Play Meter

Departments Table ol Contents VOLUME 22, NO. 1 •JANUARY 1996 35 65 84 State ol the Industry Time to check the pulse of the industry and review its vital statistics: average weekly gross collections, total number of machines on location, commission splits, location agreements, annual license fees, equipment quality, price per play, competition, and much more. Plus, find out what your fellow operators are really thinking, in their own no-holds-barred words. IAAPA Wrap-Up Two areas of interest defined the 77th annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention and trade show: international business and family entertainment centers. Exhibits included everything from motion simulator theaters to old-fashioned lemonade. Check out our 14-page coverage filled with quotes, photos, and a close-up on high-tech offerings. Cover FEC Focus Over 40 informative workshops were on the agenda at IAAPA's annual gathering of amusement facility personnel from around the globe. Emphasis was heavy on the side of family entertainment centers, which had not been the case in the past. Three highenergy sessions are profiled: Trends in FECs, Guest Relations, and Trends in Food Service. Valley begins its 51 st year with new ownership and a positive outlook on the future. The new Cougar IQ Series promises to be a quantum leap in electronic dart games. Pictured: Valley's famous Cougar logo and the flagship models that bear its name-the Cougar ZD-6 pool table and Cougar IQ dart machine. • Take Your Best Shot! PLAY METER News Notes . . . . . . 3 From the Editor .. . ... . 8 Equipment Poll . . . 10, 12 Up Front . . . . . ... 14 Coin-Op News . . . . .. .20 International Scene ... .. ... . . 30 Who's News .. ... . . . . .. . 34 Beyond the Playfield . .. ... ... 52 Cover Story ... .. 55 Guest Commentary . . 64 AMOA Agenda ... ... 83 Open Houses ... . . ... 90 Tournaments & Leagues . . 92 Quarter Notes . .. 97 Player's Perspective .. . .. . 99 Ticket Tech .. .. 102 Technical Topics . . ... . ... .. .104 Battle Tech ... .. 106 What's New . .. . . .. ... .. 108 Classified .. . ... 115 Calendar . .154 6 ' for Profits! JANUARY 1996