Play Meter

UP FRONT
We are pleased to present Play Meter's 1982 State
of the Industry issue. As you can see, this issue is full of
current economic and statistical information about this
industry .
In addition , you have the chance to read what
operators would like to tell manufacturers and dis-
tributors. Their words ring out loud and clear , and the
things they say underscore the major problems facing
the industry today. You will also read how some opera-
tors are planning for the difficult times that lie ahead
and how the AMOA and our state associations' role in
the operators' struggle is becoming more important
than ever.
The majority of information in this issue was com-
piled from our recently conducted 1982 Subscribers '
Survey. We are particularly pleased with this year ' s
survey . It turned out to be the largest and most com-
prehensive study of its type ever undertaken by a
publication serving this industry.
On behalf of the entire staff at Play Meter, I would
like to especially thank the 693 operators out there that
put forth the time and effort answering this year ' s
survey . Without your devotion and support , this entire
issue would not have been possible. Believe me , you
are appreciated , and your voices will be heard.
As for the state of the industry itself, I won ' t try to
sum it up here . It has taken this whole issue to accom-
plish that task . It will come as no surprise to any of you
that all is not well. Operators all across the country have
been reporting their collections are down 20 to 30
percent compared to this same time last year .
Our '82 survey confirms that sales of new video
games have hit an all-time high. What we have
here is a market that has matured at the expense of
becoming saturated . That is not to say that there are no
new markets for video games-there will always be
new markets. I just don't see any promising prospects
at this point in time. It almost seems as if every con-
ceivable location that could want a video game has one
or more.
Having all those games in all those locations was
well and good with outstanding games such as
A st eroids, Pac-Man , and Defender. But where were
the likes of such games this year? With the possible
exception of Donkey Kong , and M s. Pac-Man, which
continued to ride the crest of the Pac-Man wave , we
had no super sensational hit games this year .
Whatever the reason , operators are paying top dollar
for games that are not earning as much as their counter-
parts of one year ago nor are they lasting as long on
location .
Aside from these economic problems , more than
one third of our nation's operators are hampered at the
local level by all sorts of legal restrictions , higher taxes,
higher license fees, and the like . All in all , one could say
that this industry is faced with a rather dismal situation.
There are, however, a few rays of hope . Although
there will be a shakeout at the manufacturing and
operator level , the demand for games and music will
always be there and the industry will prevail. What
we're looking for is to see fewer models but better
games coming off assembly line s, a bigger move
toward the convertible game s concept , the legal
lice nsing and selling of speed-up kit s, and the con-
tinued success of national , state , and local associations
in their fight against local legislation.
It has been said that this industry is recession
proof. Until now, that old industry adage seemed to be
true. If we finally have been hurt by our country' s
economic recession, then let us hope that that means
the recession has finally bottomed out. And if this
recession is to make a recovery , let us hope that the last
industry affected will be the first industry to recover .
:;;;;&¥-
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher