Play Meter

FROM THE EDITOR When we're bad we're better The state of the industry report and directory issue is the most massive undertaking Play Meter does each year. There are thousands of listings to check and thousands of numbers to tabulate. . And while we complain and mumble about the intensive work we must do and how little time we have to do it, once the issue is in your hands we're patting ourselves on the back about what a great book we 're giving our readers. The directory is a compilation of manufacturers , distributors, support/supply companies , associations , and trade shows. If you haven't used our directory in the past , I can 't imagine how you've been getting along! If you find that your listing is missing (heaven forbid!) or wrong, contact us immediately before you forget, so we can correct it in our computer for next year. If you are a new company, please do the same; send us the info so we can add it to our list. The state of the industry report is used by the industry and PLAY METER those researching the industry all year long. We are still getting calls for last year's issue. While not everyone will agree with all the figures, with over 200 operators taking their precious time to reply to our survey, I feel confident that what you see is an accurate representation of the coin-op industry. This report gives us a chance to put everything we do in perspective. Video games giving you a headache? Try some air hockey or foosball. How about pool or electronic darts? Take a loo.k at the numbers for each type of equipment. Perhaps you've been overlooking a money-making opportunity. This industry is a skeleton made up of many strong bones, like jukeboxes, pool, etc. Then there's ample flesh to give it life-video, for example. I know that things are soft right now and many operators, especially street operators, are wondering if there's life left for them. The answer is yes; don't give up. We love our industry and we delight in bringing you an issue you can keep as a handy reference guide all year long. Don't miss the index at the back. This is really a lifesaver if you're looking for a certain article we ran last year. It's divided by category or subjects and there's even a list of all the new products introduced. This has saved us some searching time when you guys call with scant details of an article you must haveyesterday! Thanks to all you operators who gave us your time and thoughts so we could put together this report. Use it well. --Valerie Cognevich , Editor 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Vo lume 21, No. 2 • Directory 1995 SPECIAL ISSUE state of the Industry 8 Sixteen pages of statistics , comparisons , and charts have been compiled to present a realistic picture of the coin-op industry today. Operators responded to our pertinent questions and held nothing back in their candid comments, so many that it required another four pages to print them. Directory 44 Every manufacturer, distributor, association, foreign company, and supplier to the coin-op industry is represented here . It is easy to find what you need since categories are divided by our exclusive and convenient tabs. Year End Index 270 Remember the management article that seemed tailor-made to your operation? But you can't put your hands on it? Fear not . Just turn to the index for a "year at a glance " refresher and find exactly the item you need, plus a whole lot more . cover Namco celebrates its 40th anniversary! Fourth photo , down/left: Kevin Hayes , president of Namco-America Inc.; Massaya Nakamura, founder and chairman of Namco Ltd.; Frank Cosentino, vice president of sales and marketing, accepting the award received at the IAAPA for Ace Driver ("Best Coin-Op Video Game "l. Photo right of the above photo: Massaya Nakamura. 1995 DIRECTORY