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········································~ NEWS NOTES must elude destruction while hunting and destroying opponents, later emerging with a rank card. T-Mek Tshirts, hats , and posters are available at the command counter and merchandise display. For more about this new group entertainment experience , contact Elaine Shirley, (713) 251-0697; FAX (713) 251-0698. .IDATA EAST SHIPS THE MASK Data East advises that it is now shipping production models of its redemption game , The Mask , which is licensed from New Line Cinema. The big-screen film of the same name starred funnyman Jim Carrey and spurred the launch of an animated series slated to air this fall on CBS, a movie sequel for 1996, and a Kenner toy line. Mike Kubin, coin-op general manager for Data East, said, "We plan on The Mask being extremely successful. With its licensing power there should be a substantial life to this product." For more details , contact your local Data East distributor. ,/ACCLAIM DEVELOPS NEW TECHNOLOGY Acclaim announces the creation of a new data compression audio technology with capabilities of producing motion picture sound quality for the company's upcoming coin-op games . According to Tom Petit, president of Acclaim Coin-Operated Entertainment, the new technology "has the potential to radically change the coin-op industry's approach to audio , as well as the possibility of expanding the technology's applications across a broad range of interactive entertainment media." Acclaim's first coin-op title , Batman Forever, will utilize this technology. .I LOUISIANA BUILDS POSITIVE VIDEO POKER IMAGE Jurisdictions with legalized video poker know that after the long legislative struggle and anxiety-ridden start-up period, nothing is more difficult than keeping the program in place. Like South Dakota, Louisiana has experienced a rise in machine license fees and the percentage offunds funneled to the state , as well as challenges to the program's very existence. To solidify a positive image and to combat legislative proposals that would allow local option vote on the three-year-old legalized video poker industry in Louisiana, companies that operate and distribute the games have banded together to sponsor a series of four 30-second television spots. The spots highlight results of two economic impact studies sponsored by the industry that point to the creation of 9,000 jobs as a result of video poker, as well as the fact that machine revenue reduces the need for local tax increases and helps fund crime-fighting measures. ,/INDUSTRY VETERANS ON THE MOVE Mort Ansky has resigned as vice president of sa le s and marketing for U.S. Games , the Norcross , Ga., manufacturer of countertops and casino-style video lottery terminals for Indian gaming and all regulated markets. Ansky spent four years with the company. In his 14 years of industry service he has held executive sales positions at other companies , including Merit Indus tries . In mid-June Frank Ballouz will be leaving Capcom USA, the Sunnyvale , Calif. , maker of video games , re demption equipment, and photo booths. Ballouz is the company's senior vice president . He has logged decades in the industry, first with Atari and then with Nintendo of America before forming his own company, Fabtek, prior to the post at Capcom USA. ,/SJOLANDER BECOMES DIRECTOR OF IFECA Carole Sjolander has been named the first executive director of the International Family Entertainment Center Association. The association, which was founded in 1993, has been managed by Fun Expo developer Bellwether Expositions. The Fun Expo is the official trade show of the IFECA. Sjolander, who has been in association management for 15 years, praised Bailey Beeken of Bellwether and IFECA president Joey Herd for "a tremendous job of launching the IFECA" and detailed her priorities as "focusing on membership services and development and working with the IFECA board and committees ." The IFECA office will be located in Weare , N.H.; the phone number is (603) 529-0076. .ILAST BUT NOT LEAST • Leroy Chamberlain is the new owner of A-1 Products, the North Carolina-based supplier of arcade accessories. The company will operate under the name A-1 Industries. New office facilities are located at 8264 River Road S.E.. Southport, NC 28461. Chamberlain can be reached at (SQQ) 849-7763. • Atronic Casino Technology Ltd .. formerly Betstar of Carlstadt, N.J .. has moved to new headquarters at 4105 N. 20th St .. Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85016 . Michael Gauselmann serves as chief executive officer, Georg Steiner as chief financial officer, and Dick Vink as chief operations officer. Atronic is a division of Germany's Gauselmann Group , which develops , manufactures , and distribute s casino gaming devices and video lottery terminals. Atronic can be reached at (602) 957-8171 or CSOOl 864-7670; FAX (602) 957-9014. •Dan Highcove of redemption merchandise supplier Rhode Island Novelty informs us that the company has moved to 19 Industrial Lane, Johnston , RI 02919. New phone and FAX numbers are , respectively, (800) 528-5599 and CSOO) 448-1775. • Apologies are in order to a patient gentleman in Rochester, New York, who has received numerous FAX messages meant for Mondial Distributing, due to an error in our 1995 Directory. For the record , the correct FAX number for the Mondial office in Rochester is (716) 248-8777. We regret any inconvenience this has caused Mond ial or its customers. & ,/AMERICAN COIN MACHINE DISTRIBUTING REORGANIZES American Coin Machine Distributing has made a series of management changes in both its Seattle, Wash ., and Portland, Ore ., offices. In Seattle, Matt Davison has been named vice president of sales and marketing; Jerry Estes continues as branch manager. In Portland, Tom Grieve becomes branch manager after being in vending sales in Seattle , while Gene Ulrich takes the reins of vice president of finance . Ulrich will be based in the Seattle office . Former president Mike Mc Williams is no longer with the company. .ITWI DEBUTS T·MEK MEKROPOLIS Time Warner Interactive introduces T-Mek Mekropolis, a themed battle center based on its popular arcade game, T-Mek . Players pass through a training room for an overview of game controls and strategy, enter the launch bay, then take the helm of a futuristic hover tank and proceed into battle. They PLAY METER 3 JU NE 1995