Not Your Grandpa’s Bulk Vendor CandyMachines.com Innovates in the Bulk Biz … and Amusements Too We hear it constantly: People just don’t walk around with cash in their pockets these days, much less change. In the bulk vending world where quarters have long been the coin of the realm, that’s a real challenge. But, fear not. CandyMachines.com has been working diligently to modernize bulk vendors and bring them into the cashless payment world. In a recent call with owner and CEO Andy Denton, we learned that not only has the bulk vending machine manufacturer been innovating to make card acceptance…
Author: RePlay Editor
RePlay Magazine Celebrates its 50th Anniversary in the October Issue We’re Gearing Up for a Special Issue Commemorating our big 5-0! In the October issue, we’ll celebrate five decades of RePlay with stories from the people who make the magazine each month and lots of photos from our archives that will include some of the more colorful characters we’ve met along the way. We’re inviting you to participate in this in-print party in two ways. One is to take a “Happy anniversary, RePlay” ad. The information appears below as well as a link to the PDF flyer and worksheet. The second…
Paula Rinker Brings Pixel Plush & Prizes to Life Industry veteran Paula Rinker is on the move as director of merchandising for a new wholesale plush company called Pixel Plush & Prizes. Officially launched in mid-April, the business has been quickly getting its feet in the door – with Pixel Plush HQ now open at 2111 Dixon Street in Des Moines, Iowa. They were also part of the AAMA Game Pavilion at Bowl Expo. “The inspiration behind starting Pixel Plush came from a strong belief that the amusement industry deserved a more engaging and profitable plush experience,” Rinker explained. “We…
Arcades, Start Your Engines! LAI Games’ NASCAR Pit Stop made its official trade show debut at the recent Bowl Expo and is now available industry-wide. The redemption game was previously rolled out to all Dave & Buster’s locations in North America and featured in their “Winning on All Cylinders Leaderboard Challenge,” which gave players the chance to compete across select racing-themed games for exciting prizes like VIP tickets to a NASCAR race and even a brand-new car. “NASCAR Pit Stop delivers fast-paced, skill-based gameplay that puts players in the middle of the action,” explained Allison Timberlake, the marketing director for LAI…
Puttshack and Five Iron Golf Tech-Driven Play Awaits in Michigan and Minnesota by Barry Zelickson Fun Across America continues its exploration of unique golf experiences with two modern takes on classic games. We stopped by Puttshack in Edina, Minnesota, where mini-golf meets high-tech innovation, and then headed to Five Iron Golf in Detroit, Michigan, where state-of-the-art golf simulators and a full social experience redefine what an indoor sports venue can be. Both offer a glimpse into how tech and hospitality are combining to create new kinds of fun. • • • Puttshack – Edina, MN www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-HoaFjBXi8 Walking into Puttshack, the…
Bowl Expo Recap Operators Eye Growth by Improving Existing Centers by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group Over the last 15 years, Bowl Expo has been one of the biggest drivers of the growth of our company, as well as the FEC industry as a whole. Bowling, combined with arcades, FEC-style attractions, and food and beverage, has been a winning combination. Converting traditional bowling alleys to bowling entertainment centers has worked so well that traditional FECs, movie theaters, resorts, and even bars have been adding bowling to their locations. The success of duckpin bowling has opened even more opportunities for…
Summer Reflections by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com Roll out those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” and happy August! It’s certainly a happy month for the team at Jersey Jack Pinball as we find ourselves humbled to be on the front and back covers of this issue of RePlay. It’s been a wild year for us with the introduction of our Harry Potter pinball game. Back to summer, I’ve got Nat King Cole’s record, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer, playing on my Wurlitzer 1015 One More Time jukebox. It holds 50 45-rpm records, and I…
The August Pivot From Summer Survival to Fall Success By Clint Novak, Business Development Manager, A&A Global Industries For FEC operators, August is one of the most deceptive months of the year. The calendar says summer is ending, but your out-of-town guests often haven’t gotten the memo. This creates a critical challenge: You’re still managing summer-level traffic while your entire local student workforce heads back to school. A successful August isn’t about winding down; it’s about executing a smart, strategic pivot to bridge the gap. Navigating the Staffing Squeeze At Fun Land, our entire team was local and went back…
Many years ago, Los Angeles distributor Al Bettelman asked me if I’d ever thought about putting machines out…actually doing what I wrote about so often. I thought about operating a couple of times but never got serious because I’m not very good at fixing things that run on electricity. And as some manufacturers don’t like to admit, these machines break down like everything else that has a cord coming out of it with a plug on the end. Otherwise, why do they all have service departments? Back in the day, thanks to the U.S. Army, I pretty much knew what…
The Magic of Harry Potter Jersey Jack Brings Beloved Franchise Into the Pinball World With some incredible licenses already under their belts, the team at Jersey Jack Pinball has outdone themselves this time. It’s a game that company founder Jack Guarnieri has had in mind for more than a decade. “There’s a lot of great licenses that don’t show up on amusement games,” he said, “I’m happy to be able to bring Harry Potter to the amusement industry.” The license allows the game to feature all eight Harry Potter films in its immersive gameplay experience. Importantly packaged into the game…