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BULLETIN ket. That Thatdecision decisionwas wasmade madeafter afterthe thecompany companyrecently recently sticker technology. "We feel everybody wins in this situaket. sticker technology. "We feel everybody wins in this situacompleted a market survey. The game was first shown in the tion," said APBI's president and CEO Sam Attenberg. "SNK completed a market survey. The game was first shown in the tion," said APBI's president and CEO Sam Attenberg. "SNK UnitedStates StatesatatIAAPA IAAPA`97. '97. United Hip Hop Mania provides players the chance to be a DJ. Hip Hop Mania provides players the chance to be a DJ. Working with a keyboard and turntable, the player keeps Working with a keyboard and turntable, the player keeps pace with the notes on the screen in order to complete difpace with the notes on the screen in order to complete different songs. Hip Hop Mania features different song cateferent songs. Hip Hop Mania features different song categories, such as Hip Hop, Reggae, Soul, House, and Rave, to gories, such as Hip Hop, Reggae, Soul, House, and Rave, to name a few. The test was conducted at Disney's Tomorrowname a few. The test was conducted at Disney's Tomorrowland arcade, where the game reportedly attracted considerland arcade, where the game reportedly attracted considerduetotoits itsunique uniquetheme themeand andfun fungame gameplay. play. ableattention attentiondue able Hip Hop Mania will be shown again this month at the NightHip Hop Mania will be shown again this month at the Nightclub &&Bar Bar Show Show inin Las Las Vegas. Vegas.For For further further information, information, club please contact Konami of America, (847) 215-5100. allowed toto retain retain its its outlets outlets while while APBI APBI protects protects its its isis allowed patent." patent." ATLUSJOINS JOINSTHE THE LEGAL LEGAL FRAY FRAY ATLUS OVERPHOTO PHOTOSTICKER STICKERUNITS UNITS OVER AtlusDream DreamEntertainment EntertainmentCo. Co.has hasfiled filedaalawsuit lawsuitfor for Atlus patent infringement and related claims against American patent infringement and related claims against American PhotoBooths BoothsInc. Inc.(APBI), (APBI),SNK SNKCorp. Corp.ofofAmerica, America,and andSNK SNK Photo Corp. of Japan, in federal district court in California. Corp. of Japan, in federal district court in California. The lawsuit reportedly involves the key technology beThe lawsuit reportedly involves the key technology behind Atlus'Print PrintClub Clubinteractive interactivephoto photobooth booththat thattakes takesaa hind Atlus' video image of the customer and then digitally combines it video image of the customer and then digitally combines it with a pre-stored background or object chosen by the cuswith a pre-stored background or object chosen by the customer from the photo booth's computer memory. Multiple tomer from the photo booth's computer memory. Multiple copies of the digitally combined image are printed out on a copies of the digitally combined image are printed out on a sheetofofstickers. stickers. sheet Atlus claims it acquired the patent to this cutting-edge Atlus claims it acquired the patent to this cutting-edge technology through an exclusive license agreement with technology through an exclusive license agreement with Image Ware Software, Inc. "This patent is the engine that Image Ware Software, Inc. "This patent is the engine that makes these photo booths possible," said Yukuo Takenaka, makes these photo booths possible," said Yukuo Takenaka, Atlus' co-chairman. The lawsuit seeks an injunction reAtlus' co-chairman. The lawsuit seeks an injunction restraining APBI and SNK from manufacturing, selling, leasstraining APBI and SNK from manufacturing, selling, leasing, or distributing their photo booths, as well as substaning, or distributing their photo booths, as well as substantial monetarydamages. damages. tial monetary please contact Konami of America, (847) 215-5100. ROLL PP &~ PPTECHNOLOGIESTO TECHNOLOGIES TO ROLL OUT JUKEBOX NATIONALLY OUT JUKEBOX NATIONALLY Technologies is planning to release a wall-mount PP&&PPTechnologies is planning to release a wall-mount version of its Regatta jukebox, and the company's Ed Pelleversion of its Regatta jukebox, and the company's Ed Pellegrini says that will serve as a catalyst for the units' growing grini says that will serve as a catalyst for the units' growing popularity. "As soon as we get the wall box finished , we are popularity. "As soon as we get the wall box finished, we are going to go national with the jukebox," he said. Close to 700 going to go national with the jukebox," he said. Close to 700 unitsare areon onlocation locationininthe theChicago Chicagoarea. area. units In addition to jukebox production and sales, the company In addition to jukebox production and sales, the company responsible for the hit game Police Trainer is currently workresponsible for the hit game Police Trainer is currently working on two new videos, which are both gun games; a puzzle ing on two new videos, which are both gun games; a puzzle game; and a classic remake named Bozo's Grand Prize II that game; and a classic remake named Bozo's Grand Prize II that offers a two-player feature. NEWSBRIEFS BRIEFS NEWS offers a two-player feature. (.,.. Mid City Distributing has moved to a new 16,000Mid City Distributing has moved to a new 16,000square-foot facility located a few blocks from its original losquare-foot facility located a few blocks from its original location.The Thenew newaddress addressisis2451 2451St. St.Mary's Mary'sAve., Ave.,Omaha, Omaha, cation. NE 68105. Phone and fax remain the same. NE 68105. Phone and fax remain the same. (.,.. The Computer Game Developers' Conference is holdThe Computer Game Developers' Conference is holding another one-day gathering Jan. 30 in Austin, Texas. The ing another one-day gathering Jan. 30 in Austin, Texas. The CGDC Mini Event will include sessions sponsored by the CGDC Mini Event will include sessions sponsored by the National Amusement Network Inc. (NANI) on developing National Amusement Network Inc. (NANI) on developing games for the Public PC with DirectArcade, the developer games for the Public PC with DirectArcade, the developer tool kit put out by Microsoft for the arcade. tool kit put out by Microsoft for the arcade. (.,.. The Satellite Bingo Network, based in Tempe, Ariz., The Satellite Bingo Network, based in Tempe, Ariz., has announced plans to use satellite technology to link a has announced plans to use satellite technology to link a high-stakes daily bingo game in Chandler, Ariz., to Indian high-stakes daily bingo game in Chandler, Ariz., to Indian bingo halls across the country. • APBI ,SNK SNKSETTLE SETTLE PHOTO PHOTO APBI, STICKER PATENT SUIT STICKER PATENT SUIT AmericanPhoto PhotoBooth BoothInc.(APBI) Inc.(APBI)announced announcedaasettlesettleAmerican ment last month in its patent infringement lawsuit against ment last month in its patent infringement lawsuit against SNK Corp. of Japan and its subsidiary SNK Corp. of AmeriSNK Corp. of Japan and its subsidiary SNK Corp. of America. According to an official statement from APBI, SNK has ca. According to an official statement from APBI, SNK has signed a consent decree regarding the patent issue and signed a consent decree regarding the patent issue and agreed to pay APBI a "significant amount" of money and agreed to pay APBI a "significant amount" of money and sign a non-exclusive license and settlement agreement. sign a non-exclusive license and settlement agreement. Theagreement agreementreportedly reportedlycalls callsfor forSNK SNKtotopay payAPBI APBIroyroyThe alties on all past and future revenues from SNK photo sticker alties on all past and future revenues from SNK photo sticker machines sold, operated in, or exported from the United machines sold, operated in, or exported from the United States. It does not allow SNK to use APB I's patented photo States. It does not allow SNK to use APBI's patented photo PLAY METER MAGAZINE, (ISSN 1048-8243) JANUARY 1998, Volume 24, No 1. 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 bingo halls across the country. 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 JANUARY 1998