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SHAFFER TO PURCHASE J & J rides that thatinclude include the the popular popular characters characters Baby Baby Kermit Kermit and and rides will distribute the complete Baby Fozzie. In addition, Astro Baby Fozzie. In addition, Astro will distribute the complete line of ofEMT EMTproducts products throughout throughout North North America: America: other other kidkidline dierides, rides, children's children's adventure adventure furniture, furniture, and and park park equipequipdie Shaffer Distributing Co. of Columbus, Ohio, has agreed to purchase J & J Distributors Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind., a move that will facilitate the expansion of Shaffer's Midwest operations into Indiana, Missouri, and south- ment. To To contact contact Astro, Astro, call call (800)797-7066 (800)797-7066 or or (309)786(309)786ment. 7066, fax (309)786-7067, e-mail (astroman@aol.com). 7066, fax (309)786-7067, e-mail (astroman@aol.com). ern Illinois, announced Steve NEWS BRIEFS BRIEFS NEWS . Anthony Anthony J.J. Yula YulaJr., Jr., executive executive vice vice president, president, and and P.J. P.J. Mastracchio, sales, sales, have have left left Mondial Mondial Distributing Distributing to to pursue pursue Mastracchio, otherinterests, interests, according according to to company company president president Richard Richard other Sarkisian. New management includes Bruce Sarkisian, vice Sarkisian. New management includes Bruce Sarkisian, vice president, who will oversee day-to-day operations. Jack president, who will oversee day-to-day operations. Jack ofthe the SpringSpringGuarnieri continues continues as as the the general general manager manager of Guarnieri Shaffer, president and CEO of Shaffer. Kelly Flynn, president of J & J and son of the late Joseph Flynn, J & J's founder, will be retained as a consultant. Pat Harper, J & J's vice president and general manager, will assume simi- Seated: Kelly Kelly Flynn Flynn (I) (I) and and Steve Steve Shaffer Shaffer sign sign Seated: the agreement for Shaffer Distributing to purthe agreement for Shaffer Distributing to purchase JJ&&JJDistributors; Distributors;standing, standing , (I-r): (1-r): Andy Andy chase Shaffer, Scott Scott Shaffer, Shaffer, Bill Bill Kraft, Kraft, and and Paul Paul Shaffer, Westbrock . Westbrock. lar duties with Shaffer. Shaffer was established in 1929; J & J was founded in 1959. ROWE LAUNCHES LAUNCHES CENTURY CENTURY SERIES SERIES ROWE Rowe International International has hasintroduced introduced aa new new line line of ofcompact compact Rowe changers, the Century Series, to complement its industry changers, the Century Series, to complement its industry BCline, line, answer answer specific specificrequirements requirements of ofsmaller smaller lolostandard BC standard cations, and and provide provide value value for for the the price. price. The The changers changers feafeacations, ture state-of-the-art state-of-the-art electronics electronics with with non-contact non-contact coin coin sensenture sors, and supports bill acceptors by Mars, Coinco, or sors, and supports bill acceptors by Mars, Coinco, or CashCode.Models Models C-6, C-6, C-8, C-8, and and C-10 C-10 take take coin coin acceptors acceptors CashCode. from Mars, Mars, Microcoin, Microcoin, Imonex, Imonex, or or Coin Coin Controls Controls for for installainstallafrom tion in in the the factory factory or or the the field-a field-a major major benefit benefit for for the the new new tion $1 coin. $1 coin. Series of ofchangers changers in in Rowe recently recently debuted debutedits its Sterling Sterling Series Rowe United Kingdom Kingdom and and will will offer offerits its entire entire change change product product the United the line, including includingthe the Century Century Series, Series, in in selected selected international international line, markets later this year. For more information, call (616)243(616)243markets later this year. For more information, call 3633, fax fax (616)243-9414, (616)243-9414, or or visit visit Rowe's Rowe's Web Web site site 3633, (http://www.roweami.com). (http://www.roweami.com). FULL ASI COVERAGE IN INMAY MAY When this this issue issue of of Play Play Meter Meterhit hit the the mail, mail, industry industry memmemWhen bers were gathering for the only spring coin-op game trade bers were gathering for the only spring coin-op game trade the Amusement Amusement Showcase Showcase International. International. Complete Complete event, the event, coverage of ofthe the products products and and people, people, special special activities activities and and coverage Also, awards will appear in a 30-page section next month. awards will appear in a 30-page section next month. Also, check our our Web Web site site (http://www.playmeter.com) (http://www.playmeter.com) for for the the latlatcheck estinformation information on on ASI ASI and and all allindustry industry happenings. happenings. est EMT APPOINTS ASTRO EMT America America has has appointed appointed Astro Astro Distributing Distributing as as its its exexEMT clusive national national distributor distributor of ofEMT EMT licensed licensed kiddie kiddie rides rides ininclusive cluding the the new new Alvin Alvin Car Carfeaturing featuring Alvin Alvin from from Alvin Alvin and and cluding The Chipmunks Chipmunks and and the the Muppet Muppet Babies Babies line line that that features features The field, N.J., NJ, office. office. field, ,.Music-Vend Music-Vend will willhost hosttwo two post-ASI post-AS I open open houses houses this this 7-Seattle, Wash., 4 p.m.-8 p.m. ; April 14month: April month: April 7-Seattle, Wash., 4 p.m .- 8 p.m .; April 14Portland, Ore., Ore., 44 p.m p.m.-8 p.m. Portland, .- 8 p.m. ,. Sixteen-year Sixteen-yearindustry industry veteran veteran Brian Brian Duke Duke will will coordicoordinate sales sales efforts efforts for for Stricor Stricor Inc.'s Inc.'s Extreme Extreme Voodoo Voodoo SimulaSimulanate tor motion motion system. system. The The newest newest title title for for the the system, system, Extreme Extreme tor PowerBoat Racing, was introduced at ASI last month. Duke PowerBoat Racing, was introduced at ASI last month. Duke sees a niche for motion systems to satisfy both player intersees a niche for motion systems to satisfy both player interestin in entertainment entertainment they they can't can't experience experience at at home home and and ararest cade operator operatorneeds needs for for aa reasonably reasonably priced priced showpiece showpiece that that cade brings in new players and keeps them coming back. Stricor brings in new players and keeps them coming back. Stricor has exclusive exclusive rights rights to to games gan1es from from InterPlay's InterPlay's software software lilihas brary which can be adapted to coin-op play. For more debrary which can be adapted to coin-op play. For more details, call call or or fax fax Duke, Duke, (209)836-0387, (209)836-0387, or or call call (800)581(800)581tails, GAME. GAME. ,. The The first first Golden Golden Tee Tee '98 '98 Tournament, Tournan1ent, sponsored sponsored by by InIncredible Technologies Inc., will take place April 3-19. This credible Technologies Inc., will take place April 3-19. This isis the first first nine-hole nine-hole tournament tournan1ent on on new new courses. courses. Over Over the $90,000 will will be be awarded awarded in in cash cash and and prizes. prizes.For For more more inforinfor$90,000 mation, call (847)870-7027, or check the IT Web site mation, call (847)870-7027, or check the IT Web site (http ://www.itsgames.com). (http://www.itsgames.com). ,. - Operators Operators in in South South Carolina Carolina are are fighting fighting for for their theirpolitpolitical life life in in the the state state Senate. Senate. Working Working at at the the governor's governor's bebeical hest, senators senators were were considering considering aa bill bill that that would would do do away away hest, ganling. At press time no action had been taken with video with video gaming. At press time no action had been taken bill already passed the state on the measure. A similar on the measure. A similar bill already passed the state House of ofRepresentatives. Representatives. Look Look for for more more on on this this in in future future isisHouse sues of ofPlay PlayMeter. Meter. sues , .Don Don Wenzinger, Wenzinger,formerly formerly national national sales sales manager manager and and entertainment products manager, has been named vice presentertainment products manager, has been named vice president of domestic entertainment sales at motion simulator ident of domestic entertainment sales at motion simulator Precision Systems. Systems. supplier Doron Doron Precision supplier , . Hugo Hugo Naumann Naumann recently recently announced announced the the appointment appointment . of a new distributor outlet in Mexico : Eliud Villaneuva Esof a new distributor outlet in Mexico: Eliud Villaneuva Escobebo, 1011 Local, 5 Centro Monterrey, Mexico, cobebo, 1011 Local, 5 Centro Monterrey, Mexico, 0115283444895; fax fax 0115283690068. 0115283690068. 0115283444895; ,. Psygnosis, Psygnosis, the the consumer consumer software software development development firm, firm, also licensed several of its games for the out-ofwhich has which has also licensed several of its games for the out-ofhome entertainment entertainment market, market, has has agreed agreed to to distribute distribute its its home Systems Corp.'s gan1es directly to consumers using Wave games directly to consumers using Wave Systems Corp.'s proprietary electronic electronic commerce commerce technology. technology. The first offerofferproprietary The first ing, Lemmings, Lemmings, is is now now available available for for purchase purchase on on the the Internet Internet ing, (http://www.great-stuff.com) uff.com).. (http://www.great-st PLAY METER MAGAZINE, (ISSN 1048-8243) APRIL 1998, Volume 24, No 5. Copyright 1998 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 APRIL 1998