Atari Coin Connection
Issue: Vol 5 Num 06 - 1981 October - Page 4
OPERATOR OF THE '80s
maintenance of machines. "A
reliable service network," con-
tends Jim, "is imperative in this
business. We constantly upgrade
games because if revenues drop
Stretching from Novato to San
off, we may lose a location."
Jose, California, Glenn Rowe
Jim's 26 years of experience
Vending of San Francisco is one
in the operating business has
of the oldest vending operations
helped him make wise decisions.
of cigarettes and juke boxes.
He believes that video games in
About four years ago, Glenn
1 restaurants and bars are the way
Rowe decided to start carrying
- - - - - , . jl of the future. He is contemplating
video games in their numerous
holding tournaments in some of
restaurant and bar locations. Jim
his locations. The promotions for
Ham, vice president of Glenn
the tournaments would differ
Rowe explains how they began
__ ..,. depending on the type of location,
using video games. "We noticed
either neighborhood bar or large
the increasing popularity of video
or small restaurant. He believes
games and decided to try a few
the proprietor is most knowledge-
in some of our locations."
able in types of promotions that
And according to Jim, Glenn
would be most suitable for his
Rowe is glad they did. "When
location since each owner is
Asteroids™ hit the market and
particularly sensitive to his own
stayed at the top for so long, we
business' needs.
knew that video games would be
Jim is an avid fan of video
a lasting phenomenon."
games. "He just loves Asteroids'"
He believes that restaurants
said his father, Roy. The years of
and bars are a natural locale for
experience in the Ham family,
video games " because they offer
along with their enthusiasm for
relaxing entertainment to the
video games, guarantees their
patrons. It's definitely the way of
continuing success for many
the future." He is particularly
years to come.
pleased with the cocktail cabinet Roy Ham , President of Glenn Rowe (above), and Gary (left) and
which allows room for a drink or Jim Ham (right) with ATARl's Asteroids Deluxe™.
Gary Ham, Jim's brother, works the kids playing the games. "A
two to be set on the game while
TECHNICAL TIP
playing.
as the shop foreman and is en-
few ground rules and being
Jim has been in the family
thusiastic about video games in aware of the games keeps ser-
business since he was 12 years the Glenn Rowe locations. As far vice problems to a minimum. If
old. His father, Roy Ham, is presi- as problems go, Gary cited one
the proprietor keeps an eye on
dent of Glenn Rowe. Jim worked called "the string" for which he
the machines there is little
for his father cleaning parts bins found a solution. Basically, the
chance for problems to develop,"
and washing down floors when
string is a piece of fishing wire
says Gary.
he was younger and continued
Jim attributes Glenn Rowe's
attached to a coin which makes
to help out at the operation even the game add up extra points.
success to two philosophies.
In some cases, a mini Trak-Ball
during his summer breaks from
Gary's method of combatting this "Number one is treating em-
may remain noisy even after the
college. Jim worked as a stock-
ployees with fairness," Jim
problem is to attach a string
ball bearings have been oiled.
broker following his graduation,
explained. Evidently Glenn Rowe The cause is a sticky ball.
cutting mechanism in the coin
but after four years he decided
control box. Jim and Gary both
employees agree, since less than
To clean the ball, spray the ball
to come back into the family-run feel that the important factor in
five years of service is considered lightly with household furniture
business. Jim is thankful for being keeping problems such as the
a "new hire". The shop super-
polish and spin the ball with a
"raised" in the business and
string to a minimum and increas- visor, John McDonald, has been clean rag. Do not spray too much
attributes the success of Glenn
ing revenue at the same time is with Glenn Rowe for 32 years.
polish on the ball, as this may
Rowe to his father's expertise.
to maintain a strict control over
The second factor for success is damage the coupler PCB.
Roy, Jim and Gary Ham of San Francisco, CA
Centipede™
Mini Trak-Ball™
Controller
Atari, Inc.
1265 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, California 94086
ATARI®
Q
A Warner Communications Company
First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sunnyvale, CA
Permit 317
maintenance of machines. "A
reliable service network," con-
tends Jim, "is imperative in this
business. We constantly upgrade
games because if revenues drop
Stretching from Novato to San
off, we may lose a location."
Jose, California, Glenn Rowe
Jim's 26 years of experience
Vending of San Francisco is one
in the operating business has
of the oldest vending operations
helped him make wise decisions.
of cigarettes and juke boxes.
He believes that video games in
About four years ago, Glenn
1 restaurants and bars are the way
Rowe decided to start carrying
- - - - - , . jl of the future. He is contemplating
video games in their numerous
holding tournaments in some of
restaurant and bar locations. Jim
his locations. The promotions for
Ham, vice president of Glenn
the tournaments would differ
Rowe explains how they began
__ ..,. depending on the type of location,
using video games. "We noticed
either neighborhood bar or large
the increasing popularity of video
or small restaurant. He believes
games and decided to try a few
the proprietor is most knowledge-
in some of our locations."
able in types of promotions that
And according to Jim, Glenn
would be most suitable for his
Rowe is glad they did. "When
location since each owner is
Asteroids™ hit the market and
particularly sensitive to his own
stayed at the top for so long, we
business' needs.
knew that video games would be
Jim is an avid fan of video
a lasting phenomenon."
games. "He just loves Asteroids'"
He believes that restaurants
said his father, Roy. The years of
and bars are a natural locale for
experience in the Ham family,
video games " because they offer
along with their enthusiasm for
relaxing entertainment to the
video games, guarantees their
patrons. It's definitely the way of
continuing success for many
the future." He is particularly
years to come.
pleased with the cocktail cabinet Roy Ham , President of Glenn Rowe (above), and Gary (left) and
which allows room for a drink or Jim Ham (right) with ATARl's Asteroids Deluxe™.
Gary Ham, Jim's brother, works the kids playing the games. "A
two to be set on the game while
TECHNICAL TIP
playing.
as the shop foreman and is en-
few ground rules and being
Jim has been in the family
thusiastic about video games in aware of the games keeps ser-
business since he was 12 years the Glenn Rowe locations. As far vice problems to a minimum. If
old. His father, Roy Ham, is presi- as problems go, Gary cited one
the proprietor keeps an eye on
dent of Glenn Rowe. Jim worked called "the string" for which he
the machines there is little
for his father cleaning parts bins found a solution. Basically, the
chance for problems to develop,"
and washing down floors when
string is a piece of fishing wire
says Gary.
he was younger and continued
Jim attributes Glenn Rowe's
attached to a coin which makes
to help out at the operation even the game add up extra points.
success to two philosophies.
In some cases, a mini Trak-Ball
during his summer breaks from
Gary's method of combatting this "Number one is treating em-
may remain noisy even after the
college. Jim worked as a stock-
ployees with fairness," Jim
problem is to attach a string
ball bearings have been oiled.
broker following his graduation,
explained. Evidently Glenn Rowe The cause is a sticky ball.
cutting mechanism in the coin
but after four years he decided
control box. Jim and Gary both
employees agree, since less than
To clean the ball, spray the ball
to come back into the family-run feel that the important factor in
five years of service is considered lightly with household furniture
business. Jim is thankful for being keeping problems such as the
a "new hire". The shop super-
polish and spin the ball with a
"raised" in the business and
string to a minimum and increas- visor, John McDonald, has been clean rag. Do not spray too much
attributes the success of Glenn
ing revenue at the same time is with Glenn Rowe for 32 years.
polish on the ball, as this may
Rowe to his father's expertise.
to maintain a strict control over
The second factor for success is damage the coupler PCB.
Roy, Jim and Gary Ham of San Francisco, CA
Centipede™
Mini Trak-Ball™
Controller
Atari, Inc.
1265 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, California 94086
ATARI®
Q
A Warner Communications Company
First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sunnyvale, CA
Permit 317
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