This industry is full of legends, visionaries, characters and unsung heroes, each with great stories to tell from their years in the business. To help preserve those tales, is the “RePlay Podcast,” a joint effort between this magazine and veteran operator Randy Chilton, who serves as the host. Episode 1 features George McAuliffe, founder of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. “With decades of experience in coin-op, McAuliffe’s career has touched just about every part of the industry at one time or another, from working with his brother Tom at Time Out in the earliest days of the mall arcade to running a…
Author: RePlay Editor
Pace-O-Matic Happy 25th Birthday, Pace-O-Matic & Happy 50th Industry Anniversary, Michael Pace! Pace-O-Matic, a leader in the skill gaming market, is celebrating its silver anniversary this year; its success is the culmination of its 25 years of hard work and innovation and the 50 years of industry experience, invention, and engineering uniquely belonging to the company founder, Michael Pace. The company has grown nicely over the years, now employing nearly 200 people in 13 departments at its Duluth, Ga., headquarters (northeast of Atlanta). Today, their games can be found in markets, including Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.…
The City Forum “Tennesee’s Largest Indoor FEC” Keeps Adding Fun to the Mix by Dustin Wilcox Clarksville, Tennessee, is a place where big things are happening – and that most definitely includes growth in amusements going into the new year. The City Forum family entertainment center has been serving the Clarksville community for the past seven years. And with arcade games, go-karts, bowling, mini-golf and laser tag, this place is practically the whole shebang. Owner Jon Armistead loves it all equally, but he’s especially proud of doubling the game count in the arcade. “Our team has been able to keep it…
Decades-Long Friends Celebrate Half Decade with Decades! by Matt Harding Decades, a downtown Lancaster, Pa., retro arcade, boutique bowling alley, restaurant and bar, celebrated their fifth year in 2024. Jonathan Yeager, Chris Trendler and Adam Ozimek are the business owners, childhood friends who’ve known one another since 4th grade, when they hit it off bonding over playing Smash Brothers and other games on Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. The trio reconnected in adulthood back in 2011. Yeager explained that he and Trendler were planning on starting a beer festival when Ozimek came into the fold. Together, the three started –…
Beyond the Ordinary Unforgettable Adventures in Scottsdale & Atlanta by Barry Zelickson Some entertainment venues promise fun, while others deliver immersive and engaging experiences that stay with you long after you’ve walked out the door. That’s exactly what we found in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Atlanta, Ga. – two cities home to entertainment destinations that defy expectations. On one side, there’s The Nemesis Club, a secretive, high-tech escape adventure hidden behind the unassuming doors of a vintage ice cream soda shop. On the other is Your 3rd Spot, a buzzing social playground where gourmet food, craft cocktails, and interactive games join…
Crane Games From Childhood Fun to Business Success by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group Cranes and merchandisers are one of my favorite topics for several specific reasons: they were an integral part of my childhood, have been a key thread through my work career and continue to be one of the areas I see with the most opportunity for improvement for both route operators and FEC owners. Cranes have been an important piece of the industry for many years. However, there was a time when they were illegal in most states. A long process and years of legal battles…
Encouraging a Sales Culture in Your Center By Beth Standlee, CEO, TrainerTainment As we move into different economic times, creating sales on purpose is more important than ever. If you are a fan of this column, you know I sincerely believe that creating a strong culture (or vibe, as young people say), is a fundamental strength that can change whether or not your businesses is lamenting a downturn in revenue or is one of the thriving few who continue to grow. Growing is the better option! In this time of AI, I asked “perplexity,” an AI software platform, who the…
Reach Out and Touch Someone by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com How often do you reach out and touch someone? Are there people in your phone’s “favorites” list you haven’t spoken to in a long time? Most of us are not looking to spend even more time on the phone. But I do find myself looking at my favorites list and calling one or two of those people now and then who I haven’t heard from in a while. Hey, we all get busy, and time flies, and sadly, just quickly looking at my list, I see a…
New Licensed Games from the Wizards of Raw Thrills Two new games available later this spring are already exciting operators due to their hot licenses and replayability. The first is a Wizard of Oz redemption game from Raw Thrills, and the second is the Top Gun: Maverick shooting and racing game, made by Raw Thrills in conjunction with Play Mechanix and Paramount Pictures. Starting with The Wizard of Oz, the company takes the iconic film characters and puts players right into their Yellow Brick Road action. The game, designed to appeal to people of all ages, challenges players to collect…
While it was fun to play the new machines at the recent Amusement Expo in Las Vegas, it was also a kick to watch the people playing them. In many cases, the older operators found difficulty figuring out how some of the “new-fangled” racing and fighting games worked while the younger ones jumped right on. Why do you think the old timers often bring their newer people to these shows, anyway? To find out if these new games really “have legs.” Veteran salespeople who man any show’s exhibit booths usually develop a sixth sense about which visitor is more likely…