Play Meter

s u c e N BULLETIN Meritjumps jumps on the Internet Merit on the Internet themed cranes cranes into into the the restaurant restaurant locations. locations. This comes at at aa time time themed This comes also looking looking to to open open South South of ofthe the Border Border arcades arcades when Taco Taco Bell Bell isis also when other restaurant in its its fast fast food food chains chains to to compete compete with with other in restaurant entertainentertainat McDonald's McDonald's locations. locations. "We "We ment venues venues such such as as the the play play areas areas at ment are not affiliated with the Taco Bell corporate people yet," explained are not affiliated with the Taco Bell corporate people yet," explained "They are are going going to to be be looking looking at at the the franfranSmart'sMarty Marty Shelton. Shelton. "They Smart's closely." chises chises closely." Bensalem, Pa Pa.-Merit Industries has has established established aa Web Web site site Bensalem, .- Merit Industries 1) to introduce oper(http://meritind.com) to to serve purpose: 1) (http://meritind.com) serve aa dual dual purpose: to introduce operators to to the the company's history, philosophy, philosophy, and ators company's history, and future future objectives, objectives, and 2) 2) to to inform inform operators operators of of the the products and services services offered offered by by and products and Covered are are Merit plus plus future future game game updates updates and and product product designs. designs. Covered Merit and Scorpion the Megatouch the Megatouch IV IV and Scorpion 9000 9000 as as well well as as the the Typhoon Typhoon table table on Merit-sponsored Merit-sponsored events hockey. Also Also accessible is information information on hockey. accessible is events can also such as such as tournaments tournaments and and leagues. leagues. Customers Customers can also have have direct direct access to to the service, and promotions departments. access the sales, sales, customer customer service, and promotions departments. is also also happy happy to to announce announce the the availability availability of ofits its TournaTournaMeritis Merit ment Megatouch Megatouch IV, ment IV, which which will will be be showcased showcased at at AMOA AMOA Expo Expo '96. '96. Look for host of the Look for more more details details on on this this product product and and aa host of others others in in the September issue preview. September issue show show preview. Incredible Technologies Technologies sponsors sponsors Uncle Uncle Sam Sam Slam Slam Incredible RollingMeadows, Meadows, Ill.-Incredible Technologies reports reports an excelRolling Ill .- Incredible Technologies an excelPelent response response for for the the first first national national tournament tournament of ofits its networked networked Pelent ter Jacobsen Golden Tee Tee 3D 3D Golf Golfgames. games. Named Named the the Uncle Uncle Sam ter Jacobsen's's Golden Sam Slam, the the tournament tournament began began June June 21 21 and and concluded concluded July July 7. 7. It It ininSlam, of volved over over 145 located in in six states where where hundreds hundreds of volved 145 games games located six states players competed competed for cash prizes prizes totaling totaling over players for cash over $12,000. $12,000. This is is how how itit works: works: dedicated dedicated tournament tournament games games are are connectconnectThis ed to regular telephone telephone lines that allow allow the the games games to to receive receive and and ed to regular lines that transfer data. data. Each Each game game makes makes aa toll-free toll-free call call once once aa night night to to the the transfer International Tournament Tournament System System to to report reportthe the day's day's activity. activity. From From International 20 scores scores are are calculated calculated and transferred to this data data the the top top 20 this and transferred to every every machine and and displayed displayed on on the the national national leaderboard. leaderboard. Local Local leaderleadermachine Prizes are are awarded boards display display the the best best scores for that that location. boards scores for location. Prizes awarded on both both national local levels. levels. on national and and local According to to Incredible Incredible Technologies, Technologies, many many operators operators reported reported According of their their way way remarkable level level of of excitement excitement and and many many went went out out of aa remarkable tournament at their locations. A second national to promote the to promote the tournament at their locations. A second national 4. ITS-compatible ITS-compatible PePetournament runs runs from from July July 19 19 through through Aug. Aug. 4. tournament ter Jacobsen 's Golden Tee 3D Golf games are available from select ter Jacobsen's Golden Tee 3D Golf games are available from select find the the distributor distributor nearest nearest you you call call (206)869(206)869distributors. To distributors. To find 6400 or or (847)870-7027. (847)870-7027. 6400 Changes at NSM-America Bensenville, Ill Ill.-Word from the the NSM-America NSM-America office office confirms confirms Bensenville, .- Word from ofthe the company's company's Gastonia, Gastonia, N.C., N.C., production production facility facility at at the closure closure of the the end the end of of July. July. The The facility, facility, which which has has assembled assembled NSM's NSM's floor floor modmodDigital Thunder Thunder and and Performer Performer Grand Grand 2000 2000 for for the the last last 18 18 el Digital el months, was was established established in in late late 1994 1994 to to allow allow NSM NSM to to take take advanadvanmonths, NAFTA agreement. agreement. Since Since the the decline decline of of tage of ofthe the newly newly enacted enacted NAFTA tage Mexico's currency and economy made it difficult to realize these Mexico's currency and economy made it difficult to realize these NSM's benefits, it it was to consolidate consolidate all all production production at benefits, was decided decided to at NSM's worldwide headquarters headquarters in in Bingen, Bingen, Germany. Germany. worldwide Said John JohnMargold, Margold,NSM-America NSM-America senior senior vice vice president: president: "The "The Said decision, while regretful, is one that is best for NSM as a company. decision, while regretful, is one that is best for NSM as a company. Everyone at at NSM-America NSM-America wants wants to to thank thank our our colleagues colleagues in in GastoGastoEveryone nia for their work. We will continue to work to provide our operania for their work. We will continue to work to provide our operaaftor customers customers with with the the highest highest quality qualityproduct product and and the the strongest strongest aftor ter-sale service in our industry." To that end, the production ter-sale service in our industry." To that end, the production schedule in in Germany Germany assures assures that that the the supply supply for for the the North, North, South, South, schedule Central American markets will not be disrupted in any way. and and Central American markets will not be disrupted in any way. And, in in Germany, Germany, the the parent parent company company of ofNSM-America NSM-America (NSM (NSM And, Aktiengesellschaft) has shifted some of the responsibilities among Aktiengesellschaft) has shifted some of the responsibilities among Dr. Thomas Thomas Kuhl, Kuhl, technical technical director, director, will will take take its board board of of directors. directors. Dr. its responsibility for the M.U.S.I.C. division including subsidiaries responsibility for the M.U.S.I.C. division including subsidiaries NSM-United Kingdom and NSM-America. NSM-America. Kuhl Kuhl will will assume assume the the titiNSM-United Kingdom and tle of president ofNSM-America. tle of president of NSM-America. Peter Kuhn, Kuhn, the the corporation's corporation's director director of of sales sales and and marketing marketing Peter and former president of NSM-America, will assume control of and former president of NSM-America, will assume control of NSM's games He will will attend attend all all major major ininNSM's games and and S.P.O.R.T. S.P.O.R.T. divisions. divisions. He be affected affected by by dustry functions. Day-to-day operations will not not be dustry functions. Day-to-day operations will these changes. changes. these Smart Industries Industries holds Summit Smart holds Summer Summer Summit Charlotte, N.C N.C.-Novelty crane manufacturer manufacturer Smart Charlotte, .- Novelty game game and and crane Smart Iowa, held Industries of Industries of Des Des Moines, Moines, Iowa, held its its first first Summer Summer Summit Summit late late last month month in in Charlotte Charlotte for for the the company's company's distributors. distributors. In In addition addition last exto aa number number of of social social activities, activities, attendees attendees got got aa chance chance to to better better exto amine some of the company's new products, including the Pit Stop amine some of the company's new products, including the Pit Stop crane and and the the Hollywood Hollywood Photo Photo Booth Booth and and reevaluate reevaluate stalwarts stalwarts like like crane Clean Sweep crane line and the Smart Ticket Center. the the Clean Sweep crane line and the Smart Ticket Center. Smart's Pete Pete Walton Walton announced announced that that the the company company will be holdholdSmart's will be ing sales seminars across the country, possibly in conjunction ing sales seminars across the country, possibly in conjunction with with another manufacturer, manufacturer, to to help help distributors distributors become become "better "better Smart Smart another Sellers." Further Further details details will will be be released released this this month. month. Sellers." Smart has has also also embarked embarked on on aa relationship relationship with with Taco Taco Bell Bell franfranSmart chisees across the country to have its operators install specially chisees across the country to have its operators install specially PLAYMETER METER PLAY Fun Expo Fun Expo betting betting on on big big crowd crowd White Plains, Plains, N.Y NY-Fun Expo, the the trade trade show show for for the the internainternaWhite .- Fun Expo, and miniature golf industry, expects tional family fun center tional family fun center and miniature golf industry, expects aa record 8,000 8,000 attendees attendees this this year year to to view view products products and and services record services 400 companies that will occupy 1,000 booths at the sixth sixth ananfrom from 400 companies that will occupy 1,000 booths at the nual event event Oct. Oct. 9-12 9-12 at Expo Center in Las Las Vegas. Vegas. Nev. Nev. nual at the the Sands Sands Expo Center in Show manager remarked: "The evolution of the Show manager Bailey Bailey Beeken Beeken remarked: "The evolution of the been remarkable. remarkable. Classic Classic favorites favorites like like miniature exhibit floor floor has has been exhibit miniature golf, go-karts, go-karts, soft softplaygrounds, playgrounds, and and bumper bumper boats boats now now stand stand shoulshoulgolf, der-to-shoulder with with every every kind kind of of video video game, laser game, game, and virder-to-shoulder game, laser and virtual reality." Look for new food products, costume companies, and tual reality." Look for new food products, costume companies, and operations systems systems at at this this year's year's show show because, because, as as Beeken Beeken sees sees it, it, operations "attendees are seeking these products as part of expansion and di"attendees are seeking these products as part of expansion and diversificationplans.' plans." versification Fun Expo '96 will will offer two first-time an outdoor outdoor pavilpavilFun Expo '96 offer two first-time features features:: an ion for for inflatables inflatables and and other other portable portable attractions, attractions, and and aa seminar seminar polpolion all registrants registrants to to take take in in the the program program for for only only $35 $35 in in icythat that allows allows all icy 30). In In addition, addition, because because of ofthe the growing growing advance ($55 after Aug. advance ($55 after Aug. 30). traditional operators and distributors at the the show, Play number of number of traditional operators and distributors at show, Play Meter is is sponsoring sponsoring aa cocktail cocktail party party on Wednesday night night so so FEC FEC Meter on Wednesday owners can can meet meet and and mingle mingle with with operators operators and and distributors. distributors. For For owners more information activities, call more information on on Fun Fun Expo Expo activities, call (914)993-9200. (914)993-9200. CORRECTION: On On page page 83 83 of of our our July July issue, issue, in in "Internation"InternationCORRECTION: al Scene," typographical error errorlisted listed JCM JCM Intl. Intl. instead instead of ofJPM JPM Intl. Intl. al Scene," aa typographical Sega Enterprises Enterprises Ltd. Ltd. of of Tokyo, Japan, purchasing purchasing in an an item item about about Sega in Tokyo, Japan, We apologize apologize for for any any confusion confusion this this four gaming-related gaming-related companies. companies. We four may have have caused caused the the companies companies concerned concerned or or their their customers. customers. .A may 6 6 AUGUST 1996 1996 AUGUST