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FROM THE EDITOR If looks could kill TT V A L E R E C O G N E -UI PLAY METER METER PLAY he year year ended ended with with many many in in the the industry industry he doom and gloom in the worst predicting predicting doom and gloom in the worst there has, has, indeed, indeed, always always been been that that certain certain there just around the corner something lurking something lurking just around the corner weren't buying buying equipment equipment in in the the numbers numbers weren't they had in the past, and there was glut they had in the past, and there was aa glut of used equipment-most notably redempof used equipment-most notably redemption games-flooding games-flooding the the market. market. tion reminded of of aa statement statement by by James James am reminded II am Plamondon of of Microsoft, Microsoft, who who told told us us that that Plamondon the coin-op industry underestimates itself. the coin-op industry underestimates itself. Of course, course, the the talk talk at at the the Of end of the year centered end of the year centered around Microsoft Microsoft and and its its around of the industry. scrutiny scrutiny of the industry. had an an opinopinEveryone had Everyone it was was posiion whether ion whether it posior negative. negative. What What tive or tive Plamondon said said was was a a Plamondon surprise, yet not uncalled surprise, yet not uncalled had for, certainly. certainly. He He had for, spent an exorbitant spent an exorbitant amount of of time time learning learning amount about the industry, about the industry, studying every every aspect, aspect, studying and professing professing that that it it and had potential potential for for aa mega had mega company like like Microsoft. Microsoft. company questioned the Many Many questioned the motives, wondering why motives, wondering why with aa small small indusMicrosoft would Microsoft would bother bother with industry like coin-op, thus prompting Plamontry like coin-op, thus prompting Plamondon's comment comment about about the the industry industry selling selling don's itself short. itself short. Perhaps it it takes takes an an outsider outsider to to remind remind Perhaps us that that our our industry is aa respectable respectable indusus industry is industhat an an $8 $8 bilbiltry, and and who who could could question question that try, is worth worth studying. studying. When When we we lion industry industry is lion our numbers we realize that though see see our numbers we realize that though things were were down, things down, as as stated stated by by about about eveveryone involved in the industry, the induseryone involved in the industry, the indusis still still far far better better off off than than it it has has been been at at try is try times in the past. One thing that we've times in the past. One thing that we've heard is is that something is is bound bound to to happen happen heard that something turn things things around, around, which which is is exactly exactly why why to turn to has been been such such aa focus focus of of attenattenMicrosoft has Microsoft Is it, it, in in fact, fact, something something that that will will boost boost tion. Is tion. the industry? industry? the The coin-op coin-op industry industry has has survived survived and and The the industry industry before before the the advent advent of of video video the way. Collections Collections were were down, down, operators operators way. 10 to give give it it the the pick pick up up it it needs. needs. Remember Remember to games? Take Take aa look look now now at at the the impact impact games? video games games have have on on the the industry, industry, acacvideo $3 .6 billion billion dollars dollars in in gross gross counting for for $3.6 counting revenue. That's nearly what what the the entire entire ininrevenue. That's nearly dustry once was! Sure, the complaints rage dustry once was! Sure, the complaints rage about cost, cost, longevity longevity (or (or lack lack of ofit), it), home home about games coming too soon on the heels of games coming too soon on the heels of coin-op introductions, etc. But video games coin-op introductions, etc. But video games make up up nearly nearly half half of ofthe the industry's industry's still make still can't count them out by any any revenue. We revenue. We can't count them out by means. means. had aa trend trend that that emerges emerges Each year year has has had Each our statistical statistical analysis analysis of ofthe the indusindusduring our during be survival survival try and and II think think this this year yearit it could could be try of the the fittest. of fittest. There There are are fewer fewer operators, operators, but the the ones ones that that are are left left have have either either but bought out a competitor or expanded their bought out a competitor or expanded their When you you look look at at the the numbers numbers it's it's routes. When routes. hard to believe that some operators can rehard to believe that some operators can report doing so well, while others seem like port doing so well, while others seem like they've given given up up completely. completely. How How can can they've someone survive survive if if their their video someone video games games are are making $1 per week. Yes, we get answers making $1 per week. Yes, we get answers like that. that. Go Go figure. figure . If Ifyour your games games are are makmaklike ing $1 a week you should be doing someing $1 a week you should be doing something else. thing else. We welcome welcome comments We comments from from our our readreaders about about our our survey survey because because after after doing doing ers this for for some some 19 19 years, years, we we learn learn something something this every time. every time. The The manufacturers manufacturers help help by by letlet- ting us us know know if if our our numbers numbers on on their their parparting of equipment equipment is is on on the the money money ticular type type of ticular or way out in left field . Operators tell us us or way out in left field. Operators tell that their equipment does about average that their equipment does about average (except for for that that guy guy only only making making $1 (except $1 per per week!). week!). It's an an interesting interesting industry industry and and taking taking a a It's at the State of the Industry Report look look at the State of the Industry Report puts ititin in perspective. perspective. Either Either you're you're doing doing aa puts lot better than everyone else, or lot lot better than everyone else, or aa lot worse. But no matter how you fare comworse. But no matter how you fare compared to to the the numbers, numbers, you've you've obviously obviously pared elected to the long long haul. haul. Glad elected to stay stay in in for for the Glad to to ~ see you making the commitment. commitment. the see you making JANUARY 1997 1997 JANUARY