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TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME23 VOLUME 23 N0.1 NO. 1 JANUARY 1997 1997 JANUARY 5 588 71 1 IAAPA '96 96 IAAPA "This is is meant meant to to be be aa celebration celebration of ofwho who we we are are and and what what we we "This do," said said Geoffrey Geoffrey Thompson Thompson of ofhis his association's association's 78th 78th internainternado," tional showcase showcase of ofall all elements elementspertaining pertaining to to theme theme parks parks and and tional family entertainment centers. Idea seekers had a field day in family entertainment centers. Idea seekers had a field day in terms of games and rides, food and beverages, and play equipterms of games and rides, food and beverages, and play equipment and and new new technologies. technologies. ment HIGH TECH TECH REVISITED REVISITED HIGH Hold on on to to your your lasers! lasers! Not Not since since the the last last IAAPA IAAPA convention convention Hold and trade show has there been as extensive an outlay of galgaland trade show has there been as extensive an outlay of loping technology under one roof in the areas of laser tag, moloping technology under one roof in the areas of laser tag, motion simulators, simulators, and and virtual virtual reality. reality. Ten Ten pages pages are are devoted devoted to to tion the impressive impressive IAAPA IAAPA exhibitors exhibitors that that raised raised the the WOW! WOW! factor factor the few notches. notches. aa few 83 DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENTS News Bulletin Bulletin ... ... . ..33 News From the the Editor Editor . . ... . . .. ... ..10 10 From Equipment Poll Poll . .. . .. . . ..12 12 Equipment Up Front . . .. . .. ... .. .. . .. ... 16 Up Front Coin-Op News News . ... . .. .. .. . ... .. ..18 18 Coin-Op Who's News News . . . .34 34 Who's International Scene Scene . . . . . .. 36 36 International Cover Story Story .. ... .. . .. .. .46 .46 Cover Beyond the the Playfield Playfield . ... .. ... . . ...53 53 Beyond From Left Left Field Field ... .. .57 .57 From Nostalgia .. . ... ... . ... ... . .108 108 Nostalgia Open House House . . . 109 Open Guest Commentary Commentary ... . . . . .. ... . 110 110 Guest FEC Focus Focus . . .. . 111 FEC FEC Handbook Handbook .. . . .115 115 FEC Legal Eagle Eagle .. .. .. . . . .. . 116 116 Legal AMOA Agenda Agenda ... .. 117 AMOA Technical Topics Topics .. . . ... . .. . .119 119 Technical Battle Tech Tech .. . .. . . . .. .. . 125 125 Battle What's New New . .. . .. ..127 127 What's Classified .. ... . 133 Classified Calendar . . . ... .. .. . .. . . 178 178 Calendar COVER COVER STATE OF THE INDUSTRY STATE Entrepreneur Pat Pat Klasno Klasno thinks thinks big big..as as Entrepreneur The long-awaited long-awaited results results of ofour our annual annual survey survey are are now now at at your your The door, complete with charts, comparisons, and candid comdoor, complete with charts, comparisons, and candid comments from from those those who who responded. responded. Every Every equipment equipment category category ments covered in in great great detail, detail, along along with with general general business business trends. trends. isis covered This report provides valuable statistics and a realistic picture of This report provides valuable statistics and a realistic picture of our industry in today's economic climate. our industry in today's economic climate. big as asthe the giant giant Disney Disney @ © licensed licensed plush plush big and other other prizes prizes that that fill fill the the 40,00040,000and square-foot warehouse warehouse of of his his Carson, Carson, square-foot Calif., company, company, King King Plush. Plush. He He is is aa firm firm Calif., believerin in providing providing soft, soft, cuddly, cuddly, irreirrebeliever well-made stuffe d toysand sistible, sistible, well-made stuffed toys-and plenty of ofthem. them. plenty Your Silent Partner Partner ... Around The Corner Or Around The The World. World. 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Windows™ TM Silent Partner 2000 2509 Country Country Club Club Drive Drive .• Springfield, Springfield,IL IL 62704 62704 2509 217-787-4232 ·• FAX FAX 217-787-4293 217-787-4293 217-787-4232 88 JANUARY 1997 1997 JANUARY