Kevin Mahler of Western Music and Vending in Twin Falls, Idaho, recently contacted RePlay with another observation on the state of service for route operators. Mahler doesn’t name names, but reports a dismal downturn in the quality of customer service and tech support he’s received from some in the industry. “I have been in this industry for close to 35 years and have had a lot of great experiences that I would not trade for anything. Lately though, it seems to me that customer service or lack thereof has become a problem. Maybe it’s just the fact that we’re a…
Author: Casey Minter
TILT Studio, a chain of FECs in malls across the U.S., has announced a continued collaboration with Embed, the company providing TILT’s cashless services. Three new Tilt Studio locations are on the verge of opening in Hawaii, and Nickels and Dimes (owner of TILT) will continue to rely on Embed as their preferred cashless, POS and redemption center management system provider. Two of the new stores will be in Alea, in the second largest shopping center in Hawaii, Pearlridge. The third will be in Prince Khulo Plaza in Hilo, Hawaii, bringing the number of Embed installations for Nickels and Dimes…
August’s issue is off to the printer, and Instant RePlay is here to give you a sneak peek! In that issue, we profile the Mabe family and their storied time in coin-op. In 1978, then-teacher Clarence Mabe got into the game after noticing his high school students’ ravenous interest in the hottest new tech: video games. Clarence quickly bought a Space Invaders, and by the ’80s his route was booming. Now, Clarence’s sons, Bucky and Rusty, have taken the helm of the family company, transforming it into the flashy, modernized FACE Amusement. Clarence worked hard through the industry’s ups and…
Every once in a while, there comes a game that can successfully translate its massive success as a consumer title to the arcade. (Although, many remember the days when that relationship went the other direction!) Sega believes they’ve found that success with its Luigi’s Mansion Arcade game. Luigi’s Mansion, a title that originally premiered in 2001 for the Nintendo Gamecube, has a bit of a cult following, and was considered a huge success for the system. Now, those same fans can find their friendly, green Italian plumber in the arcade. The Nintendo licence has a strong family appeal, and Sega reports it is…
The AMOA National Dart Association (NDA) will be moving the date and place of its Team Dart tournament next year, scheduling it for May 3-9, 2018, at the Paradise Events Center in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. (For those not in the know, the NDA is the AMOA-affiliated dart association formed by and for coin machine operators to promote the sport of electronic darting.) So why relocate Team Dart? The association’s Jack Kelleher points to four main reasons: – Players will find a lower hotel room rate — $83 plus tax – No resort fees (Team Dart attendees…
Injustice: Gods Among Us, a massively popular console and PC fighting game that pits DC Comics most famous characters against each other, has been brought to coin-op life via Raw Thrills — at least at the test stage — and was spotted in a U.S. location. According to Adam Pratt at Arcade Heroes, the fighting game would be the first American-centric fighter released since Midway’s Mortal Kombat 4. Initial photos of the test cabinet show a couple of unique features, the most notable is the lack of a joystick. Instead, it looks like players control the game with kicks, punches…
Triotech and AMC have combined forces to create a Fear the Walking Dead survival attraction coming to the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas this summer. Based on AMC’s hit series which expands the Walking Dead story with new characters and more, the survival attraction will feature elaborate sets, all-encompassing audio and video, and Triotech’s world-famous motion simulator technology. Upon entering the experience, guests find themselves in a military facility beset by the hordes of zombies. To survive, they have to face their fears and trust their instincts, ultimately escaping back into the real world. “Fremont Street Experience is a…
Three years ago as part of the “Look Who’s Making a Difference” campaign, the AMOA Coin-Op Cares “Save the Rack” pink pool table kit was developed as a special promotional and community service initiative. The transformative kit emblazons your pool tables in pink fabric, all in support of the fight against breast cancer. This year, the association has put together a specially-packaged “rails only” kit to support breast cancer awareness pool table events. Members have been asking for a simplified version of the kit, and this was the answer AMOA’s Promotions Committee found. The number one feature of the new…
For those looking to learn more about laser tag, and especially for those looking to add it as an attraction in their location, LaserTAG360 should be on your mind. The event is hosted by Creative Works multiple times each year, with the next opportunity coming to Indianapolis on Aug. 1 and 2. LaserTAG360 hopes to answer any and every question about installing laser tag in an FEC or dedicated laser tag arena, all in two days. This year’s scheduled speakers include David Wallace (who will discuss contract negotiations), Jerry Merola (financing), Kevin Williams (gaming in location-based entertainment), Janice Jokkel (hiring),…
Coastal Amusement’s Ice Man is now on the market and, according the factory, has been earning well since its June release. In this multiplayer water game, folks are tasked with halting an oncoming zombie horde using plant-shaped water guns that “freeze” the walkers in their tracks. As players soak the screen with the 12-stream water guns, a mist rises from the lifelike grass in the bottom of the playfield where the water is filtered through a special UV system. To get more information on Ice Man, email [email protected] or visit Coastal’s website here for more information.