Play Meter

CONTENTS CONTENTS VOLUME 23 NO. 11 OCTOBER 1997 OA EXPO [J(PO PREVIEW PftEVIEW AMOA 73 73 A 85 85 MERITINDUSTRIES' INDUSTRIES' 20 20YEARS YEARSOF OFSUCCESS: SUCCESS: MERIT Walk down memory lane from Pit Boss, Trivia Whiz,and andPub PubTime Time Walk down memory lane from Pit Boss, Trivia Whiz, Darts to Megatouch 5 and Scorpion DX at a company that has Darts to Megatouch 5 and Scorpion DX at a company that has servedstreet streetoperators' operators'best bestinterests interestsfor fortwo twodecades. decades. served BIGSMILES, SMILES,BIG BIGPROFITS, PROFITS,SMALL SMALLSPACES: SPACES: BIG INDUSTRIES FUN. 104 104 Interactivebulk bulkvending vendingmachines machinesthat thatcombine combineaagame gamewith withaa Interactive prize cater to an important niche market that's often overlooked, prize cater to an important niche market that's often overlooked, THROUGHTHE THELOOKING LOOKINGGLASS: GLASS: THROUGH 119 119 elopment firms were present for a must-read-about forum. SPECIALSHOW SHOWSECTION: SECTION: SPECIAL Openarcade arcadearchitecture architectureanyone? anyone?As Asmany manyas as 15 15software softwaredevdevOpen elopment firms were present for a must-read-about forum . 142 142 Anoverview overviewofofAtlanta, Atlanta,Coinman CoinmanInterview Interviewwith withoutgoing outgoingAMOA AMOA An president Jerry Derrick, schedule of events, floor plan and expresident Jerry Derrick, schedule of events, floor plan and exlist,and andQQ &&AAon onrestructuring. restructuring. hibitorlist, hibitor OFFTHE THERECORD: RECORD: OFF 151 151 featurewhere whereindustry industrymembers memberscan canspeak speakfreely. freely. feature CENTURYCLUB CLUBINTERVIEW: INTERVIEW: CENTURY Thetruth truthabout abouttrade tradeshows showsisisthis thismonth's month'stopic topicininaanew, new,regular regular The Over50 50years yearsago agoan anambitious ambitiousteenager teenagernamed namedBob BobNims NimsenenOver tered coin-op and built a major route and distributorship. His story tered coin-op and built a major route and distributorship. His story is revealed in nostalgic photos and remembrances . is revealed in nostalgic photos and remembrances. TECHNICIAN'S CORNER TECHNICALTOPICS TOPICS169 169 TECHNICAL Randy Fromm (exclusive in Play Meter) focuses on bad connecRandy Fromm (exclusive in Play Meter) focuses on bad connections,which whichhe herefers referstotoas as"the "theplague," plague,"also alsoelectrical electricalcontact contact tions, cleaning agents, thermally-intermittent failures, and curve tracers. FUNE BALL PAGE 85 PLAY METER; cleaning agents, thermally-intermittent failures, and curve tracers. TICKET TECH 180 180 TICKET TECH 'Ticket Vic" Fortenbachtakes takesaacloser closerlook lookatatcustomer customerservice service "Ticket Vic" Fortenbach and the proper handling of employee problems. and the proper handling of employee problems. COVER COVER DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENTS WilliamsElectronics ElectronicsGames Gamesand and Williams MidwayGames Gameshave havededicated dedicated Midway theirefforts effortstotoaddressing addressingthe thespespetheir cial needs of street operators with cial needs of street operators with aa product lineup that includes the product lineup that includes the sports-themed video NFL Blitz and sports-themed video NFL Blitz and fighting-themed Mortal Kombat 4 fighting-themed Mortal Kombat 4 (with the new Zeuss chip), Off Road (with the new Zeuss chip), Off Road Challengesimulator, simulator,Touchmaster Touchmaster Challenge multigame countertop, and Memultigame countertop, and MedievalMadness Madnesspinball. pinball.Whether Whether dieval thelocation locationisisaabowling bowlingcenter, center,tavtavthe ern, FEC, stand-alone arcade, or ern, FEC, stand-alone arcade, or family restaurant, there is somefamily restaurant, there is something to please everyone. The thing to please everyone. The American company responsible for American company responsible for legendarygames gamesas asthe theorigiorigisuchlegendary such nal Mortal Kombat and The Addams nal Mortal Kombat and The Addams Family continues to create viable Family continues to create viable street-savvy titles with the intent of street-savvy with the intent of lifetitles the field. extended extended life ininthe field. News Bulletin . .. . . . .. . . . . .. .. . .. .. 33 News Bulletin From the Editor . . . . .. . ... . ... . . . . .10 10 From the Editor Equipment Poll . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . .. .. . .. 12 12 Equipment Poll Up Front . . . .. .. . ... . .. . . . .. . 16 . 16 Up Front Mailbox . . ... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 18 . 18 Mailbox FromLeft LeftField Field .. . . . . . ... . . . .. . ... ... 24 . 24 From Coin-Op News .. . . . .. .. .. . . . ... .. .. . ..26 .26 Coin-Op News In Memory . . ... . . . .. .. . ..46 .46 In Memory InternationalScene Scene .. ... . .. .. .48 . .48 International Beyond the Playfield . .. . . . ... ... . . . . . .60 60 Beyond the Playfield Who's News . . . . .. ... . . . . . . .. . . ... . ..62 62 Who's News Eye on Asia .. . . . ... . .. . .64 .. 64 Eye on Asia Cover Story . . . . ... .. . .. 67 .67 Cover Story TimeFlies Flies .. . ... . .. . . . . . ... ..84 84 Time ManufacturerMeeting Meeting .. . .. . .. .94 94 Manufacturer Music Note . .. . .. .. . . . .. . ... 112 . 11 2 Music Note An Operator's Voice . . . .. 115 . 115 An Operator's Battle Tech . .Voice . ... . .. . . . .116 11 6 Battle Tech Game Room . . . . .. .. . . . .118 11 8 Game Room Guest Commentary .. . . . . . . . . 141 141 Guest Commentary Company Profiles . . . . . . . . .144, 158 Company Profiles 144, 158 Product Introduction .. . .. . . ...148 148 Product Introduction State Meeting-MOMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 .160 State Meeting-MOMA Flipper Fun . . .. . ... . . . ..162 162 Flipper Fun State Show-OCMA . . . . . . 166 166 State Show-OCMA 176 The Legal Eagle . . .. . ... . . ...176 The Legal Eagle 181 What's New . . . . . . ..181 What's New Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . ...184 184 Classified 88 OCTOBER 1997 OCTOBER 1997