6
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/MAY 1983
AOE EXPO '83/NON-VIDEOS
By Mark "Bear'' Attebery
Vending International, San Juan Capistrano, CA
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Here we are with another Expo under our
belts and a lot of new ideas, companies, and
games to consider.
There were over a dozen totally new
non-video companies at this year's AOE in
Chicago and many more non-videos were
being displayed at this show than any show
before!
Among products being offered, there
were pulse units being shown by various
companies, some such as Omaco
Enterprises, Inc., had calibration tools and
synthesizers so the local operator could
adjust the units for accuracy and some you
simply send in once a year for calibration.
There were coin mech, coin rejector, coin
counter companies, lock companies, tool
companies and more. But the fun stuff is
what I'm writing about
With the constant profit that non-videos
seem to generate, the operators have made
enough noise to let even the most
stouthearted video companies know that the
operator wants some variety. So, many
companies are following Exidy's lead (with
Whirly Bucket) and branching off from their
oJd mainstays. Some old companies are
coming "back to life" with refurbishment
kits such as the Norton Company L.T.D.
out of Tampa, Florida. They were not only
showing Happy Feet, which is a "stomp on"
concept of Whac-a-Mole or Sweet Licks,
lhey also were showing a complete
( including chrome stripping!) refurb kit for
High Ball - a skee roll-type game. So, if
you want to upgrade your High Ball alleys,
give them a call.
There were food vending companies and
juke box companies that had really nice lines
to show this year, also.
The billiard industry seems to be doing
well also from the number of units shown.
Destron Corp. (see this month's "Bear''
Facts) was showing an enlarged electronic
mechanical version of your old style
mechnical robots that pound around on each
other until one knocks the other to pieces!
The unit was accepted well and tended to
crowd Destron's booth with people.
It's called The Main Event.
For you health (or law) minded people,
M.H.I., the Wright Group, Inc., out of
Elkland, MO, was showing their version
(new and improved) of the Breath Alcohol
Scanner. Talk about a bar piece!
Another unit that could go into an
arcade, bar, or a build-your-own-bowling
alley was Bowlingo. Bowlingo is a real
miniature bowling alley with pins that you
actually knock down (not up!) and the pins
are struck by the ball, not tripped by
switches! It was clean, sharp, and heavy-
duty looking! If any of you are using this
unit, get in touch with me and let me know
how they hold up. Produced by Duffering
Inc., out of Wheeling, IL.
One really sharp booth was being shown
by Marantz Piano Company, Inc., of
Morgantown, NC. They had computerized
pianos and displays that were really
impressive ( especially if you want to make
someone think that you can play the piano)!
There were lots of skee-roll type games,
but I want to mention one company in
particular, seeing as it's a orainchild of
Nolan Bushnell of Atari and Pizza Time
Theatre fame (among others). Sente was
showing their first non-video, Cheese Roll, a
clean unit ... what more can you ask? I
would keep an eye on this company, since
Mr. Bushnell's trademark is innovative, new
ideas.
If you want to attract customers to Your
location, there were signs that looked like
animation (bears, gorillas, etc.), but were
much simpler to maintain and cost as little
as $699.95. These were shown by A.B.C.
WHSE Happy Signs of Austin, TX. Then,
if you want true animation ( characters with
an average of twenty movements that come
complete with computers, compressors,
programs, and a warranty that extends for a
full 6 months, it's available to you through
Sally Animation Co. of Jacksonville, FL.
There will be a complete series done in The
"Bear" Facts on this system within the next
two months.
I.C.E. is doing super with their Chexx
system - the one I said was a super piece
in my AMOA review!
Don Taylor Sales out of Westtown, PA
had a cute puppet in a cabinet that sings
while a customer makes it dance using
buttons. The puppets can be themed to be
any character you want!
And when I say varied items were at the
show, I mean varied! You can order coin-
operated tire inflators if you want, but
•
they're not very entertaining. Then there was
Sit-Skates - a motorized roller skate that
you sit on! Well, it's non-video and looked
like lots of fun!
So far as kiddie rides went, there were a
lot of hydraulics and they really seemed
much more reliable and durable. Look for
the new rides explanation and
troubleshooting procedures in my column
which began last month. Peter Gurko of
Kiddie Rides U.S.A. will be providing
monthly topics in it
Remote control robots were available
from two companies. Promotional Concepts
Inc. of Atlanta, GA had fantastic looking
units that were running around everywhere
talking(?) to people. The Robot Factory of
Cascade, CO has been producing
entertainment and promotional robots since
1966!
There was a full scale shooting gallery
called Hillbilly Moonshine shown by North
American Amusement that is being imported
from England. It was very entertaining and
yet seemed easy to maintain.
There were two units that seemed really
sharp for the large arcade - one being put
out by Alter Enterprises, you know ... car,
boat, tank, etc .... remote control units?
Well, they have a sharp new unit that you
don't have to recharge. It takes up about as
much space as four video games and is
really challenging and fun! It's called Space
Rangers and you drive a remote-controlled
space wagon around a track or obstacle
course destroying various aliens along the
way. When you see it, then play it, you'll be
sold on it I'll be doing a complete technical
review of this unit in a future issue of the
Journal. Alter Enterprises is based in
Wharton, NJ.
Continued on next page.