Play Meter

FROM THE EDITOR I Valerie Cognevich Cognevich Valerie Editor Editor PLAYMETER METER PLAY Missaa show show and and per perhaps Miss haps an opp opportunity miss mis s an ortunity was not able to attend the recent Fun Expo due was not able to attend the recent Fun Expo due to circumstancesbeyond beyondmy mycontrol. control.IImight mightadd, add, to circumstances though, that it is virtually the only trade show I've though, that it is virtually the only trade show I've missed in my 20 years with Play Meter. I rememmissed in my 20 years with Play Meter. I remember missing an AMOA in 1979 because I was in ber missing an AMOA in 1979 because I was in the hospital having a baby! the hospital having a baby! Ofcourse, course,IIheard heardthe thegeneral generaloutline outlinelike likewho who Of was there and what was shown, but it was the outwas there and what was shown, but it was the outline from someone else's experiences. I didn't reline from someone else's experiences. I didn't realize how much I would miss conversations with alize how much I would miss conversations with operators, distributors, manufacturers, associaoperators, distributors, manufacturers, association representatives, committee members, and tion representatives, committee members, and showorganizers. organizers.IImissed misseddiscussing discussingimportant importantisisshow sues with my fellow committee members on a sues with my fellow committee members on a from J&J J&J Snack Snack Foods! Foods! Or Or aa succulent succulent cup cup of of from soft ice from Tropical Sno! And speaking of soft ice from Tropical Sno! And speaking of food, you can certainly see a few new ideas and food, you can certainly see a few new ideas and dulge in a peanut butter and jelly-filled pretzel more when I see you there! committeeIIvolunteered volunteeredfor. for. committee I heard that the show was slower I heard that the show was slower than in previous years, that there than in previous years, that there were more than enough sticker mawere more than enough sticker mawereaanumber numberof of chines,that thatthere therewere chines, rental companies, and that attenrental companies, and that attendees didn't didn't seem seem too too attracted attracted to to dees coin-op games. I listenedas asone oneexexcoin-op games. I listened that itit hibitor who who called called told told me me that hibitor was not the influx of new blood but was not the influx of new blood but FECs and are those who opened those who opened FECs and are now looking for new attractions. now looking for new attractions. But, again, these are someone else's But, again, these are someone else's observations. feelaalittle littlelost lostknowknowobservations. IIfeel ing that I wasn't there to form my ing that I wasn't there to form my own opinion or be able to answer own opinion or be able to answer questions from our readers. questions from our readers. We've said it often enough in We've said it often enough in these pages, figuring that it wan·ants these pages, figuring that it warrants repeating as often as necessary: if you're making repeating as often as necessary: if you're making this industry your life's work, you need to experithis industry your life's work, you need to experience it through conversations, equipment preence it through conversations, equipment previews,and andatatseminars. seminars.In Inother otherwords, words,you youneed need views, of the shows. Yes, you can to go to at least some to go to at least some of the shows. Yes, you can run over to your local distributor and see the new run over to your local distributor and see the new Final Furlong from Namco or SNK's new Hyper Final Furlong from Namco or SNK's new Hyper Geo 64, 64, but butyou you won't won'tsee seeAmerican AmericanChangChangNeo Neo Geo er's latest bill acceptor or its phone card vending er's latest bill acceptor or its phone card vending machine. Nor will you get to talk with people like machine. Nor will you get to talk with people like Molly andSteve SteveHorniak Horniakfrom fromDeltronic DeltronicLabs. Labs. Molly and Do you buy redemption merchandise for your Do you buy redemption merchandise for your orcounter? counter?How Howdo doyou youselect selectit? it?How How gamesor games about checking out the 46 companies that exhibabout checking out the 46 companies that exhibited their wares at Fun Expo? Where else would ited their wares at Fun Expo? Where else would you be able to contemplate buying a battery-opyou be able to contemplate buying a battery-operatedgorilla gorilladoing doingthe the"Macarena?" "Macarena?"Once Onceyou've you've erated visited all the booths, I think you'll be pretty cervisited all the booths, I think you'll be pretty certain what the next hot items are going to be. (By tain what the next hot items are going to be. (By the way, we did some of the work for you in the the way, we did some of the work for you in the "Merchandise Madness" section of the Fun Expo "Merchandise Madness" section of the Fun Expo show coverage.) showIf coverage.) you missed Fun Expo, you didn't get to inIf you missed Fun Expo, you didn't get to indulge in a peanut butter and jelly-filled pretzel 10 10 concepts at the shows, especially at the upcom- concepts at the shows, especially at the upcoming IAAPA. There are food options for every ing IAAPA. There are food options for every size location, but you won't have a chance to size location, but you won't have a chance to see them if you don't go. see them if you don't go. One thing that many of you are seeking right One thing that many of you are seeking right now is software to help you run your businesses now is software to help you run your businesses more efficiently. It's probably been years since more efficiently. It's probably been years since you purchased your computer system and it you purchased your computer system and it worked fine ... then. But nothing lasts forever, and worked fine ... then. But nothing lasts forever, and it's time to upgrade. Where can you see and comit's time to upgrade. Where can you see and compare a variety of systems under one roof? Of pare a variety of systems under one roof? Of course,atataatrade tradeshow. show.At AtFun FunExpo Expothere therewere were course, companies focusing on merchandise and other companies focusing on merchandise and other family entertainment software needs. At the upfamily entertainment software needs. At the upcoming IAAPA show, you can probably compare coming IAAPA show, you can probably compare systems to your heart's content, since it's pretty systems to your heart's content, since it's pretty certain there will be quite a few there. certain there will be quite a few there. Last year at IAAPA, I chatted with Jim and Joe Last year at IAAPA, I chatted with Jim and Joe H.A.Franz Franz&&Co., Co.,aadistributor distributorininTexas. Texas. FranzofofH.A. Franz Thinking perhaps it wasn't necessary for a dist:ribThinking perhaps it wasn't necessary for a distributor to be walking the aisles of IAAPA, I asked utor to be walking the aisles of IAAPA, I asked them quite frankly, "What are you doing here?" them quite frankly, "What are you doing here?" They explainedthat thattheir theircustomers customersexpected expectedto to They explained "We have to be here to come to them for advice. come to them for advice. "We have to be here to seewhat's what'sbeing beingoffered," offered,"they theyexplained. explained. see During that same IAAPA Vicki Sieben of M.H. During that same IAAPA Vicki Sieben of M.H. Associates inin North North Dakota Dakota was was armed armed with with aa Associates wish list of sorts from her customers. One was wish list of sorts from her customers. One was looking into laser tag, another some sort of food looking into laser tag, another some sort of food outand andthen thenshe she service.She Shewas waschecking checkingthat thatout service. planned on looking at everything else. planned on looking at everything else. TheAMOA AMOAisisadmittedly admittedlynot notthe thegrand grandshow show The it was in earlier years, but it's still one of the best it was in earlier years, but it's still one of the best places to see traditional street operators. Frankly, places to see traditional street operators. Frankly, I've learned more about our business sitting with I've learned more about our business sitting with a group of operators than I would have any other away. group of operators than I would have any other Operators aren't stupid. They know what way. Operators aren't stupid. They know what they need to do to keep their heads above water. they need to do to keep their heads above water. They don't take failure lightly. They have heartThey don't take failure lightly. They have heartfelt opinions and strong convictions and a trade felt opinions and strong convictions and a trade show is just the place to share them with other opshow is just the place to share them with other operators searching for elusive industry trends. erators searching for elusive industry trends. Anyway, I'm sure you've already made up Anyway, I'm sure you've already made up yam mind about whether to attend the final show your mind about whether to attend the final show the season's trio. However, if you've decided to ofofthe season's trio. However, if you've decided to pass on IAAPA, think about what you may be pass on IAAPA, think about what you may be missing. It could very well be that puzzle piece missing. It could very well be that puzzle piece you need for a special project you've been workyou need for a special project you've been working on. The conversation with a operator in, say, ing on. The conversation with a operator in, say, New York could put something into perspective New York could put something into perspective where you live and operate. There are lots of arwhere you live and operate. There are lots of arguments for going to trade shows; there are not guments for going to trade shows; there are not too many for missing them. We'll talk about it too many for missing them. We'll talk about it more when I see you there! A NOVEMBER1997 1997 NOVEMBER