Play Meter

CONTENTS VOLUME 23 NO. 13 DECEMBER 1997 C\MOC\ WRAP~UP/YEAR WRL\P-UP/VEL\R IN IN REVIEW REVIEW AMOA 47 47 The Legend in Reliable Coin Flow EVOLUTION IN HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT: EVOLUTION IN HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT : "Through the Looking Glass" attempts to answer the question, "Can high-end equipment pay for itself in my location?" "Through the Looking Glass" attempts to answer the question, "Can 51 51 high-end equipment pay for itself in my location?" CELEBRATINGAAYEAR YEAROF OF MEMORIES: MEMORIES: CELEBRATING Take a nostalgic walk through the year, reliving news stories, legal Take a nostalgic walk through the year, reliving news stories, legal issues, chart-topping games, new products, and advances in techissues, chart-topping games, new products, and advances in technology that shaped the industry in 1997. 82 WOODY & CHILLY page 82 nology that shaped the industry in 1997. 82 SCENESFROM FROMAMOA: AMOA:INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONALEXPO EXPO'97 ·97 SCENES 99 99 business meeting that tackled controversial restructuring. GAMES GALORE-A HANDY EQUIPMENT GUIDE: GAMES GALORE-A HANDY EQUIPMENT GUIDE: What left the biggest impression? It was a toss-up-the cow, DevelWhat left the biggest impression? It was a toss-up-the cow, Developer's Row, the Technician's Obstacle Course, the lively AMOA oper's Row, the Technician's Obstacle Course, the lively AMOA business meeting that tackled controversial restructuring. Designed to be user-friendly, this 15-page section has descriptions Designed to be user-friendly, this 15-page section has descriptions and photos of new games at the Expo for easy reference, whether 120 120 124 124 and photos of new games at the Expo for easy reference, whether you were in Atlanta or holding down the fort at the office. you were in Atlanta or holding down the fort at the office. NAMASHOWCASES SHOWCASESPRODUCTS PRODUCTSFOR FORTHE THE'90S: '90S: NAMA Technology, convenience, and selection were emphasized as the Technology, convenience, and selection were emphasized as the vending industry approaches the dawn of a new century. vending industry approaches the dawn of a new century. SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESS REPORT: SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESS REPORT: Management columnist Channing Hayden provides his annual re- Management columnist Channing Hayden provides histouching annual review of the concerns affecting average business folk, on view of the concerns affecting average business folk, touching on taxes, financing venues, technology, and manpower shortages. taxes, financing venues, technology, and manpower shortages. TEcHn1c1nn·s CORNER CoRnER TECHNICIAN'S 132 132 137 137 TECHNICALTOPICS: TOPICS: TECHNICAL Randy Fromm (exclusive in Play Meter) opens his electronic mailRandy Fromm (exclusive in Play Meter) opens his electronic mailbag and dispenses sage advice on how to keep games up and runbag and dispenses sage advice on suppplies, how to keep games up and running, plus troubleshooting power monitors, and more. ning, plus troubleshooting power suppplies, monitors, and more. BATTLETECH: TECH: BATTLE Larry Munday takes merchandising techniques and applies them to Larry Munday takes merchandising techniques and applies them to the arcade environment with helpful suggestions on what you can the arcade environment with helpful suggestions on what you can do to draw more players to your games . do to draw more players to your games . COVER TICKETS page 82 PLAY METER The NSM group enjoys the livelymusic musicfrom fromthe thenew newSapSaplively phire CD jukebox in comfortphire CD jukebox in comfortable surroundings at the Irish able surroundings at the Irish Time tavernininBrookfield, Brookfield,III. Ill. Time tavern Back row, (1-r): Bill Ward, OrBack row, (I-r): Bill Ward, OrlandoMarrero, Marrero,Jurgen JurgenJost, Jost, lando Maureen Coyle, and John TraMaureen Coyle, and John Tracy; front row ,(1-r): Tony Lantz, cy; front row , (I-r): Tony Lantz, DaveDrouillard, Drouillard,and andTodd Todd Dave Martin. (Photo by J.K.L. PhoMartin. (Photo by J.K.L. Photography Inc.) tography Inc.) 8 8 DEPARTMENTS News Bulletin • . . . . .i • • • • ti' . . . . . .3 Fromthe theEditor Editor . 10 . From Equipment Poll . ..12 12 Equipment Poll Up Front 16 16 Up Front Coin-Op News ...18 18 Coin-Op News Publisher's Message .. .. .. 34 Publisher' 34 s Message Who'sNews News ... ... ...36 36 Who's Beyond the Playfield ..38 .38 Beyond the Playfield International Scene ...42 .42 International Scene Field . . . . ... 50 FromLeft LeftField .50 From Cover Story ... .. . .. . . ... 77 .77 Cover Story 119 Time Flies . . . ...119 Time Flies IAFEC On the Move . ... . . ... 123 IAFEC On the Move 123 128 NewsFeature Feature ... .. .. . ...128 News 131 GameRoom Room ... . .. .. . . ..131 Game Tax Tips . . . ... . . ...138 138 Tax Tips .141 Sporting Edge .. .. .. ... 141 Sporting Edge What's New 142 142 What's New Classified .. . . .. 144 Classified 144 Calendar .. .. .. . .. .. . .. 194 .194 Calendar DECEMBER1997 1997 DECEMBER