Play Meter

UP FRONT Understanding the Equipment Poll I Bonnie Theard Managing Editor PLAY METER t is a sad state of affairs when respondents to our monthly Equipment Poll start putting Ms. Pac-Man and High Speed in the write-in vote column as high earning games. This happened for real last month and it was not one isolated ballot. Are readers trying to say something about the decline in video revenue? When ballots come in with well-known game titles rated at two or three points out of a possible score of 10, something's wrong. The same holds true when the video kit list shrinks to 20 instead of 30 because so many games are rated at four points. Games that rate lower than five points are not included in the poll results. Our poll first appeared in its present form in June 1989. In our 20-year history the poll has taken on many different configurations in an attempt to accurately (as best we can) determine game performance based on the experiences of our operator readers. The only change came in January 1992 when we recognized the significance of redemption games and added them to our ballot. Still, the bulk of the responses center on videos and pins. This fact leads us to conclude that most respondents' livelihoods depend on this equipment more than any other, and that they have not made the move to redemption with many of their fellow operators. After six years in this format we find there are still readers who do not understand how our poll is conducted and what all the numbers mean. Ballots are color-coded for the month and mailed to operator subscribers with postage-free envelopes for their return. No photocopies or faxed polls are accepted, only originals sent via mail. The first page of the ballot lists currently available videos dedicated and kit) and pinballs in alphabetical order by game name. Games are added as we learn of their distribution; they are re14 moved when they are not rated for six months in a row. Thus some older favorites remain on the ballot while some new ones come and go quickly. Games beyond three years old are automatically removed to allow space for new titles. The second page of the ballot lists currently available redemption equipment in the categories of alley bowlers, sports games, coin drop games, cranes, coin pushers, children's games, roll downs, and novelties in alphabetical order by game name. Respondents are asked to rate the games on a scale of one to 10, with 10 for superior earnings, and to write the number in a space next to the game. Space is allowed at the bottom of each page for write-in votes to cover new introductions, or possibly older games that perform exceedingly well. Five or more write-in votes can bring back a game, which is why Terminator 2 pinball appeared with a high rating one time when it was no longer on the printed ballot. Point values that appear next t o the games are an average of the written scores. Longevity points are based on where games appear in the combined video and pinball list of 60 game titles. The number one game is awarded 60 points; the number two game gets 59 points , and down the line to one point for the game in 60th place. Games that go off the poll a few months and then return still hold on to their longevity points. Brand new games, or those reappearing after a long hiatus, must start at zero in terms of longevity points. The poll is a gauge of game success, to a point. Readers must know their own locations, consider their budgets, and then make game purchases (new and used) based on their own requirements , not necessarily opting for the first place game in any given category. We don't claim to have a foolproof method of rating equipment. God, in his infinite wisdom, has not given any mortal the answer t o that mystery. Since the industry is composed of small, medium, and large operations, and not all of them can buy every new game, our poll presents a realistic picture of the marketplace today. Judging from operator comments, it is accurate . .&. APRIL 1995