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EWS BULLETIN NEWS BULLETIN N Mexico, and and Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Mexico. The The address address is is P.O. P.O. Box Box Mexico, 220678, El El Paso, Paso, Texas Texas 79913; 79913; the the phone phone number number is is (915) (915) 220678, 833-0444. 833-0444. Indoorsis is still still talking talkingto tovarious various suppliers suppliers about about obtaining obtaining SportsIndoors Sports lines. We'll We'll keep keep you you updated updated when when more more firm firm equipment lines. equipment information is information is available. available. • The between Nintendo Nintendo of American and and Atari Atari Games Games The battle battle between of American within the the consumer consumer game game market market shows no signs signs of of relenting. relenting. within shows no To the have been been heating heating up up lately. lately. The most To the contrary, contrary, things things have The most recent shots shots were were fired fired on on Dec. Dec. 7. 7. recent Rep. Dennis Dennis Eckart Eckart (D-Ohio), (D-Ohio), chairman chairman of of the the Subcommittee Subcommittee Rep. on Antitrust submitted the the on Antitrust,, Deregulation Deregulation and and Privatization, Privatization, submitted findings of of his his subcommittee's subcommittee'sinvestigation investigation of of the the home home video video findings U.S. Department Department of of Justice, Justice, Antitrust Antitrust Division. Division. industry to to the the U.S. industry In a a letter letter to to Assistant Assistant Attorney Attorney General In General James James Rill Rill,, Eckart Eckart implemented expressed concern concern about about a a series series of of measures measures implemented expressed by Nintendo that "did "did not not seem seem to to raise raise significant significant concerns concerns by Nintendo that when (it) (it) first first entered entered the the U.S. U.S. market. market. But But with with its its almost almost total total when and pervasive pervasive domination domination of of the the industry, industry, concerns concerns about about the the and anti-competitive effect effect of of such such practices practices have have become become anti-competitive unavoidable." e." unavoidabl Eckart's letter letter focused focused on on five five antitrust antitrust issues: issues: the the "lock-out" "lock-out" Eckart's computer chip chip system; system ; the the licensing licensing agreements agreements with with software software computer producers; the the computer computer chip chip shortage; shortage ; the the "bundling" " bundling" of of producers; potential anti-competitive anti-competitive conduct conduct software and and hardware; hardware ; and and potential software in the the retail retail market. market. in Here, in in part, part , is is a a statement statement from from Dennis Dennis Wood, Wood, senior senior vice vice Here, "Nintendo has has promoted promoted the the myth myth president at president at Atari Atari Games: Games: "Nintendo that it, it, and and itit alone, alone, is is the the champion champion of of the the home home video video that reality is is that that Nintendo's Nintendo's behavior behavior in in game industry. industry. The The reality game the United United States States is is so so atrocious that itit requires requires the the action action the atrocious that of the the Department Department of Justice to to restore restore free free competition competition to to the the of of Justice market. market. and large large businesses businesses from from coast coast to to coast, coast, as as well well as as retailers retailers and around the the nation." nation." In In conclusion, conclusion , Lincoln Lincoln stated stated that that Eckart's Eckart's around action "seems "seems particularly particularly unfortunate unfortunate and and unnecessary, unnecessary, since since action currently before before the the courts. courts. We We are are the issues issues of of concern concern are are currently the concerned, because because the the subcommittee subcommittee has has not not heard heard from from concerned, largest software software developers developers and and retailers, retailers, some of ofthe thenation's nation'slargest some who are are prepared prepared to to speak speak on on Nintendo's Nintendo's behalf. behalf. Obviously, Obviously, who such support support.would .would have have exposed .exposed the the weaknesses weaknesses of of such Atari/Tengen's charges charges and and caused caused the the subcommittee subcommittee to to view view Atari/Tengen's an entirely entirely different different light." this matter matter in in an this light." Nintendo has has filed filed suit suit in in U.S. U.S. District District Court Court in in San San Francisco Francisco Nintendo alleging theft theft of of Nintendo Nintendo against Atari Atari Games/Tengen, Games/Tengen , alleging against of patents. patents. copyrights and and infringement infringement of copyrights • Tennessee's Tennessee's Duke Duke Distributing Distributing has has aa new new address address (and (and a a is now now located located at at 602 602 S. S. Main Main St., St. , new state!). state!). The company is new The company Franklin, KY KY 42134. 42134. The The phone phone number number is is (502) (502) 586-1663; 586-1663 ; the the Franklin, FAX is is (502) (502) 586-1773. 586-1773. FAX • Linda Linda Svelling, Svelling , aa marketing marketing assistant assistant at at The The Leland Leland Corp. Corp. for many many years, years, has has left left the the company; company; she she is is relocating relocating with with for her family family to to Charleston, Charleston , S.C. S.C. Her Her position position has has been been filled filled by by her Leland employee employee in in customer Denise Conaway, Conaway, a a former former Leland Denise customer service who who had had taken taken aa leave leave of of absence absence to to start start aa family. family. service Also, Suzanne has joined joined the the company company as as John John Rowe's Rowe's Also, Suzanne Durrill Durrill has administrative assistant. assistant. administrative • The The city city council council of of Duarte, Duarte, Calif., Calif., voted voted on on Nov. Nov. 28 28 to to ban ban the placement placement of of cigarette cigarette vending vending machines machines in in places places the to minors. The ordinance, ordinance, which which passed passed 3-2, went accessible to accessible minors. The 3-2, went on Dec. Dec. 28; 28; existing existing vending vending machines machines must must be be into effect effect on into April 1. 1. moved or or removed removed by by April moved " We are are entering entering the the area area of of legislating legislating morality morality and and overover"We Councilwoman Ginny Ginny Joyce, Joyce, one one of of the the stepping barriers," barriers,'' said said Councilwoman stepping two dissenting voters. "It "It would would be be admirable we could two dissenting voters. admirable ifif we could stop stop children from from smoking, smoking , but but II think think the the vending vending machine machine is isthe the children " We applaud applaud Rep. Rep. Eckart's Eckart's recognition recognition that that Nintendo's Nintendo's least least of of this this problem." problem." "We monopolistic business business practices practices transcend transcend the the legal legal disputes disputes monopolistic between the the two two parties. parties. We We fully fully support support his his recommendation recommendation between full-scale investigation investigation into into Nintendo's Nintendo's unlawful unlawful domination domination for aafull-scale for of the game market." of the U.S. U.S. home home video video game market." Howard Lincoln Nintendo senior senior vice vice president, president, said said Eckart Eckart Howard Lincoln,, Nintendo turned over without providing turned over his his findings findings without providing Nintendo Nintendo an an opportunity to to be be heard. heard . He He added added that that the the decision decision was was based based opportunity on incomplete and misleading misleading information information provided provided by by Atari Atari on incomplete and Games and and its its subsidiary, subsidiary, Tengen Inc. Games Tengen Inc. But other other councilmen councilmen felt felt the the ordinance ordinance would would benefit benefit But 18, who who would would be be deprived deprived access access to to unattended kids kids under under 18, unattended an addicting addicting substance. substance. Said Said Councilman Councilman John John Hitt, Hitt,"We "We don't don't an have whiskey whiskey dispensing dispensing machines. machines. The The vending vending machines machines are are have allow minors' minors' unsupervised unsupervised access." access." not appropriate appropriate to to allow not Jim Reed, president of ofthe the California California Coin Machine Association Association Jim Reed, president Coin Machine (CCMA) , says 1988 amendments amendments to to state state Penal Penal Code (CCMA), says 1988 Code Section Section In a a letter letter to to Eckart, Eckart, Lincoln Lincoln said said "fundamental "fundamental fairness" fairness" In requ ired that that Nintendo given the the opportunity opportunity "to "to fully fully required Nintendo be be given present its its position position to to you you and and other other members members of of the the present subcommittee." ittee." subcomm 308 precludes precludes local local governments governments from from regulating regulat ing the the 308 distribution and and sale of tobacco tobacco products. products. In In short, short, he he says, says, the the distribution sale of legislative intent; intent; the the action action city of of Duarte Duarte cannot cannot supercede supercede legislative city taken is is beyond beyond its its domain. domain . Reed Reed has has written written city city officials officials to to taken council will will take take action action to torepeal repeal pointthis this out, out, with with hope hope that that the the council point the ordinance. ordinance. the Lincoln continued " Nintendo's business business practices been Lincoln continued,, "Nintendo's practices have have been in depth depth and and approved approved by by our our attorneys, attorneys, and and we we are are reviewed in reviewed comply fully fully with with U.S. U.S. laws. laws. They They were were confident that that they they comply confident designed to, to, and and have have succeeded succeeded in, dead designed in, resurrecting resurrecting aa dead United States, States, to to the the benefit benefit of of numerous numerous small small industryin in the the United industry • Play Play Meter Meter extends extends its its deepest deepest sympathies sympathies to to the the families families oftwo two Ohio Ohioindustry industry pioneers. pioneers. Joseph Joseph Westerhaus Westerhaus Sr. Sr. of of Pioneer Pioneer of Service Inc. Inc. in in Cincinnati Cincinnati died died on on Nov. Nov. 10, 10, while while August August Van Van Service Brackel of of A. A. Van Van Brackel Brackel & & Sons Sons in in Defiance Defiance passed passed away away on on Brackel Dec. 13. 13. Both Both men men were were 78 78 years years old. old . Dec. PLAY METER, METER, January, January, 1990. 1990. Volume Volume 16, 16, No. No. 1. 1. Copyright Copyright 1989 1989 by by Skybird Skybird Publishing Publishing Company. Company. PLAY PLAY METER METER (ISSN (ISSN 0162-1343) 0162-1343) PLAY (UPS 358-350) 358-350) is is published published once once monthly monthly on on the the 1st 1st of of the the month. month . Publishing Publishing office: office: 6600 6600 Fleur Fleur De De Lis, Lis , New New Orleans, Orleans, LA LA 70124. 70124. (UPS MAILING ADDRESS LA 70184, 70184, U.S.A U.S.A.; phone: 504/488-7003; Subscriptions: MAILING ADDRESS:: PO. P.O. Box Box 24970, 24970, New New Orleans, Orleans, LA .; phone: 504/488-7003; FAX FAX 504/488-7083. 504/488-7083. For For Subscriptions: 504/488-7003. Subscription Subscription rates: rates: U.S. U.S. and and Canada-$50. Canada-$50. Advertising Advertising rates rates are are available available.on request. NO NO PART PART OF OF THE THE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 504/488-7003. on request. 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