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BULLETIN COASTAL ACQUIRES ACQUIRES AM. AM. HI-STRIKER HI-STRIKER COASTAL IAAPA HOSTS HOSTS AMUSEMENT AMUSEMENT PARK PARK IAAPA INDUSTRY IN ORLANDO INDUSTRY IN ORLANDO The International International Association Association of of Amusement Amusement Parks Parks and and The Attractions hosted hosted its its 79th 79th annual annual convention convention and and trade trade Attractions show at at the the Orange Orange County County Convention Convention Center Center in in Orlando, Orlando, show Fla., Nov. 18-22, to an expected 23 ,000 attendees and Fla., Nov. 18-22, to an expected 23,000 attendees and 4,200 exhibit booths representing more than 1,000 manu4,200 exhibit booths representing more than 1,000 manufacturers and and product productvendors. vendors. facturers Close to to 50 50 education education seminars seminars covering covering everything everything from from Close measuring guest satisfaction and costume character safety to measuring guest satisfaction and costume character safety to high-tech equipment in the FEC and the future of themed high-tech equipment in the FEC and the future of themed entertainment were were held held in in conjunction conjunction with with the the convention convention entertainment Play Meter Meter will will feature feature full full coverage coverage of ofthis this and trade trade show. show. Play and industry event event in in next next month's month's issue. issue. industry ITS AWARDS AWARDS $1 $1 MILLION MILLION IN IN PRIZES PRIZES ITS Incredible Technologies' Technologies' International International Tournament Tournament SysSysIncredible tem (ITS) (ITS) has has reached reached the the watershed watershed mark mark of of $1 $1 million million in in tem prizes given out to players and is currently working on six prizes given out to players and is currently working on six brand new new golf golfcourses courses for forthe the Golden Golden Tee Tee 3D 3D Golf Golfgame game that that brand made ititpossible. possible. In In fact, fact, the the new new update, update, Golden Golden Tee Tee'`98, 98, will will made be offered to ITS operators as an EPROM update at least two be offered to ITS operators as an EPROM update at least two months before before itit is is available available for for regular regular Golden Golden Tee Tee games. games. months The pricing structure will be identical to that charged for the the The pricing structure will be identical to that charged for Golden Tee Tee`97 '9 7 update. update. Golden The new new 18-hole 18-hole courses courses feature feature all-new all-new landscaping landscaping The with a fresh and distinctive look. The Palm Grove course will will with a fresh and distinctive look. The Palm Grove course offer a lush Hawaiian tropical atmosphere. Bayou Bend takes offer a lush Hawaiian tropical atmosphere. Bayou Bend takes place in in the th e swamps swamps and and marshes marshes of of Louisiana. Louisiana. Arbor Arbor Hill Hill place reflects the the wooded wooded majesty majesty and and grace grace of of fall fall in in New New EngEngreflects land. ITS ITS versions versions are are scheduled scheduled to to be be out out in in March. March. Regular Regular land. versions, in both kit and dedicated fom1, will be available in versions, in both kit and dedicated form, will be available in mid-May, as as well well as as cocktail cocktail and and countertop countertop versions. versions. mid-May, New Jersey-based Jersey-based redemption redemption game game manufacturer manufacturer New Coastal Amusements Amusements recently recently announced announced the the acquisition acquisition of of Coastal American Hi-Striker in Las Vegas. American Hi-Striker proAmerican Hi-Striker in Las Vegas. American Hi-Striker produces an an electronic electronic version version of ofthe the old old mechanical mechanical high high strikstrikduces er game seen at carnivals and fairs for many years. Using ader game seen at carnivals and fairs for many years. Using advanced electronics, electronics, lights, lights, and and sounds sounds to to replace replace the the vanced mechanics and and bell bell of ofthe the old old game, game, the the company's company's presentpresentmechanics day attraction is an all-weather indoor/ outdoor game. day attraction is an all-weather indoor/outdoor game. "We have have known known David David Williams, Williams, designer designer and and owner owner of of "We American Hi-Striker, Hi-Striker, for for 15 15 years; years; he he isis aa brilliant brilliant engineer," engineer," American said Coastal Coastal president president Lenny Lenny Dean. Dean. "David "David has has taken taken an an old old said idea and designed a superior product for today's market." idea and designed a superior product for today's market." Coastal executive executive vice vice president president Sal Sal Mirando Mirando called called the the Coastal acquisition a strategic effort that "complements efforts to exacquisition a strategic effort that "complements efforts to expand our our product product line line as as well well as as our ourmarket market penetration." penetration." pand American Hi-Striker Hi-Strikerwill will become become aa wholly wholly owned owned subsidiary subsidiary American of Coastal and will continue to operate from its current Las of Coastal and will continue to operate from its current Las Vegas facility. Vegas facility. BUESCHEL RELEASES RELEASES SEQUEL SEQUEL TO TO BUESCHEL FIRST PINBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA FIRST PINBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA Ever since since Dick Dick Bueschel's Bueschel's "Encyclopedia "Encyclopedia of of Pinball Pinball VolVolEver ume1" 1" was was released released last last year, year, readers readers have have been been clamoring clamoring ume for the the promised promised sequels. sequels. Volume Volume 2, 2, which which was was published published for 10 chapters of history covering 1934last month, contains last month, contains 10 chapters of history covering 193436, the most frenetic period in the game's rich history when 36, the most frenetic period in the game's rich history when Harry Williams Williams electrified electrified the the game game and and other other pioneers pioneers like like Harry Gottlieb and and Rockola Rockola transformed transformed aa cottage cottage industry industry into into aa Gottlieb global business. business. For For aa closer closer look look at at the the man man behind behind the the global books, read editor Valerie Cognevich's exclusive interview books, read editor Valerie Cognevich's exclusive interview with the the writer writerin in next next month's month'sissue issue of ofPlay Play Meter. Meter. Bueschel Bueschel with also recently recently published published the the "Guide "Guide to to Vintage Vintage Trader Trader StimuStimualso lators & &Counter Counter Games." Games." lators NAMCO & & SKYLINE SKYLINE FORGE FORGE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT NAMCO Namco Cybertainment Cybertainment struck struck an an agreement agreement last last month month Namco with Skyline Multimedia to license its brand name or tradewith Skyline Multimedia to license its brand name or tradeXS,in in exchange exchange for for financial financial considerations considerations regarding regarding mark, XS, mark, equipment at at Skyline's Skyline's flagship flagship store store XS XS New New York York and and the the equipment ability to continue using the trademark at the Times Square ability to continue using the trademark at the Times Square venue, according accordingto to the the Wave Wave Report Report on on Digital DigitalMedia. Media. NamNamvenue, co officials officials say say the the deal deal will will serve serve as as aalaunching launchingpad pad into into the the co high-end LBE LBEmarketplace. marketplace. Wave Wave also also reported reported that that Namco Namco high-end Cybertainment recently recently purchased purchased two two company-owned company-owned Cybertainment Laser Storm laser tag entertainment locations in Cincinnati Cincinnati Laser Storm laser tag entertainment locations in and San San Bernardino Bernardino developed developed as aspart part of of aa joint joint venture venture bebeand tween the the two two companies. companies. Laser LaserStorm Storm CEO CEO Bob Bob Cooney Cooney said said tween that while while the the venture venture failed failed to to meet meetexpectations expectationsthe thecompacompathat ny would continue to build relationships with other amuseny would continue to build relationships with other amusement and and entertainment entertainment companies companies in in addition addition to to developing developing ment company-owned stores stores such such as as the the one one recently recently opened opened in in company-owned Albuquerque's new Starport entertainment attraction. Albuquerque's new Starport entertainment attraction. P.L.i\YtlYIEIER PLAY METER 1 ' PLAY-BY-PLAY SIGNS SIGNS LICENSE LICENSE PLAY-BY-PLAY Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties has signed aa letter letter of ofintent intent Play-By-Play Toys & Novelties has signed with Warner Warner Bros. Bros.Consumer Consumer Products Products to to enter enter into into an an exexwith clusive license to design, distribute, and manufacture the clusive license to design, distribute, and manufacture the Looney Tunes Tunes line line of ofstuffed stuffed toys toys in in Europe, Europe, the the Middle Middle East, East, Looney Africa, and and South South America. America.The The agreement agreement isis expected expected to to be be Africa, finalized and and in in effect effect by by next next month. month. finalized Q-ENTERTAINMENT FILES FILES CHAPTER CHAPTER 11 11 Q-ENTERTAINMENT Q-Entertainment,the the parent parent company company of oflaser laser tag tag manumanuQ-Entertainment, facturer Q-Zar Q-Zar and and the the location-based location-based entertainment entertainment venue venue facturer Q-City, announced announced last last month month that that itit has has sought sought protection protection Q-City, under Chapter Chapter 11 11 of of the the United United States States bankruptcy bankruptcy laws. laws. under Over the past several months the company has been trying Over the past several months the company has been trying to restructure restructure its its financial financial obligations obligations and and has has been been unable unable to to obtain obtain an an equity equityinfusion infusion that that would would have have helped helped avoid avoid to the need to seek bankruptcy protection. the need to seek bankruptcy protection. 33 DECEMBER 1997