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NEWS BULLETIN JUKEBOX PROMOTIONS A NATURAL IN NOVEMBER AAMA INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES A gentle reminder: November is National Jukebox Month, an opportunity to capitalize on this segment of coin-op equipment. AMOA's Jukebox Promotion Committee suggests notifying local media about the music month to encourage a feature on jukeboxes or your company. Be sure to place the words "November is National Jukebox" month on any advertisement or printed materials your company produces, and ask employees to spread the word when answering the phone. Inform AMOA of any unique promotions that can b e shared with other operators. For a helpful jukebox media kit, contact Fred Newton at AMOA headquarters, (312) 245-1021; FAX (312) 245-1085. A number of one-stops are joining the promotion bandwagon with special pricing on CDs or 45s, among them ATM Distributing in Cleveland, Ohio; Don Records Corp. of Farmingdale, N.Y.; The Latin Jukebox of Garden Grove, Calif.; and Mountain Coin Machine Distributing in Denver. Compilation houses Hot Hits of Nashville, Tenn., and Spotlight on Hits in Pittsburgh are offering bargains as well. AAMA has just completed the photo shoot for the annual child abuse prevention poster it produces in conjunction with the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee graces the poster, along with a High Tops child's basketball game from National Sports Games, a division of Skee-Ball, and a Clean Sweep Double Crane from Smart Industries. Posters will be available in April 1995 during Child Abuse Prevention Month. AAMA executive vice president Bob Fay recently attended the first meeting of the Academic Advisory Panel, an advisory group to the Entertainment Software Rating Board that is part of the Interactive Digital Software Association. AAMA has encouraged video game manufacturers to implement an interim parental advisory for new video titles. For more on the game ratings situation, turn to page 20 in "Coin-Op News. " In other AAMA news, the association plans to change its membership policy and expand its membership base by affording associate memberships to related industry companies involved in theme parks and family entertainment centers, and to international manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers. PRIMAL RAGE UPDATES FROM TIME WARNER/ATARI E-PROM updates for Primal Rage , the successful stopmotion interactive video from Time Warner Interactive/Atari, are being provided free of charge. Available late this month, the first update includes additional finishing moves and further enhancements to the game engine , allowing players to use familiar algorithms from other popular fighting games to execute special moves. A second update is scheduled for release in January to add a new character and hidden sports modes, plus more finishing moves. According to product manager Derryl DePriest, "These updates are not bug fixes in any way. They are in response to the market's demand for more buried treasure. Some of these features we will be very open about, and some we'll keep hidden, to give players the thrill of discovery. It is in all of our interests, manufacturer, distributor, and especially operator, to keep earnings on Primal Rage high." In addition, players will be happy to know that the "Official Primal Rage Strategy Guide" is now available. The 128-page softcover book by Infotainment World takes players step-by-step through the game, d etailing over 100 combination hits to devastate opponents. PROPOSED ADA GUIDELINES BEAR EVALUATION Government regulation will also have a n impact on family entertainment centers through newly proposed accessibility guidelines developed by the Recreation Access Advisory Committee. The guidelines, which have been released for public comment, will be added to the Americans With Disabilities Act. To ensure that industry input is considered before implementation, interested parties can order a free copy of the committee's report via FAX (202) 272-5447. After careful review, send your comments (due by Dec. 20) to U.S. ATBCB, 1331 F St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004-1111. Look for more on this important subject in the December issue. THE INDUSTRY ON THE MOVE Twenty-five -year veteran Tom Keil has joined Time Warner Interactive/Atari as a regional sales m anager. The addition is part of the company's plan to provide greater interaction between the factory and distributors and operators. Keil was most recently national accounts manager for SNK; prior to that he honed his industry skills at Brady Distributing for 19 years. Kristin Montgomery has rejoined Data East in its sales and marketing department. Earlier this year Montgomery took a post at Quick Silver Development Co. as director of sales and marketing for North and South America. She has eight years of industry experience on the manufacturing level. Candace Cummings-Super has resigned as CEO of the Michigan Distributors and Vendors Association and the Michigan Coin Machine Operators Association for personal r easons. She will move from the Lansing, Mich., vicinity to join her husband in the Washington, D.C. , area. Kelly Olewiler is the new market development supervisor at JCM. He will be responsible for all advertising, promotions, and trade shows. Olewiler will be based in the JCM corporate office in North Las Vegas, Nev. A NOTE OF SYMPATHY Ralph Winfield, a founding member of the Winfield Group of companies in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, passed away on Oct. 13. Ann Winfield, the other founding member and Ralph's partner for 27 years, will assume the post of CEO, assisted by Laurie Winfield as the comptroller and Manu Desai C.A. as a special consultant. The industry joins in extending sincere sympathy to the Winfield family. Ralph will be sadly missed by his many friends and business associates in the coin-op world. DISTRIBUTORS BRANCH OUT Mondial International and Betson Pacific are newsmakers this month. Mondial recently hosted a grand opening celebration to launch its newest branch office in Puerto Rico on Oct. 28. The address is 210 AvenidaEleanor Roosevelt, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; the phone is (914) 7387411. Betson Pacific is happy to announce that it has acquired the Bally/Midway video line for its customers in the California area. PLAY METER 3 NOVEMBER 1994