Play Meter

FROM THE EDITOR y Valerie Cognevich Editor PLAY METER The good far outweighs the bad ou've heard people say that the good outweighs the bad when talking about a lot of things. And while the good might not really outweigh the bad, it's usually the good part that takes hold in our minds. Nothing cements this better than to attend a class reunion. You'll see your old school chum, and suddenly a fun, memorable time comes to mind. You can't help but recall that fantastic trip to the beach when your tan began to deepen and that really, really cute guy sat down by you and asked for your phone number. Oh, what a day! Of course, you totally have forgotten that your friend burnt to a crisp, her swim suit fell off in the ocean, her tinted hair turned green, and she saw her boyfriend walking along the water hand-in-hand with another girl. That astonished look on her face when you recall that picture-perfect day is enough to make you realize that maybe it wasn't so perfect in her eyes. In fact, maybe she won't even remember it, something like amnesia to block out the most horrible times. Anyway, children can sometimes do just the opposite. Once you are an adult, you travel back to your childhood and focus on one event that seems to have affected your future. You'll confront your parents about that day they wouldn't let you go with your friends to Cfill in the blankl. In your mind it positively ruined your entire life. You were probably surprised to realize that the folks didn't even recall what you were talking about. Again, everyone sees things from different viewpoints. Here 's a quick true story illustrating the point: I ran into a man who had a crush on me when we were in the ninth grade. He told me how excited he had been when I agreed to go to the local fair with him. He remembered that I let him hold my hand and that it was the happiest day of his life. Here's my side of that day: he had asked m e out so many times that I finally said I'd go because I didn't have anything else to do. I even explained that if something better came along, I would do that. Anyway, during the day he stepped on a pack of 10 ketchup, and it squirted all over my brand new shorts and white shirt. He did hold my hand but it was shortlived-just long enough for me to notice he had cotton candy melted onto his palm. Well, needless to say, it was not one of my most cherished memories. Our industry is so typical of a vast array of viewpoints spanning the many decades we've had a coin-op industry. Even when you bring up something that you perceive as being good, there's always someone with memories of the negative aspect ofit. This past year, the industry was bombarded with the issue of violence in games. It's a subject that will go down in the industry's history to be dredged up time and again. What will we say about it in the future? Those opposed to the graphic violence will praise the rating board and gush that it was only the act of placing these ratings that saved a generation of youth from witnessing savagery at its worst. Others will lambaste the whole concept a.s a total waste of time, claiming that ratings only alert the kids to the objectionable games, a nd suddenly it's only those they want to play. When video gaming became legal in Louisiana, some called it a Godsend, while others viewed it as the devil's work. I remember sitting in on some of the early meetings between the police and operators. If you ask each side about some of those early meetings, I'd be willing to bet (no pun intended) that their memories would be vastly different. Nothing has stirred up more controversy than gambling in any way, shape, or form. Even redemption is viewed in some areas as gambling. Opponents have gone so far as to call redemption a way to teach youngsters the value of gambling. Yes, it sounds absurd to us, but those spouting this opinion are firm in their beliefs. They are as sure they are right as we're sure they're wrong. Our 20th anniversary issue was an opportune time to relive some of the industry's past events. We received some wonderful phone calls from our readers on our December issue with stories of their own memories of a certain game, a show, or a story we recounted. It was fun, they said, to see old photos and remember what they were doing when certain games came out. Thanks to all of you who called and a very special thanks to those who placed a congratulatory ad in that issue. We'll have some more anniversary issues for you in five, 10, 20, and more years from now. Keep reading, we're making history!.& FEBRUARY 1995