Play Meter

- THE LAST WORD Was something missing? I' ve been known to occasional- various operators while at the ly write things that people show. One said, "What's new? I disagree with or flat-out dislike. haven't been to a show that exThat's fine-in fact, it's healthy. cited me in years." Another comThe point isn't to make everyone mented, "Look around here. How happy; rather, it's to throw out an many video games do you see that idea for the readers to chew on will earn like Street Fighter II? It's and consider. I may be heading no wonder people aren't upbeat, down that road again, but here considering the number of goes. mediocre games to choose from." If I had to choose one word to Indeed, in the vast video game describe the mood at ACME '92, it category, only Capcom's Street would be ambivalent. Usually the Fighter II, Champion Edition and electric feeling of a national trade Konami's X-Men were consistentshow hits me the minute I reach ly cited as must-buys. the floor. I didn't get that feeling at On one hand, operators may be the start of the show, and it never unfair when they continually bash materialized. Part of it, I'm sure, manufacturers, seemingly their could be attributed to operator favorite pastime. Who knows attendance being down. There what operators want? They wasn't the normal adrenaline clamor for "something different, rush of being packed like a sar- something different," so manufacdine on the aisles, a la a Manhat- turers give them a puzzle or tan sidewalk at noon. But there cutesy game. Nobody buys it. If was more. you're a manufacturer, what else I didn't sense the usual trade is there to do but return to fighting show joie de vivre, the banter, the games? When they spend big chatter, the playful ribbing. Faces money to develop new technology, that routinely carried smiles were operators say, "Oh, it's nice, but dour; a few moments of bull- how can I afford it?" shooting was replaced with short, On the other hand, at 25 cents a bus.i nesslike hellos. The special play, it takes beaucoup quarters spark that characterizes a major to pay off a game. Can operators coin-op amusement shows was, to be blamed for perusing the show my eyes, missing at ACME '92. aisles and proclaiming, "Sorry, I'll I shared my thoughts with pass." Manufacturers complain PLAY METER 244 MAY 1992 that all operators want is that monster hit, not spending the time at shows to consider product that doesn't overwhelm at first blush. Again, the operator would likely respond, "I can't afford to give it a chance." Unexciting product (the perception by many, fair or unfair) and lower operator turnout. The latter, undoubtedly, was affected by our nation's less-than-robust economy. When you're paralyzed by the fear that an economic tornado could touch down at any moment, can visiting a trade show be considered anything other than a luxury? Others didn't come because of the site-San Antonio-the day sequence-Sunday through Tuesday - or the usual: "All I need to do is visit my distributor to see what's new." Maybe ACME '92 was just an aberration, an off show. I hope so. I'd hate to think it was indicative of a long-term malaise that's crept into the coin-operated amusement industry. D Christopher Caire News Editor