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FROMTHE THE EDITOR EDITOR FROM Technology opens opens doors, doors, but but Technology you must niust be be prepared prepared you uring the recent Ohio Coin Machine Associuring the recent Ohio Coin Machine Association state show, among the speakers was ation state show, among the speakers was RichardDitton Dittonof ofIncredible IncredibleTechnologies. Technologies. Richard He spoke to operators on the subject of of He spoke to operators on the subject downloading video games. His discussion indownloading video games. His discussion involved delving delving into into the the technology-both technology-both volved available now and not available yet-that available now and not available yet-that must be obtained to make downloading must be obtained to make downloading video games a viable alternative, if in fact, video games a viable alternative, if in fact, D D Valerie Valerie Cog nevi ch Cognevich Editor Editor that'swhat whatwe wewant. want. that's The possibility of downloading vid eo The possibility of downloading video games was discussed when games was discussed when AMOAfirst firstpresented presentedits itsNationNationAMOA al Automatic Networking Inc. al Automatic Networking Inc. (NANI) several years ago. There (NANI) several years ago. There was a groundswell of speculation was a groundswell of speculation that downloading video games that downloading video games was thetrue trueintention intentionbehind behindthe the was the whole NANI program. Of course, whole NANI program. Of course, not only has downloading video not only has downloading video games not happened, NANI NANI games not happened, clearly has not yet emerged as a clearly has not yet emerged as a viable program for operators. viable program for operators. Richard, who is an engineer, Richard, who is an engineer, speaks from an engineer's perspeaks from an engineer's perspective. His company, like I spective. His company, like I have to remind anyone, has seen have to remind anyone, has seen tremendous successwith withGolden Golden tremendous success Tee 3D Golf and its networked Tee 3D Golf and its networked system. Operators have praised system. Operators have praised ITS for its accomplishment, oftenclaiming claimingitit ITS for its accomplishment, often has been the difference between a black or has been the difference between a black or red bottom line. If any company has the skinred bottom line. If any company has the skinny on this subject, most would agree it would ny on this subject, most would agree it would be IncredibleTechnologies. Technologies.Richard Richarddid didnot not be Incredible mince words when he said, "Video games mince words when he said, "Video games won't be downloaded for quite some time." won't be downloaded for quite some time." Hethen thenproceeded proceededtotoexplain explainwhy. why.ItItboiled boiled He no down to one basic fact : There simply down to one basic fact: There simply isisno way fast or cheap enough to download a way fast or cheap enough to download a video game right now. He gave a detailed devideo game right now. He gave a detailed description of a number of current technoloscription of a number of current technologies and why each was not ready to help in gies and why each was not ready to help in downloading video games. He cited a lack of downloading video games. He cited a lack of standards, and added that although the techstandards, and added that although the technology is there, it's just not viable for this apnology is there, it's just not viable for this application. plication. Our"Coinman" "Coinman"this thistime timeisisOhio Ohiooperator operator Our Ryck Zarick, who has that technology gene Ryck Zarick, who has that technology gene tucked away somewhere in his being. How- tucked away somewhere in his being. How- ever,he headmits admitsthat thatasasmuch muchasashe helikes likesnew new ever, technology and uses it, it still scares him. technology and uses it, it still scares him. Why? Because he feels like we are getting Why? Because he feels like we are getting waytoo toodependent dependenton onit.it.Even Evenfast fastfood foodememway ployees freeze when the high-tech cash regployees freeze when the high-tech cash registerbreaks. breaks.IIremember rememberworking workingatatMcDonMcDonister ald's in my much younger days, challenging ald's in my much younger days, challenging myself to add up orders in my head before myself to add up orders in my head before deliveringthem themtotothe thecustomers. customers.We Wedidn't didn't delivering have cash registers featuring a photo of fries have cash registers featuring a photo of fries shakeon onthe thekeys. keys. ororaashake Our good friend Ann Winfield of Ralph's Our good friend Ann Winfield of Ralph's CoinMachine MachineServices ServicesininCanada Canada AutomaticCoin Automatic called one day to chat. We covered the usual called one day to chat. We covered the usual topics: the state of the industry and what lies topics: the state of the industry and what lies ahead.We Wespeculated speculatedabout aboutthe thefuture futureofofthe the ahead. industry, and in the conversation, Ann asked industry, and in the conversation, Ann asked DVDand andififititwas wasgoing goingtotohave havean animimaboutDVD about pact on our industry. I honestly had to tell pact on our industry. I honestly had to tell her that I just wasn't sure. But she got me her that I just wasn't sure. But she got me thinking.I've I'vetalked talkedwith withothers, others,asked askedabout about thinking. it in a seminar at the Ohio state show, and it in a seminar at the Ohio state show, and scoured the Internet seeking wisdom about scoured the Internet seeking wisdom about DVD.Our Our new new associate associate editor editorJim Jim McMcDVD. Cormick took on the topic of DVD as his first Cormick took on the topic of DVD as his first assignment. He talked with industry experts assignment. He talked with industry experts and studied the pages of information I had and studied the pages of information I had gotten fromthe theInternet. Internet.Well, Well,Ann, Ann,I Ithink think gotten from Jim has done a wonderful job of sorting Jim has done a wonderful job of sorting through a ton of information to give you, and through a ton of information to give you, and others who who have have wondered wondered about about DVD, DVD, others some things to think about. some things to think about. Thosewho whoattended attendedthe theAMOA AMOAshow showin in Those Nashville were treated to several seminars Nashville were treated to several seminars onsubjects subjectslike likethe theInternet, Internet, PC PCgames, games, on networking, and the OAA initiative. And, networking, and the OAA initiative. And, course,NANI. NANI.All Allgave gaveattendees attendeesan anininofofcourse, sight into some future possibilities for our sight into some future possibilities for our industry, all involving emerging technoloindustry, all involving emerging technology. But while many sat through these semigy. But while many sat through these seminars hoping to hear some optimistic prenars hoping to hear some optimistic predictions about the industry's future , other dictions about the industry's future, other topics like buying and selling a route, buytopics like buying and selling a route, buying or leasing coin-op equipment, and ing or leasing coin-op equipment, and video content and the parental advisory video content and the parental advisory backtoto the the reality reality of of system, brought usback system, brought us operating in today's climate. Yes,technolotechnoloin today's climate. Yes, operating gy is perhaps opening some new doors, but opening some new doors, but is perhaps gyonce you pass through, you have to be preonce you pass through, you have to be prepared . .A pared. We want to hear from you about any ol the arti cles in this issue or topics you 's like to see . Phone: 504/488-7003; FAX: We want to hear from you about any of the articles in this issue or topics you's like to see. Phone: 504/488-7003; FAX: 504/488-7083; e-ma il: (news@playmeter.com). 504/488-7083; e-mail: (news@playmeter.com). PLAYMETER METER PLAY 10 10 OCTOBER1998 1998 OCTOBER