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NEWS BULLETIN ACME '95 COVERAGE IN MAY In order to deliver the April issue on time, full coverage of the industry's major spring trade show will be deferred to our May issue. Look for product listings, photos, award presentations, memorable quotes, AAMCF banquet festivities, and details of other special events along with our regular features. SONY CORP. GOES ON-LINE Sony Corp. of America announced the official launch of Sony Online, an interactive on-line computer service in which Sony Electronic Publishing's World Wide Web site offers consumers access to demonstrations and information on current and upcoming video game and computer software releases. Five major categories are covered: Red Eye , the video game forum; Brain Candy, informational non-game multimedia titles; Screening Room, multimedia screen savers; Pipeline, previews of hot new interactive titles; and Back at Us, a suggestion box through which users can share their thoughts with the company. NSM ANNOUNCES DISCOUNT OFFER In an unprecedented move, NSM-America is offering a deep discount combination offer to make all music operators aware of the benefits ofNSM wall-mount jukeboxes. The offer is available only through authorized/ participating NSM distributors. John Margold, NSM vice president of sales and marketing, explained, "It's called the $500 Golden Voucher Program. Every time an operator buys one of our current floor models (Solid Gold or Nostalgia Gold) from now unt il June 1, 1995, he gets a $500 voucher good as cash toward the purchase of any NSM wall-mount jukebox models. The voucher can be used anytime through September 30 this year." NSM introduced innovations in wall-mount jukeboxes over six years ago. Now wall-mount models represent a substantial and rapidly growing portion of overall NSM jukebox sales, according to Margold. NSM's threefoot high, two foot-wide ultra-compact CD wall-mount jukeboxes contain everything found in the floor model counterparts, including a full 100-CD capacity changer and a complete complement offeatures and functions. CAPCOM, GAMESTAR ANNOUNCE MERGER At a March 23 breakfast meeting at the Reno Hilton Hotel during ACME '95, officials of Capcom USA and Gamestar gathered to announce the merger of the two companies. No determination has yet been made as to how the merger will impact employees of the two companies, which occupied exhibit space next to each other on the show floor. INDUSTRY MEMBERS ON THE MOVE Nancy Hardt, a 12-year veteran of distribution and manufacturing, has returned to Moss Distributing in Des Moines, Iowa. Hardt had been with Jaleco USA and Purple Star Inc. over the past 18 months, but has now resumed her sales responsibilities at Moss. Said Hardt, "It doesn't really feel like I've been gone. I guess you could say I'm home again! " Jim Hall and Jim Roe have been appointed t o new posts at Valley Recreation Products in Bay City, Mich. Hall is the new Midwest sales representative . He r eplaces Dave Kristal, who recently was moved up to national promotions manager. Roe has been named West ern sales representative. He will operate from his home in Denver, Colo. Both Hall and Roe will report to Doug Blair, Valley vice president of sales and marketing. VIDEO LOTTERY PROPOSED IN MINNESOTA Legislation has been introduced in both houses of the Minnesota Legislature that would authorize video lottery in hospitality establishments. Under the proposed law, the state would own/lease and operate the machines, but installation, service, and maintenance would be provided by private companies. Michael Anderson, public affairs director for the Minnesota Operators of Music and Amusements CMOMAl, said the bill has the support of several top legislative leaders. "It is being looked upon as a major source of funds at a time of extreme budget shortfall in this state," Anderson explained. "This is the first time we've had this kind of support for video lottery." Anderson said state officials believe that private operation of the machines is not allowed under the constitutional amendment authorizing the state lottery, a position that MOMA disputes. A maximum of 10 machines would be allowed in onsale liquor establishments and beer-only outlets where more than half of the revenue is generated from such sales. Close to 3,500 establishments would qualify. According to the proposal, service contracts could range between 3/ 10-7/10 of one cent per each 25-cent credit for maintenance providers. Each contract would be negotiated by the state lottery director. "In addition, the maintenance provider would be chosen by the retailer because they are familiar with the coin machine operators and the quality of their service, " Anderson said. The lottery director will be responsible for setting the criteria each maintenance provider must meet, and the law would prohibit video lottery machine manufacturers from receiving maintenance contracts. Maximum bets and prizes would be established at $2 and $1,000 respectively, and the terminals would be linked to a central communication system. Net proceeds would be divided between a proposed education trust fund (60 percent) and an energy and natural resources fund that already receives 40 percent of the current lottery's net proceeds. However, Anderson said the passage of video lottery should bring the latter fund to its legal threshold of$1 billion by 1998, more than 10 years ahead of schedule. At that time all of the proceeds would then be dedicated to education. MIDWAY ADDS TO CRUIS'N FUN Midway Mfg. improves on the already successful Cruis'n USA by introducing Cruis'n USA Head-2-Head, a game that adds multiplayer competition and five new cars for increased driving challenges. An internal, artificial intelligence mechanism prevents uneven matches. The basic linking kit includes a new chip set and linking cable; the deluxe kit also contains a neon marquee. Kits are available for the full-motion simulator, deluxe sit-down, and upright models. PLAY METER 3 APRIL 1995