Play Meter

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By now you are probably wondering what happened to your Update News
Edition of Play Meter this month? Or perhaps you are saying to yourself,
'Didn't I get my Play Meter two weeks ago? What's going on here,' you
may be asking. Well, worry no more. What you are holding in your hands
is the first complete twice-monthly edition of Play Meter. That's right,
from here on you will be receiving two full issues of Play Meter each
month. I realize that this change in Play Meter's frequency may have
come as a surprise to most of you, but it is an important step that we have
been working toward for quite a while now. At last, it has become a reality.
In the early days of Play Meter it was all we could do to put together a
sufficient number of ads and proportionate amount of editorial material to
come up with one issue each month. Now, all that has changed. The
industry has experienced such a phenomenal growth rate over the past
6 ~ years, something had to be done. It became obvious to us, as we were
witnessing and participating in the explosive growth period, that once a
month was simply not enough. Things are happening so quickly in this
ever changing industry that it is next to impossible for a monthly magazine
to keep pace with an industry that's growing and changing from week to '
week ...
As part of our continuing commitment to keep pace with and serve the,
industry we care so much about, we have committed ourselves to
publishing 24 full issues of Play Meter every year. Our goal is to provide
you, the operator, with the kind of information you need when you need it.
And because of our new frequency, you will be receiving thal~.rnformation
twice each month.
Thel'e is no question that we are all involved in one of the fastest growing
industries in the world. Independent research has revealed that over the
past several years, production of coin-op games has almost tripled. The
number of manufacturers has at least doubled. When we first started
publishing Play Meter-back in 1974, our mailing list consisted of some
7 ,000-plus names. Today, that mailing list totals in excess of 14,0d0 names.
The number of people receiving Play Meter each issue presently is 8,300
-60 percent more than last year alone. And that's not all. Take a look at
what equipment is costing these days. The cost of almost everything has
doubled. Operator income has been growing at a rapid rate. So has the
number of locations and players. Those are all signs of rapid growth in an
industry that is still in its infancy.
As the leading trade journal for this incredible industry, it is our primary
responsibiljty to change with the times and keep pace with the growth of
the industry. Coin-op business is becoming twice as big, twice as high, and
twi ce as profitable. In order to stay ahead, you're going to need to know
twice as much. That's why Play Meter is going to be hitting you twice a
month. As the industry gets bigger and better, so will Play Meter.
In closing, I would just like to express my sincere appreciation for the
thousands of Play Meter subscribers who have demonstrated their
continued confidence and support. I would especially like to thank those
of you who came from all parts of the U.S.A. and abroad to attend the
Amusement Operators Expo (AOE) here in New Orleans. Thanks for
your overwhelming display of confidence; the AOE was an outstanding
success.
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher
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PLAY METER, June 1, 1981