Play Meter

COl'N-OP NEWS AMOA takes stand on three issues At AMOA Expo '93, the association voted to adopt the following three position statements: Violence in Video Games: "AMOA believes that the current trend of the escalating use of violence in video games will prove to be detrimental to the industry in the long term. We are currently seeing parents and safety advocate groups speaking out against video games and their use of graphic violence . AMOA believes that it is indeed possible to design successful video games without the use of graphic violence. AMOA believes that if the graphic use of violence continues our industry will suffer repercussions similar to the regulatory backlashes of the early '80s, with state and local governments receiving pressure to further regulate and tax the industry. AMOA encourages all manufacturers to design games with wide appeal and design-and without the excessive use of graphic violence." Underwriters Laboratories Safety Inspections: "AMOA believes that public safety is important in the promotion and growth of our industry. Currently more and more cities are requiring an Underwriters Laboratory (or its equivalent) testing of amusement games. AMOA believes that as PLAY METER an industry, the most operators to evaluate all facing the industry, priefficient and cost-effec- opportunities available oritize them, and budget ti ve way to have the to you, in light of both them accordingly during equipment we use tested the profitability to your the budgetary process. is not on an individual, own business and the Among those to consider lo cat ion-by-1 o ca ti on effects on the long-term are the dollar coin, tobasis . We believe that health of the industry. bacco taxes, cigarette manufacturers of the Without the long-term vending bans , jukebox equipment used in our health of the entire licensing, product safety, industry should be pro- industry , none of the state and federal gaming activity, telecommunicaviding the tests and industry can prosper. approvals. "AMOA recognizes tions, and health care. AMOA recognizes that that there are at times "We 're going to refothere are currently some legitimate alternatives to cus our efforts a bit difmanufacturers who are the standard practices of ferently," she said. "For having their equipment the industry. AMOA also example , we 'll look at tested. AMOA thanks recognizes that the mar- who the congression~l them and asks all other ket is currently seeing decision-makers are on manufacturers to have some alternatives to the these issues and target their equipment tested standard practices that the ones we can possibly prior to allowing. it to be we believe may well not sway. Eight to 10 conbrought to market. " be in the best interest of gressional districts will Alternate Means of the industry." be targeted, and we'll Providing Equipment to In other news con- work closely with operathe Operators: "AMOA cerning the association, tors, distributors, and/or has concern over the AMOA government rela- manufacturers on proincrease in proposed tions manager Laura grams in these districts. alternate means of man- Olson told Play Meter We're also going to work ufacturers providing that the government more closely with AMOA's equipment to operators relations committee was state association comand directly to locations. to have met in Novem- mittee and the various AMOA encourages all ber to go over the issues state associations." David Katz, longtime sales manager of Bonita Marie International, and his recent bride, Shelley Fernandez-Katz, recently purchased the company from Lou Cappetta. However, Cappetta has retained ownership of ARMS International. 16 DECEMBER 1993