- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - NEWS BULLETIN ... . . . . . ..Equipment .Equipment Poll Poll III, Ill, The The Revenge Revenge is is what what we we would would call call itit if if itit were were aa game. game. We're We're back back on on track track with with aa carefully carefully planned poll poll that that will will debut debut next next month. month . Operators, Operators, look look for for your your Official Official Ballot Ballot in in this this issue issue and and return return immediately! immediately! Rate Rate planned your games on a scale of one to ten. Help us help you make informed buying choices . your games on a scale of one to ten. Help us help you make informed buying choices. of Sunsoft Sunsoft Corp. Corp. of of America America and and its its subsidiary, subsidiary, Sunsoft, Sunsoft, has has resigned resigned his his position position as as of of March March . . . . . ..Joe .Joe Robbins, Robbins, president president of of Sun Sun Electronics Electronics of of Japan. Japan. Yoshi Homma, Sun's Sun's vice vice 31. He He will will become become personal personal consultant consultant to to Mr. Mr. Maeda, Maeda, chairman chairman of 31. Yoshi Homma, of finance, finance, has has been been promoted promoted to to acting acting president president effective effective April April 1. I . No No time time frame frame has has been been set set as as to to when when aa president of president permanent president president will will be be named. named. Robbins Robbins has has been been president president for for the the past past three three years; years; he he had had assumed assumed the the post post after after selling selling permanent Kitkorp to to Sun Sun Electronics Electronics of of Japan. Japan. Robbins Robbins isis founder founder of of the the Amusement Amusement Game Game Manufacturers Manufacturers Association Association and and the the Kitkorp Charitable Foundation. Foundation . Charitable . ... .. .British British leisure leisure field field giant giant Corton Corton Beach Beach PLC PLC is is in in the the midst midst of of negotiations negotiations to to acquire acquire New New York York distributor distributor R.H. R.H. Belam Belam Co. " We have an agreement in principle; Corton Beach has made us an attractive offer, and we're considering it," said Co. "We have an agreement in principle; Corton Beach has made us an attractive offer, and we're considering it," said "I'm looking looking at at aa late late spring/early spring/early summer summer time time frame frame if if aa favorable favorable agreement agreement isis worked worked out." out. " Belam President President Marc Marc Haim. Haim. "I'm Belam Corton Beach, Beach, which which isis headed headed by by Mike Mike Keen, Keen, recently recently purchased purchased the the Dutch Dutch parts parts and and supplies supplies company company Suzo Suzo Trading. Trading . Suzo Suzo Corton will be be integrated integrated into into Corton Corton Beach's Beach's expanding expanding leisure leisure division division under under the the umbrella umbrella of of Deith Deith Leisure. Leisure. (Deith (Deith Leisure Leisure is is will headed by by Bob Bob Deith; Deith; his his son, son, Simon, Simon, returned returned to to Belam Belam as as vice vice president president in in charge charge of of domestic domestic operations operations after after aa stint stint at at headed Betson Enterprises.) Enterprises.) Betson ...On On March March 3, 3, Atari Atari Games Games and and its its wholly-owned wholly-owned subsidiary, subsidiary, Tengen, Tengen, were were granted granted aa preliminary preliminary injunction injunction which which prohibits both Nintendo Co. Ltd . and Nintendo America from suing retailers who carry Tengen products for infringement of prohibits both Nintendo Co. Ltd. and Nintendo America from suing retailers who carry Tengen products for infringement of Nintendo's patent. patent. This This latest latest development development in in the the lawsuit lawsuit between between the the video video game game giants giants prevents prevents Nintendo Nintendo from from filing filing suit suit Nintendo's against Tengen Tengen retailers retailers until until patent patent infringement infringement disputes disputes between between the the companies companies are are formally formally resolved. resolved . against . .. .. ... Williams Williams Electronics Electronics has has started started aa promotional promotional program program in in conjunction conjunction with with its its hit hit video, video, NARC. NARC. For For every every NARC NARC that that 10, they'll find a special $ 100 "bonus buck" affixed to operators purchase from their local authorized distributor before May operators purchase from their local authorized distributor before May 10, they'll find a special $100 "bonus buck" affixed to "cashed in" in" anytime anytime before before June June 30 30 and and applies applies to to the the purchase purchase of of any any new new Williams Williams pins, pins, shuffle shuffle the game game screen. screen. ItIt can can be be "cashed the alleys or or videos videos from from aa local local authorized authorized Williams Williams dealer. dealer. "We've " We've created created bonus bonus bucks bucks with with maximum maximum flexibility flexibility in in mind mind for for alleys each and every operator," said Marty Glazman, Williams vice president of marketing and sales . "They can use the bonus each and every operator," said Marty Glazman, Williams vice president of marketing and sales. "They can use the bonus bucks they they receive receive on on the the purchase purchase of of aa new new NARC NARC video video game, game, one one at at aa time, time, or or accumulate accumulate their their certificates certificates for for even even bucks equipment." For For more more information information on on this this program, program, contact contact your your local local authorized authorized greater future future savings savings on on any any new new Williams Williams equipment." greater or Williams itself at (312) 267-2240 . Williams distributor Williams distributor or Williams itself at (312) 267-2240. . . . . . .. .Wico Wico Distributing Distributing has has appointed appointed James James Industries Industries to to be be its its exclusive exclusive agent agent to to the the OEM OEM (original (original equipment equipment parts and and supplies supplies to to operators operators and and distributors distributors through through its its own own manufacturers) market. market. Wico, Wico, however, however, will will continue continue to to sell sell parts manufacturers) sales force. force . sales SNK's Ikari lkari III: Ill: The The Rescue Rescue has has been been made made available available as as aa conversion conversion kit, kit, giving giving operators operators an an alternative alternative to to the the game's game's . . . . . . .SNK's original dedicated upright release . original dedicated upright release. . . . . . .Here's .Here's aa follow-up follow-up with with aa happy happy ending: ending: In In our our February February "State "State Update," Update," we we reported reported that that the the city city council council in in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada Canada was was nearing nearing aa vote vote on on whether whether to to allow allow video/pinball video/pinball in in small, small, neighborhood neighborhood stores. stores. On On Saskatoon, Feb. 27, the council voted 6-3 to allow two machines per store in B-1 and B-2 residential zones, i.e., residential and Feb. 27, the council voted 6-3 to allow two machines per store in B-1 and B-2 residential zones, i.e., residential and of the the reason reason was was the the feared feared commercial areas. areas . Previously, Previously, video video games games and and pinball pinball machines machines were were not not allowed; allowed; part part of commercial "Why do do we we allow allow businesses businesses influence on on children. children . That That sentiment sentiment was was not not entirely entirely quelled quelled by by the the favorable favorable vote, vote, however. however. "Why influence to be run off the backs of children," said dissenting Alderman Marshall Hawthorne. " Kids are going to spend money on to be run off the backs of children," said dissenting Alderman Marshall Hawthorne. "Kids are going to spend money on of lunch." lunch. " But But local local operator operator Devron Devron Gibbon Gibbon of of Microvision Microvision Entertainment Entertainment disagreed. disagreed. "Not "Not one one video machines machines instead instead of video person showed showed up up at at aa public public hearing hearing (held (held before before the the vote) vote) to to protest protest the the machines," machines," he he said. said . "This "This shows shows that that video video and and person of life here. They've been accepted . pinball are a fact pinball are a fact of life here. They've been accepted. in Louisiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mississippi, and and Florida, Florida, has has filed filed for for bankruptcy bankruptcy as as of ofJanuary. January . . . . . . ..Kane .Kane Distributing, Distributing, which which had had offices offices in "One of of my my problems problems was was II trusted trusted everybody," everybody," said said President President Marissa Marissa Kane. Kane. "My "My husband husband (George (George Kane Kane Sr.) Sr.) isis ill; ill; I'll I'll be be "One of him." him." devoting my my full full attention attention to to taking taking care care of devoting . ..SunBelt SunBelt Amusement Amusement and and Vending Vending in in Dallas Dallas has has acquired acquired "the "the assets assets of of the the distributing distributing house house of of State State Music Music Distributors," also also based based in in Dallas, Dallas, according according to to SunBelt SunBelt President President Dave Dave Patterson. Patterson. The The deal deal was was consummated consummated on on Feb. Feb. 15. 15. Distributors," The assets assets include include inventory inventory and and accounts accounts receivable; receivable; SunBelt SunBelt picked picked up up no no new new equipment equipment lines. lines. Though Though State State Music Music no no The longer exists, exists, the the Susman Susman family family does does still still own own their their route route (Advanced (Advanced Music). Music). Patterson Patterson brought brought over over two two long-time long-time longer employees of of State State Music: Music: general general manager manager Mike Mike Wilkinson Wilkinson and and office office manager manager Ann Ann Adams. Adams. Their Their titles titles at at SunBelt SunBelt are are sales sales employees manager for for amusement amusement games games and and sales sales coordinator, coordinator, respectively. respectively. "We "We purchased purchased State State Music Music with with the the idea idea of of offering offering our our manager customers better service in this time of growth, as well as to consolidate our staffing," Patterson said . " Mike and Ann are customers better service in this time of growth, as well as to consolidate our staffing," Patterson said. "Mike and Ann are two very very important important additions additions to to our our company." company.'' two .. .Intermark .Intermark Amusements Amusements has has entered entered into into an an understanding understanding with with Walnut Walnut Leasing Leasing Co. Co. Inc. Inc. of of Bala Bala Cynwyd, Cynwyd, Penn., Penn., whereby the the latter latter will will handle handle all all lease lease agreements agreements for for Intermark Intermark through through its its distributors. distributors. Intermark Intermark President President Kim Kim Cook Cook says says whereby of new new equipment. equipment. this will will help help operators operators improve improve their their cash cash flow flow and and make make itit easier easier to to have have immediate immediate use use of this