Play Meter

FROM THE EDITOR A trip into the future T Valerie Cognevich Editor PLAY METER he information superhighway is beck- It's only natural to wonder how someoning me to pack my bags and get on thing new will interact with what's in board. My rational mind is telling me place. The answer is always the same: that I am simply not prepared for such it does have an effect-no matter what a journey. In fact, it 's asking me just the new technology or product is. But what the heck this new information the influence we've seen so far is small change compared to what we'll be seesuperhighway is really all about. I can understand why it's called a ing in the future. We have to accept the fact that the superhighway because the term conjures up visions of a multi-lane , per- superhighway is one we will need to fectly paved ribbon of concrete going travel; backroads and side streets will on to infinity. State-of-the art automo- be obsolete. Manufacturers, distribubiles are whizzing by. While many of tors, and machine owners will have to you might picture the trip we're all find ways to be a part of it because you destined to take, I can't help but fear can't fight it. We know that people will always the merge. You know the merge onto a freeway as cars whiz by at high double- have a need to meet other people in digi t speeds, while public places. Our goal will be offering someone honks his them entertainment at reasonable horn to hurry you up . prices. It 's been an analogy done to These folks are in death, but it's so true: just because you Ferraris; I'm trying to can drink at home doesn't mean peopull out in a Volkswa- ple don't drop into their favorite bar. gen Bug. Drunk driving laws made us spring The potential that into action and provide alternate reanew technology has sons for people to stay. When the communications supercreated is staggering. There are things we 'll highway technology builds an overpass be able to do through in our neighborhoods, allowing cusour home computers tomers to stay at home and play that we don't even know games, we'll have to get creative again, we want to do. Those finding new ways to entice people into who hate shopping will our locations. Even though a recent love scanning the mall commercial alluded to being able to via a PC's mouse; those play pool at home, I can't see it replacwho love shopping will ing the real thing. A round of applause be able to do more of it after an exceptional shot will be sorely missed at home. at home. It's a new era not unlike watching Of course , our wildest fears center on how people will get their video the Wright brothers taking their first game entertainment. While we may flight or hearing Alexander Graham be hesitant about admitting it, video Bell call his assistant through his games are probably one of the easiest invention. There were certainly those things to pipe into homes . If we who claimed that it was ridiculous to thought being able to rent a vid eo think any sane human being would game at the local video store was ever want or need to fly. And why, easy, we never considered being able some may have asked, would anyone to get a game without even getting need to call their neighbors on the newfangled telephone? "A fad, simply dressed. But this brings up another question, a passing fad ," was probably heard one perhaps even more difficult to more than once. answer: how will the communication We'll simply take things one step at a superhighway affect the coin-op enter- time, while being aware of what is comtainment industry? We have been ask- ing. After all, we need to know how ing that very question since the begin- much time we'll have to pack for our ning of coin-op entertainment history trip along the information superhighwhenever something new came along. way to our future. D 10 APRIL 1994