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SNK INTRODUCES HYPER NEO GEO 64 CENTURY CLUB MEETING The next nextgathering gatheringof ofthe the Century Century Club Club will will be be in in Atlanta, Atlanta, The Ga., during during AMOA AMOA International International Expo Expo '97, '97, Fri., Fri., Oct. Oct. 24. 24. All All Ga., industry members with 25 years or more of coin-op experiindustry members with 25 years or more of coin-op experience are are invited. invited. The The meeting meetingisis set setfor for 3:00 3 :00 p.m. p.m. on on Level Level 3, 3, ence East Concourse, Concourse, in in the the Georgia GeorgiaWorld World Congress Congress Center. Center. SponSponEast for ASI AS Iin in March March sors are are needed needed for for this this meeting meeting and and one one set set for sors 1998. If attending, please contact Steve Kordek at Williams1998. If attending, please contact Steve Kordek at WilliamsBally/ Midway, 3401 3401 N. N. California California Ave., Ave., Chicago, Chicago, IL IL 60618; 60618; Bally/Midway, (773)961-1548; fax (773)961-1010. (773)961-1548; fax (773)961-1010. PAPA IS IS BACK! BACK! PAPA Pinball guru guru Steve Steve Epstein Epstein says says to to mark mark your your calendars calendars for for Pinball 1998, when the Professional and Amateur Pinball Feb. 5-8, Feb. 5-8, 1998, when the Professional and Amateur Pinball Championships will will resume resume at at the the Sahara Sahara Hotel Hotel in in Las Las Vegas, Vegas, Championships Nev. This This PAPA PAPA 66 will will be be co-sponsored co-sponsored by by GoGo GoGo Worldwide Worl dwide Nev. Vacations and and the the Sahara SaharaHotel Hotel&& Casino, Casino, and and supported supportedby by Vacations pinball manufacturers WMS Industries and Sega Pinball. Eppinball manufacturers WMS Industries and Sega Pinball. EpPAPA 66"the "the most mostfun funpinball pinballgathering gathering ever." ever." stein calls calls PAPA stein ASTRO AND AND SPIRIT SPIRIT JOIN JOIN FORCES FORCES ASTRO Astro Distributing and Spirit Design Group have have signed signed an an Astro Distributing and Spirit Design Group exclusive North North and and South South American American marketing marketing agreement agreement exclusive whereby both both companies companies will willhandle handle sales sales of ofthe the Viper Viper X1 Xl enenwhereby "What's New" this month closed cockpit flight simulator (see closed cockpit flight simulator (see "What's New" this month for product product details). details).Astro's Astra's subsidiary subsidiary Ortsa OrtsaMfg. Mfg.will willbuild build the the for Viper X 1 in Rock Island, Ill. In other Astro news, the company Viper X1 in Rock Island, Ill. In other Astro news, the company setto to debut debut its its new new Bowlerama, Bowlerama, aa self-contained self-contained redemption redemption isis set game for for North North and and South South America Americaand and Canada Canada distribution. distribution. game Bowleramanext nextmonth. month. Look for formore more on on Bowlerama Look SNKexecutives executivestraveled traveledtotoJapan Japan during during last lastmonth's month'sJAMMA JAMMAshow showwith withthree three SNK itstop top distributors distributorstoto preview previewthe thenew newvideo video game gamesystem. system. For Fordetails detailson on ofofits the company's company'snew newmarketing marketingteam teamand andproduct, product,turn turntotop 148.AtAtthe theJAMMA JAMMA the p. .148. show,top, top ,(I-r): (1-r):V.P. V.P.Administration, Administration ,Mr. Mr.Tanaka, Tanaka ,and andJohn JohnBarone BaroneofofSNK, SNK ,Jon Jo show, BradyofofBrady BradyDistributing, Distri buting ,Peter PeterBetti BettiofofH. H.Betti BettiIndustries, Industries ,and andTim TimJackson Jackso Brady SNK.Bottom, Bottom ,(I-r): (1-r):Jerry JerryMarcus MarcusofofAtlas Atlas Distributing, Distributing ,Jackson, Jackson ,Brady, Brady,BetBetofofSNK. INTERNATIONAL SCENE SCENE INTERNATIONAL T Lou Rudolph Rudolph of ofMerit Merit Industries Industries filed filed aa report report on on the the Lou ti, and Barone . Asian Amusement and International Theme Park Expo '97 Asian Amusement and International Theme Park Expo '97 ti, and Barone. held recently recently in in Singapore. Singapore. The The show showisis aa combined combined effort effortbebeheld AAMA, IAAPA, IAAPA, and and the the AIC AICgroup groupin in Singapore. Singapore. Said Said come comethe the largest largestcoin-op coin-opshow showininSoutheast SoutheastAsia." Asia." (For (Forphotos photo~ tween AAMA, tween Rudolph, "We merged our AAMA-IAAPA show that had been and more on the show, tum to "Eye on Asia," pg. 64). Rudolph, "We merged our AAMA-IAAPA show that had been and more on the show, turn to "Eye on Asia," pg. 64). in Hong Hong Kong Kong for for the the past past three three years years (called (called the the Asian Asian in Amusement Expo) Expo) with with the the International International Parks Parks and and AttracAttrac- BITS BITS AND AND PIECES PIECES Amusement tions show show that that had had been been in in Singapore Singapore for for three three years. years. The The 1.- James James Industries Industries South Southhas has filed filed aalawsuit lawsuitagainst againstforme formp tions goal was to bring the strengths of both organizations together president Aldo Andreu and his new game and part distribt· goal was to bring the strengths of both organizations together president Aldo Andreu and his new game and part distribu to create create one onebig bigshow. show. The Thetwo two groups groups will will alternate alternate managemanage- firm firm Andreu Andreu International International for for alleged alleged conversion conversion of offunds, funds, to ment of ofthe the show; show; this this year year AIC AIC and and next next year year AAMA. AAMA. The The fice fice equipment, equipment, and and business businessrecords, records, as aswell wellas asalleged allegedvio vio ment show will be in Singapore in 1998 and the plan is to eventualtion of non-compete agreements, breach of fiduciary duty, an show will be in Singapore in 1998 and the plan is to eventual- tion of non-compete agreements, breach of fiduciary duty, an ly have the show move around the region to give us the best "torturous interference with business relations," according ly have the show move around the region to give us the best "torturous interference with business relations," according tt coverage. For Forrecognition recognitionpurposes purposes the thename name will will revert revertback back James Jan1esSouth Southpartner partnerJohn John Blouin. Blouin.Andreu Andreucountered countered the the allega allega coverage. Asian Amusement Expo in 1998." to the tions by saying they were untrue and that his attempts to leav to the Asian Amusement Expo in 1998." tions by saying they were untrue and that his attempts to leave Booth space grew from 210 booths last year to 390 this well known in the industry. James' the company have been Booth space grew from 210 booths last year to 390 this the company have been well known in the industry. James' an time around. around. A A total total of of 3,400 3,400 buyers buyers attended attended from from 34 34 councoun- nouncement "yetanother anotherunbelievable unbelievable attempt attemp nouncement of ofthe the suit suitwas was "yet time IAAPA. They came tries, according to statistics provided by to keep the separation from taking place, according to Andre tries, according to statistics provided by IAAPA. They came to keep the separation from taking place, according to Andreu for educational workshops and exhibited products from coinwho plans to make an official statement on the matter at lat for educational workshops and exhibited products from coin- who plans to make an official statement on the matter at aalate op companies companies such such as as Bay Bay Tek, Tek,Bob's Bob's Space Space Racers, Racers, ICE, ICE, LazLaz- date. 9126 NW NW 123rd 123r date.James JamesSouth Southhas has recently recentlyrelocated relocated to to 9126 op Rowe, Skee-Ball, Skee-Ball, Williams, Williams, and and ValVal- St., er-Tron, Merit, Merit, Rock-Ola, Rock-Ola, Rowe, St., Hialeah Hialeah Gardens, Gardens, FL FL 33016; 33016; (305)820-7070; (305)820-7070; fa f er-Tron, ley. A large contingent of attendees came from India, which is (305)824-0610. (305)824-0610. ley. A large contingent of attendees came from India, which is result ofofthe the spring spring show show there there and and continued continued marketing marketingby by 1.- Valley Valley recently recently announced announced aa number number or or restructuring restructurirn aaresult AAMA direct and through the Embassy, said Rudolph. moves including the departure of Mark Schiller presiden AAMA direct and through the Embassy, said Rudolph. moves including the departure of Mark Schiller asaspresident "The overall opinion was that it was an exAdded Rudolph, who leaves the company to pursue other interests, according Added Rudolph, "The overall opinion was that it was an ex- who leaves the company to pursue other interests, according tt cellent show show with with good good quality quality people. people. All Allthe the coin-op coin-op compacompa- chairman CEO Dick Dick Shelton. Shelton.Several Several changes changes have have als als chairman and and CEO cellent nies were very happy and expect to see growth in the market been made in the company's sales force. Look for more on th1 nies were very happy and expect to see growth in the market been made in the company's sales force. Look for more on the and growth in the show for next year. This could grow to bein the next issue of Play Meter .A and growth in the show for next year. This could grow to be- in the next issue of Play Meter. PLAY METER MAGAZINE, (ISSN 1048-8243) OCTOBER 1997, Volume 23, No 11. Copyright 1997 by Skybird Publishing Company. PLAY METER MAGAZINE is published monthly, except for the two issues in January. Publishing office: 6600 Fleur de Lis, New Orleans, LA 70124. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184, USA Phone: 504/488-7003; fax 504/488-7083. Subscription rates: U.S. and Canada -- $60. Advertising rates are available upon request. NO PLAY METER PART OF THE MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION. The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. PLAY METER MAGAZINE buys ALL RIGHTS, unless otherwise specified, to accepted manuscripts, cartoons, artwork, and photographs. Periodical postage paid at New Orleans, LA 70113 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send Form 3579 to Play Meter Magazine, P.O. Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184. 4 OCTOBER 199