Play Meter

and A VMDA-the first step of
which could be the refraining from
attempts to depict Play Meter as
"good guys" and his competition as
apparently bad guys.
Allen J. F agel
General Counsel
Amusement & Vending Machine
Distributors Association
Editor's Note: Thanks for the com-
pliment, but in my editorials, I have
never taken any claim to creating
the industry nor any of the success-
ful games mentioned in your reply.
Nor have I distorted or misrepre-
sented any of the facts, as other
publications have and as others like
yourself have involving the conflict
between AGMA and AOE. Facts are
facts, and there can be no other
"version."
We have mentioned editorially
that we "welcome competition."
(See Play Meter, December 1, 1983,
p. 6) But does this industry need two
spring shows three weeks apart?
Thank you for confirming our
belief that the manufacturers and
distributors believe they are "the
industry," as you clearly state "AS! is
run by the industry." Everybody
knows the AS! is run by the manufac-
turers and distributors ' aJJociation.
Are you trying to imply that AOE
is not run by people involved with
the industry? Is Play Meter not part
of the industry?
P.S. If we are the bad guys, we
would have never printed your
letter.
We need you!
I know you have all heard the
famous Kennedy quote, "it isn't
what your country can do for you,
but rather what you can do for your
country." A few weeks ago, Seattle
had some serious problems concern-
ing licensing. A meeting was
called-in hopes they could show a
united front to the city council. A
great big bunch of three showed for
the meeting. Later one of the non-
dues paying guys was heard to ask,
"When are you guys gonna do some-
thing about these licenses?"
It's really sort of pathetic, isn't it?
I wonder how many operarors there
are out there who want the other
guy to do all their work for them and
not pay for any services rendered.
Please attend our meetings and pay
your dues. By sitting down together,
we find that most of our problems
are common to us all, and many
times someone has an answer to
something that is bugging us. It is
good to come away with the feeling
of having found a friend , and the
feeling that "he's not such a bad guy
after all."
You have ro lay the blame where
it belongs, and th'at is with those
who do not offer ro help. We need
all of you-not just a few ro carry on
the work load.
Bob Kline
President
Washington A musement &
Music O perato rs A ssociation
Taco ma, W ash ington
Editor's Note: Bob Kline sent this
letter in November 1983 to the
Washington Amusement & Music
Operators AJJociation. But couldn't
his comments apply to many aJJoci-
ations?
Operating In Canada
All the distributors in Vancouver
are asking $7,000 for the laser disc
games they are selling such as
Dragon 's Lair. Beg a's Battle.
M.A.C.H. 3. Laser Grand Prix, etc.
Do you have any price guides avail-
able to Canadian opera tars? Why do
Canadian operatOrs pay .$7,000 for
a Dragon's Lair when an American
operator only pays $4,100?
Does the expense of shipping a
game inro Canada from the states
justify these unreasonable prices?
I have found it very difficult, if not
impossible, tO buy a game at a
reasonable price here in British
Columbia (super hits-new). When
we finally do buy a new game, we
read that American operators pay
about $3,500 less for the same game.
I hope you can give me some helpful
answers ro my questions.
Name withheld on request
Editor's Note: We welcome response
from Canadian distribut ors.
Poker machines
Play Meter received these comments
on a subscription renewal form.
Absolutely not (renew subscrip-
tion) because of your continuous
diatribe (unfounded) against any
poker machines. Otherwise, it's a
good magazine and one which I shall
miss reading!
As for your "Equipment Poll"
letter (Play Meter, December 1,
1983, p.9), get it through your head
nothing, no piece of equipment
makes me any profit at all, other
than card machines. This fact should
be more than obvious by now to any
discerning party. All of my contem-
poraries report the exact same find-
ings tO us. We are through taking a
licking on video type games.
Without poker, me and my fellow
business associates are out of busi-
ness and will never be able to make
the payments on our foolish erst-
while video purchases. We don't
even make one-fourth of our invest-
ment back before the manufacturers
try ro exploit us with a new barrage
of concoctions! All operators in this
area are poker strong, video weak
(nonexistent). No more videos!
Stop speaking out against poker you
bigot and insensitive, officious mis-
anthrope!
An operator in Maryland
Edit or's Note: In case you're not
aware of the meanings of the follow-
ing words. we consulted "Webster's
New Collegiate Dictionary" for
their meanings.
diatribe: a bitter and abusive
speech and writing. a prolonged dis-
course. ironical or satirical criticism
misanthrope: one who hates or
distrusts mankind
Get ready for the AOE, the operators' show.
Read a comprehensive report of what's going to be
at the AOE in the April 1 Play Meter.
r
PLAY METER. March 1. 1964
9
---
1