Play Meter

N ews BULLETIN CONFUSION CONTINUES CONTINUES OVER OVER MICROSOFT MICROSOFT CONFUSION Recent confusion confusion over over Microsoft's Microsoft's continued continui::d role role in in the the Recent coin-op amusement amusement industry industry remained remained unresolved unresolved at at press press coin-op time despite despite signs signs that thatthe the software software giant giant will will continue continue to to play play time the development development of of PC-based PC-based arcade arcade significant role role in in the aa significant The company company plans plans to to exhibit exhibit at at AMOA AMOA International International games. The games. Expo this month in Atlanta. Expo this month in Atlanta. Microsoft's point point man man on on the the coin-op coin-op initiative initiative Jason Jason Robar Robar Microsoft's Play Meter Meter last last month month to to discuss discuss clarification clarification of of contacted Play contacted "some rumors" that had been circulated about the company's "some rumors" that had been circulated about the company's plans and and him himpersonally. personally. He He did did not not elaborate elaborate on on any any the the latlatplans ter. However, However, another another company company official, official, Ted Ted Hossie, Hassie, said said RoRoter. barhad hadbeen been removed removed from from his his position position overseeing overseeingthe the arcade arcade bar initiative, although he did not say why. initiative, although he did not say why. "Jason Robar Robarhas has nothing nothing to to do do with with Public Public PC," PC," Hossie Hassie told told "Jason Play Meter, adding that anything Robar said did not reflect Play Meter, adding that anything Robar said did not reflect "Microsoft'sposition." position." "Microsoft's Robar's complaints complaints centered centered around around ongoing ongoing misconcepmisconcepRobar's tions about about the the role role Microsoft Microsoftwould would play play in in the the arcade arcade indusindustions Mitry. According to him, operators were wrongly looking to Mitry. According to him, operators were wrongly looking to crosoft for for the the production production of ofgame gan1e cabinets cabinets and and systems. systems. "Our "Our crosoft product is is Windows," Windows," he he said. said. "I "I don't don't think think our our position position was was product too cl ear. Because we were Microsoft, people didn't listen to too clear. Because we were Microsoft, people didn't listen to us. Our job is not to pick one particular manufacturer and us. Our job is not to pick one particular manufacturer and make that that manufacturere manufacturere successful. successful. We We are are willing willing to to work work make with anyone." An official company statement promised by Rowith anyone." An official company statement promised by Rohar was was not notreleased, released, and and Robar Robar did did not not respond respond to to aa follow follow bar request for for clarification. clarification. request Microsoft is also still sti ll reportedly reportedly working working out out details details with with Microsoft is also drdware manufacturer Intel Corp. on specific plans for the ardware manufacturer Intel Corp. on specific plans for the trcadeinitiative initiative before before signing signing on on as as aa member member of ofthe the Open Open rcade Arcade Architecture Architecture Forum, Forum, aa group group sponsored sponsored by by Intel Intel to to fosfosArcade ter working relationships between companies looking to bring ter working relationships between companies looking to bring gan1es to tomarket. market. Some Some critics critics of ofIntel Intel have have said said the the chip chip makmakgames er is trying to push an expensive, high-end platform that is not er is trying to push an expensive, high-end platform that is not necessary to operate games profitably. necessary to operate games profitably. Fortunately, industry industry members members will will be be able able to to address address all all Fortunately, the issues issues regarding regarding the the PC PC arcade arcade initiative initiative at at AMOA AMOA Expo Expo the this month month during during two two seminars seminars being being sponsored sponsored by by Intel Intel and and this Microsoft respectively. respectively. Microsoft At press press time, time, Namco Namco was was also also continuing continuing to to sell sell Tekken Te/iken 3 3 At kits as as part part of of aa package package deal deal that that included included 15 of the the fighting fighting kits 15 of games along with four Speed Up driving simulators. Vice presigames along with four Speed Up driving simulators. Vice president of sales Frank Cosentino said the company was previously dent of sales Frank Cosentino said the company was previously "Right now now all all we we have have are are selling both both kits kits and and the the packages. packages. "Right selling the packages," he said. "There will be more Tehhen 3 kits availthe packages," he said. "There will be more Tekken 3 kits available. It's It's certainly certainly not not something something that thathas has been been aa problem." problem." able. "We have have had had aa surprising surprising demand demand for for the the games games and and they they "We have done done better better than than any any of ofthe the other other Tekken Tehhen games," games," added added have Hayes. Namco Namco held held aa distributor distributor gathering gathering last last month month in in Hayes. Chicago to give a sneak preview of two new deluxe gan1es, as Chicago to give a sneak preview of two new deluxe games, as as the the completed completed version version of ofthe the horse horse racing racing simulator simulator FiFiwell as well nal Furlong with English voice overs and graphics. nal Furlong with English voice overs and graphics. PLUS SALES SALES OFFERS OFFERS XTREME XTREME VOODOO VOODOO PLUS Steve Walton of Plus Sales recently announced the introintroSteve Walton of Plus Sales recently announced the duction of Xtreme Voodoo, a motion simulator game develduction of Xtreme Voodoo, a motion simulator game developed by by Stricor Stricor of ofAtlanta, Atlanta, Ga. Ga. It It features features three three wrap wrap around around oped be operated operated without without an an attendant. attendant. 27-inchmonitors monitors and and can can be 27-inch The game gan1e only only requires requires aa space space of ofseven seven feet feet by by nine nine feet feet and and The is powered by a PC with three graphics accelerators. Greater is powered by a PC with three graphics accelerators. Greater Southern and and Brady Brady Distributing Distributing have have been been appointed appointed to to marmarSouthern ket the product in the southeastern region of the United States. ket the product in the southeastern region of the United States. For more more information, information, contact contact Walton, Walton, (770)631-3923, (770)63 1-3923, or or For Stricor, (770)447-1670. (770)447-1670. Stricor, DAVE & & BUSTER'S BUS TER'S OPENS OPENS IN IN CINCINNATI CINCINNATI TO TO DAVE RECORD SALES SALES RECORD Dave & & Buster's Buster's grand grand opening opening in in Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio, last last Dave month was spotlighted by the highest first Saturday night sales month was spotlighted by the highest first Saturday night sales history. "We "We are are thrilled thrilled with with the the in the the company's company's 15-year 15-year history. in company's response response to to the the opening opening of ofour ournew new store store in in CincinCincincompany's nati ," said said co-founder co-founder and and co-CEO co-CEO Buster Buster Corley. Corley. "Our "Our new new nati," staff in Cincinnati proved to be terrific, and, as we expand, our staff in Cincinnati proved to be terrific, and, as we expand, our management and opening team just continue to deliver." management and opening team just continue to deliver." UPDATE ON ON CCI CCI UPDATE Last month month in in the the "News "News Bulletin" Bulletin" we we reported reported on on the the clocloLast Coin Concepts Concepts Inc., Inc., the the New New Jersey-based Jersey-based manufacturmanufactursure of of Coin sure er of ofredemption redemption and andnovelty novelty games, games, and and the the fact fact that that Bay Bay Tek Tek er (920-822-3951) would would continue continue on on with with service service and and parts parts (920-822-3951) support for for all all CCI CCI games. games. For For those those interested interested in in the the Hitter's Hitter's support game that was a joint effort between CCI and Seidel Rally Rally game that was a joint effort between CCI and Seidel Amusement Machine MachineCo., ·Co., rest rest assured assured that that Seidel Seidel (505-821(50 5-821Amusement 6878) isis continuing continuingto to produce produce the the game. game. 6878) CCI found er and president Art Warner isis now now controller controller CCI founder and president Art Warner for a manufacturing company in New Jersey and CCI vice vice for a manufacturing company in New Jersey and CCI president of ofsales sales Gary Gary Warner Warner has hasjust just embarked embarked on on aa new new president careerin in the the computer computer field fi eld selling selling business business application application softsoftcareer ware to Fortune 500 companies. Gary tells us that both he and ware to Fortune 500 companies. Gary tells us that both he and "miss the the industry industry and and the the friends friends we we made made along along the the Art "miss Art way." way." NAMCO DEFENDS DEFENDS AMOA AMOA DECISION DECISION NAMCO Namco's decision decision not not to to exhibit exhibit at at AMOA AMOA was was purely purely ecoecoNamco's nomical, according according to to company company president president Kevin Kevin Hayes, Hayes, who who nomical, dismissed theories theories that that the the move move was was aa slight slight against against the the operoperdismissed "That's absolute absolute nonsense," nonsense," Hayes Hayes told told Play Play ator's association. association. "That's ator's Meter. "We "We are are not not going going because because it's it's not not aa good good value." value." Meter. Hayes went went on on to to say say that that Namco Namco would would continue continue to to look look Hayes at cutting back resources spent to exhibit at trade shows. "We at cutting back resources spent to exhibit at trade shows. "We should probably probably drop drop two two shows," shows," he he said, said, adding adding that that should AMOA's scheduling and placement so close to IAAPA did AMOA's scheduling and placement so close to IAAPA did make the the "decision "decision easier. easier. But But we we are are not not committed committed to to AMOA AMOA make fornext next year year either." either." for PLAY METER 3 OCTOBER 1997