Play Meter

NEWS BULLETIN AAMA, AMOA TO ADDRESS 7-ELEVEN SITUATION ... Alawsuit filed by Williams against capcom makes clear what has long been rumored: capcom is entering the pinball arena. Play Meter attempted to obtain a copy of the lawsuit, filed on June 4 in cook county 1111.l Circuit court, but It's been sealed under court order. What we did get, however, was a copy of a lawsuit filed by Williams on sept. 9against former designer Mark Ritchie. It sets forth the following: capcom-Japan and its "affiliates'!Capcom USA and Romstar-created an Illinois corporation, Gamestar, on June 3. According to the lawsuit 'Due to capcom-Japan's lack of knowledge or experience relevant to the development of the Gamestar pinball (projectl, Capcom·Japan determined that the most effective short-cut to bring ntl to fruition was to wrongfully appropriate Williams· trade secrets and proprietary information by Inducing Williams' employees to disclose such information to the capcom companies: Design team members Bill Pfutzenreuter and Mark Coldebella joined Gamestar in early 1993 (they're also defendants in the lawsuit against Capcoml. The Ritchie lawsuit alleges that he began providing assistance to Gamestar while still employed by Williams. He left for Gamestar shOrtly after the date of incorporation it alleges. Williams accuses Ritchie of violating his employment agreement and an invention assignment/confidentiality agreement; "(hel threatens to continue such activities unless enjoined," says the lawsuit. Williams which believes it has been damaged at least in excess of $3 million, also seeks compensatory, punitive, and exemplary damages against Ritchie. Officials at Williams and capcom declined comment, though the latter said that no pinball product would be ready for at least a year. AAMA and AMOA are working together on a letter to the southland corp. that will express the Industry'sconcern over plans to remove video games from 7-Eleven Stores. Excerpts of a letter from Jeff Schenck, . manager of the Greater Midwest Division, to area franchisees illustrates southland's intent: "One of the decisions that was made as we entered into ".Operation Restore" was to eliminate amusement games from our business concept. While I am aware that amusement games were encouraged in the past, it Is important that we not remain stagnant and continue to at· tract new and different customers. The image that we are striving for is a high-quality, safe, and friendly store. Amusement games have not displayed that image. They can attract loitering while projecting an unsafe envlronmentfor many of our potential customers, especially worn· en and older clientele." Schenck went on to say that those stores which choose to keep their games may not be apart of Operation Restore, i.e., they may not get the store renovations that compliant franchisees receive. Larry. Mitchell of Larry Mitchell Amusements in Glendora, Calif., has games 1n about 50 7-Elevens. The handwriting is on the wall, he says, so he's prepared to take the games out and put them in other locations. But Mitchell thinks the games are coming out for a reason other than what's been stated. " So~thla~d Japan bought southland USA about a year ago, and they have ties with the Japanese manufacturers," Mitchell explained. "I think what's go!ng to happen is southland will get most of the games out, and then in two years, say, the Japanese will put their own equipment in. This is going to hurt a lot of operators, including myself, but 1don't see how we can do anything about it. southland is going to do what it wants:· VIDEO POKER STIRRINGS IN LOUISIANA ... BARONE LEAVES SNK ... CAPCOM, WILLIAMS IN PINBALL BATTLE ... John Barone has resigned his position as senior vice president of sales Video poker made the headlines in Louisiana on back-to-back days in September-and the news wasn't positive. on sept. 9, Gov. Edwin Ed- for SNK Corporation of America, where he spent six years. The compawards, a longtime critic of video poker, told the State Police to cancel ny says he left "to pursue other interests. (Wel would like to thank John plans that would've allowed as many as 100 machines in truck stops. Ed· for his past contributions and wish him the best of luck in his future wards then went a step further by saying the Legislature should repeal endeavors:· National sales manager Tracy Tate will oversee SN K's sales functions the state'svideo poker law, though he said he wouldn't push for repeal with Mark Chan and Jim Chapman handling the eastern and western u.s.' during the next legislative session. ' "Video poker is convenient in too many places," said Edwards to The respectively. Tom Kell is in charge of national accounts. Times-Picayune. "It places the ability to gamble in easy reach of people LOVE PASSES AWAY ... going home from work who stop to have a beer. It was a bad step in the gaming area." Play Meter extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Clyde Love Rep. Emile "Peppi" Bruneau, R-New Orleans, who authored the video who died sept. 7at his hOme in Visalia, Calif., at the age of 71. He was chair'. poker bill in 1991, told Play Meter that he, too, isn't in favor of 100 man of Royal Vending services Ltd. in santa Fe springs, Calif., and a48-year machines in truck stops. In fact, he doesn't like them in truck stops at veteran of the coin machine industry. all. But Bruneau says Edwards' criticisms of video poker in general are Love is survived by his wife of 47 years, Phyllis; sons Jack and Russell· baseless. a brother and sister; six grandchildren; and three great-grandsons. A "Video poker is totally regulated;' Bruneau said. "Every quarter that memorial fund has been set up to benefit prostate cancer research. Do· goes in has a paper trail back to the La. state Police. At any given mo- nations should be made through the American cancer society 120 E. ment, the State Police can tell you anything you want to know about Murray, Visalia, CA 93291. ' every machine in Louisiana." CHANGES AT ROCK-OLA ... "Edwards doesn't like video poker because he didn't think of it. He's also afraid It'll interfere with his precious (New Orleansl casino. Edwards Antique Apparatus president Glenn Streeter, marking the one-year anIs all for having the casino suck every dollar out of every human being niversary of his company's acquisition of Rock-Ola Mfg., has announced In the state." changes to his management team and additions to the staff. Ken Urban Bruneau says he doubts the video poker law will be repealed. "Video a 20-yearRock-Ola veteran from Chicago, has been promoted to produc'. poker provides a significant amount of revenue to the state an~ to lo- ti on manager. He will oversee all production of Rock-Ola and Antique Apcal law enforcement," he explained. 'Tm sure it's to Edwards" great char- paratus jukebox lines. · gin that the revenue provided Is exactly what we predicted it would Other promotions Include Russell Etheridge, assistant to the presibe after ayear (about $31.5 millionl. And insofar as video poker not fur- dent/project manager, and Ross Blomgren, chief engineer. Jim Leiva has nishing Jobs, that's an absolute falsehood. joined the management team as purchasing manager. Though he doesn't think repeal of the law is imminent, Bruneau says "Rock-Ola's first year has gone faster and better than 1ever imagined;' those involved in video poker "should remain vigilant and prepared to Streeter said. "Our skilled and enthusiastic team has performed beautifight for video poker at all times. This man (Edwardsl is so enraptured fully as we prepare to launch some exciting new additions to our music with the ca~lno that you never know what he might try; nothing he ever line." does surprises me. He must wake up In the morning thinking about the one such addition is the Racket, which can be seen at the AMOA show. casino, go to bed thinking about the casino, and dream at night about Streeter says It's designed for those locations where space may be at the casino:· a premium, or where collectiOns may not justify the expense of a full· The day after Edwards' comments, it was announced that the State sized, conventional Jukebox. Police had suspended the operations of two video poker companies, Worldwide Gaming of Louisiana and Louisiana Route Operators. The ac· HCCI MEETING SET ... tlon was taken because the companies allegedly violated six state sta· The Half century Club International will get together on Oct. 22 from tutes, including associating with members of organized crime and failing to disclose hidden ownership. The companies have the same inves-' 3·5 p.m. as part of the AMOA show. The site is the Rendondo Room in the tors; worldwide is the distributor, with LRO serving as the operating arm. · Hilton Hotel. ThOse members who plan to attend should contact Steve Both are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their president, James Martin, Kordek at (312l 267-2240, ext. 548. couldn't be reached for comment. NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT? ... What is Bruneau·s response to this development? "I think the law ought to be, and basically has been, enforced aggressively;· he said. "We No, your eyes don't deceive you: we've changed the magazine's deshOuldn't allow any suspicious characters in the video poker business sign. The new look comes courtesy of our art director, Jane Nisbet, who and that includes Edwin Edwards' friends and relatives." ' spent countless hours on the project. Let us know what you think! PLAY METER 3 OCTOBER 1993