Play Meter

,, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• News Notes over 7 5 locations in regional malls and shopping centers across the United States. ./ PLUSH-4-PLAY OPENS NATIONAL CRANE NETWORK Merchandise supplier Plush-4-Play of Cypress, Calif., recently launched the National Crane Network with the goal of acquiring contracts with restaurant, retail, and other national chains to operate and maintain skill cranes and other amusement equipment. Operators in the network will provide authorized equipment and service the accounts for the duration of the contract plus receive discounts on plush and crane purchases made through Plush-4-Play. In addition, the company introduced the Maximizer Skill Crane, a new line of jumbo cranes available in 66" and 42" models, and the Maximizer '66 Conversion that updates standard cranes to jumbo format. For more details, contact Plush-4-Play, (800) 252-3687. ./ ACCLAIM ACQUIRES SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS Acclaim Entertainment Inc. has completed acquisitions of Probe Entertainment Ltd. of London, England, and Sculptured Software Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, two of the leading independent entertainment software developers. According to Acclaim president Robert Holmes: "We consider these vital and exciting acquisitions which bring to Acclaim some of the most creative and technologically astute talent in the world today." The company also announced an alliance with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to jointly publish interactive entertainment software based on several Warner Bros. feature films currently in development. Together they will publish three titles across all video game platforms, including next-generation game systems, coin-op arcade venues, and personal computer-based formats. ./ IAAPA BULLETIN CAUTIONS EXHIBITORS The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions has published an Exhibitor Bulletin prior to its Nov. 14-18 trade show in New Orleans. Among the items covered are hotel updates, Galaxy card registration, and "permits for certain games." Considering the removal of some games at the recent AMOA Expo '95, the caution bears reprinting: "IAAPA advises any manufacturer displaying games of chance in New Orleans to verify that they have all necessary permits filed with the proper authorities. For example, state law requires any game utilizing playing cards to be licensed by the Louisiana State Police. "According to James Morrison, attorney for the New Orleans Convention and Visitor's Bureau, licensing includes machines and exhibitors (both have to be licensed in Louisiana). Morrison suggests that if exhibitors have questions concerning their games, electronic or otherwise, that they contact the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Gaming Corp., or the Louisiana Riverboat Gaming Commission.".A. .; SEGA TEAMS WITH DREAMWORKS AND MCA-UNIVERSAL Sega Enterprises has joined forces with the new movie studio DreamWorks SKG and communications giant MCA-Universal to form a joint venture company to develop location-based entertainment centers. The new venture will be headed by Skip Paul, presently vice president of MCA Inc. and president of MCA Enterprises Inc. We spoke with Al Stone, president of Sega Enterprises Inc. USA about the agreement. Stone commented, "With all the players involved, Sega in association with MCA and DreamWorks; with all the creative talent; and all the properties and expertise brought to the table by such companies, we're excited. We're going to be a bigger and stronger supplier of amusement games for the amusement industry. We will move forward and create a new branded form of entertainment that will be the standard of the industry for the future." Stone acknowledged that the joint venture has raised questions about Sega's future. He explained, "People should not be concerned that there will be a totally new company. Along with the new opportunities, it will not only be business as usual, but business better than usual with Sega as you know it today." Last fall, Play Meter hinted at upcoming collaborative efforts among these companies when we snapped a photo of Paul with Stone, Sega's Masahiro Nakagawa, and Universal Interactive Studios' Mark Cerny at AMOA Expo '94 in San Antonio, Texas. ./ ALLIANCE/BALLY/WMS BATTLE PLAYS OUT It appears that Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas Nev., is the winner in the battle to acquire Bally Gaming International of Las Vegas. Chicago-based WMS Gaming had been the apparent front-runner in the takeover. Now Alliance will acquire Bally Gaming in a cash and stock deal of nearly $13 9 million, according to newspaper accounts. In turn, Alliance will assume nearly $75 million in Bally Gaming debt. WMS had offered a stock-only swap. Stockholders must approve the deal, which is scheduled to close in January. ./ POCKET CHANGE PURCHASES FUN-N-GAMES Pocket Change America Inc. and affiliate Pocket Change and Games Inc. announced the purchase of Funn-Games amusement centers from DeBartolo Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary The Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. of Ohio. Pocket Change's amusement centers, which are based in Newark, Del., offer video and redemption games, pinballs, kiddie rides, carousels, simulators. and virtual reality attractions. According to Arthur Helmick, president of Pocket Change: "This transaction provides an exciting opportunity for Pocket Change to continue its commitment to provide first-class family amusement in regional shopping malls. Fun-n-Games presently operates PLAY METER 3 NOVEMBER 1995