Play Meter

Letters to
the editor
• • •
r
JAMMA chairman
The coin-operated amusement
game industry a nd its technology is
founded on the fair competition prac-
tices in which each company is sin-
cerely involved in furthering the
improvement and advancement of our
industry.
But, in spite of this, there are some
companies which illegally and im-
morally copy , pirate, and smuggle
games so as to solely benefit them-
selves. This has resulted in not only
hurting each member company but
also the real creators of the games.
In order to purge our industry from
these profiteers, the members of our
industry throughout the world have
taken legal a nd administrative action
against these perpetrators. As a result
of our actions, we have been able to
slowly squeeze these fraudulent com-
panies out of our industry. We are
determined to continue our efforts for
the improvement and growth of our
industry with the support and co-
operation of eac h me mbe r.
Yet, our industry faces another
issue, the impression arcade games are
corrupting today's youth. This social
enmity has increasingly threatened
our operators who a re striving to run
sound and fair arcades.
Masaya Nakamura, Chairman
The Japan Amusement Machinery
Manufacturers Association
Tokyo, J a pan
your publication concerning m1ssmg
children and your efforts to do some-
thing about it , I was compelled to join
in and thank you for the additional
information forwarded .
Being an operator of 28 family
amusement centers based in Quebec
and throughout Ontario, Nova Scotia,
and Newfoundland, and several fast
food restaurants and family hospitality
restaurants, we feel we are in an excel-
lent position to be of assistance in this
noble cause.
The arcade industry has some-
what of an image problem. Granted ,
there are some operators that do, in
fact , match the stereotyped facade,
but this exists in all forms of business.
We can't get caught up in this seem-
ingly never ending battle with the
press. We must get back to the grass-
roots of the industry.
I doubt our industry evolved from
someone trying to make a quick buck.
It is a fun business and a service-
oriented one at that. A good portion of
those services are provided for
children.
Speaking for myself, and others
I'm sure, I feel a family amusement
center should be bright, clean, and
always supervised. These are the
makings of a safe and enjoyable
environment.
Placing posters of missing children,
providing simple advice on how to
avoid potential trouble, and staff to
consult, does not require a great effort
on the operators' part.
I cannot understand why so few
operators have offered their support
and participation . It adds to the
service we supply and assures parents
and/ or guardians that the arcade has
evolved since they frequented them in
their earlier days . After all, most of us
operators are parents ourselves.
I find the toughest people to con-
vince are the ones that haven't been to
one of our family entertainment
centers. Those that have walked in
usually admit that times have changed ,
and for the better. They may have
come looking for their children, found
them , and perhaps even played a few
games with them.
The amusement center does not
have to be associated with the pool
halls of the past. Times have changed.
Parents now, more than ever, play an
active role in their children's upbring-
ing. Whether that means watching
television with them or playing at the
neighborhood amusement center.
As parents and community minded
citizens, we must acknowledge
V.O.C.A.L.'s efforts and do our part
to help the children, and the commu-
nities in which we live.
Jack Lerner, P resid ent
Amusecor Inc.
Mo ntreal, Canada
Welcome back
Afte r years of retirement , I have
joined forces as a marketing consul-
tant for Pop-A-Shot , Inc.
I am looking forward to the AMOA
Show and would appreciate greatly if
you would let my friends in the indus-
try know that I will be at the Pop-A-
Shot booth No . 2516.
Irwin Margo ld
Lake Worth, Florida
Audio VisuQI
Amusements
OFFERING THE FINEST
NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT
YOU ' VE TRIED THE REST, NOW TRY THE BEST!!
We're Eager To Serve
1809 Olive Street, St. Loui s, M issou ri 63103
314/421-5100
for furth er in for mati o n, ca ll Pete En tri nger collect
Supports V.O .C.A.L.
Thank you for your assistance per-
taining to V.O.C.A.L. and The Hide
and Seek Foundation. After reading
PLAY METER, October 1 5, 1985
JOIN US AT AOE '86
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