Play Meter
Issue: 1984 February 01 - Vol 10 Num 3 - Page 6
UP FRONT
FROM THE BATTLEFRONT ...
AGMA vs. AOE/PLA YMETER UPDATE
If you are behind in your reading-or perhaps
you've been reading the wrong magazine-you
might be wondering what's happened lately in the
conflict between the Amusement Game
Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and Play Meter' s
Amusement O perators Expo (AOE) . This editorial
should bring you up to date .
News stories have appeared about Play Meter
dropping the suit against sponsors of ASI. That is a
fact. Howeve·r, reasons why the suit was dropped and
the current status of the suit have not been fully
explained.
Following the AMOA Show, we received word
from its attorneys that AGMA was keenly interested in
discussing a compromise settlement outside of the
courtroom-but only if our suit was dropped .
Cautious, but hoping for the best, we agreed to
voluntarily withdraw the suit " without prejudice,"
meaning we could reinstate the suit at a later date
should it become necessary.
Even before AGMA and AOE sponsors reached
the bargaining table, AGMA issued a press release in
which AGMA officers claimed the withdrawal of our
suit vindicated AGMA of the charges brought against
them in the lawsuit.
We objected to the contents of that press release
and the president of AGMA assured us that he wou ld
make every effort to retract the press release.
This was not done and the press release appeared
in print in other industry publications and one
publication , in particular, even did so without
contacting Play Meter for confirmation or comments .
When the meeting took place no one from Play
Meter, nor any of its representatives, was allowed to
participate. Play Meter then agreed that co-sponsor,
Conference Management Corporation , would
bargain for a compromise with AGMA.
According to David Cheifetz, president of
Conference Management Corporation , at the
conclusion of the meeting, AGMA and the
Conference Management Corporation
respresentative shook hands on a tentative
agreement subject to approval of the board members
of AGMA and AVMDA.
According to Cheifetz, a counter offer,
presented after the board of directors met December
12, " bore absolutely no relationship to the tentative
agreement originally negotiated and it was a clear
indication of an obvious lack of good faith
negotiating on the part of AGMA and AVMDA."
Of course, Conference Management
Corporation refused the AGMA offer. Angry that
such an unprofessional attempt had been disguised
by an offer to bargain in good faith , Conference
Management officials vowed to join Play Meter in
fighting AGMA with renewed vigor.
In the spirit of eliminating the confusion of
competitive spring shows, Play Meter has done
everything in its power to reach a fair compromise
with AGMA. Despite those efforts, the war between
the two factions is escalating. A large number of
AGMA members have already dropped their
advertising in Play Meter which only serves to make
our anti-trust suit even stronger.
It is the intention of this editorial to announce to
the industry' s operators that Play Meter is reinstating
its lawsuit against AGMA, in an attempt to enjoin its
members from staging Amusement Showcase
International (ASI). We also intend to fight AGMA by
putting on the best AOE show the industry has yet
seen . The extensive AOE exhibitor list and largest
seminar program ever is proof that many want to be
where the operators will be.
We w ill fight AGMA on every front because we
know that an attack against Play Meter and AOE '84 is
also an attack on the vitality and stability of the
nation 's operators as a whole. We will fight by
standing firmly behind our commitment to betterthe
industry by informing and educating operators and
by promoting the respect and good name this
indus try deserves.
When I was a young boy, my father told me never to
back down from a fight, and to fight for what I believe
in , but always to do everything -possible to avoid a
fight. To this day, I have never started a fight , though I
have ended quite a few . I am confident, with the help
of our readers, we will stand together victorious .
Maybe just once, the good guys will finish first!
- - -------
Ralph C. Lally
Editor and Publisher
FROM THE BATTLEFRONT ...
AGMA vs. AOE/PLA YMETER UPDATE
If you are behind in your reading-or perhaps
you've been reading the wrong magazine-you
might be wondering what's happened lately in the
conflict between the Amusement Game
Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and Play Meter' s
Amusement O perators Expo (AOE) . This editorial
should bring you up to date .
News stories have appeared about Play Meter
dropping the suit against sponsors of ASI. That is a
fact. Howeve·r, reasons why the suit was dropped and
the current status of the suit have not been fully
explained.
Following the AMOA Show, we received word
from its attorneys that AGMA was keenly interested in
discussing a compromise settlement outside of the
courtroom-but only if our suit was dropped .
Cautious, but hoping for the best, we agreed to
voluntarily withdraw the suit " without prejudice,"
meaning we could reinstate the suit at a later date
should it become necessary.
Even before AGMA and AOE sponsors reached
the bargaining table, AGMA issued a press release in
which AGMA officers claimed the withdrawal of our
suit vindicated AGMA of the charges brought against
them in the lawsuit.
We objected to the contents of that press release
and the president of AGMA assured us that he wou ld
make every effort to retract the press release.
This was not done and the press release appeared
in print in other industry publications and one
publication , in particular, even did so without
contacting Play Meter for confirmation or comments .
When the meeting took place no one from Play
Meter, nor any of its representatives, was allowed to
participate. Play Meter then agreed that co-sponsor,
Conference Management Corporation , would
bargain for a compromise with AGMA.
According to David Cheifetz, president of
Conference Management Corporation , at the
conclusion of the meeting, AGMA and the
Conference Management Corporation
respresentative shook hands on a tentative
agreement subject to approval of the board members
of AGMA and AVMDA.
According to Cheifetz, a counter offer,
presented after the board of directors met December
12, " bore absolutely no relationship to the tentative
agreement originally negotiated and it was a clear
indication of an obvious lack of good faith
negotiating on the part of AGMA and AVMDA."
Of course, Conference Management
Corporation refused the AGMA offer. Angry that
such an unprofessional attempt had been disguised
by an offer to bargain in good faith , Conference
Management officials vowed to join Play Meter in
fighting AGMA with renewed vigor.
In the spirit of eliminating the confusion of
competitive spring shows, Play Meter has done
everything in its power to reach a fair compromise
with AGMA. Despite those efforts, the war between
the two factions is escalating. A large number of
AGMA members have already dropped their
advertising in Play Meter which only serves to make
our anti-trust suit even stronger.
It is the intention of this editorial to announce to
the industry' s operators that Play Meter is reinstating
its lawsuit against AGMA, in an attempt to enjoin its
members from staging Amusement Showcase
International (ASI). We also intend to fight AGMA by
putting on the best AOE show the industry has yet
seen . The extensive AOE exhibitor list and largest
seminar program ever is proof that many want to be
where the operators will be.
We w ill fight AGMA on every front because we
know that an attack against Play Meter and AOE '84 is
also an attack on the vitality and stability of the
nation 's operators as a whole. We will fight by
standing firmly behind our commitment to betterthe
industry by informing and educating operators and
by promoting the respect and good name this
indus try deserves.
When I was a young boy, my father told me never to
back down from a fight, and to fight for what I believe
in , but always to do everything -possible to avoid a
fight. To this day, I have never started a fight , though I
have ended quite a few . I am confident, with the help
of our readers, we will stand together victorious .
Maybe just once, the good guys will finish first!
- - -------
Ralph C. Lally
Editor and Publisher
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