Play Meter

LETTERS Dollar coin can't do nuthin' on its own nowhere in the whole United States is there one single area where operators have given any indication that they are prepared to work together on game play price as a unit, and where this would be possible without being undermined by rebel operators waiting to profit by undercutting any new price structure. On the contrary, we fear we will still be h earing the same excuses for 2 5-cent play from many operators even when the dollar coin is actually going into coin slots. Judging by what's b een seen so far, you could bet your house that soon after the introduction of the coin, somewhere in the United States you will see signs on machines that have nice new dollar coin mechs offering four and even five games for the dollar. Nothing is going to change with the introduction of a dollar coin if operators can't show some unity and are not prepared to bite the bullet and increase prices. It follows that when this unarguable fact is accepted, it becomes imperative that prices be increased now, not continually put off until a dollar coin becomes available. U.S. operators plead that players won't drop multiple coinage for 50-cent, 75-cent, or $1 play, but this is a cop out of the highest order. Operators in countless other countries I saw your invitation on the Internet inviting comments about the dollar coin. I couldn't resist the temptation to throw in a different view on this coin. Frankly, having watched its progress from afar, we think it's almost worthless without some real operator resolve on game play price. With the operating side of the coin-op industry in the United States looking very much like a boxer who has caught one too many punches with his head, the long-awaited dollar coin is constantly being touted as some sort of savior. So much has been written about this coin, that it's taking on qualities that no coin in history has ever had! So much so, that many see it as an automatic solution to all their problems, and this is not the case. The dollar coin cannot and will not work any miracles. The dollar coin is not some miraculous vehicle that can increase takings. It's higher game play price that the dollar coin can assist in getting that will bring back profitability, but only if operators have the cahonas to first implement the higher game play prices and then to hold them regardless of player complaints or undercutting by idiot operators who panic at the sound of the first player's grumble. Unfortunately, through our travels it appears that continued on page 12 .:) ).:[:\i:[:[~.[:~: 1·\,~;[:jj)):,: i· .. ::) SH ??.~~ ·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.· . .·.:.·-:-:-:-:-:-·:;;::::~::::::::::::::::::::::.:':·::;::;::::·:·.·:·:·.·. ·::: •••• ···:.::·-:: ··.·.·==··· · ··::. l[~l~iii:f;~~~·. ';~GO IL 60~7~J~t& ' EXPORT SPECIALIST FOR OVER 50 YEARS :=::·::\.·.··~:·.·.;~·...,i:..·.'.==.·=·:-:···=:-:-::::::::::.===-~=====:·: ·:·:·::·:=·=·::;·.:::: =.·:·. .· .-..===·:...·.·. ... : .· ·:.:/·:·~ =::.:::=::. ~,;~~,~~[)!~;:;. f ·: :=::::::=====~== • 1 ••••·• , , ·• :• ~.-- , :.·.,· ·.· ·.: ••,. i: -- =·- ·..:.i:.:i.;.;·:} J\~· :~{L··:.·.;:. i-. .::·.·.:=·=::::===:==:=::··.: ····::::::::~===:=:=====:::: :=:::::::::::::::=r~r-=:=·-· · ::::=:=::=:=· · =:=:::::}~(t:=:=.-.:= ========:=:=:=::::::::::::::::::::r = ····:·: PLAY METE R 10 SEPTEMBER 1995