Play Meter

BULLETIN industry event eventthat that transcended transcended the the boundaries boundaries of ofthe theUnited UnitedKingKingindustry dom. AArecord record 17,952 17,952 buyers buyers from from 103 103 countries countries traveled traveled to to LonLondom. don in in January January to to view view products products and and services services displayed displayed at at 350 350 don booths. Buyers Buyers from from outside outside the the U.K. UK. represented represented 35 35 percent percent of ofthe the booths. Thelargest largest share share came came from from Spain, Spain,France, France, the the UnitUnittotal audience. audience. The total ed States, States,Italy, Italy, and and the theNetherlands. Netherlands. ed "We're delighted atatthe the response response shown shownby by amuseamuseSaid Rusbridge: Said Rusbridge: "We're delighted mentindustry industry buyers buyers from from throughout throughout the the world. world. Whilst Whilst the the numnumment bers are tremendously encouraging, I am more pleased with the bers are tremendously encouraging, I am more pleased with the 100 countries countries represented represented ititisis certainly certainly quality of ofbuyers. buyers. With With over over 100 quality Personnel changes changes at at Microsoft Microsoft Personnel Microsoft's emissary to the coin-op world is moving on to explore Microsoft's emissary to the coin-op world is moving on to explore newmarkets markets now now that that the the software software giant gianthas has committed committed significant significant new resources to the industry. "Much as I have enjoyed working with the the resources to the industry. "Much as I have enjoyed working with coin-op industry, industry,my my skills skills are arebest bestsuited suited to to the the investigation investigationof ofmarmarcoin-op potential," Microsoft's Microsoft's James James Plamondon Plamondon told told Play Play Meter. Meter. "The "The ketpotential," ket marketpotential potential of ofWindows-based Windows-based PCs PCsin in coin-op coin-opisis now now clear, clear, and and market me to move on. I want to thank everyone from the so it's time for so it's time for me to move on. I want to thank everyone from the coin-opindustry industry for fortheir their support, support, their their friendship, friendship, and and their their sense sense of of coin-op fun. But ButI'm I'msure sure that thatour ournew newteam teamwill will do do aagreat greatjob." job." fun. That new new team team will will be be comprised comprised of ofaa yet-to-be-chosen yet-to-be-chosen liaison liaison to to That the coin-op coin-opindustry, industry, as as well well asasMicrosoft's Microsoft'sJason JasonRobar, Robar,who whomade made the an appearance appearance at at AMOA AMOA Expo Expo '95 '95in inNew New Orleans Orleans and and will will be be hanhanan the task task of ofbringing bringing PC PC game game developers developers to to coin-op coin-op in in concondlingthe dling Plamjunction with Microsoft's game developer evangelism team. junction with Microsoft's game developer evangelism team. Plamondon also also said said aa recent recent report report about about the the formation formation of of aa game game ondon "off-base presentation of...quite mundane facts. Migroup was an group was an "off-base presentation of ... quite mundane facts.""Mi- The continued continued success success of ofthe the Parks, Parks, Rides Rides & & world-class exhibition. exhibition. The aaworld-class FEC sector sectorhas has certainly certainly broadened broadened the the appeal appeal of ofATEI. ATEI. ItItisis also also imimFEC portantto to highlight highlightthe therole role of ofexhibitors, exhibitors, who who invest invest aalot lot of oftime, time, efefportant fort, and creativity into making ATEI a very special exhibition." fort, and creativity into making ATEI a very special exhibition." numberof ofawards awards were were presented presented during during the the event: event: ATEI, ATEI, Best Best AAnumber Overall Stand Stand (booth)-JPM (booth)-JPM Intl. Intl. Ltd., Ltd., and and Merit Merit Award-Hantarex Award-Hantarex Overall Ltd..;; Parks, Parks, Rides Rides && FEC FEC sector, sector, Best BestStand-Copyright Stand-CopyrightRides Rides Ltd Ltd.; Ltd .; Intl. Casino Casino Exhibition, Exhibition, Best Best Stand-Aristocrat Stand-Aristocrat Leisure Leisure Ltd., Ltd., and and Intl. Merit Award-Eurocoin Award-Eurocoin Ltd Ltd.; Best Press Press Pack Pack Award-Brent Award-Brent Leisure. Leisure. Merit .; Best crosoft already alreadyhad had an an established established game game division, division,he he said, said, although although crosoft he could could not not comment comment on on whether whether that that group group had had an an interest interest in in he Warehouse acquires acquires Bird Bird Distributing Distributing Warehouse The Warehouse of Vending and Games in St. Louis, Mo., has ac- coin-op. coin-op. Incredible Technologies Technologies updates updates Incredible Golden Tee Tee 3D 30 Golf Golfgame game Golden The Warehouse of Vending and Games in St. Louis, Mo., has acquired Bird Bird Distributing Distributing of ofKansas. Kansas. The The address address and andphone phone for for the the quired new Warehouse Vending and Games branch is 9829 Widner, new Warehouse Vending and Games branch is 9829 Widner, Lenexa, KS KS 66215; 66215; (913)492-9800; (913)492-9800 ; fax fax (913)492-9858. (913)492-9858. Lenexa, ofVending Vending In related news Rowe Intl. has appointed Warehouse of In related news Rowe Intl. has appointed Warehouse and Games Games its its factory factory authorized authorized distributor distributor for for the the Kansas Kansas City City and territoryformerly formerly assigned assigned to to Bird Bird Distributing. Distributing. Joel Joel Friedman, Friedman,exexterritory ofRowe, Rowe, commented, commented, "We "We all all appreciate appreciate evevecutive vice vice president president of ecutive erything that that Lou, Lou, Anna, Anna, and and the thePtacek Ptacek family family have have done done for for Rowe Rowe erything over the years and wish them the very best in their retirement." over the years and wish them the very best in their retirement." PeterJacobsen's Jacobsen's Golden Golden Tee Tee 3D 3D Golf Golfis is receiving receiving aa face-lift face-lift this this year. year. Peter Game manufacturer manufacturer Incredible Incredible Technologies Technologies has has released released an an updatupdatGame ed version version with with three three newly-designed newly-designed golf golfcourses, courses, complete complete with with ed new landscaping, landscaping,new new course course names, names, and and aa fresh fresh look look new newmarquee marquee new included to to let letplayers players know know of ofthe the new new challenges, challenges, and, and, at at the the rereincluded of operators, additional audit pages have been added to the quest quest of operators, additional audit pages have been added to the game's test test mode mode that that will will assist assistin in operator-run operator-run tournaments. tournaments. The The game's game can be purchased as a complete kit or in a dedicated cabinet. game can be purchased as a complete kit or in a dedicated cabinet. Trademark controversy controversy continues continues Trademark Fla. court court approves approves skill-modified skill-modified game game Fla. Advanced Games Games && Engineering Engineering(AGE) (AGE) reports reportsthat thatits itstrademark trademark Advanced of the phrases "Play Until You Win" and "Winner Every Time," used of the phrases "Play Until You Win" and "Winner Every Time," used in association association with with its its skill skill crane crane product, product, has has been been upheld. upheld. "With "With in theresolution resolution of ofthese these trademark trademark suits suits against against Smart Smart Industries, Industries, AdAdthe vanced Games Games & & Engineering Engineering will will now now dedicate dedicate its its efforts efforts to to stop stop vanced the patent patent infringement infringement which which has has been been blatantly blatantly occurring," occurring," aa the an attorney attorney for for Smart Smart IndusIndusstatementfrom from AGE AGE said. said. However, However, an statement tries says says the the company company still still holds holds prior prior common common law law rights rights to to those those tries trademarks based based on on usage usage prior prior to to AGE's AGE's initial initial filing filing for for its its tradetradetrademarks "Ratherthan than incur incurthe the cost cost of ofpursuing pursuing these these proceedings proceedings in in mark. "Rather mark. Patent and and Trademark Trademark Office, Office, Smart Smart elected elected to to rely rely on on its its comcomthe Patent the mon law Jaw rights rights and and allow allow the the cancellation cancellation proceedings proceedings (filed (filed by by mon be dismissed," dismissed," said said Smart's Smart's attorney attorney Bruce Bruce Smart against against AGE) AGE) to to be Smart "It isistherefore therefore Smart's Smart's position position that that the the AGE AGE patent patent is is ininMcKee. "It McKee. andis is being being misused misused by by AGE AGE in in threatening threateningits its competitors competitors valid and valid ofthis this patent patent by by the the filing filing of ofpatent patent infringement infringement with enforcement enforcement of with lawsuits." lawsuits." The Fourth Fourth District District Court Court of ofAppeals Appealsin in Florida Florida has has upheld upheld aalowlowThe er court ruling, which granted a temporary injunction that allowed er court ruling, which granted a temporary injunction that allowed County operator operatorto to continue continue operating operating aa specially specially modimodiBroward County aa Broward Cherry Master machine. Authorities in Florida had seized sevfied fied Cherry Master machine. Authorities in Florida had seized sevthe company company Broward Broward Vending, Vending, which which had had eral machines machines from from the eral modified the machines to increase the level of skill in game play. modified the machines to increase the level of skill in game play. The company's company's Dan Dan Goldberg Goldberg said said the the temporary temporaryinjunction injunctionshould should The The state is unlikely to request a hearing for a permanent instand. stand. The state is unlikely to request a hearing for a permanent inhe said, said, because because aa full full evidentiary evidentiaryhearing hearing atatthe the trial triallevel level junction,he junction, The ruling ruling resulted in in aa resounding resounding victory victory for for Broward Broward Vending. Vending. The resulted also applies applies strictly strictly to to Broward's Broward's machines, machines, according according to to Goldberg. Goldberg. also "We feel feel this this gives gives us us aa few few years yearslead lead time," time," he he said. said. "Every "Every circuit circuit "We one." we have have dealt dealt with with has has followed followed suit suit one one by by one." we CCI and Seidel form alliance CCI Redemption game game makers makers Coin Coin Concepts Concepts Inc. Inc. of ofEast East Brunswick, Brunswick, Redemption NJ, and and Seidel Seidel Amusement AmusementMachine Machine Co. Co. of ofAlbuquerque, Albuquerque,N.M., N.M.,have have N.J., formed a strategic alliance for the manufacture by Seidel and the marformed a strategic alliance for the manufacture by Seidel and the marketing by by CCI CCI of of aa new new game, game, Hitters Hitters Rally. Rally. The The baseball-themed baseball-themed keting debut at at ASI ASI this this month, month, is is the the first first of ofmany many new new game,which which will will debut game, will combine combinethe the expertise expertise of ofboth both companies. companies. productsthat thatwill products Betson Pacific Pacific establishes establishes Web Web site site Betson ATEI files files report report ATEI Amusement Trades Exhibitions Intl. chief executive Peter Rus- Amusement Trades Exhibitions Intl. chief executive Peter Rus- PLAYMETER METER PLAY thatATEI ATEI was was again again aa record-breaking record-breaking amusement amusement bridgeinforms informs that bridge Betson Pacific Pacific Distributing Distributing introduces introduces its its new new Web Web site site Betson that allows access to current lists of (http://www.betsonpacific.com) (http://www.betsonpacific.com) that allows access to current lists of used equipment equipment plus plus new new and and used used game game and and parts parts specials, specials, along along used and technical technical supsupwith aapage page devoted devoted to to factory factory service service updates updates and with port. The The site site was was developed developed in-house in-house and and changes changes daily. daily. Service Service port. be e-mailed e-mailed (jayridg@aol.com). ijayridg@aol.com). Customers Customers can can call call requestsmay may be requests youhave have John Ridgway Ridgway for fortechnical technical assistance assistance (714-228-7500). (714-228-7500). IfIfyou John 33 MARCH 1997 1997 MARCH