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Box Box896 896.•Carmel, Carmel,CA CA93921 93921 P.O. 408-625-5333 ·•Fax 408-649-3318 408-625-5333 Fax 408-649-3318 hoffmanmint.com hoffmanmint.com "CreatingLasting LastingImpressions" Impressions " "Creating IW®~rf® ~il@l®lffiillffi~ we' re lis tening UP FRONT lb I have not not decided, decided, after after 12 12 years years on on the thejob, job, have whether working on the Equipment Poll is a blessing whether working on the Equipment Poll is a blessing oraa burden. burden. or surely one one way way to to keep keep up up with with what's what's going going It It isis surely fall of games, sometimes on. We see the rise and on. We see the rise and fall of games, sometimes noddingin in agreement agreementand andsometimes sometimesconfused confusedby by nodding is for sure, everyone puts the outcome. But one thing the outcome. But one thing is for sure, everyone puts great emphasison onthe the Poll. Poll. great emphasis In an an effort effortto tobetter betterserve serve our ourreaders readerswe werecentrecentIn ly conducted a comprehensive readers' survey and ly conducted a comprehensive readers' survey and many concerning the asked pointed questions, asked pointed questions, many concerning the EquipmentPoll. Poll.While While most mostrespondents respondents said said the the Equipment EquipmentPoll Pollisis the the first firstthing thing they they Equipment read each month, and they offered suggestions for ways to improve the Poll, many adread each month, and they offered suggestions for ways to improve the Poll, many adthat they don't participate by filling out the ballot. Here were some of the mitted freely mitted freely that they don't participate by filling out the ballot. Here were some of the "I do not run enough variety," "It is too time consuming," "I do not buy new reasons: reasons: "I do not run enough variety," "It is too time consuming," "I do not buy new games,""Most "Most of ofthe the games games are are still still beyond beyond my my reach," reach,""My "My equipment equipment is is too too old," old," and and games," don'treally really care. care. IfIfyou yougo golook look atatthe the competition's competition'slocations locations you you will willknow knowwhat whatwill will "I"I don't area." goin inyour yourown own area." go We also also found found that that some some skepticism skepticismstill stillpersists, persists,such such as as "It "Itisis driven driven by by advertisers' advertisers' We games didn't show upwhere where dollars." We have actually lost advertising dollars because dollars." We have actually lost advertising dollars because games didn't show up the manufacturer thought they should. We have been on the receiving end of veiled the manufacturer thought they should. We have been on the receiving end of veiled threats,as as in, in,"We "We will will have have to to re-evaluate re-evaluate our ouradvertising advertising schedule schedule ififthis this isishow how you you threats, treat our games." games." treat our Put me mein in front front of ofthe the firing firing squad squadififyou you will, will, but but poll poll results results are are strictly strictly by by returns returns Put from operators. No matter how often we state it, there's always a need to say it again: all from operators. No matter how often we state it, there's always a need to say it again: all our operator operator subscribers subscribersget getthe theballot ballotand and are are asked asked to tosend sendititback backin in aapostage-free postage-free our envelope. The fact is, every operator cannot buy every new game. Impossible. Poll rereenvelope. The fact is, every operator cannot buy every new game. Impossible. Poll be true. And even though it would be easy to dismiss the poll sults clearly prove this to sults clearly prove this to be true. And even though it would be easy to dismiss the poll asweighted weightedto tothe thebigger biggeroperators, operators,as assome somewould wouldlike liketo tobelieve, believe,there thereare areactually actually as more smaller operators out there, and they fill out their ballots. That's why older games more smaller operators out there, and they fill out their ballots. That's why older games and why it is no surprise to find a ballot with write-in votes stay on the ballot so long, stay on the ballot so long, and why it is no surprise to find a ballot with write-in votes Asteroids(8), (8), Championship Championship Sprint Sprint(8), (8), and and Gauntlet Gauntlet(8). (8). No No kidding! kidding! for Asteroids for Some of ofthe the suggestions suggestions for forthe the Poll Poll cannot cannotbe be accommodated, accommodated, such such as as "calling "calling all all of of Some the FECs" FECs"or or"rating "ratingpins pinsof ofcompanies companiesthat that are are not notmanufacturing manufacturinganymore." anymore."Also, Also,we we the putdollar dollar amounts amountsbecause, because, as as one one survey survey respondent respondent commented, commented,"FECs, "FECs, ararcannotput cannot have different values for polling games." Besides, we tried cades, and street operators all cades, and street operators all have different values for polling games." Besides, we tried it already and it didn't work. it already and it didn't work. "Have more more small small operators operators take take part," part," It'sfrustrating frustratingto toread read from from aa respondent, respondent, "Have It's while yet another says, "Get people like me to answer the poll ... and I ain't going to do do while yet another says, "Get people like me to answer the poll ... and I ain't going to it." And to those who ask about what they perceive as "inflated ratings in the first few it." And to those who ask about what they perceive as "inflated ratings in the first few months," any anynew newgames games on onlocation location are are going goingto to draw drawmore more quarters quarters in in the the beginning; beginning; months," more attention attention at at first. first. It's It's the the American American it's only onlynatural. natural.New Newproducts productswill will generate generate more it's way! way! on the the Equipment Equipment Poll Poll and and other other aspects aspects of ofthe the magazine magazine Suggestions and and comments comments on Suggestions have been carefully evaluated and will be acted upon. One of the immediate changes have been carefully evaluated and will be acted upon. One of the immediate changes you will willsee see (and (and aadirect direct result resultofofreader readerinput) input)isisaa change change in in trade trade show showcoverage coverage to to you put even more emphasis on equipment and operators sampling the games. Look for put even more emphasis on equipment and operators sampling the games. Look for otherchanges changesin inthe the months months ahead. ahead. other The entire entire staff staffsends sends aa sincere sincere thank-you thank-you to to everyone everyone who who took took the the time tin1e to to put put their their The unvarnished opinions opinions on onpaper. paper. We We appreciate appreciateyour yourthoughts thoughts and and will will continue, continue, as as alalunvarnished finetune tunethis this publication publication to to serve serve our our loyal loyalreaders. readers. • ways,to tofine ways, Bonnie Theard, Theard, Managing Managing Editor Editor Bonnie PLAYMETER METER PLAY 16 16 NOVEMBER 1997 1997 NOVEMBER