Play Meter

FROMTHE THE EDITOR EDITOR FROM We've come long way We 've co me aa lo ng wa y from transistor transistorradios radios from I twas in the early '60s when I got my first t was in the early '60s when I got my first transistor radio. I remember it so vividly transistor radio. I remember it so vividly with its snappy black leather case, bright orwith its snappy black leather case, bright orange cover, and big speaker on a little handange cover, and big speaker on a little hand- held body that gave it a futuristic look. I held body that gave it a futuristic look. I thought it was the best thing I'd ever seen. Sega,Namco, Namco,Nintendo, Nintendo,Capcom, Capcom,GT GTInInlikeSega, like teractive, Midway, Intel, Microsoft, Electronteractive, Midway, Intel, Microsoft, ElectronArts,Konami, Konami,and andPlayStation PlayStationhad hadbooths booths icicArts, so big they had reception desks to help attenso big they had reception desks to help attenOne of the larger exhibitors confessed dees. dees. One of the larger exhibitors confessed that they spent over $2 million to attend this that they spent over $2 million to attend this show! show! was staggering to see first-hand what ItItwas staggering to see first-hand what the consumer markethas hasbecome. become.While While the consumer market very little at the show pertained to the very little at the show pertained to the coin-op/ arcade game industry, it was joltcoin-op/arcade game industry, it was jolting to truly understand why the coin-op ing to truly understand why the coin-op game industry views the home market as a game industry views the home market as a decided threat. There There are are literally literally hunhundecided threat. dreds of games trying to entice players to dreds of games trying to entice players to favorites. All All that that great great music music stay at home. There are add-on items to favorites. stay at home. There are add-on items to was portable! enhance the home experience like joywas portable! enhance the home experience like joyFor some reason, as I walked sticks, gloves, cabinets, etc., that profess to For some reason, as I walked sticks, gloves, cabinets, etc., that profess to the floors of the E3 (Electronic make playing at home as fun as in the arthe floors of the E3 (Electronic make playing at home as fun as in the arEntertainment Expo) a few cade. Signs dotted the exhibit floor boastEntertainment Expo) a few cade. Signs dotted the exhibit floor boastweeks ago, I kept thinking about ing about arcade quality play. weeks ago, I kept thinking about ing about arcade quality play. thattransistor transistorradio. radio.ItIt kept reEach time I saw one of these signs, I that kept reEach time I saw one of these signs, I minding me of how far we've would convince myself that coin-op is still minding me of how far we've would convince myself that coin-op is still come in just 3 5 years in electronthe "real thing." But the technology and come in just 35 years in electronthe "real thing." But the technology and ics and entertainment. Now we the games available for the home are pretics and entertainment. Now we the games available for the home are pretcan fax, modem, e-mail, or phone ty awe inspiring. When you see the numcan fax, modem, e-mail, or phone tybers aweininspiring. When you see the numhome from anywhere with handthe story under the "Through the home from anywhere with handbers in the story under the "Through the held units units asas small small ororsmaller smaller Looking Glass" column, you'll gasp. For inheld Looking Glass" column, you'll gasp. For inthan my cherished transistor rastance, over 41,000 people registered for than my cherished transistor rastance, over 41,000 people registered for the show. show. Then Then there there are are the the numbers numbers dio that only played music on an the Valerie dio that only played music on an Valerie AM station often accompanied by interferfrom Game Week reporting sales of video Cognevich AM station often accompanied by interferfrom Game Week reporting sales of video Cognevich ence! But I don't know game console software which topped that we feel that $3 .3 Editor Editor ence! But I don't know that we feel that game console software which topped $3.3 billion in sense of awe with each new innovation any1997 and PC entertainment softsense of awe with each new innovation anybillion in 1997 and PC entertainment softmore. Rather than being amazed, we have ware sales of $1.8. That's at total of $5 ware sales of $1.8. That's at total of $5.1.1 more. Rather than being amazed, we have it. come to expect billion spent on games for the home. And come to expect it. billion spent on games for the home. And We're not satisfied with just fast speeds thosenumbers numbersare areexpected expectedtotorise riseconsidconsidWe're not satisfied with just fast speeds those erably. on our computers; we want super duper, erably. on our computers; we want super duper, accelerated, lightning fast speed to get the Seeing the number of people involved in accelerated, lightning fast speed to get the Seeing the number of people involved in and the the number number of of home entertainment and information even quicker, to get the faxes information even quicker, to get the faxes home entertainment game developers seeking avenues for their on people's desks before they hang up the on people's desks before they hang up the game developers seeking avenues for their phone, and find things on the Internet creations, perhaps we're going to be equally phone, and find things on the Internet creations, perhaps we're going to be equally amazed at AMOA Expo this fall by the PCwithoutwaiting. waiting. without amazed at AMOA Expo this fall by the PCThe E3 show was an awesome experibased arcade games we've been promised The E3 show was an awesome experibased arcade games we've been promised ence, especially for someone who grew up andare arestarting startingtotosee. see.The Thetrickle tricklecould couldturn turn and ence, especially for someone who grew up thinking transistor radios (no calculators yet) into a flood of games for coin-op. We'll keep into a flood of games for coin-op. We'll keep thinking transistor radios (no calculators yet) you posted. .. werehot hotstuff. stuff.Some Someofofthe thebigger biggerexhibitors exhibitors were you posted. We want to hear from you about any of the articles in this issue or topics you 's like to see. Phone: 504/488-7003; FAX: We want to hear from you about any of the articles in this issue or topics you's like to see. Phone: 504/488-7003; FAX: thought it was the best thing I'd ever seen. You could rock 'n roll while you walked or You could rock 'n roll while you walked or rode your bike. I was in heaven. You know rode your bike. I was in heaven. You know teenagersare arealways alwaysexcited excitedwhen whenititcomes comes teenagers to music. The Beatles were hot but Bobby to music. The Beatles were hot but Bobby Vinton's "Blue Velvet" could help you Vinton's "Blue Velvet" could help you through a painful breakup (a through a painful breakup (a common occurrence when common occurrence when you're 14 or 15!). Johnny Mathis you're 14 or 15!). Johnny Mathis andthe theBeach BeachBoys Boyswere wereother other and 504/488-7083; e-mail: (news@playmeter.com). 504/488-7083; e-mail: (news@playmeter.com). PLAYMETER METER PLAY 1212 JULY1998 1998 JULY