Star Tech Journal

STAR*TECHJoumal
18
Octoberl989
State Of The Industry: AMOA Expo '89
Chris Richards
Coin-Op Inc.
Webb City, Missouri
Las Vegas, Nevada. September, 1989.
I was disappointed that there didn't seem to
be anything really NEW at the show, mostly
a rehash of the same old stuff. Crime Fighters
from Konami looks like it has possibilities,
as do some of the games from SNK, but right
now they are WAY overpriced, in my humble
opinion.
Sega's game Super Monaco GP is fun to play,
and no doubt will make some money, but I'm
going to wait until it gets somewhat less than
6 grand for the upright before I get one,
What games are out there are REAL expen-
sive, and I can't justify the money for them
'cause they won't make it back. Now I know
the manufacturers are all saying "Go 50 cent
play" like it is the answer to all our prayers.
I got news for you. It ain't. Lets look at some
simple math here.
Average Dedicated:
Sells for $3,000. End of 6 months, resale
value is floating right around $1,500 or a
little less. That is a net loss of $1500. That
means that in 6 months that game has to
Now, what is wrong with the Industry?
especially considering that I can pick up a
PowerDriftpretty cheap right now, and it will
give me A LOT better return on my invest-
ment. I don't expect United Amusement's
versions of NEC's home system to do well, or
to last more than about a year; the technol-
ogy is too dated at this point. I hope everyone
that buys a Mr.• Game pinball has a good
source for Zaccaria parts, 'cause that's what
they use, and that's ONE reason I'm staying
away from 'em.
Now, what is wrong with the industry?
(Boy, I'm gonna set myself up on this one ... )
I've only been in this business for about 2-1 /
2 years, but I've been playing games since
Pacman and Space Invaders, and what I'm
seeing now is the same thing I saw then ...
lack of TRUE innovation. I'm seeing a lot of
games like Double Dragon II, remakes of Life
Force-Gradius-R Type, shoot-kill-fight
games where you basically take Double
Dragon, change the graphics, and you have
a new garnet
MAKE me $1500 in order for me to just
BREAK EVEN ON THE GAME. Since I give
50 / 50 splits that means the game has to
take in $3,000. That figures out at an AVER-
AGE of$125 per week for the entire 6 month
period! I don't HA VE very many locations
that make those kinds of numbers.
Now lets talk about wear and tear on the
truck to move the game, and labor, not to
mention repair costs if it breaks. I end up
looking at closer to $150 per week just to
BREAK EVEN. I haven't MADE anything yet!
And now Sega comes along and wants me to
spend $6,000 on Super Monaco? Give me a
BREAK! I can get a PowerDrift for less than
1 / 3 the price, and have A LOT better return
on my investment. Sorry for the diatribe, it's
just that the more I think about it, the
madder it makes me.
Oh yeah, I thought Elvira was FANTASTIC
and Police Force was pretty good. Later ...