Play Meter

TENYEARSAGO
April 1977 issue was
arcades. J.W. Sedlak,
y Meter' to s to arcades.
a devoted
l devoted
P P
J.W. Sedlak,
lay Mete r's April 1977 issue was
who was also the coinman of the
who was also the coinman of the
month, wrote an a rticle titled
month, wrote an article titled
"Arcades Plus" which answered some
"Arcades Plus" which answered some
questions plaguing arcade operators.
questions plaguing arcade operators.
In two scenerios, Sedlak talks about
In two scenerios, Sedlak talks about
an arcade operato r who suddenly
an realizes
arcade that
operator
suddenly
a new who
arcade
has
realizes that a new arcade has
opened down the street and is
opened down the street and is
attracting his customers; and anothe r
attracting his customers; and another
a rcade ope rato r who is faced with
arcade operator who is faced with
signing a long term lease and isn't
signing a long term lease and isn't
sure a fickle public will support an
sure a fickle public will support an
a rcade fo r that long. Sedlak then
arcade for that long. Sedlak then
offers that smart operato rs are
offers that smart operators are
o pe rati ng arcades-plus. The plus is a
operating arcades-plus. The plus is a
compati ble business such as fo od
compatible business such as food
service, ice cream parlo r, miniature
service, ice cream parlor, miniature
golf, computerizd golf, skateboard
golf,
computerizd
golf, skateboard
course
( hey, skateboarding
is
course (hey, skateboarding is
popular again!), o r carnival booths
again!), or carnival booths
popular
along with his game room.
along In with
his game room.
his interview Sedlak notes that
In his interview Sedlak notes that
arcades must be whe re the kids are
arcades must be where the kids are
and not next to an adult book
and not next to an adult book
store, massage parlo r, o r bar. He
store, massage parlor, or bar. He
also said that one of the basic
also said that one of the basic
machines you need is an air hockey
machines
you need is an air hockey
table (it's also getting popular
table (it's also getting popular
agai n!)
again!)
lay Mete r asked a panel of
P
a panel of
Meter to asked
lay
name the top ten
P experts
name the top ten
was one of the first
was one of the first
A tari tari
non-music manufacturers to
A
hold
non-music manufacturers to hold
annual distributo r meetings .
annual distributor meetings.
Phonograph manufacturers regularly
Phonograph manufacturers regularly
invited distributo rs for several days
invited distributors for several days
of cocktails, dinners, recreation, and,
of cocktails, dinners, recreation, and,
of course, business meetings. Atari's
of course, business meetings. Atari's
meeting I 0 years ago began at
meeting 10 years ago began at
Nolan Bushnell's mansion and ended
Nolan Bushnell's mansion and ended
at Pebble Beach. Atari unveiled its
at Pebble Beach. Atari unveiled its
new Triple Hu11t Just a sample of
new Triple Hunt. Just a sample of
those attending include Jerry Go rdon,
those attending include Jerry Gordon,
Ira Bettelman, Will Laurie, Press
Ira Bettelman, Will Laurie, Press
Struve, Joe Robbins, Al Rodstein , and
Struve, Joe Robbins, Al Rodstein, and
Dan Perrotta.
Perrotta.
Dan
SEAWOLF
IT
1
+
+
4
1 234
25
25
T
T first pinball machine, The
en yea rs ago Atari introduced its
en years ago Atari introduced its
first pinball machine, T/Je
Atan':m s. It measured six inches
Atarians. It measured six inches
wider than most othe r flipper games.
wider than most other flipper games.
One distributor said of the piece,
One distributor said of the piece,
" Call it a pinball , an arcade piece,
"Call it a pinball, an arcade piece,
o r a hybrid; regardless, its earnings
or rank
a hybrid;
regardless, its earnings
it as one of the top fi ve
rank it as one of the top five
games available today. "
available today."
games
Other new product introductions
Other new product introductions
I 0 years ago included Williams'
10 years ago included Williams'
Liberty BeU, Rock-Ola's Model 469
Liberty Bell, Rock-Ola's Model 469
phonograph , Rowe's C11mel ot,
Rowe's Camelot,
phonograph,
Playmatic's Sp e1ike11sy, Baily's Night
Playmatic's Speakeasy, Bally's Night
Rider, Gremlin's
Gremlin's CoMotion,
C0Molio11, and
Rider,
and
Midway's Boot /fiU.
Midway's S eawoff II
Midway's Seawolf II
Midway's Boot Hill.
experts to
arcade pieces of all time. The
arcade pieces of all time. The
Williams' Liberty BeU
Williams' Liberty Bell
4 5 4 7 3 8 1
B
BERTY EI
BE
TY BELL
BER
LI
experts we re Louis Boasberg of New
experts were Louis Boasberg of New
Orleans Novelty, Jon Brady of Brady
Orleans
Novelty, Jon Brady of Brady
Distributing, Ralph LalJy of Play
Distributing, Ralph Lally of Play
Meter, Roger Sharpe, pinball expe rt,
Meter, Roger Sharpe, pinball expert,
and John Trucano of J-Mak
and
John Trucano of J-Mak
Distributo rs. The games they chose
Distributors. The games they chose
included Rock-Ola's World Sen es of
included Rock-Ola's World Series of
1937, Chicago Coin's Wheels II,
Chicago Coin's Wheels II,
1937,
Chicago Coin's Speed way, Allied
Chicago Coin's Speedway, Allied
Leisure's Super Shifter, Atari's Ta11k,
Leisure's Super Shifter, Atari's Tank,
and Sega's Periscop e, Gremlin's
and Sega's Periscope, Gremlin's
Bl ock;1de ;111d Trapsl10ot, Midway's
Blockade and Trapshoot, Midway's
Se;1 Wol f, Heliocopter, Gu11fig/Jt and
Sea
Wolf, Heliocopter, Gunfight and
Sea Haide1:
Sea Raider.
Atari's The
The Atarians
Atari's
Atarians
12 PLAY METE R/ April 1987
12 PLAY METER/April 1987