vending machines illegal. An Aug. 11 communication from SOCITF commanding officer Lt. Michael Woodson stated, "These PLAY METER I machines have been deemed illegal, as they are games of chance , not entertainment, and therefore are considered gambling devices. Since most businessmen and other persons do not realize these machines are illegal, I suggest you so notify the managers of the involved gaming facility and have the machines removed. The State's Attorneys in the various jurisdictions have indicated they will prosecute continued violations of this type." Look for more details in the next issue. PROMOTIONS AT NAMCO Kevin Hayes, president of Namco-America, announces the promotions of Frank Cosentino to vice president of sales and marketing and Mike CooperHart to vice president of manufacturing. Together, Cosentino and Cooper-Hart have 34 years of coin-op experience and have been instrumental in the growth and development of the company over the past three years. LAZER-TRON GAINS UL APPROVAL Lazer-Tron of Pleasanton, Calif. , manufacturer of novelty/redemption games, has received Underwriter Laboratories' listings for the following games: Aftershock, Awesome Toss 'Em, Jungle Rama, Ribbit Racin', Shake, Rattle & Roll, Spin-A -21 , Spin-To-Win, The Wave, and Wild Thing. The company intends to seek UL ap- proval on all future games. OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE A number of distributors are planning post-AMOA Expo '94 open houses. Following are dates we could confirm before going to press: Atlas Distributing, Chicago, Oct. 6; Atlas Distributing, Grand Rapids, Mich. , Oct. 13; C .A. Robinson and Co., San Francisco, Oct. 5; C.A. Robinson and Co., Los Angeles, Oct. 7; Green Games of Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 31. MORE WACKY GATORS Data East of Melrose Park, Ill., is happy to extend the production run of its popular Wacky Gator novelty/redemption game. According to Data East senior executive vice/president Gary Stern, "Originally we planned on ending the run in June. When we made this announcement at ACME, our distributors ordered so heavily we quickly ran out of games. The number of games we were oversold made our decision to extend the run necessary. " CENTURY CLUB TO MEET AT AMOA Steve Kordek and Jim McNeely invite all industry veterans with 25 years or more under their coin-op belts to meet during AMOA Expo '94 on Fri., Sept. 23, 35 p .m., in Plaza D at the San Antonio Convention Center. Refreshments will be provided by Dynamo Corp. Contact Kordek at (312) 961-1000 ext. 1548, FAX (312) 961-1010, or McNeely at (210) 824-9223, FAX (210) 2280423, to advise if you will attend. WEST VIRGINIA STATE SHOW All 25 booths are sold out for the upcoming state show sponsored by the West Virginia Music & Vending Association, scheduled for Sept. 8-1 o at the Charleston House Holiday Inn in South Charleston, W. Va. For more details, contact Leoma Ballard, (304) 949-3289. 3 / SEPTEMBER 1994