Working from Home vs. the Office by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com How do you get the “kids” to play ball with each other? I’m talking about your company’s team players. With the pandemic fading further away in the rearview mirror, there are still more workers returning to the office. Once there, what is the benefit to productivity and the bottom line? I think offices in general are places where workers can collaborate and get things done, which is important to productivity, team building and more. Despite its benefits, not all employees welcome the return to the old…
Author: RePlay Editor
Mind Tricks and Photo Flicks A Dual Adventure Takes Us to Minnesota and Iowa by Barry Zelickson This month the Fun Across America team reviews their visits to The Museum of Illusions at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., and Selfie WRLD in West Des Moines, Iowa. Sit back and enjoy as I fill you in on these very fun interactive experiences. Museum of Illusions – Mall of America, Bloomington, MN www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsgUNXGDlQ The Museum of Illusion boasts a wide array of approximataely 50 exhibits, catering to various interests and age groups. From classic optical illusions to more modern and…
Bowl Expo 2024 A Review of Trends Seen at Annual Bowling Fest by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group The bowling alley many of us grew up with was characterized by snack bars with mediocre-at-best food, reasonably priced drinks in a no-frills bar, bowling leagues dominating the lanes, and often a lot of cigarette smoke. Over the last 10 years we have seen these types of bowling alleys converted or built as bowling entertainment centers. The BEC is characterized by restaurant-quality food and beverage, state-of-the-art arcades and attractions, more casual bowling and a lot of group and event business. Bowl…
Following in Dad’s Footsteps Oregon’s Game Over Arcade Keeps Getting Better By Matt Harding Chris Donner’s father, the late Darrell Donner, started a little arcade route in the Portland area when Chris was growing up in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Citing the prevalence of the instant-hit Golden Tee as a memorable piece, “It was always around our house,” he said, That childhood memory is part of what ultimately led to him and his wife, Jennifer, to launch Game Over Arcade in 2013. While his dad got out of the biz, Chris always maintained that interest, and bought the…
This issue features (and I really mean features) a section saluting H. Betti Industries (aka Betson) on its 90th year in the coin machine business. Beginning when an Italian immigrant named Humbert Betti installed his first jukebox in a North Jersey bar, and then tracing its growth and metamorphosis into America’s largest chain of machine distributors, the story is as much about family as it is about selling and fixing machines and providing the support parts that go with that. There are many people named Betti working for this organization right now, just like many other families in this business…
9 Decades of Industry Leadership Honoring the Past. Celebrating Today. Focusing on the Future. A RePlay Salute to H. Betti Industries, Inc. RePlay celebrates the 90th anniversary of H. Betti Industries, Inc./Betson in the August issue with a number a history and interviews with key members of the team today, along with “happy birthday” ads from suppliers and friends. If you don’t subscribe and would like to read the entire section, click on “Get RePlay” and “Sample Copies,” specifying the August 2024 issue in the notes section.
Whiz Kid to Savvy Businessman Young Operator with Industry Roots Grows Back Alley Lanes VR-Cade By Matt Harding Gregory Trent caught the business bug from his parents at a very young age. After all, he grew up around Greg and Maria Trent’s Beyer & Brown, the Florida-based route specializing in billiards, jukeboxes, darts, games and ATMs. “It’s been a part of my life for as long as I’ve been around,” Trent said. “I would spend a lot of days after school in my parents’ office in a play area I had – from the time I was in diapers until…
More than 30 Years Later… NBA Superstars Succeeds NBA Jam In Wowing Basketball Fans By Matt Harding Get ready for wild, high-flying slam dunks as your favorite NBA player because NBA Superstars is lifting off this summer! Developed by Play Mechanix, it harkens back to the 1990s-era favorite NBA Jam but adds a whole lot of modern fun to the mix. Eugene Jarvis, president of the parent company Raw Thrills, told RePlay the game is shipping now exclusively to Dave & Buster’s and Main Event and will be available industry-wide this summer. It was also on hand at Bowl Expo. “This…
From Court to Cliff Smash Park & Bolder Adventure Park by Barry Zelickson In Fun Across America’s continual pursuit of finding great entertainment venues across the U.S., two distinct destinations have emerged as bright spots for recreational enthusiasts seeking novel experiences. Smash Park, nestled in the heart of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Bolder Adventure Park, situated in the vibrant city of Grand Prairie, Texas, each represent quintessential examples of innovative leisure destinations. Both centers offer a unique blend of entertainment, community engagement, and active lifestyle pursuits, catering to diverse audiences with a penchant for excitement and camaraderie. Smash…
Try Easier, Not Harder A Baby Boomer Message from “These Kids Today”! By Beth Standlee, CEO, TrainerTainment The American way often encourages us to push ourselves to the limit. Work more. Try harder. In every aspect of life, there is a belief that if we try hard enough, we’ll get what we want. However, there’s an emerging perspective suggesting that “trying easier” might be the true key to success. This approach isn’t about slacking off but rather about finding smarter, more sustainable ways to achieve goals. Understanding “Try Easier” Try easier isn’t about avoiding effort; but rather optimizing and focusing on…