Play Meter

MAILBOX comeup upwith withone onethat thatwould wouldadd addmore more come faith and credibility to your magazine. faith and credibility to your magazine. EdSeidel, Seidel,President President Ed Seidel Amusement Seidel Amusement MachineCo. Co.Inc. Inc. Machine N.M. Albuquerque, Albuquerque, N.M. DearEd: Ea. · ,.,,,., . Dear Weeunderstand understandr.ycy ancerns.Input Input your concerns. ~rom indiiStry ·ete ans sue~~ ourself from industry veterans such as yourself ~~ isis-appreGiated appreciated. We have conducted an quzj)'Pfm t We have conducted an Equipment Pollfor for 20 20years. years. ItItisisalways alwaysone oneofo}the the Equipment Poll: Poll ~ted parts of the magazine on rated parts of the magazine on is it it hit hit or or miss? miss? highest ourannual annualState Stateofofthe theIndustry IndustrySurvey. Survey. is our On receiving the May issue of Play Even so, operator apathy is a stumbling On receiving the May issue of Play Even so, operator apathy is a stumbling MeterIIturned turnedto to the theEquipment EquipmentPoll Poll block blockiningetting gettingthe theinformation informationwe weneed. need. Meter to see how Smokin' Token was doing. We We would like to see more operators rewould like to see more operators reto see how Smokin' Token was doing. Needless to say, I was very disappointturn their ballots on a regular basis. I've Needless to say, I was very disappoint- turn their ballots on a regular basis. I've ed that it had slipped from first place heard operators say they don't have the ed that it had slipped from first place heard operators say they don't have the in January to number 14 in this (May) time, theyare aretoo toosmall smalltotocount, count, etc. etc. in January to number 14 in this (May) time, they issue. The startling discovery promptSome months our returns are higher Some months our returns are higher issue. The startling discovery promptthan other months, which accounts for ed me to examine and compare polls ed me to examine and compare polls than other months, which accounts for of previous issues, and much to my the fluctuations you mentioned in your of previous issues, and much to my the fluctuations you mentioned in your amazementIIfound foundthem themto tobe be9.!!i.t.e. letter. If it happens we have a larger reamazement quite. letter. If it happens we have a larger reerratic to say the least. sponse from street streetoperators operatorsininaagiven given erratic to say the least. sponse from month, Here are only a few of my findings: the redemption results may have Here are only a few of my findings: month, the redemption results may have for Coin Drop games, Home Run Hitter a wider variance than usual. We have for Coin Drop games, Home Run Hitter a wider variance than usual. We have was number one in March and April, tried using several different criteria to acwas number one in March and April, tried using several different criteria to accumulatethe whileititdidn't didn'tappear appearin inthe theMay Maylisting listing cumulate thedata. data. Our Ourcurrent currentmethod method while at all. The first five games in May were has proven to be the best so far. at all. The first five games in May were has proven to be the best so far. noteven evenon onthe thelist listininprevious previousmonths. months. Our poll poll isis simple simple and and straightforstraightfornot Our Similarly, in Novelty game listings, Col- ward. ward. Color-coded ballots are mailedtoto Color-coded ballots are mailed Similarly, in Novelty game listings, Colorama was number one in April and our operator readers with postage-free orama was number one in April and our operator readers with postage-free noton onthe thelist listin inMarch Marchand andMay. May. For For envelopes envelopesfor fortheir theirreturn. return. We Weaccept acceptno no not games to appearout outofofnowhere, nowhere,bebe- faxes or photocopies. Recipients are games to appear faxes or photocopies. Recipients are come number one, two, or three, only asked to rate their games on a scale of come number one, two, or three, only asked to rate their games on a scale of disappear in the following issues, one to 10, with 10 for superior earnings. toto disappear in the following issues, one to 10, with 10 for superior earnings. tells me, and and II imagine imagine aa few few other other The Thepoint pointvalue valuethat thatappears appearson onthe thechart chart tells me, readers, that your method of polling is is an average of the points assigned to the readers, that your method of polling is is an average of the points assigned to the somewhatlacking lackingin inaccuracy. accuracy. games by operators. The term "superior somewhat games by operators. The term "superior I shudder to think that some operahasaadifferent differentmeaning meaning/or difearnings"has I shudder to think that some opera- earnings" for diftors might base their purchasing on the ferent operators. tors might base their purchasing on the ferent operators. Asyou youknow, know, much muchofofthe thenumbernumberresultsof ofan anopinion opinionpoll pollsuch suchas asthis. this. II results As gatheringininthe suggest you analyze your system and gathering theindustry industryisissubjective subjectivebebesuggest you analyze your system and \ Equipment Poll: -- causeno notwo twooperators operatorsand andno notwo twolocalocacause tionsare areexactly exactlyalike. alike. Our Ourpoll pollhas hasnevnevtions er purported to be the final word on any er purported to be the final word on any game. Readers must weigh their own cirgame. Readers must weigh their own circumstances when either reading printed cumstances when either reading printed pollsororlistening listeningtotofellow fellow operators operatorsdisdispolls cuss their successes or difficulties with cuss their successes or difficulties with certaingames. games. certain We recognize thataavariety varietyofoffactors factors We recognize that can have an impact on redemption game can have an impact on redemption game performance, from the type of facility performance, from the type of facility toto thetype typeofofprize prizemerchandise merchandisetotothe theattiattithe tude of management. These factors must tude of management. These factors must takeninto intoconsideration considerationby bythe theoperaoperabebetaken tors filling out the poll. We do not tamper tors filling out the poll. We do not tamper with,nor nordo dowe wequestion, question,an anoperator's operator's with, game ratings. game ratings. Astute operators know that a poll is Astute operators know that a poll is but onetool toolavailable availabletotoassist assistininevaluatevaluatbut one ing equipment. If a game is rated number ing equipment. If a game is rated number one, but is either too expensive or inapone, but is either too expensive or inapan operator's locations, the propriate for propriate for an operator's locations, the rating alone will not cause him to buy it. rating alone will not cause him to buy it. We have compared the last six months We have compared the last six months of Coin Dropgames, games, much muchas asyou youdid, did, of Coin Drop is in May that a number and find that it and find that it is in May that a number newgames gameshithitthe thecharts. charts.ItItisisonly onlynatnatofofnew ural that those new games are rated high ural that those new games are rated high firstbecause becauseany anynew newpieces piecesininaagame game atatfirst room garner more interest and more room garner more interest and more quarters. The staying power of the games quarters. The staying power of the games what'simportant. important.Subsequent Subsequentcharts charts isiswhat's these games have will indicate whether will indicate whether these games have the staying power ofSmokin' Token and the staying power of Smokin' Token and others that have dominated this category others that have dominated this category forthe thepast pastyear. year. for When you look at the chart, we are When you look at the chart, we are sureyou youwill willagree agreethat thatitithas hasbeen beenpretty pretty sure consistent until these new games became consistent until these new games became morewidely widelydistributed. distributed.(Smokin' (Smokin' Token Token more has appeared in the top five Coin Drop has appeared in the top five Coin Drop games for five out of the past six months games for number five outone of the June.) past six months andwas wasnumber and one ininJune.) -Editor -Editor DEC. DEC. JAN. JAN. FEB. FEB. MAR. MAR. APR. APR. MAY MAY 1.1. Smokin'Token Smokin'Token Smokin'Token Token Smokin' SuperWheel WheelEm Em In In Super HomeRun RunHitter Hitter Home HomeRun RunHitter Hitter Home ChickenDash Dash Chicken 2. 2. ScreaminSlopes Slopes Screamin Rock-n-Bowl SuperRock-n-Bowl Super WheelEm EmInIn Wheel Smokin'Token Smokin'Token WheelEm EmInIn Wheel Cutthe theCheese Cheese Cut 33. AddamsFamily FamilyValues Values Addams Rollfor forGold Gold Roll SmokinToken Token Smokin Screamin'Slopes Slopes Screamin' Pirate'sGold Gold Pirate's Screamin'Slopes Screamin'Slopes 4. 4. HomeRun RunHitter Hitter Home Screamin'Slopes Slopes Screamin' Rock-N-Bowl Rock-N-Bowl WheelEm EmIn In Wheel Smokin'Token Token Smokin' WheelofofFortune Fortune Wheel 5.5. Wheel Em EmIn In Wheel SuperWheel WheelEm EmInIn Super TheMask Mask The Aftershock Aftershock TheMask Mask The Super Rock-N-Bowl Super Rock-N-Bowl 66. TheMask Mask The HomeRun RunHitter Hitter Home Aftershock Aftershock Addam'sFamily Fam ilyValues Values Addam's Aftershock Aftershock Coi nCircus Circus Coin 7.7. CoinCircus Circus Coin WheelEmEmInIn Wheel HomeRun RunHitter Hitter Home TheMask Mask The AddamsFamily FamilyValues Values Addams TheMask Mask The 8.8. Aftershock Aftershock Aftershock Aftershock CoinCircus Circus Coin CoinCircus Circus Coin Rock-N-Bowl Rock-N-Bowl Wheel'Em 'EmInIn Wheel 99. Rollfor forGold Gold Roll Rock-N-Bowl Rock-N-Bowl Rollfor forGold Gold Roll Rock-N-Bowl Rock-N-Bowl CoinCircus Ci rcus Coin Aftershock Aftershock 10. 10. Rock-N-Bowl Rock-N-Bowl AddamsFamily FamilyValues Val ues Addams Screamin'Slopes Slopes Screamin' Goofy Hoops Goofy Hoops SuperBank BankItIt Super Sonicthe theHedgehog Hedgehog Sonic PLACE PLACE PLAYMETER METER PLAY 88 JULY1996 JULY 1996