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Fall Show Preview -- It may seem like the middle of summer, but this year's annual fall shows, AMOA and Fun Expo, are just around the corner. Get the early line on these co-located trade events, both of which are scheduled to get underway in Las Vegas late next month. BCA Returns to Vegas -- The BCA International Billiard and Home Recreation Show made a successful return to Las Vegas in June, posting a 17% increase in attendance and a slight decrease in the amount of booth space sold. RePlay visited the show, where coin-op remains a significant presence. Jukebox Special -- What does the future hold for music, technology and the jukebox? Our special jukebox section kicks off with manufacturers and others discussing the ways music will continue evolving and what's on the research and development front for the future. Our annual jukebox issue also includes a series of distributor interviews, input from AMOA leader Russ Mawdsley on licensing angles, our cover story on Ecast, the full Buy Line on jukeboxes currently available, an appreciation of the classic coin-op phonograph first published by the venerable Wall Street Journal and more. State Show Season -- If it's summer, it's state show time. This month, we have coverage and the latest news from two of the nation's most active state operator associations, Wisconsin's WAMO and Minnesota's MOMA. Young & Worldly -- Florida operator Mike Matta is already a worldly veteran, despite his youthful appearance. He got his start operating pay phones in Michigan before relocating to Florida, where he now runs a traditional amusement route. Along the way, he traveled to Russia to follow his heart. Read about his adventures. Menage A Trois? As the AMOA Expo looms, the debate continues over whether the AMOA, AAMA and IALEI should combine their forces for one tradeshow a year. Listen in on how operators view the pluses and minuses of one show or two in this month's Operator Interface. You might be surprised. Marketing Medalist -- Medalist Marketing recently hosted 27 operator partners from 21 operating companies across the U.S. to its Annual Operator Council at the company's headquarters near Seattle. Together, they finalized plans for several major new promotional initiatives. Dreaming in Circles -- M & J Fabricators are improving cranes and bottom lines around the country with a series of spinning turntables for higher-end prizes. Nuts & Bolts highlights this product series called Circle of Dreams. Recall Mania -- Boatloads full of imported items, especially toys, have been pulled from shelves due to rampant recalls over the past two years. In a Prize Patrol Special Report, we look at how certain prize suppliers are managing the politics of this problem and ensuring that their product is safe.
Coin-Op Centennial -- To celebrate reaching the rare 100-year mark, The Lieberman Companies family hosted a spectacular bash for their extended industry family, welcoming a Who's Who of the trade to their Minnesota headquarters. Check out their history and centennial festivities. High & Dry -- AMA Distributors and Lucky Coin in New Orleans weathered Hurricane Katrina and unforgettable aftermath and are no worse for wear. Their remodeled facility is now one of the finest distributor bases in the country, which they showed off in a festive, politician-studded opening reception. Discover the new and improved AMA. Summer Showtime -- Find out about the AAMA's high-profile summer calendar, including their presence at the National Restaurant Show and how they are preparing for August's Annual Meeting & Distributor Cocktail Gala, where about 45 new games will reportedly be shown. Standing Tall -- Only two-years-old, Betson Midwest's presence has gone from a foothold to a strong stance and is becoming stronger by the month. President Ryan Cravens gives an update. Coin-Op Caravan -- The AMOA met with the nation's lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to keep the importance of amusement operators and their business interests alive in the eyes of politicians. Find out how association members and their stances on issues were received on Capitol Hill. Give & Take -- Publicizing the charitable deeds of operators on both local and national levels is one surefire way to improve the coin-op industry's reputation. RePlay is doing its part by finding out how companies are giving back to their community, country and world in Operator Interface. Eternal Recurrence -- I.T.'s Operator Summit introduced operators to their new Golden Tee software update set to debut this fall, which signals a back-to-basics approach. Stair Stepping -- Lectro-Truck has been moving this industry forward, up and down, one machine at a time, for almost 40 years. Check out exactly why their series of motorized hand-trucks, comprising their Innovative Moving Systems, are so durable and multi-functional in Nuts & Bolts. Prize Patrol -- Strategic alliances with mainland China are key to keeping prize inventories stocked fresh. Manley Toy Direct's parent company is headquartered there and acts as a direct siphon of goods to the U.S. supplier, passing the savings along to the customer. Check out Prize Patrol.
Buying in Bulk -- Check out a snapshot of this year's annual Bulk Vending Show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, including a look at the convention numbers in News Digest and a first-hand report from the American Amusement Machine Pavilion. Delta Blues -- They only play on the jukeboxes of Delta Music because Donovan Fremin certainly isn't singing them. The third-generation operator was recently elected to the AMOA executive board and is poised for the association presidency. Get to know the man behind the name that will be cropping more and more. Follow the Money -- We take an investigative look at the investment phenomenon that's putting the "fun" back into funding. Find out who is putting money into the new FEC concepts spreading across the nation and how they are navigating the risks differently than many of their predecessors. Scary Fun -- As part of this year's special FEC issue, we profiled two unique locations, both relatively new and both leaning heavily on theming. The Ghostly Manor Haunted House FEC, located in the shadow of Sandusky, Ohio's famed Cedar Point roller coaster mecca, is part of the popular haunting trend that's made its way into amusements. Farther south in Florida, the route operators at Sunshine have revitalized an old-school beach arcade, turning Treasure Island into a true entertainment adventure. Gurus Speak -- The FEC industry is blessed with many great minds, and our annual special issue includes input from many of them, both in the aforementioned look at investment and directly. We have a Q&A on the state of the trade from Frank Seninsky plus a look at the leisure vs. entertainment argument from none other than LBE creator Randy White. Factory Focus -- Toy Factory lives up to its name by producing many iconic, licensed properties from major studios. Discover more about this giant of prize suppliers and what recent and new licenses have been acquired. Movie Mania -- Stern Pinball's timing couldn't be better as they released their new Spider-Man flipper game right as the latest movie in the series was breaking box office records its first weekend. Get the full story on this new silver ball adventure. Drifting Away -- Raw Thrills is on a roll, this time with another high-speed hit, The Fast and Furious Drift. The new driver offers 12 licensed cars with model-specific upgrades, 21 tracks and dynamic drift racing action. Game Smorgasbord -- No one can say this industry is lacking in new product with all the games Namco alone has been releasing (with more planned by year's) end. Look under the hoods of several of these , including Shoot the Moon, Chase HQ 2, Family Bowl and the Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama kit.
ASI Show Review -- The spring ASI expo in Las Vegas headlines this issue of RePlay with full coverage of the show including feedback from attendees and exhibitors, the official line from organizers and sponsors, news about special events on and off the show floor, booth photos from one end of the convention to the other and a catalog of all the new product debuted. Sad Passings -- Amidst the hubbub of the ASI, trade members learned the sad news that industry veteran Bill Cravens passed away in his hotel room, after attending the first day of the show. Another industry luminary, longtime Windy City distributor Fred Skor, lost his battle with cancer. We have tributes to these two impressive men, plus the news of several others losses to the industry. Thumbs Up -- Appreciation for ASI 2007 was the prevailing sentiment in our survey of attending operators, whether they bought truckloads of equipment or went to examine product now to buy in the fall. Check out May's Operator Interface. SoCal Sitdown -- The AMOA board of directors met in San Diego for four days of committee work to consider ways of improving the fall expo and the national organization. Find out where the group stands on everything from membership numbers and benefits to what this fall tradeshow holds in store and who will likely become the new powers-that-be down the road. Associations in Action -- Two of the nation's largest state associations for amusement and music operators recently held crucial get-togethers with their state's lawmakers. These events, which took place in Springfield, Illinois, and Austin, Texas, offered members of the trade valuable time to meet with legislators and their staff and put a face to the industry and its issues. Advantageous -- Advantage Entertainment has secured a foothold in the northeast with its special concept of the mall FEC. Discover Krazy City in West Nyack, N.Y., and what it bodes for transforming shopping plazas throughout the region. Merit on the Move -- Merit Entertainment, the touchscreen game specialists, brought their tested and production-ready Aurora, with its larger format touchscreen, to ASI along with new software and a renewed commitment to customers. Reaching Out -- TouchTunes Music was busy at this spring's ASI, rolling out their Gen 3 system with easier navigation and online playlists for customers, auctioning a juke for the Lance Armstrong Livestrong cancer organization and raffling another for operators. Refreshing Music -- The digital jukebox kit pros at View Interactive have an all-new kind of upgrade for existing CD (and 45 RPM) jukes either on location or in the shop. Now, you can salvage all the key components and install them in the new InnoVision cabinet, powered by Ecast.
ASI "007" -- The Amusement Showcase International is in full swing, and RePlay has assembled the complete guide to the show, as well as extracurricular activities, both sponsored by the AAMA and those throughout Las Vegas. Check out the latest news on tradeshow events and seminars, consult our exhibitor list with booth numbers for a quick reference and plan your entertainment options.1 Direct Threat -- The prospect of a digital jukebox company, in this case upstart Jukes Direct, selling direct to locations caused quite a stir in late February. The controversy appears to have calmed, for now.2 Top Notch -- Pool table maker Valley-Dynamo took distributors on a tour last month of their new manufacturing facility in Reynoso, Mexico, just across the border from McAllen, Texas. The world-class facility impressed the factory's dealer network. State Summit -- AMOA hosted its annual gathering of state association presidents and executives in mid-February at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas, where they discussed the state of the trade in their respective locales. Read our first-hand report. Growth City -- It may be Sin City to the thousands of visitors who go every year, but Las Vegas represents a growth environment for Desert Amusement, the route operation headed up by three newcomers to the industry who are already making their mark in the desert. Developing Worlds of Fun -- The popularity of pizzacade development shows no sign of abetting, as evidenced by Wisconsin's stylish Stonefire Pizza Company. Meet general manager Ted Cutting and president David Church, a real estate pro making it in the amusement business. They're Nationwide -- Club Nation is the second national operating group to form in the name of leveraging their street presence for promotions with larger prize pools. They have already run three national tournaments and are off and working on their fourth.7 Bayside Redux -- Our Spotlight Special shines on Shelti's Bayside pool table with a dollar bill acceptor. Coming in three different models, the table has been performing well on location and driving different kinds of enhanced play. Coming to America -- The Photo Play phenomenon, which has swept Europe over the last decade with more than 160,000 units in the field, is now making its way to the U.S. through a partnership with former Rowe topper Doug Johnson. Andiamo Andamiro -- Andamiro USA has slated an ambitious plan to release games from ASI through the AMOA Expo. In this month's cover story, we take an early look at the product, including a redemption game, self-merchandiser and linked touchscreen platform, and find out how business has fared in recent years with EVP Satinder Bhutani. Counting the Years -- After over 75 years, KLOPP's name has become indistinguishable from coin counters, but who are the people who have made it happen? Discover a company whose product still has rare, die-hard integrity and the record to prove it in April's Nuts & Bolts.
It's Showtime! The Amusement Showcase International 2007 returns to Las Vegas for what organizers are claiming will be a bigger and better extravaganza, thanks to boosts in exhibitor and registrant numbers over recent years. The complete resource for navigating the show floor, seminars, special events, logistics and more unfolds in this issue. London Calling -- ATEI, known to most as "The London Show," was sporting a new look and layout at the familiar Earl's Court exhibit venue in late January. Amusement attendance was down this time around (while gaming was up) but there was still hot new product on display. Read our exclusive report from "Mr. Stinger" Kevin Williams. Redemption Rules -- That's the word from distributors across the U.S. We surveyed a number of top dealers from different parts of the country from whom we learned that both ticket and instant-win redemption is thriving in games rooms and on the street. Read what they have to say, as well as a number of related articles on the subject of redemption, in a special section. Lucky and Good -- A group of 17 top operators banded together last year to form a promotional co-operative called Club Lucky. Now, they want to take it to the next level, working directly with suppliers on promotions, prizes and game purchases A Diamond Day -- Pittsburgh game operator H. Lazar & Son, now headed up by third generation operator Dale Lazar, celebrated 75 years in business last month with a jukebox-themed party in honor of the company's forefathers. Editor Steve White attended in person and filed this report. Two for the Road -- Sunshine Companies and Sega have joined forces to create Sega Amusement Works. We check in with Robert Noell Jr. and Takeshi Inoue to find out more about this joint venture (two years in the making) and their plans for reciprocal success in street locations and game manufacturing. Striking Out, On the Town -- Strike Long Island, an entirely underground bowling center with a nightclub atmosphere, has transformed an industrial area of New York into a hip destination. Take a grand tour of this facility with the general manager and execs from the parent company, Strike Holdings, which has been busy spreading its vision of sophisticated whimsy around the country. Prize Kings -- Noel Industries has grown into a major supplier of prizes for rotaries and other instant-win games, thanks to a family history in the business, down-home friendliness and Chris Noell's inventive game designs. Go south in Prize Patrol and drop in on the family business to find out more about why it's Christmas year round - and not just because of the nam. A Family Affair -- Stern Pinball and famed designer Pat Lawlor have teamed up again, this time for a new flipper game based on the wisecracking comedy of Fox's Family Guy. The game's also got some snazzy new playfield features. To Infinity and Beyond! Infinite Peripherals has been riding a wave of technological advances in remote receipt issuing, transforming basic printers into efficient, multi-tasking solutions. In March's Nuts & Bolts, discover more about the near-limitless possibilities in this field.
Street Scene -- We take a good look in this month's RePlay at the state of the game biz on the street, the bread and butter for many operator readers. Conditions appear to vary from region to region, but promotion, new product and now prizes are key to maintaining revenues, say ops. Fortunately, our own Frank Seninsky also offers tips (see page 89) for doing redemption on the street. ASI on the Horizon -- This spring's Amusement Showcase International, the AAMA-sponsored game expo, is already on the horizon. Check out the early line on the show including travel deals, hotel information and what to expect as ASI returns to Vegas. Full Circle -- The promotional pros at Medalist Marketing have come full circle, back to their roots in topper Lee Peppard's first business, Tournament Soccer. Having established their expertise in building, operating and promoting darts, Medalist is celebrating its 25th anniversary by entering the table game business with new foosball and pool tables for coin-op. Class is in Session -- AMOA's most recent Class XIII of the Notre Dame Management Education Program is already off and running with 40 students. Meanwhile, the association is launching a graduate version. Read the last of editor Steve White's first-hand Notre Dame notes from Class XII. The Year in Store -- After taking stock of last year, operators are looking to grow or maintain their market presence in 2007. Find out how they are waging battles against consolidation through diversification, lobbying, firing locations and more, plus check out their New Year's Resolution blog comments. Mountain Top Fun -- Fort Fun & Camp Thunder have helped make Gatlinburg, Tenn., one of the most attractive vacation spots in the east. Tour these facilities with co-owner April Montgomery. Operators in Action -- West Virginia operators met late last year to elect new officers and approve a name change in one of the few states that enjoys limited, operator-run gaming machines. Check out coverage of the WVA & LVLOA. Star Struck -- Bay Tek Games of Wisconsin is heading to Hollywood with their newest game, the American Idol merchandiser. In addition to specially licensed AI prizes, players will also get a shot at tickets to the show's grand finale as part of special factory promotions in the works. Double Whammy -- American Alpha's newest releases, Fearless Pinocchio and Fist Talks, are fun, engaging and addicting games for youngsters - and that's no lie. The puppet-come-to-life and Rock, Paper, Scissors attractions combine to create memorable experience. A New Video Juke -- Barden Entertainment, the new video jukebox development firm started by casino mogul Don Barden, hopes to launch their digital video box this spring with a wide range of revenue-friendly features including special advertising screens.
Dispatch from IAAPA -- The IAAPA parks show was ongoing in Atlanta as this issue went to press, but we managed to squeeze in a few pages of late breaking coverage. If you weren't there, get the early line on the show. A New Look -- That's what the annual London show (ATEI) will be sporting next month when it takes over all of the exhibit space at the world-famous Earl's Court venue. Get a sneak preview of the new two-tiered show from our regular contributor Kevin Williams. On the Road -- Industry suppliers have continued to take to the road during this fall show season as regional distributors showcase new wares to their operator base. Check out reports from open houses in Chicago and L.A. Class of 2006 -- Members of the newly graduated Class XII of AMOA's Notre Dame management program sound off on the courses, instructors, fellow alums and the lessons they took home to apply to their businesses in Operator Interface. Christmas in the Boonies -- For the third year, Boondocks Fun Center in Colorado has transformed its mini-golf course into the Winter Wonderland of Lights. Take a walk through the festive light extravaganza and among the FEC's multitude of attractions. Less is More -- Micro-tournaments that cater to player schedules and are largely managed by locations have been popular for two operators in the heartland. Find out how and why this format has increased the tournament cashbox by as much as 20%. Time is Running Out! Benchmark is busy shipping their newest pusher-style ticket game, Beat the Clock, which first debuted at AMOA in Vegas. Time your coins to spell the title phrase and win big! Check out the details of this timely license from China's UNIS. Back to the Future -- JVL's new Retro touchscreen game has got the latest in hardware technology, not to mention the factory's most recent software update, all packaged in a flashy art deco-style cabinet sure to attract players with a taste for the classics. Bowling for Keeps -- After two mega names in bowling merged over a year ago, QubicaAMF has rapidly rolled out Highway 66 mini-bowling, renovated bowling centers all over the world and overseen the greater integration of their sport of focus and coin-op. The bowling specialists have now turned their focus to developing and manufacturing amusement games.
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Another Good Show! AMOA International Expo is on a roll in Las Vegas, hosting another successful convention along with the IALEI-sponsored Fun Expo, co-located in the same convention center hall. Attendees were upbeat, new product looked good and the numbers were better than last year. See our full coverage of this year's show including news coverage, new products, booth pictures and a first-hand look at special events and seminars. Considering the Unthinkable -- The methods of shoring up operator businesses was the timely topic at the AMOA panel discussion, "What to Do Before Disaster Strikes Your Business." Experts navigated the way through the thorny process of agreeing on an insurance policy and discussed ways of making certain the plan in place effectively offers an umbrella of protection before it is too late. Open Season -- The post-show open house season is underway and we have coverage of two of the early events: Birmingham Vending and C.A. Robinson. Was it Good for You? Find out how opinions of expo 2006 stacked up as operators discuss new product, sponsored events and overall show design in Operator Interface. IT'Z Here! Arcade Profile zooms in on Albuquerque where a new FEC has sprung up in the desert. IT'Z is no mirage but the conflation of coin-op amusement, dining and entertainment in a smorgasbord of fun. Start your tour and find out what is next in store for the curious brand name. The Right Touch -- This month's Spotlight Special is on TouchTunes Music Corp., the digital jukebox pioneers who have now reached 20,000 units online and celebrated at AMOA by showing off their Gen. 3 operating system, giving out prizes and free jukes and basking in their AMOA Innovator Award win. Tickets, Please -- Muncie Novelty and Indiana Ticket have built a ticket-printing empire amidst rural Midwestern cornfields. Indiana Ticket in particular has supplied hundreds of millions of tickets to the amusement industry alone thanks to a 24/7 operation and a commitment to customer service. Discover the history of the company and the Broyles family behind it in Nuts & Bolts. Element of Surprise -- Peek-A-Boo Toys has built its business on designing and manufacturing genuinely adorable plush with the option of customized branding. Barry Lederman discusses the supplier's knack for getting the details right that speak to both crane players and customers on the other side of the redemption counter in Prize Patrol. Making Connections -- Ecast Inc., the broadband music pros who have partnered with NSM, Rock-Ola and View Interactive, pulled back the curtains on their newest online platform. This new system will support videos and revenue-generating advertising.
Vegas, Baby! It's show time in Las Vegas for the AMOA and Fun Expos and the Big Kahuna West souvenir show. Use this issue as your guide for finding everything you need to know about exhibitors, seminars and extracurricular activities for each tradeshow in our coverage. Dollar Coin Redux -- Washington is once again abuzz with discussion of a new dollar coin. This time around the Mint will be producing a whole series of dollar coins featuring the images of deceased presidents. To promote circulation, an all-new coalition has been formed. Coin-Op's Future -- The future of just about every industry, including the amusement game business, will be affected by the awakening of China's mammoth economy. Check out what industry vets predict this growth in both manufacturing and a new consumer market will mean for coin-op. Strange Bedfellows -- Relationships with bar owners can be fortuitous or thorny, depending on the location and the incentives an operator has in place to nurture business associations. Find out from six operators exactly how they try to keep owners happy and, conversely, whether they are happy with their owners in this month's Operator Interface. Getting Lucky -- Ten operators who gathered at Chicago's Club Lucky this spring during ASI have formed a group under that same name to leverage their routes for Golden Tee contests, prize purchases and more. State Show Update -- Tradesters in the Show Me State gathered for the Missouri Amusement Machine Operators Association's 10th annual show and general membership meeting in Osage Beach. More than 110 operators, staff and family attended, and 25 companies took exhibit space. Madden Mea Culpa -- Acknowledging that their first effort two years ago was fraught with problems, Global VR toured the country in August and September to re-introduce their new Madden Season 2 football video. "This time, we got it right," said CEO Jim DeRose. Tennis, Anyone? This month, we focus our Spotlight Special on the new deluxe sports video from Sega, Virtual Tennis 3. The game features the top players in the world from men's pro tennis for singles and doubles action. Players can also select from a list of eight play styles and lots more. Money-Taking Business -- MEI has been steadily upping the ante on coin acceptors, bill validators and now combo payment acceptors. After being purchased by two private firms earlier this summer, the manufacturer now stands freely on its own in the field of currency acceptance devices. RePlay got to know MEI in its current incarnation and assessed its product. Getting Your License -- As soon as One Stop Toy Company embraced licensing, significant entertainment corporations embraced them. The supplier now has North American licenses for creating and distributing The Family Guy, Superman, Spider-Man prizes and more. Execs Evan Kaltman and Dave Schwartz discuss their product, from design to redemption counter.
Go Expo! AMOA and Fun Expos team up with Big Kahuna West for one of the largest product spreads the industry has seen in a while later this month in Las Vegas. In this first installment of our two-part full preview, find everything you need to know about getting there, navigating show floors and special activities, plus lists of exhibitors and seminars. A Gala Affair -- The American Amusement Machine Association gathered in late July for their annual membership and board meeting, as well as the 3rd Distributor Gala, featuring a preview of new product in the pipeline. During this year's meeting in suburban Chicago, AAMA leaders engaged in a soul-searching discussion about the group's future. True Brew -- Our series on the AMOA executive board wraps up by training the spotlight on Gary Brewer, who will become secretary following the expo this month. He elaborates on how his family business has withstood the test of time and why involvement in the AMOA was a natural progression for a native of the Volunteer State. Expo Agendas -- Operators discuss plans to attend expo, their agendas or lack thereof and what the tradeshow might say about the state of the industry in Operator Interface. Thumbnail Times Two -- This month we have two Thumbnail Sketches for your reading pleasure. Meet Mississippi operator Ron Lott who hails from the Deep South terrain in and around Jackson, Miss., and Lou Georges, whose suburban Pennsylvania route has shrunk from its former interstate status. Both second-generation operators offer up tales of success and survival. Associations in Action -- Summer is the season for state shows, and this month we have coverage of two important stops on the circuit: the Amusement and Music Operators of Texas annual show and convention and, from earlier this summer, the annual gathering of the Wisconsin Amusement and Music Operators. Stern Sets Sail -- Stern Pinball is hitting the high seas of pinball with their newest flipper game, Disney's Pirates of Caribbean. Stern honcho Gary Stern says the game has "lots of mechanical action pinball shots and toys for casual players, yet the story cries for deep rules to challenge the best players." Take the Wheel -- Andamiro's newest quick coin game, Winner's Wheel, thrives on players' timing skills. Release the coin at the right time to win tickets. Keep playing, and you might win the jackpot. Check out the details on this game, plus their newest pounder, King of the Hammer DX. What's Your Fantasy? Fantasy Entertainment has been manufacturing and operating thousands of innovative photo booths for years. They recently teamed up with Brady Distributing to sell product exclusively to the amusement industry. Step inside and get a picture of their cutting-edge technology and what the world can expect of self-imaging booths in the future. All Aboard -- Prize Patrol checks in with Fun Express to see how the supplier has further developed solutions for redemption centers, why the personality of the amusement/redemption team is so valuable to business and what new product expo goers can expect to play with at expo.
A Million and Counting! Jukebox maker Rowe International threw a party last month at their Grand Rapids, Mich., factory commemorating their one-millionth jukebox rolling off the factory line. Industry leaders, media and factory staff were on hand to celebrate. See our first-hand report. Set for Vegas -- It's already time to start planning your trip the co-located AMOA and Fun Expo shows in Vegas next month. New this year will be the addition of the Big Kahuna West prize show. Check out our initial preview including travel deals and a preliminary look at what's on tap. By the Numbers -- The AMOA/University of New Orleans 2006 Jukebox Survey, released earlier this summer, is a gold mine of data when it comes to the association's street operator members. We followed up this month with a closer look at some of the "other" numbers in the survey, providing an in-depth look at the size and scope of the so-called average operator. Getting Warmed Up -- August continues RePlay's profile of the AMOA executive committee in preparation for the fall expo right around the corner. Treasurer Lloyd Williamson has grown Williamson's Amusements throughout the Midwest through concentrated league play and homegrown tournaments. How will he continue to apply these fundraising skills to the association as first vice president next year and as president in 2007-2008? License This -- Operators across the country were particularly revealing about the issues and ordeals they face when obtaining licenses for equipment. Find out how your experience and expenses compare in this month's Operator Interface. Pizza Pie in the Sky -- The Amazing Pizza Machine shows what fresh perspectives can accomplish when combined with one of the best minds of the industry. The Omaha FEC fuses an upscale pizzeria with an enviable environment for coin-op games. Meet the men who dared dream it: the Alesio brothers of Grand Italian Buffet renown and Reggie Moultrie. Medalist Makeover -- Medalist Marketing, the dart league and tournament specialists from the Pacific Northwest, have been busy expanding their reach both into overseas markets and diverging equipment lines including a newly created foosball table. How it Happened -- Last month, Happ celebrated 20 years of stratospheric growth that catapulted the parts supplier onto the international stage in the amusement, gaming and vending markets. Frank and Tom Happ, as well as Jim Norton of parent-firm Pfingsten Partners, discuss the past two years of changes since Happ was sold, as well as the firm's recent acquisitions of the Mazzco and ProSource Group supply houses. Takes One to Know One -- A prize supplier with a sophisticated personality that goes the extra mile is needed to recognize product that does the same. Sadie's Toy Box president Lee Ann Howell takes readers on a fascinating tour of the company, shows off new product and explains what sets apart Sadie's inventory and customer appreciation apart from the rest of the class.
A Hundred Years Young! Coin biz patriarch Sol Lipkin, the king of shuffleboard, celebrated his 100th birthday recently at a big Dave & Buster's bash in Philly. RePlay publisher Ed Adlum was there for the event with Sol and brought back a special report on the grand old man of games. Sound and Fury -- The 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo drew large crowds and loud exhibits as always, but the focus was more on marketing new software than hardware, with only one new platform previewed at the expo. Check out our own Loni Reeder's report. The Throw Line -- The year's two big dart finales, Arachnid's BullShooter and the AMOA NDA Team Dart finals, were held this past May. We've got coverage of both. Tee Time -- Global VR crowned their most recent EA Sports PGA Tour Golf champ in Las Vegas. A newcomer, Shawn Powers, walked away with $15,000 and serious bragging rights. To Reinvest or Not to Reinvest -- July's Operator Interface tag-teams with RePlay's survey of operators, mapping the rough and uneven terrain of route investment. Find out who re-investments what and how much . FEC Forefather -- Next year, Family Fun Center of Omaha will mark a quarter century in business during which it has quietly set a precedent for facilities of its kind. Meet Chad Reznicek and find out what has made this successful family business a renowned attraction not just in the Midwest but throughout the nation. Treasuring AMOA -- Our series profiling the AMOA executive committee looks at incoming treasurer Russ Mawdsley of Russell-Hall in Holyoke, Mass. Russ speaks further about the recently released jukebox survey and explains why he went from coin-op to law and back again. Are You Happy? If not, Brady's Happy Zoo will lift your spirits. This promising new game for kids combines entertainment and education in an explosion of sound and adorable charm. Rock Around the Clock -- Wurlitzer's Classic 2100 brings back the days of greasers, poodle skirts and diners in a vision of glass and chrome. Combining yesteryear looks with today's technology has created a jukebox that is a blast from the past for patrons. Automatic Solution -- Nuts & Bolts for July continues our idea of reinvestment by highlighting a new genre of product for some operators: ATMs. For those interested in something different, Western Reserve Group explains the ins and outs of ATM management and why adding cash dispensers can be one of the more fortuitous decisions an operator ever makes.
Jukebox Update -- The news is in and digital jukeboxes are hot, according to results from AMOA's updated Jukebox Survey. Get the complete picture, including a look at average earnings for digital and CD jukes. Do You Know What It Means? We must not fail to appreciate the scope of damage from Hurricane Katrina and lessons gleaned in her aftermath, so RePlay takes a look at Plush Appeal, the longtime plush supplier in the Crescent City and the company's near-total obliteration. Daryl Fletchinger and Dolores Bergeron walk readers through the tragedy and painstaking recovery. Family Fun -- Family Entertainment Centers continue to represent a vibrant sector of the amusement game industry, although the focus has shifted much more heavily to redemption in the past half-decade or more. This month, we take a comprehensive look at that part of the business, including an essay on the state of the industry, as well as some sharp analysis from Randy White, plus our cover story on Prime Time, two more FEC profiles, a Q&A with IALEI prexy Frank Seninsky and the latest installment of Redemption Round-Up. Play It Again, Jim -- June's Operator Profile trains a spotlight on Jim Catalina of Play It Again Amusements. The Houston operator's outgoing personality, the driving force of his success in this second career, comes to life as he describes the inner workings of this truly mom-and-pop operation and the legal landscape of coin-op amusement in Texas. Very Presidential -- Howard Cole of Cole Vending will take the presidential reigns of AMOA this September. In our profile of the current first VP and president-elect, we look at Howard's background to find out what makes this North Carolinian tick and what the industry can expect during his tenure. How Far Will They Go? The home game industry has periodically been in legislative crosshairs for almost purely political reasons. While the AMOA aggressively monitors legislation on national and state levels, the question begs to be asked whether lawmakers might again turn their attention to coin-op. Operators sound off in this month's Interface feature . What's So Funny? Surfnote is hoping to get into the touchscreen game with their Funny Touch, a multi-game unit that is specifically geared for five- to 15-year-olds. There will also be kits with the ability to outfit and refresh older units. Get your funny bone tickled. The Great Outdoors -- Bring the appeal of cranes into the elements with Smart's Outdoor Crane, one of the most durable machines of its kind with ironclad security. Jeff Smart explains how the company's newest and most customizable product opens up new venues and opportunities. Covering All The Angles -- Dave Ellison has carved out a unique niche in the industry with Mach 5 Products. The OEM manufacturer works each extreme of the field, serving manufacturers with an array of parts for games and operators with route data management and services. Find out how Dave's talents for electronics and software development, combined with the efforts of wife Carolee, launched this far-reaching company in June's Nuts & Bolts feature.
TouchPlay Hangs in Balance -- Iowa operators, at press time, were still unsure of the fate of their popular but now-banned TouchPlay lottery games. A compromise in the state house that would keep them on location through September appeared to be stalled, spelling imminent shut down. Happy Hour in Vegas -- As in year's past, the AAMA took their traveling coin-op show to this spring's annual Nightclub and Bar Expo in Las Vegas, just prior to their own ASI show in Chicago. Check out pictures and a report from their Location Trade Show Pavilion. ASI Redux -- RePlay follows last month's initial coverage of the 2006 Amusement Showcase International with a comprehensive look at the show through extensive photo coverage of the show's exhibits, stories on special events and a catalog of newly-introduced machines. Hitting the Books -- At ASI 2006, AAMA and IALEI teamed up to sponsor a seminar program that taught operators how to prepare for and soar over possible hurtles when starting an arcade. Other seminar coverage includes a report from the Michael Getlan/Ben Jones "Think, Win, Plan" session. Bayou Rendezvous -- The AMOA descended on the Big Easy for their mid-year board meeting to do what they do best: refine plans for the AMOA expo, evaluate committee goals and promote the amusement industry on all fronts. This serious work was balanced with plenty of New Orleans fun, cuisine and eye-opening excursions around the city still pulling itself up by the bootstraps after Hurricane Katrina. Sound Off -- ASI 2006: Thumbs up or down? Most attendees in this month's Operator Interface section, who also weighed in via RePlay's new online blog, gave the spring tradeshow enthusiastic marks though their reasons for doing so varied. Find out how your experience compares. Welcome to the Jungle -- Hawaii's Jungle Fun arcade, that is. Set in the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu, it's part of the growing fun center operations of Linda Fernandez's Fun Factory. With super theming and equally great mix of machines and prizes, it is truly a jungle of fun. A Dynamic Duo -- Namco America is known for classic action-style videos, and this spring they are it again with two much-awaited sequels, their latest shooter Time Crisis 4 and the newest coin-op version of the fighting franchise Soul Calibur. Sacoa World -- Sacoa's PlayCard Marketing System has been installed in FECs around the world with more on the way. May's Nuts & Bolts section showcases their highly flexible, all-encompassing, debit card product while analyzing its more technical aspects. Read the story of Jorge Mochkovsky, his sons and the cutting edge of electronic management technology. Kemac Clan -- Kemac is a supplier with one-of-a-kind prizes and a one-of-a-kind mascot. Ken Cipperly tells all about the New Jersey-based company in Prize Patrol, including the vision of CEO Maggie Mitchell and the main reason why one should never ever try to break into their office.
Lifetime Achievement -- Jerry Marcus, a figure long familiar on the U.S. trade scene, was honored last month as AAMA's Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Marcus started his career at Rowe in the 1950s. After almost two decades there, he moved on to work at several Chicago area distributors, held a top position at Atari and then founded his own Windy City dealership, Atlas. AMOA Gone South -- The 2006 AMOA Mid-Year Board of Directors Meeting was set for a four-day session in New Orleans, where the national operator association will look closely at committee initiatives and elect new officers. Check out our preview of the agenda as well as AMOA's efforts to support a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Phoenix Rising -- State association reps delved into wide range of topics at the 2006 AMOA Council of Affiliated States gathering in Phoenix. The meeting provided an insightful barometer of the industry at large, from the local to the state to the national level. Sight to Behold -- The jewel in the crown of the Huish family's many amusement operations is The Family Fun Center and Bullwinkle's Restaurant in Tukwila, Wash. Scott Huish and Rich Yee give a personalized tour of their fantastically inspired, 36,000-square-foot facility a must-see attraction of not just Seattle but the Pacific Northwest. Midwest Maven -- Downstate Illinois operator Stan Williams of Williams Enterprises in Carmine got his start working his father's route. Today, after many years and even more colorful experiences, he oversees an operation that serves over 1,000 customers across three Midwestern states. Impact of Gambling -- Indian gaming, state lotteries, skill game payout, gray games: How are these and other related issues discussed at the Council of Affiliated States affecting routes around the country? Find out in operators' own words in this month's Operator Interface. One Stop Shopping -- One Stop Shop Vending and Redemption is a prize supplier that knows what game room operators need from first-hand experience. The company started last year as an offshoot of Global Vending, which handles game operations for the Marwin Group's CiCi's pizza locations in the Houston area. Tournament Pinball -- Starting with the new World Poker Tour game, Stern Pinball is shipping all of its new flipper games with their Tournament Pinball System (TOPS) built into the game. Now, the tournament details are spelled out for the player on the game's dot matrix display. Time and Money -- Coin ConneXion continues to make life easier for operators with their ezRoute Pro system, handhelds and array of time-saving, money-making, error-reducing gadgets. Dave Jensen, founder and president, discusses the technology that has become indispensable to so many routes in this month's Nuts & Bolts section.
SHOW TIME IN THE WINDY CITY - Tradesters blow into the Windy City to check out new equipment and future trends at ASI. Our coverage provides an in-depth look at exhibitors, seminars and extra-curricular events, complete with charts and maps, to make your holiday weekend as productive as it fun. . PARTY ON - We are proud to introduce our newest column, Party Professor, featuring the expertise of Beth Standlee, the brainpower behind the consulting firm Trainertainment. Beth will provide monthly ideas to improve and grow party programs and group events through savvy, aggressive marketing campaigns. Her out-of-the-box ideas match her style: fresh, vibrant and inspiring. LONDON CALLING - Under new ownership, this year's ATEI London coin-op show drew big international crowds and played host to a crop of good looking new video - yes, video-games. For more, check out coverage from contributor Kevin Williams. STRAIGHT TALK - Minneapolis operator Bill Lethert grew up in the business and, when he found himself at a career crossroads, restarted the Mendota Valley route founded by his father. Since then, this straight shooter has grown the biz and branched out into chain location management. WHAT'S IN A NAME - The Mulligans FEC chain recently opened its newest dazzling location in Palmdale, Calif. Director of operators Tom Guagliardo gives a tour of this stunning facility, an oasis in the desert that definitely is no mirage of fun. He also shares historical tidbits on Mulligans' other locations and their updates for the future. SPRING CLEANING - Exactly how are arcade owners and operating companies jazzing up their inventory and business for the upcoming summer season? New games, different floor design, innovative promotions? March's responses are extensive, diverse and brimming with ideas to consider when strolling the aisles at ASI and beyond. THEY'RE NOT BLUFFING - The flipper fanatics at Stern Pinball are holding a winning hand with their new World Poker Tour pinball. Players use the game's playfield to travel from city to city, playing Texas Hold 'Em until they reach the final table. ON TARGET - Sureshot Redemption has been a premier prize supplier since 1997, servicing the industry with not just phenomenal prizes but highly customized service. Rorie Keller discusses the factors that put Sureshot Redemption in the top tier of the prize game and what the future holds for merchandise counters and cranes. MINT CONDITION - Token customers and coin lovers will find much to fascinate them in our profile of TokensDirect, a leading producer of the basic units of symbolic currency in game rooms. March's Nuts & Bolts section starts the minting process. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER - Valley-Dynamo will unveil its newest and classiest pool table yet at ASI: the Metro. Get a close-up look here first at the table whose sophisticated image, execs hope, will open new doors for tables and operators. Jay Scanland also opens up about the manufacturer's continuing foray into distributing redemption games.
A GRAND OPENING -- Betson Distributing is now up and running in their newest market, the Midwest. The national dealership, which serves the east and west coasts, as well as Texas, opened Betson Midwest with a well-attended Chicago area soiree. INSURANCE IS A MUST! Our latest report from the ongoing AMOA Notre Dame Management Program delves into the all-important issue of ensuring a small business, whether it's property, liability, auto or umbrella. LIFE OF THE PARTY -- Trainertainment has bolstered party programs at FECs across the nation since Beth Standlee launched the company last year. Its success is due almost wholly to Beth's vibrant personality a mix of enthusiasm, business savvy and wealth of professional experience across the amusement industry. She shares her party expertise. TEXAS STYLE -- Operator Charles Batson, whose Angleton Amusement route serves over 75 locations in towns along the Texas Gulf Coast, has been in the route biz since he graduated from high school in June of 1958. Learn more about his life in coin-op. CUSTOMER APPRECIATION -- -2006 is underway, ASI is next month and the busy summer season is around the corner. Looking ahead, what thoughts do operators want to share with customers and accounts about business in 2005, industry issues, fresh ideas and future expectations? ALL ABOARD -- In scenic North Carolina, one of the most beautiful sites happens to be indoors: Asheville's Fun Depot. This FEC's impressive coin-op element flows throughout the main depot room, connecting other attractions while surrounding an 18-hole miniature golf course. Celebrating only its second birthday, Asheville's Fun Depot has caught the attention of IAAPA and IALEI, garnering numerous accolades. LOOKING GOOD -- TouchTunes Music is now shipping their newest downloading floor model juke, the Allegro, which features a nostalgia style cabinet and a new fan-less computer that cuts down on overheating problems. CHANGE -- This month's Nuts & Bolts feature examines the factors that led to Hamilton Manufacturing Corporation producing some of the most widely respected change machines and token vendors on the market today. What makes them so durable, secure and affordable? The answer is a company story that mirrors the development of various industries. What's IN A NAME? The name of Prizes! says it all, but there's more to it than meets the eye. Brothers Tom and Bob Portale have become a premier supplier of sports-themed merchandise, among other prize genres, and for good reason: their belief that quality service is dependent on a quality staff.
HOT FROM HOTLANTA -- The annual IAAPA parks show was in full swing as this issue of RePlay was going to press. Check out our late breaking coverage of new product and people from the show floor in Atlanta. AN UNSETTLING YEAR -- 2005 will not go down in history as the coin machine industry's best year, unless you're in the digital jukebox business, and then it may. One trade leader described it best as an "unsettling year" marked by natural disaster. Take a walk down short-term memory lane. THE VALLEY LEGACY -- Valley, often the standard by which coin-op pool tables have been measured, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Today, the combine known as Valley-Dynamo is part of the larger Brunswick. Read about the early days of the brand and the company today. CORPORATE SAVVY -- Pelican Communications is a firm run by operators for operators. The company, which still runs a sizeable pay phone route, manages national chain accounts, partnering with amusement and vending operators across the U.S. KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER -- California operator Gary Spencer says you should know potential customers, as well as existing accounts, if you expect to ever get their business. To that end, Spencer's company California Coin keeps detailed database records on all the locations in their trading area. WHERE WORM IS KING -- There's no place like home, and there's no arcade that provides a sense of place like a family-run arcade. Little Squirt Sports Park in Lima, Ohio, is just such an arcade, covering seven acres downtown and recognizable by its spotted green mascot. The story of Little Squirt Sports Park is one of evolving along with, and moving deeper into, the world of amusements a journey made possible by the support of Lima's residents and their love of Squirty Worm. EYE ON THE PRIZE -- Indiana crane operator turned distributor and toy supplier David Kamen of K&K Sales in Bloomington has steadily, and quietly, grown his business from one pinball game to an impressive business that includes designing and importing their own toy lines. HANDS ON APPROACH -- JVL's newest countertop, Vortex, has been much-discussed by industry watchers because of many of its enhancements, but most of all for its power pad base, offering a whole new method by which to play a countertop. DINO DUEL -- LAI Games knows kids, and kids are obsessed with dinosaurs. The manufacturer's newest game Dino Duel is turning heads for its ability to tap into that fascination in a straightforward, addicting card and video game. THE RIGHT TICKET -- The latest from the game mavens at ICE are Break the Bank (players race their coins or tokens down an alley ramp, aiming for the unlock target on the wheel) and Super Trivia game (where a far-reaching knowledge and luck of the draw come into play).
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IAAPA INVASION -- The coin-op amusement industry will be a leading part of the 2005 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions tradeshow and convention, which travels north this year to Atlanta on the week before Thanksgiving. Our full preview of exhibitors, workshops and special events makes the colossal show more manageable for operators. BIG TENT APPROACH -- Incoming AAMA chairman Jon W. Brady says the manufacturer's association is hoping to pitch a bigger industry tent at this spring's ASI show, attracting would-be entrepreneurs to the coin machine business through special seminars and even a drawing for a "free arcade." SHOW WRAP-UP -- Last month saw our initial hot of the press coverage of AMOA. In this issue, we are following up with a complete look at the exhibit booths, new equipment, special events and a seminar on developments in debit cards. Check out our exhaustive show wrap-up. TALKING TRADE SHOWS -- This month's Operator Interface voices the compliments, concerns and criticisms of a handful of tradesters who attended the AMOA and Fun Expos. They saw the new product first-hand. Read what they had to say and what their plans are as a result. BALTIMORE TONY -- Operator Tony Paszkiewicz is the second generation owner of Columbia Vending in Baltimore, a route which started out when his dad Raymond bought the gumball machines in the store where he worked. Today, Columbia is a major operator on the East Coast with a staff of 50 and more than 500 locations in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. ON THE BOARDWALK -- The Boardwalk Mall Arcade in Wildwood, N.J., has been a fixture on the legendary Jersey Shore for almost 30 years. When Michael Blickman took control of this seasonal location, he concentrated on emphasizing redemption while also providing the right amount of other game types. The methods used to create his ideal game room show how the Boardwalk became one of the most successful arcades in an area famed for them. TOUCHY FEELY -- Merit Industries took center stage at this fall's AMOA Expo with the release of their new Ion touchscreen series, which includes Elite Edge and e.V.o. Wallette versions. The games feature Merit's signature touchscreen as well as a new joystick interface. Merit also debuted the M-Box digital juke and their affordable Megatouch Champion location-based tournament unit. ULTRA HAPPENIN' -- Vidgame maker Ultracade Technologies has entered the redemption game fray with five new licensed titles from Tecway. Get a first-hand look at these units, along with an update on a host of new features for their award-winning Breeders' Cup thoroughbred racing game. PLUSH DEALS -- Discount Plush has turned rewarding customers into an art with a variety of incentive programs. Sean Weber details the company's operator-friendly services, product features and impressive perks of doing business with the Arizona supplier in this month's Prize Patrol. THE LATEST CRAZE -- Hot redemption items offered as the weather turns cool, and featured in our Redemption Roundup, include an awesome tattoo product and poker plush.
SHOW REPORT FROM VEGAS -- The news is in from Las Vegas, and it's good news at that. This year's amusement trade-show extravaganza was well attended and, by all accounts, generated nice business for exhibitors at both AMOA and Fun Expo. Check out our show report filed fast on the heels of the conventions' final day. . DISASTER DOWN SOUTH -- Hurricane Katrina roared on shore in the Gulf Coast region August 29, and the world will never be the same again. In the face of downed communication lines and very little hard and fast information, RePlay tracked down amusement tradesters and began to chronicle industry response. PINNING DOWN AUTISM -- Attractions to pinball are as diverse as the machines, but Ken Walker's passion for pins overlapped with his son Andrew's in an intriguing way. What started out as a way to get out of the house became a renaissance of interest for Ken, a way to release Andrew from the effects of autism's mental confines and a burgeoning interest for the youngest Walker, Anna. Discover the family's unique story. 40 YEARS OF FINANCE -- Firestone Financial, the national lender that has specialized in providing credit to the amusement industry for 40 years, celebrated its 40th anniversary last month in style. Take a walk down memory lane to see who they are and from where they came. VIDEO BLUES -- Operators may still fondly recall the days when video game collections were fueling unprecedented growth, but according to this month's straw poll the video game's star is in decline. Collections aren't what they used to be, and operators are more selective than ever about new purchases. FUN IN THE FOOTHILLS -- When in West Virginia and environs, look no further than Billy Bob's Super Wonderland for fun. The massive family amusement center boasts an assortment of redemption games, a laser tag center, a miniature golf course and much more. Rex Donahue, owner, expounds upon why people travel from far and wide to the heart of Appalachia. A FALL BUSINESS BOOST -- The infamous summer season has passed, and the AMOA and Fun Expos have come and gone. As the leaves change color, what plan of action will operators take to boost fall earnings and possibly make their businesses golden once again? TIME TO PLAY -- The staffers of Play Time Toys, this month's cover story focus, believe that every item in their inventory provides the most perceived value for any vend. Dawn Noyes, president, explains what makes their product distinctive, elaborates on some tidbits of company history and describes the firm from the top down. UNDER LOCK AND KEY -- Innovations in security are essential to preserving profits, and Camlock Systems has been on the edge of these trends for decades. GM Dale Padjean tells us why the company's integrity is not only evident in its strong security systems but in its people. REDEMPTION ROUNDUP -- RePlay's section highlighting popular prizes is changing to a monthly edition to better serve buyer and seller interests and to move the coolest prizes onto redemption counters and into machines faster. The new section debuts this month.
EXPO EXTRAVAGANZA -- If it's September, it's time to head to Las Vegas for the combined 2005 AMOA and Fun Expo shows, taking place at the Convention Center, Sept. 14-16. We've got all the details on special events, a list of exhibitors, seminars and more in our overview of both the amusement game and family fun center expos. A GALA AFFAIR -- Distributor members of AAMA were treated to a special preview of over two-dozen new products, many still in some phase of development, at late July's factory association distributor gala. Check out our coverage of the gala and association's annual meeting. BOWLING FOR COIN-OP -- Bowling venues have always been great locations for coin machine operators. Today, as that industry goes through a major transition, catering more to casual players and less to hardcore leaguers, we have coverage of the Bowling Expo from both AAMA and Frank "The Crank" Sensinsky, plus a related story on a new concept from Brunswick Bowling. SOUNDING OFF ON SHOWS -- September's Operator Interface is a barometer reading of how the national trade shows and distributor open houses are valued and how perceptions of them may have changed over the years. PIER GAZING -- George Gordon, founder of Playland Arcade, is as much of an institution as the Santa Monica Pier on which he worked. RePlay looks back on the life and times of George, whose life story covers and is, in fact, indistinguishable from the narrative of Santa Monica's beachfront development. STRIKING IT RICH -- Brunswick Bowling's Build to Bowl program kicked into full gear over the past year, offering would-be ten-pin operators the ability to customize an entire facility with a turnkey package. Chris Albano, co-owner of Stars and Strikes Bowling, developed a Georgia center that features bowling along with a strong coin-op component. CONTINUING EDUCATION -- This month's report on class XII of the AMOA Notre Dame Management program focuses on how small, family businesses can best handle the transition of leadership from one generation to another, either in a crisis or as part of a planned retirement. ON THE HUNT -- Chicago area game developer PlayMechanix has just completed their latest Big Buck Hunter game, called Big Buck Pro. They will release the two-player video offering head-to-head competition through a partnership with Raw Thrills and Betson. SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS -- Jukebox maker Rowe has released a new version of the software that controls their line of Internet jukeboxes including the interface with the factory's AMI music network server. Among other new features, this software upgrade enhances music management and supports credit card transactions. FIT FOR A KING -- Pat Klasno's King Plush is a mega-supplier of plush, and his kingdom of satisfied customers stretches far and wide. Pat and fellow King Plush staffers offer valuable insight about what makes their product distinctive and what buyers can look forward to this fall. THE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS -- Global VR's newly-appointed chairman of the board Jim DeRose, who also serves as president and CEO, says he is putting the company back on track with solid fundamentals and a strong commitment to the future of the company and the coin-op industry.
VEGAS ON THE HORIZON -- The trade is already bracing for the one-two punch of AMOA and Fun Expos, set to open next month in Las Vegas. Catch our initial preview on these two important stops on the annual trade show calendar. STILL JUKIN'! If it's August, it's RePlay's annual jukebox special section with an up-close look at the music biz from the perspective of operators, manufacturers and even this month's cover story focus, Ecast Inc., the broadband music service for jukes. We also have a look at the current crop of jukeboxes as well as a profile on a unique video jukebox that is doing well in Canada. AMERICAN DREAM -- From its founding vision of furnishing inexpensive, reliable change machines to becoming a corporation with near ubiquitous product recognition, American Changer has shared its success with its clients. They also share their own details and some product tidbits with readers in August's Nuts & Bolts feature. YOUNG AND OLD -- In today's workplace, offices are populated with workers who run the gamut from so-called veterans whose births predate World War II to Generation Y staffers born in the '80s. Listen in on our latest coverage of the AMOA Notre Dame Program, as we delve into the nuances of managing workers from different generations. STATE SHOW SEASON -- Summer is the season for coin machine operators to gather for their annual state association meetings. They discuss the state of the biz and political hurdles past and future, elect officers, enjoy good food and fellowship, and often tee it up for a round of golf. This month, we have reports from Wisconsin and Minnesota. CAN YOU SPARE A NICKEL? After many years in the biz with notable accomplishments to his name, Jon Daugherty has devoted his energies of late to the concept of nickel arcades. The performance of NickelWorld locations have survived the test of time and continued to pay out. A COMBO MOVE -- Roxor Games and Andamiro have teamed up in an alliance that promises to usher in the next age of dance games. Its first model in a projected series is Pump It Up: In the Groove 2, a technological synthesis of the best that each company has to offer. START YOUR ENGINES -- Stern's new NASCAR Pinball, designed by Pat Lawlor and his team of creative engineers, features a playfield racetrack that encompasses the entire surface. The pin also sports a truck hauler that can launch a ball and a test toy car that the player can bang with the pinball. MORE RACING ACTION -- Global VR has driven its latest videogame, Need for Speed Underground, into arcades with new online tournaments. The game's heart-pumping capabilities have been knocking the socks off of even the most accomplished game racers, thanks to a design that makes it the next best thing to sitting in a Ferrari. INTERCARD'S INTERESTS -- The electronic debit systems firm has seen the popularity of its ultimate product soar. Giving greater efficiency to operators and customers alike, Intercard's One Card Solution tracks activity in multiple locations and provides convenience and various rewards.
LEGAL DANCE OFF -- Konami's lawsuit against Roxor Games over its In the Groove dance simulation has sparked much talk in the industry and analysis on Internet message boards by players. The president of Roxor, Jason Asbahr, responds to the charges. A REAL PLUS -- Kansas-based prize distributor Ron Hill revolutionized not only the quality of prizes but their ordering and distribution as well. Redemption Plus' philosophy of offering solutions for operators has created success stories for virtually everyone at all levels of business. An extended look at Redemption Plus is this month's inaugural Prize Patrol feature. THE FIRST 20 YEARS -- Incredible Technologies has made its mark on the industry with the world famous golf video Golden Tee, as well as other popular games. This month, the game factory celebrates its first 20 years, as they look forward to the future with their new, always-connected version of golf, Golden Tee Live. YOUR BIGGEST BEEF -- What is it? That's what we asked operators for this month's Interface question. Their answers were individual and unique, just like the personalities of the independent business people that make up the operating trade. VNEA SILVER ANNY TOURNEY -- The "Valley League" has grown like a Canadian pine since its inception back in 1980, and its quarter century anniversary was celebrated in grand style at its recent Las Vegas international pool playoff. We also have thoughts from league patriarch Chuck Milhem. BACKBONE OF THE INDUSTRY -- That's what Arizona route pro Jim Hall says of the American street operator in his impassioned Stepping Up and Speaking Out this month. Reacting to a story in our recent arcade issue about a pizza chain that took over its amusement operations, Hall says: "Do what you do best and leave the game operations to your local street operator." MORE HOMEWORK-- RePlay continues its series of reports on the ongoing AMOA Notre Dame Management Program, Class XII, with a look at strategic positioning and how this kind of analytical approach can help you outdistance the competition. A WINNING COMBINATION -- Andamiro USA's new Winning Shot, a smaller version of Real Shooting, challenges players to use their shooting skills to win prizes, either directly or through a unique key-based bulk vending hardware attachment. A HYBRID SOLUTION -- Namco's newest version of Flamin' Finger is called the Hybrid because it offers both tickets and a merchandise prize vending unit for the player that conquers the game's maze. The game combines both tickets every time and high-end prizes for the best performances. KEEP ON ROCKIN' -- Rock-Ola may have gone digital with their line of Ecast-powered jukeboxes, but they haven't forgotten their roots. They are shipping a new CD floor model. The CD-9000-PV comes with a Peavey sound system (1080 Watts of true RMS Power) and vivid new graphics package. GET IN THE ACTION -- Brand new mixes with bodacious prize assortments have been released north of the border from ActionMatic. Details about these hot new mixes are discussed by the capsule maker and distributor's sales manager, Greg McPhail.
REMEMBERING STEVE -- Around 50 tradesters gathered in early May to honor the memory of Steve Blattspieler, who passed away earlier this spring of cancer. The memorial took place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago, and RePlay was there to record the event for posterity. A CLASS ACT -- Chicago distributor Fred Skor, who retired earlier this year after more than 55 years in the business, tells how he got his start with World Wide in '49, working his way up the ladder and ultimately buying the company, which he just sold to longtime competitor American Vending Sales. TOURNAMENTS, ANYONE? Online tournaments remain a hot topic when it comes to pay-for-play video, and RePlay contributor Kevin Williams turns his keen analysis to a closer look at how they came to be and where there may be goi