
News Digest, Hot Off the Press, Current Issue, Previous Headlines
PINBALL SALES AND ELAUT USA ANNOUNCE MERGER
(posted Friday, October 3, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Industry veteran and RePlay columnist “Jersey Jack” Guarnieri has taken his PinballSales.com company, founded in 1999, and merged it into one of the nation’s biggest operating companies, Elaut USA, Inc, formerly Monduce, Inc. Elaut USA President Neal Rosenberg spearheaded the merger, which has been in the works for the past six months. Monduce toppers Eric Verstraeten and his family, who own Elaut in Belgium, began the process of looking for a new CEO more than a year ago. As part of the bargain, they got a chief executive and a new partner.
The new combined company will now be known as Elaut USA. Guarnieri is now an equity owner of the company as well as its CEO. In the next year, the company expects to have combined sales in excess of $16 million with a finger in every segment of the industry as a manufacturer, operator, distributor, service company and consumer enterprise selling through the www.PinballSales.com website, which averages 2,300 unique visits a day.
Guarnieri has been closely involved in Monduce as an unpaid consultant since June, but he has been familiar with Monduce operations and its people since 1997 when he was at Mondial, then parent company of Monduce. “This is a natural fit for both companies,” he said. “PinballSales.com has a revenue stream that evens out the seasonal aspect of location operations.”
The move, according to the company, gives the new business entity a leader with a vision for the future not just in operating but in continuing to grow profits and building a distribution network for the proud Elaut line of products in the U.S. “Our buying power is about $5 million dollars worth of amusement product in just the next year alone” continued Guarnieri. “There are some very exciting opportunities ahead for us and we intend to capitalize on current market conditions to our advantage. We are very optimistic and we will make our own luck. We have very dedicated people in the company and the harder we work, the luckier we will get.”
Elaut USA will introduce new product at this fall’s IAAPA, booth 1208. Guarnieri can be reached via email at Jack@ElautUSA.com, or Jack@PinballSales.com.
HOLLYWOOD REELS AVAILABLE AT 0% FINANCING
(posted Friday, October 3, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Firestone Financial Corp. has partnered with Betson Enterprises and Jennison Entertainment Technologies on a no-interest finance promotion on the Hollywood Reels redemption game. Designed by Jennison, Hollywood Reels is a fast-paced, two-player coin roll-down with two independent-operator adjusted bonuses. “With many months of solid collections and a great finance program, Jennison Technologies has developed a must game for all redemption locations,” said Rick Kirby, president of Betson.
Two finance options are available through Firestone: 0% APR for 12 months or 4.99% for 24 months. This offer is good until November 30 so call 201/438-1300, ext. 3318 or ext, 3319, to find your local authorized Betson distributor now. All applicable taxes, freight and a $200 filing fee are due up front. For more finance information, contact Firestone at 800/851-1001.
GET YOUR PIECE OF HOLLYWOOD
(posted Friday, October 3, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Bay Tek Games has announced a closeout special on the remaining stock of its branded prize merchandiser, American Idol Super Star. Quantity discounting is available. These games are brand new, carry a full six-month warranty, bear the popular American Idol brand, and uphold the Bay Tek quality. “This is a good, quality game and at $2,995, the ROI should fit many operators’ business models,” said Rick Rochetti, director of sales and marketing for Bay Tek Games.
American Idol Super Star is a fun, addicting light pattern game that brings the popular show to any location. Players press the stop button to light five stars in a row for a minor prize, or they can choose to play on for a super prize. The super prize is won by lighting up five more stars as the difficulty increases. For more information on the attractive closeout, contact Bay Tek Games at 920-822-3951 or visit them online at www.baytekgames.com.
WIENER OFFERS 0% ON APPLE PHOTO BOOTHS
(posted Friday, October 3, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Weiner Distributing is offering Apple Face Place photo booths through October 15 at 0% financing for one year. To accompany this financing, Weiner will include four free rolls of film with machine purchase. The first payment must be made within 30 days of initial contract funding. All shipping costs must be paid in full, up front. Weiner also requires a documentation fee, which is included in the freight charges. All customers are subject to approval by Firestone Financial Corp.
BLOG TOPIC: THE PROMISE OF ADVERTISING
(posted Wednesday, October 1, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
RePlay has a hot new topic on our blog site – what promise does advertising hold for operators? Several major players in the game and jukebox sectors are moving boldly into the age of advertising with interactive ads on touchscreens, digital jukeboxes and now separate but connected broadcast systems. We want to hear what operators think about these dramatic developments. Go to our blog at
http://replaymag.blogspot.com and sound off on this latest industry trend.
Previous Instant RePlay Items
...for on-line news, check the pages from News Digest, Hot Off the Press, etc. at our site, accessible through the Current Issue page. Watch this page for news postings on a frequent and regular basis in between magazine editions.
All contents of this page and the entire RePlay Magazine website at http://www.replaymag.com and http://www.replaymagazine.com Copyright 2008 RePlay Magazine. All rights reserved.
See what's in RePlay Magazine's Current Issue.
to get a quick look at what's found at our website, go RePlay Magazine!
Write or call RePlay Magazine at: P.O. Box 7004, Tarzana, CA 91357;
(shipping address is 18757 Burbank Blvd., Tarzana, CA 91356)
Phone: 818/776-2880 Fax: 818-776-2888
All contents of this page and the entire RePlay Magazine website at http://www.replaymag.com and http://www.replaymagazine.com Copyright 2008
Previous Instant RePlay Items
BETSON PROMOTES SCOTT GILMORE TO
AMUSEMENT AND REDEMPTION SPECIALIST
(posted Wednesday, October 1, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Betson Enterprises recently promoted Scott Gilmore to
the new role of Amusement and Redemption Specialist. This newly created
position will see Gilmore working with new and existing FECs, bowling
centers and skating facilities as well as daily interaction and
guidance with the other 11 Betson sales offices. His responsibilities
will be assisting facilities with layouts, income projection,
feasibility studies and product selection.
Gilmore joined the company in 2002 as a sales representative and
has proven to be a valuable asset to his customers, Betson and the
industry, the company said. He is a longtime member of the amusement
and vending industry with roots in the business as far back as 1980.
“We are excited to have Scott as our new Amusement & Redemption
Specialist,” said Betson President Rick Kirby. “Scott brings with him a
rich background in the amusement sales and service industry. His
professionalism, drive and dedication will help him excel and succeed
in this new position.”
Gilmore can be contacted by phone at 201/438-1300, ext. 3370, or by email at
sgilmore@betson.com. Members of the industry can also meet with him at the IAAPA show, booth 814, in Orlando, Fla., on Nov 18-21.
VALLEY DYNAMO OFFERS FALL PROMOTION
(posted Wednesday, October 1, 2008 -- 5:30 p.m.)
Valley Dynamo is offering a fall special on its
Great Eight Pool Table;
the deal is good through October 24. Operators who buy seven tables
will get an eighth for free; or they can access 0% Firestone financing
with a $15,000 purchase including a minimum of three
Great Eight
tables with no payment for 90 days. A second financing option is
available for the same purchase at 4.9% for 30 months, with no payment
for 30 days. To learn more, call 800/248-2837.
INTERNATIONAL BIZ NOT ALL BAD
(posted Monday, September 29, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
LAI Games games topper Malcolm Steinberg, whose
amusement empire includes manufacturing and game sales as well as
extensive operation across the Pacific Rim region, told RePlay that
business outside of the U.S. is not as constrained. Both game sales and
operations are doing well internationally, he added. “We’re in an
industry driven by fashion,” he said. “You can do well, even against a
tough economy, if you have the product that people want, provided that
you’re offering good value too.”
NEW GAMES COMING FROM RAW THRILLS
(posted Monday, September 29, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
Raw Thrills, the video game maker behind hits like The Fast and the Furious, Big Buck Hunter Pro and the most recent Nicktoons Nitro,
says it will have two new games at November's IAAPA. The development
house also expects to release as many as five new titles in 2009. All
of this effort is a result of a considerable annual development budget
and the diligent effort of as many as 70 game creators, all under the
Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix umbrella. Of note, the company has moved
into a new development center in Skokie, IL, near Chicago. Raw Thrills
Andy Eloff told RePlay that there is significant opportunity to
create new games for the U.S. market, particularly as the Japanese
companies that used to dominate the video scene have faded.
NAMCO AMERICA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS
(posted Friday, September 26, 2008 -- 6:30 p.m.)
Namco America is
launching a new Product Strategy Department. The group’s mission is to
create and promote new products for the world amusement market. “By
increasing American development and research activities and by
strengthening the partnerships we already have in place, this group
will drive the future of Namco America’s product lineup,” said Frank
Cosentino, who will head the initiative. Cosentino has been part of
Namco for 17 years, most recently as senior VP of Sales and Marketing.
In his 27 years in coin-op he has worked in technical services, sales,
marketing and product development for both the distribution and
manufacturing sectors of the industry. As Sr. VP of Product Strategy,
his experience and love of the coin-op industry will shape Namco
America's new product direction.
As part of this development, industry veteran Mehdi Eghbal is
joining the Namco America team as Sr. VP of Sales. Mehdi brings with
him 11 years of coin-op sales and sales management experience, most
recently running Too Fun Inc., a sales and consulting firm specializing
in sales for international markets. His years of leading sales at
Interactive Light, Tsunami and Global VR will serve him well at Namco.
“His great reputation and integrity make him the perfect fit for the
Namco America organization. Mehdi is an outstanding addition to our
organization,” said Frank Cosentino. “Having Mehdi to pass the sales
baton to makes focusing on the future that much easier.” Namco America
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holding Corp.
SEGA IS LOADED AND READY FOR ACTION WITH RAMBO
(posted Friday, September 26, 2008 -- 6:30 p.m.)
Sega Amusements is now shipping their new shooter, Rambo,
following good initial test results. In fact, the game ranked in the
top two with a national FEC chain even in prototype form, before it was
completed; now it’s coming in at number one in those locations,
reported factory sales topper Ron Malinowski. “Ghost Squad (also from Sega) really set the bar, but this game is taking it up another notch,” Ron told RePlay.
“This is a beautiful game with great packaging and exciting play
action.” The two-player shooter takes it cue from the first three of
the popular Rambo films, including First Blood, Rambo, First Blood Part 2 and Rambo 3.
Features include realistic machine gun fire, a rage meter, enemy attack
gauge and gun recoil. The game is available in two configurations, a
56" DLP monitor deluxe, which is currently shipping, and a standard 32"
LCD monitor version, which will hit the market in early October.
NDA LAUNCHES LIVE WEBINAR SERIES
(posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008 -- 4:30 p.m.)
The National Dart Association is rolling out a new
initiative that will help NDA charter holder members continue to thrive
in changing market conditions. NDA is providing educational and
training webinars (live online seminars) to help members build
solutions to every hurdle in their coin-op business, including league
coordinator training, marketing services and customer retention as well
as to better acquaint members with NDA programs and services. Some
webinars will be recorded and available online for NDA members who
cannot participate in the live sessions.
The first webinar, New Member Orientation, is scheduled for October
2; it is a chance for new members to learn about the NDA’s programs and
services. The instructional seminars are free, and the business
education webinars are an affordable $25. All Webinars will take place
from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. The first five attendees to sign
up online at www.ndadarts.com for the October Webinars will receive a
free Official NDA Rulebook and NDA Foul Line. Charter holders members
and their representatives must pre-register for all webinars. To learn
more or get the full fall line-up of webinars, call NDA at
800-808-9884, ext. 202, or visit the NDA website at www.ndadarts.com.
GOLDEN TEE TOURNEY MAKES HISTORY
(posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008 -- 9:30 a.m.)
The 2008 Golden Tee World
Championship held the weekend of September 12-13 was the largest live
video golf tournament ever conducted, and when the smoke cleared Team
USA retained the World Championship Cup, and Andy Haas of Stow Ohio was
crowned the new world champion.
Last week’s Ryder Cup win by the U.S. was surprising – especially since Tiger wasn’t competing -- but when it comes to the Golden Tee
Worlds, Team USA has been the dominant force with the Americans holding
a 3-1-1 edge entering the competition. The World Team was comprised of
players from around the globe: one Brit, three Aussies and two South
Africans joined six Canadians. Last year’s tournament ended in a draw
and hopes were high that the international squad would win the Cup
outright. But the 12 Americans had something else in mind and when the
dust settled it was a bona fide blow out with the Yanks winning the Cup
32-16.
“All our guys played great and I think we overwhelmed them a bit in
the alternating-hole first round match when we swept them,” said Graig
Kinzler, captain of Team USA. “This team was by far one of our
strongest ever. We played well.”
In the singles world championship that followed, over $100,000 was
on the line with the champ earning the largest single cash prize in
video golf history – $20,000. The Golden Tee Worlds is an open
championship, and as usual the professional players dominated the
leaderboards with Chris Litzinger of Cincinnati topping the field in
the 5-course qualifier. Litzinger, who finished 5-0 a day earlier as a
Team USA member, smoked the field by an incredible 5 strokes in the
qualifier.
Other pros who challenged Litzinger during the qualifier were Ryan
McCook of Jacksonville Florida, Andy Haas of Stow Ohio and Chris
Thorbrogger of Minneapolis. Defending champion Graig Kinzler of
Chicago was also lurking.
The final four consisted of
Litzinger, Thorbrogger and Haas along with Ramsey Thomas of
Minneapolis. Thomas, though an accomplished player, had never made it
this far in a major tournament before and found himself in a tough
foursome. In the first round, Haas shattered Thomas’ Cinderella dreams
and Thorbrogger derailed the Litzinger express. In the final, the
veteran Haas dispatched the up-and-comer Thorbrogger in two straight
games in the best-of-three format.
“I can’t believe that I’ve finally won this championship,” Haas
said. “This is my fifth attempt and I started thinking I’d never win
it. It’s a great feeling!”
SINGING THE PRAISES OF AMOA'S NOTRE DAME PROGRAM
(posted Monday, September 21, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
[Editor’s Note: The following is an editorial
about the AMOA Management Development Program at the University of
Notre Dame, authored by one of its alumni advocates, Phil Juckem of All
Brands Vending in Tampa, Fla.]
OPPORTUNITY
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : a favorable juncture of circumstances 2 : a good chance for advancement or progress
Do you love your business? Does it put food on the
table of your family and employees? Does it afford you the opportunity
to hope, to enjoy, to plan for a tomorrow, to make friends, to share
life’s experiences?
How do you care for this life opportunity, your business? Do you
practice wise stewardship of resources? Do you strive to be the best
that you can be? Do you remain aware of your surroundings, of change
taking place? Do you do enough and are you inquisitive enough to feed
what is effectively your life’s work and reap rewards?
How?
Let me help. If I told you that you could grow as a person, as a
business owner, and help cement the future of your family and business,
would you want to know how? What if I told you I could help you with
employees, insurance, finances, law, salesmanship, marketing, planning,
and communicating? And I can guarantee you at least five new friends
that share your cares and concerns, that share your hopes and dreams
and needs, and aren’t likely to compete with you in the process?
Could you spare a little of your time? You know, take time away
from making repairs, from fretting about this customer or that piece of
hardware, escape from your 24/7 routine and invest a long weekend in
yourself, your business and your future?
For the last 25 years, operators, distributors and manufacturers
have been answering that question with “Yes, I can.” They’ve taken the
plunge and signed up to be a student of The AMOA Management Program at
the University of Notre Dame. They have done so willingly and
bravely. And none regret their decision!
On October 17, 2008, the next class of very special coin machine people meet for their first session. Will you be one of them?
Oh, I know. You’re too busy; it’s too far away or too time consuming or too expensive.
Hogwash.
You get out of bed early on a Friday, and you’re back home on
Monday night. Admit it, you really can do that twice in a year.
Distance? Name your poison: Delta, United, Northwest, Continental, not
to mention Interstate 80 for you four-wheeler types.
My business needs me, you say. Baloney! The most important thing
your business needs is for you to become a broader, better-informed,
more thoughtful individual. And cost? Well, what you spend on this
program in a year won’t buy you even one new machine!
So the time is now. Are you willing to join the over 300 coin op
professionals before you who wanted to take themselves to next level?
Do you have a driving desire to step up to the plate and become a part
of our industry, to make friends and share? Pick up the phone and
start talking. To sign up, call Lori at 800-937-2662 and get the
forms. It’s not too late.
AMOA Class XIV gets underway Friday, October 17, 2008 at 3PM on the university’s South Bend, Ind., campus.
JVL’S ENCORE OFFERS GAMES IN HD AND MUSIC
(posted Friday, September 19, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
At last week’s AMOA Expo, JVL Corp. made headlines by unveiling the
Encore countertop, a high-definition (HD) touchscreen offering games and streaming digital music. “
Encore
is a natural evolution for us,” said CEO Peter Guterres. “We have
dedicated our resources to developing a countertop unit that delivers a
truly unique experience for players. Players can now enjoy JVL games on
a high-definition countertop delivering true HD and music on one
device. To continue our tradition of strong earnings and low service
requirements, we are employing some of the latest technology in the
Encore.”
Encore features a 22” LCD display, a glossy piano black
finish with red accents, 3D games and an all-new graphical user
interface (GUI). Players flip through JVL’s entertainment selections
via interactive carousels with the touch of a finger; navigating
through the interface is now part of the experience.
The new JVL Media Stream is a digital streaming music system where
location patrons can select favorite songs from a library of millions
of tracks. Songs can be selected either through the Encore countertop
via a text message from a mobile phone or from a smart phone connecting
online.
“This new digital music system breaks new ground in entertainment
affordability,” added Guterres. “It is the perfect solution for
generating higher returns at a fraction of the cost of a traditional
digital downloading system.” The
Encore will ship this month; streaming music will become part of the
Encore package in the first quarter of 2009.
NSM AND ECAST RENEW AGREEMENT
(posted Friday, September 19, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
NSM and Ecast have signed an agreement that extends NSM
manufacturing rights for digital jukeboxes operated on the Ecast music
and interactive advertising platform. NSM’s patented
Icon
range of digital jukeboxes has been exclusively used on the Ecast
platform since 2003. The new agreement marks a commitment from both
parties to continue working as close partners in the coin-op industry.
NSM’s CEO G.S. Sanghera said, “We are pleased with our new
agreement, and we look forward to supporting Ecast in the coming years
in what is an exciting market. NSM’s
Icon range of digital
jukeboxes is recognized internationally, and we see our presence in the
U.S. market as a key driver for our global presence. We have now sold
over 3,000 Icon units over the past two years, and demand for our
products is good.”
CORE CASHLESS SECURES 150 SITES
(posted Friday, September 19, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
CORE Cashless recently announced its 150th site enrollment for the
CORE System Support Plan during its first year of operation. This
milestone was reached with CORE’s deployment at American Adventures at
Six Flags’ White Water in Atlanta operated by Zuma Holdings. “We
deployed our software on the site’s existing hardware, creating a
low-cost solution for this lovely arcade and kiddie park,” said Kristi
Noyes, senior project manager for CORE Cashless.
American Adventures uses a small complement of CORE’s software
features, including online party booking, employee time-keeping,
redemption and inventory management, and ticketing for the rides and
attractions in the park. Unlike many of CORE’s other clients, this
location does not feature a cashless arcade, though the token vendors
are monitored by the system. “CORE met our needs within our budget and
an extremely tight timeframe,” says David Dolotta, Zuma VP of Games.
This site joins other CORE-supported sites in North America, South
America and Australia. The CORE Cashless System provides remote
monitoring and access by a site’s owner as well as CORE’s team. CORE
Cashless has its U.S. headquarters in Lenexa, Kan. (a suburb of Kansas
City), with offices in New York, Dallas and Atlanta. For further
information, contact CORE at
sales@corecashless.com or 913/529-8200
.
MAWDSLEY TAKES ON ROLE AS AMOA PRESIDENT
(posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
Russell Mawdsley of Russell-Hall in Holyoke, MA,
became AMOA’s new president last week when the group held their annual
expo in Las Vegas. He takes over from outgoing president Lloyd
Williamson of Minnesota. (Both are pictured here.) In his acceptance
speech, Mawdsley drew parallels to 35 years ago, when an unpopular war,
slumping economy and presidential election dominated the national
conversation and another Russell Mawdsley, his dad, assumed the AMOA
presidency.
“I hope I do as well as he did in leading the AMOA,” said Mawdsley
whose father and mother Gertrude were in the audience. “We have the
most creative and talented people in the industry today than we’ve ever
had, and it’s up to us as operators to use them.”
Speaking on behalf of the 2008-2009 executive board, comprising
first VP Gary Brewer, treasurer Donovan Fremin and secretary Andy
Shaffer, Mawdsley challenged operators to get more involved in the
industry and communicate more openly. “I’m here to serve you as
president,” he said. “We like to hear from you and want your
participation. Please feel free to contact me through our office or
directly. Don’t hesitate to call.”
At its annual memebership meeting, AMOA also announced its new
slate of directors with terms expiring in 2011. They are: Dale Balzano
of Hoops Unlimited in Carlsbad, N.M.; Larry Bershtein of Capitol
Amusement, Laurel, Md.; Tim Carson, Amusement Services, Billings,
Mont.; Steven Fritz, Staff Music & Amusements, Hanover, Pa.; Vince
Gumma, American Vending Sales, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Scott John,
Amuse O Matic, Fredrick, Md.; Donivan Molitor, Donivan’s Vending
Service, Eau Claire, Wis.; Keith Myrmoe, Great Amusement, Sioux Falls,
S.D.; Anthony Sparachane, Wheeling Coin, Wheeling, W.V.; and Terry
Moss, Moss Distributing, Des Moines. Moss was nominated during the
meeting and received 15 supporting votes to secure his place.
Various board members issued reports on the state of the
association during the meeting, and incoming First VP Gary Brewer
declared the AMOA was in healthy financial standing with over $3.5
million in the bank and in reserve accounts. Look for more on AMOA’s
expo in Vegas, plus an interview with Mawdsley, in the October issue of
RePlay.
FAMILY FUN CO. OFFERS NO-SHOW SPECIAL
(posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
Even though they didn’t go to AMOA, Family Fun Companies still wanted
to pass on a show season special to their customers. For all new orders
placed through September 30, 2008 (shipment to your distributor must
take place by October 15, 2008), the buyer will receive an instant
discount of $500 on a
Pharaoh’s Treasure (four-player pusher) and all Fortune Games (
Basket Fortune,
Football Fortune and
Soccer Fortune). This offer is for new orders only.
The firm will be exhibiting at the IAAPA Show in Orland, FL, this November. They plan to show five new games including
Snork,
Pee Wee Basketball,
Wonder Ball,
Rappin’ Ballin’ and Chutes and Ladders. To learn more, contact Lisa Chapman at 920/491-9453 or Jim Chapman at 920/497-6991.
CENTURY CLUB TAKES ON PR ISSUE
(posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 -- 5 p.m.)
You need at least 25 years of coin-op experience to belong to the
Century Club, but sometimes you also need an ax to grind if you want to
put some spice into a club meeting.
During their Expo get-together in Las Vegas, the prime subject was
industry PR, or rather, the lack of it. After recognizing the passing
of icon Marty Bromley, Rowe vet Joel Friedman rolled out the first
ball, saying: “We never cut out any money to promote this business.
Now, nobody on the public level knows about us. Instead of funding a
program we spend time arguing how much to charge for a song on a
digital box.”
Pinball maven and licensing pro Roger Sharpe took up the theme,
delivering an impassioned speech about the need for publicity. Like
Friedman, he sees a direct link between good PR and improved
collections in the national cash box. Look for more on this topic from
Sharpe in a future issue, not to mention more on the Century Club
meeting in the October RePlay.
AMOA AND FUN EXPOS SHINE IN LAS VEGAS
(revised Monday, September 15, 2008 -- 11:30 a.m.)
The
2008 AMOA Expo, which ran September 10-12 at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, surprised and delighted most attendees looking respectively for
customers and good new product. Figures
indicated that buyer numbers were only marginally off from the previous
year with over 1,700 in attendance versus about 1,880 in 2007. Total
attendance spiked to just over 3,000, which compares with a number just
under 4,000 at last year's show, meaning that exhibitors brought
significantly fewer people to the show. "Most shows are down 20% to
25%," noted Brian Glasgow of tradeshow organizer W. T. Glasgow.
"However, the AMOA members have come out in full support during these
hard times." IALEI recorded a total, and separate, Fun Expo attendance of 1,155.
Responding to a rumor that his association and
the AAMA manufacturer group had finally reached an agreeement to
combine their shows, AMOA's outgoing chief Lloyd Williamson went on the
record to say nothing conclusive had been approved during the show but
that discussions are continuing. As such, next fall's 2009 AMOA Expo
will take place as scheduled, September 24-26 again at the Las Vegas
Convention Center. The spring ASI show runs March 11-13 at the same
venue.
Despite many predictions to the contrary, the
event scored in all departments: new equipment displayed, quality of
attendance and (perhaps because it was AMOA’s 60th anniversary) a
welcome enthusiasm on and off the show floor. All of the exhibitors
RePlay quizzed said they did good business at this year’s outing. “It’s
not the population, but the quality of that population, that counts,”
said Medalist’s Lee Peppard. “The show was excellent for us,” added
Sondra Doyle of Sureshot Redemption. “Our booth was jam packed with
customers the first day and for about half of the second.” Said
Valley-Dynamo chief David Tomizuka at noon of Expo's first day, "We've
had a good morning and I hope the action continues."
Convergence of music, games and advertising
dominated Expo product headlines with a number of major partnership
announcements. In fact, a jukebox market that many expected to
consolidate has actually seen the emergence of two new hardware
suppliers. The most dramatic news from the traditional jukebox sector
came from Rock-Ola, which will now connect its digital
jukebox line-up to Rowe's AMI broadband music service instead of Ecast's. In another
surprise move, touchscreen game maker JVL has jumped into the music
fray with their new Encore
game machine, which features a 22" HD touchscreen with enhanced sound
and visuals. Starting next year, location patrons will be able to
choose from a large category of music at the multi-game terminal; that song
will in turn be streamed from their central server to the location's
in-house sound system.
AMI also announced a deal to work with
the on location advertising and content network TAP TV. That followed
earlier news that digital juke maker TouchTunes will add the on
location advertising and promotion network Barfly to its stable of
music, games (PlayPorTT) and
advertising. For their part, the music provider at Ecast, which used to
serve Rock-Ola units in the field, will continue to work with NSM and
Wurlitzer, but they also unveiled their own new interactive jukebox the EQ, which combines music and interactive social networking and advertising capabilities.
Thanks to an intermingling of both AMOA and Fun
Expo exhibit booths arranged along wider aisles and adjoining the Gift
Show, the visual appearance looked broad and grand. Solid new guns
and/or drivers (e.g. at Betson, Global and Sega) joined a smattering of
new ticket games, touchscreens and novelties (e.g. new air hockeys from
Valley-Dynamo). However, the
absence of a handful of major redemption game manufacturers, and the
noticeably reduced booth properties of others, remained a hot topic for
exhibitors and attendees alike, as well as calls for a one-show
co-location with ASI.
At
the annual AMOA membership breakfast, the association's 60th
anniversary was commemorated and association business conducted,
including the naming of the 2011 director class and the introduction of
the 2008-2009 president, Russ Mawdsley of Russell Hall. Innovator
Awards were also announced. This year's honors went to Ecast for EQ, their latest digital jukebox with greater interactivity; Incredible Technologies, Golden Tee Live 2009; TouchTunes, PlayPorTT, the much-discussed portable entertainment device; and TrioTech Amusement, UFO Stomper, a dance pad attraction.
A
slate of seminars from both the AMOA and IALEI-sponsored Fun Academy
attracted plenty of interested bodies off the show floor. The strongest turnout was for two past AMOA presidents, Jim
Pietrangelo's seminar on website development and Frank Seninsky on redemption, both of which attracted about 90 listeners,
while others drew between 30 and 40. On
Thursday evening, AMOA held a special dinner for its board and past
presidents to celebrate the association's 60th anniversary. The show
concludes today. Look for full coverage of the show in the upcoming
October issue of RePlay Magazine.
MARTY BROMLEY IS GONE
(posted Monday, September 15, 2008 -- 11 a.m.)
Industry legend Marty Bromley, the savvy
tradester who started the Service Games (SEGA) route in Hawaii in the
'40s, died September 6 at his home in Zurich at age 89. Bromley, who
was recognized with the very first AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award as
well as many other industry accolades, is the father of U.S. game
manufacturer Lauran Bromley. His input was vital to the creation of
some of Bromley Inc.'s earliest hit games.
The route founded by Bromley along with several partners, including
Dick Stewart, Ray Lamaire and Scott Dodderer, which began in Hawaii and
stretched across the Pacific Islands to Japan, evolved into
manufacturing and distributing for that region. It was the seed for
what later became Sega Enterprises when another partner, Dave Rosen,
joined the business through a merger with his import company Rosen
Enterprises.
"Marty Bromley was one of the most successful people in the history of the coin machine business," said RePlay
Publisher Ed Adlum. "He was worldwide, and there was a legend that he
had three offices around the globe, all decorated exactly the same with
matching furniture and decor so he always felt at home. Altough he had
numerous businesses over the years, like Spain's Segasa pinball plant,
at his death he was concentrating principally on only two: his Family
Leisure U.K. arcade chain and his Guam Music route down in the South
Pacific."
Funeral services were held at Hillside
Cemetery in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 14, 10 AM, where fellow
tradesters Al Bettlemann (C.A. Robinson) and Mike Kogan (Taito) are
also buried. Among the nearly 100 mourners at the Hillside chapel
service were a number of industry people, including Gary Stern,
Satinder Bhutani, Marty's former and present partners Dave Rosen and
Dick Stewart, former Taito U.S. chief Eddie Miller, Malcolm Steinberg,
Leah, Ira and Sandy Bettelman, Ken Anderson, Ed Adlum and Frank
Ballouz. Among his extended family survivors present were daughters
Dale, Bryan and Lauran. More about the late industry icon will appear
in the next issue of RePlay.
JACK SILVEREST DIES AT EXPO
(posted Friday, September 12, 2008 -- 2:52 p.m.)
Without doubt, the saddest moment at the AMOA show happened just before
the opening bell Friday morning when Rowe’s Midwest sales manager Jack
Silverest. 61, lost consciousness and pitched forward onto the exhibit
floor from a massive heart attack. Despite heroic efforts by fellow
workers, Convention Center personnel and, when they showed up, Las
Vegas paramedics, he could not be saved.
A veteran of J&J and Shaffer Distributing’s St.
Louis offices, Jack’s death numbed all who knew him. It fell to Rowe
sales topper John Margold to make the call to Jack’s wife Deborah to
say her husband was gone. Jack made many friends over the decades he
sold jukeboxes and games, among them Merit’s Jim Hall. “I had a drink
with him last night and coffee with him this morning where we talked
about his new granddaughter,” Jim told RePlay shortly after
Jack’s body was removed from the convention hall. “He was a great
coin-op guy, smart, dedicated and friendly. I can’t believe this. There
will be a lot of people besides myself who will miss him,” Jim added.
Silverest, who hailed from Utica, MI, served one tour of duty in
the U.S. Army after high school before working as a silk-screen
printer. He started his coin-op career in 1976 when he joined Ramtek in
California. His next position was as a branch manager for Rowe in
Nashville. Then he joined J & J in St. Louis, where he ran the
office.
In 2004, he joined Rowe International as Midwest Regional Sales
Manager. “At Rowe, Jack was the top sales person due to his great work
ethic, deep industry knowledge, engaging personality and never quit
attitude,” said Margold. “The people at Rowe looked at him as a
leader. People sought his advice and he was always willing to share
ideas and was happy to help everyone.”
Jack married his wife Deborah on Valentine's Day in 1975. He is
also survived by daughters Donna and Nicole and two grandchildren, Kyle
(11) and Nora (4 months). He enjoyed golf and fishing, but his true
passions were family and the study of history. His next vacation was a
planned trip to colonial Williamsburg, Va., in the spring. Memorial
services will be held Friday, Oct. 3 at the Laughlin Funeral Home in
Troy, IL. There will be an opportunity for people to say a few words.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart
Association through the funeral home. The address there is 205
Edwardsville Road, Troy, IL 62294.
APPLE DEBUTS NEW ONYX PHOTO BOOTH
(posted Monday, September 7, 2008 -- 7:45AM)
Tapping
into growing interest in retro-style photo booths, Apple Industries of
New York, will introduce its newest photo booth dubbed the Onyx at the upcoming AMOA show in Las Vegas in booth 656. The Onyx features a stark black metallic cabinet with custom interior painting
in gray and white. Its exterior cabinet boasts a custom made decal in
a plush, curly-cue design accented with black and white strip photos.
The Onyx also includes a
retro-looking header that spells out the word "Photographs." The
header is double-sided, black and white in color, and lit from the
inside.
"What's nice about our header," said Apple sales
topper Mel LaForce, "is that it can be seen from a distance and when
positioned on top of the photo booth it gives you the illusion of the
old-fashioned chemical booths that were popular for years in malls and
arcades."
Like all of Apple's Digital Centre's New Generation photo booth line, the Onyx
includes three software programs - Photo ID (black and white and color
strips), Photo Fun (unique borders and backgrounds) and Fashion ID
(faces on dramatic hair styles). Everybody get double sets of strips
that have the clarity of a top notch dye-sublimation printing system.
Printing time is roughly 15-seconds and the cost of supplies is only
59-cents per person. To learn more, visit www.appleindustries.net.
LAI DEBUTS NEW STACKER & PUTS A STOP TO COPIES
(posted Monday, September 7, 2008 -- 7:45AM)
LAI Games says it will debut a new game called Stack 'Em Up this
week at International Expo, September 10 - 12 at the Las Vegas
Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The new game will be displayed in booth 256. Stack 'Em Up includes the same game play as the original Stacker,
but now dispenses a one-inch capsule as the minor prize. "By replacing
the minor prize arms with a one-inch capsule dispenser we're making it
faster and easier to restock the game," said LAI Regional Sales Manager
Chad Hughes. The feature also makes it possible for operators to offer
lower priced merchandise and increase the option for minor prizes.
In
other LAI news, the company recently concluded legal proceedings with
an unnamed Australian firm that reportedly imported 68 unauthorized
copies of Stacker. In an out
of court settlement, it was agreed that all offending units would be
removed from locations, turned over to LAI and destroyed. Other
settlement terms remain confidential.
ELAUT COMPLETES MONDUCE ACQUISITION
(posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- 4PM)
In phase two of its expansion into the
U.S. market and as part of a contractual agreement dating back over
three years, Elaut, the Belgium based crane manufacturer, has
successfully completed the purchase of the remaining interest of Bruce
Kawut in Monduce, the company that Bruce co-founded with Mondial
International in 1975.
“We wish Bruce and his family continued good health and happiness
in the future,” said Monduce president Neal Rosenberg, a long-time
friend of Kawut. “We would also like to thank Bruce for all his
innovative ideas and for setting in place such a solid foundation on
which Monduce currently operates. Bruce being such a well known
industry figure with so much boundless energy and showing no signs of
slowing down right now, it was pretty easy to get him to agree to
continue working with Monduce by accepting the position of general
manager."
In connection with this announcement, the company is in the process
of changing its name from Monduce to Elaut USA and in doing so will
combine its sales, service, operating and administration entities under
one roof in Edison, New Jersey. From what we hear there’s a lot more
coming from Elaut so stay tuned. “Phase three is just around the
corner,” Rosenberg added.
AMOA MEMBERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW WEBSITE PROGRAM
(posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- 4PM)
To help its members have a presence on the
World Wide Web, the Amusement & Music Operators Association
recently launched a new service that creates websites at a fraction of
the prevailing cost. It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s inexpensive. The
list of firms that has utilized this service is expanding, and during
next week’s AMOA Expo in Las Vegas, a session designed to demonstrate
the value and the process will be conducted.
Set for 2-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, the session will be
lead by Jim Pietrangelo, an AMOA Past President with more than 25 years
of industry experience who now owns a web management and Web site
design firm. The first 50 firms who register for the session will have
the $50 development fee waived as part of a special offering from the
association’s Industry Promotion Committee. If you
plan on attending Expo and want to take advantage of this special
offer, contact AMOA at 800-937-2662.
The only fees associated with this program will be a $100 annual
renewal/maintenance fee to be effective on the anniversary date of a
member’s website going live.
Using a template that was created in the developmental phase of the
project, participating members will receive—in a matter of days, not
weeks or months—a website address, along with a series of pages that
will contain information on the member’s company, equipment and
services.
“It’s an incredible deal and was simple to do,” said AMOA President
Lloyd Williamson of Williamson’s Amusements in Winona, MN, whose
company was one of the first to have a site created using the new AMOA
member service. “You can’t get a half-page ad in the Yellow Pages
for that price, and now, I can direct current and potential customers
to our site to learn more about our company and what we do.” Members
only need to supply some basic information about their companies, along
with a logo and pictures, to get started.
ECAST PROMOTES SCOTT WALKER TO VP
(posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- 4PM)
Ecast has promoted Scott Walker to vice president of network
operations. In his new position, Scott will spearhead the jukebox
business for Ecast, working closely with its operator partners to
identify new revenue producing features and approaches to increase
overall operating efficiencies throughout the business. Scott,
formerly the company’s director of coin-op sales and marketing, will
continue to manage the national field operation while working closely
with all internal business divisions including operations, marketing
and product development.
“Our jukebox operator partners continue to be at the core of the
Ecast business and Scott’s promotion to this position ensures that we
continue to work closely with them and support them going forward,”
said John Taylor, Ecast CEO and president. “Putting Scott at the helm
of the jukebox business ensures that Ecast continues to deliver
innovations that make the jukebox experience compelling and profitable
to our operator community. His integrity, experience and business
acumen are respected through the industry; he is a tremendous asset to
Ecast and our operators.”
Scott is a well known face in the industry. Before his start at
Ecast, he was 10 years at Betson Distributing, building many of the
lasting relationships that have cemented his reputation in the
industry.
PANKUS EXITS BARDEN TO START INVESTMENT PUB
(posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- 4PM)
Joe Pankus has left his
post as CEO of Barden Entertainment to pursue another interest. This
fall, Pankus will launch a national market timing investment
newsletter. The service will provide information as to when market
trends develop, what stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) match
current market conditions and ultimately when to close out positions.
"Only no-nonsense investment information will be provided," Pankus
said. "It will focus on a single mission, how to make money. You won't
see wordy weather reports."
Pankus' management background includes running many companies such
Wurlitzer, Seeburg, Barden, Dura-Bar and Holiday Publishing as well as
a number of turn-around assignments with consultant Morris-Anderson. He
is experienced at interpreting balance sheets, operating statements,
market opportunities and cash-flow projections. Pankus can be reached
at jpankus@aol.com.
GETLAN TO SPEAK AT LONDON SHOW
(posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- 4PM)
U.S. trade veteran Micheal Getlan will present a high profile
redemption seminar at next year's ATEI London show, January 27-29,
2009, in the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. The free seminar, which
takes place on both the first and second days of the show, will provide
an overview of redemption concepts and in-depth analysis of three
essential elements including merchandising, equipment and best practice
procedures.
Director of Enthusiasm and Opportunity for Amusement Consultants,
New Roc Entertainment and Smiles Amusement facilities, Getlan is author
of the book How Much Is That Doggie In The Showcase? and a
frequent speaker on the U.S. trade show circuit. As a third-generation
operator, consultant and avid game player, Getlan has a unique
perspective on the operational side of the FEC business. He is
affiliated with IAAPA, TEA, IALEI and the World Clown Association.
Getlan described his forthcoming presentation at ATEI as a fun and
fast seminar with lots of audience interaction. "Participants will gain
a better understanding of redemption operations and a clear action plan
for improving their own configurations," he said.
GLOBAL VR TO SHOWCASE CARBON DEDICATED
(posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 4PM)
Video game maker Global VR will showcase the new Need for Speed Carbon
dedicated game at next month’s AMOA Show in Las Vegas. The factory
provided a sneak-peek of the driver at the AAMA Gala held in Chicago
earlier this month.
A continuation of the Need for Speed franchise series, Carbon
hits on all cylinders when it comes to game play and is housed in a
stylish, signature cabinet. Operators can choose a standard cabinet
that comes with a 32” LCD display or a deluxe version with a 42” LCD
display, unique attraction marquee and molded side panel. As added
interest for spectators and passers-by, special lighting is
synchronized with game play on both the marquee and at the rear of the
seat. Additionally, Global VR has installed a NOS pedal on the floor of
the cabinet allowing gamers to keep both hands on the wheel as they
streak past opponents on their way to the finish line.
“The game was played the entire event and comments about the cabinet
were nothing less than spectacular,” Sales VP Elaine Shirley said of
the game’s gala presentation. “We can’t wait to bring the game to
AMOA.”
In July, Global VR released the Carbon kit, which converts previous Need for Speed games.
The company has also made plastic accessories available to help update
and freshen the look of older game cabinets. To learn more, go to www.globalvr.com.
AMI NAMES NEW ADVERTISING EXEC
(posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 4PM)
Advertising and marketing veteran Mike Nickerson has
joined the executive teams of AMI Entertainment and its sister company
Merit Entertainment. Nickerson has been appointed VP of advertising at
AMI MegaNet, a new division that will oversee the development of
on-premise promotions running on AMI-powered jukeboxes and Merit’s
online countertop videogames. In his new role, Nickerson will be
responsible for the development and marketing of AMI MegaNet’s
out-of-home advertising network. He will report to Mike Maas, president
and CEO of both AMI and Merit.
Nickerson has spent nearly 20 years in the advertising and
marketing industry where he focused heavily on the bar market. His
client background includes brands like Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors
Light, Blue Moon, Killians Irish Red, Corona, Partida Tequila, Smirnoff
Ice, Jim Beam and Absolut. Premium non-alcohol brands include
Coca-Cola, 7UP, Motorola, Hyundai, General Mills, Sony, Kellogg, Radio
Shack and RJ Reynolds.
The new vice president brings to AMI MegaNet a versatile background
consisting of traditional advertising, event marketing, entertainment
sponsorship, and retail and trade promotions. A native of Key West, FL,
Nickerson has worked for agencies in Chicago, Denver and New York City.
He got his start in the media business as a DJ and promotions director
at WROO-FM in Jacksonville, FL.
AMI MegaNet is a newly formed service that will build on the
strengths of two established and growing out-of-home entertainment
networks. It will employ the best features of digital networking to
deliver interactive, content-rich advertising that can reach consumers
in the fun environments of their local bars and taverns. It will also
introduce a new revenue stream for operators offering AMI music and
online Merit games to their location accounts.
“AMI MegaNet will leverage Merit and AMI’s positions as market
leaders in coin-op entertainment by delivering relevant advertising
messages directly to patrons while they play,” Nickerson said. “The
addition of countertop videogames means that we can deliver more
impressions to our clients than jukeboxes alone because consumers spend
a greater amount of time on average interacting with a game.”
CLUB LUCKY BOLSTERS AMOA PRESENCE
(posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 4PM)
Club Lucky, the national operator consortium focused
on joint tournament promotions, will have an even greater presence at
next month’s AMOA International Expo in Las Vegas than they did last
year. Group leaders confirmed their increased presence, noting they
will be sponsoring two tables at the all-show party. Additionally, Club
Lucky president Matt Pascal’s national account management firm will
sponsor a third table. The group has encouraged its members to attend
the show, and they are expected to be there in something close to full
force. “We’re actually increasing our support for AMOA,” confirmed
spokesman Dale Lazar of H. Lazar in Pittsburgh, responding to a rumor
that the group was planning to bypass the expo.
HIGH PROFILE CHEF AT FUN EXPO SEMINAR
(posted Monday, August 25, 2008 -- 7:30PM)
Next month as part of Fun Expo's Fun Academy, Peter Sherlock, executive chef at Spring Cafe and Wolfgang Puck Catering, will be speaking at "FECs Go Green" on Tuesday, September 9 from 1:45 - 3:15 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition to Chef Sherlock, attendees at "FECs Go Green" can also listen to Jennifer Jacobi, senior specialist in adult education at the Springs Preserve, and Marcel Parent, the Springs Preserve's education and volunteer programs manager and the environmental management system coordinator.
WURLITZER & FIRESTONE TEAM UP
(posted Monday, August 25, 2008 -- 7:30PM)
Wurlitzer and Firestone Financial have teamed up to offer choice financing for jukebox purchases. Zero percent APR is now available on Wurlitzer's entire line of digital downloading jukeboxes. The term is for 18 months, and the minimum purchase is just two units. Sal Cifala, Firestone sales executive, said, "Wurlitzer jukeboxes are a sure way to earn more revenue in your locations, and this 0% program provides a great opportunity to invest in a few units." A $200 filing fee, along with applicable tax and freight charges, are due up front. This special offer ends October 15. To contact Wurlitzer, call 888/987-3477. Firestone Financial may be reached at 800/851-1001.
LAI TO HOLD STACKER SEMINAR AT SHOW
(posted Monday, August 25, 2008 -- 7:30PM)
LAI Games has announced its plans to host educational seminars at booth 256 during the 2008 AMOA International Expo held at the LAS Vegas Convention Center, Sept. 10-12. The purpose of the seminars will be to educate operators on how to maximize earnings from Stacker, the company's iconic prize redemption game. Seminars will take place daily from noon to 12:30 p.m. Discussion points will include minor prize payout settings, payout programming, cube speed settings, audit features, recommended price per play and merchandising.
Debbie Gonzalez, U.S. sales manager, said: "I'm often surprised to find out most operators put Stacker on location without checking or adjusting any of the game settings. They're thrilled with the revenue the game generates, but if they took a little time to check and adjust the settings, they'd make even more money. Our seminars will demonstrate how this can be done quickly and easily."