Play Meter

SUPER GAMES
GOOD PRICES
Star Castle . ... . . .... .. . ....... .. .. ... $1,700
Berzerk ........ . ........ ... .. . . . ..... . 1,700
Space Firebird ... . ... ... . ... .. . . .... .. . 1,400
Battlezone ...................... .. .. . . 1,400
Eagle ......... . . .......... .. ........ .. 1,400
Missle Command ... . ............... . .. 1,400
Battlezone Cabaret .................... 1,300
Stratovox . ........ . . . ..... .. ... .. ..... 1,300
Carnival ........ . . ................... . 1,200
Space Invader . ........ . .. .. . . ...... . . . 1,100
Space Zap . ..... . .. . .. .. .. . .... . .. .. .. 1,000
Sprint II .. . . . ...... . .............. . ..... 500
Basketball ....... . ........ . ... . . .. . .. . . .. 500
Head-On . ... . . . ...... ... . . ..... . ... . ... 500
Super Bug .. . ....... .. ...... .. .. . ...... . 300
Limited Quantities-Call Soon
All ga mes read y for your locations
Terms: 25% Down- Balance C.O.D., Certified Check
THE AMUSEMENT GAME CO
10 N. Main-Box P
Salem, UT 84653
Call Toll Free 1-800-453-1200
SERVING THE HEART
OF DIXIE
With These Top Lines
Rock-Ola, Bally, Williams, Gottlieb, Stern,
Game Plan, Atari, Midway, Cinematronics,
Exidy, Gremlin, Taito, Valley, Dynamo,
U.S. Billiards, and American Shuffleboard
Centuri, Universal, Data East
FRANCO
DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.
1469 JEAN STREET
P.O. BOX 927
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104
205-834-3455
10
games business. It's more evolutionary. With games, the
longevity is such a great factor in the return on
investment, but it is hard to gauge what that longevity will
be.
A distributor can counsel operators along these lines.
He'll know that some equipment is better in the arcade
and some is better in the streets. And there are some
geographical perferences that will show up from time to
time. It's not necessarily true that a big hit in
Pittsburgh, for instance, is going to be a big hit in New
Orleans. So these things have to come into considera-
tion .
We're really deep into testing, test reports . We may
know that even though an operator thinks a certain
game is tops , he shouldn't load up on it because it's not
good for him . Maybe he should only have one. So there is
definitely a need for the distributor to counsel the
operator- even if that means to counsel against buying at
times. There are certain operators who might want to
buy extra large sitdown units that cost a lot of money.
And the distributor may know that these are good in
arcades but will have a short life in a street location . So
we really have to counsel the operator, and the smart
operator listens.
Another example is cocktail tables. There may be
some places where cocktail tables can't make him any
money. But we'll know from our experience that there are
situations which would indicate a couple of cocktail
tables as opposed to uprights. And this new slimmer
cabinet styling is still another example of something
which is turning out good for some locations and not for
others.
PLAY METER: Well, is it your feeling that the operator is
not relying as much as he should on his distributor?
RODSTEIN: If I were an operator today , I would
certainly try to learn as much as I could from the
distributor who has this broader view, who has been
engaged in field testing, and pre-produc tion models.
Certainly I would avail myself of all the information I
could, and the reliable distributor will not mislead his
operator/ customer. We're not in the business of selling
an automobile where the guy comes in once in five years
to buy a unit. We sell this man on a continuous basis,
monthly, even weekly in some cases . So it's in our best
interests do guide him as honestly and efficiently as we
can.
PLAY METER: From what you 're saying, games
budgeting was a more exact science in the days before,
say, solid state pinballs than it is today. Is that correc t?
RODSTEIN: Yes , definitely.
PLAY METER: So today's operator needs help in
figuring his budgeting, but you also seem to be implying
that operators are ex tremely hesitant to sit down with
distributors to rely on their aduice. Why is that? Is it the
fear of hauing the fo x mind the chicken coop?
RODSTEIN: Not too many operators are free with the
balance sheet. And you really can't help the fellow with
budgeting until you know all the factors . But, for those
who are willing to do this with the distributor , there is no
question that the distributor can help him. He's certainly
not a know-all, but he definitely has a wider view , and he
should know how to help since he knows what 's coming
down the line .
PLAY METER: Price and availability appear to be
among the most important considerations today for
PLAY METER ,
September 1, 1981