AVS Companies recently promoted Ken Mathison to branch manager of the AVS Wisconsin office, located in Hartland. “Ken has done a fantastic job for us as we change and adapt with the industry,” said the company’s vice president and general manager, Jeff Yoder. “We are extremely pleased that he has accepted this new role and responsibilities. We know he is up to the challenge and will continue to perform at the highest level.” Added Tom Vogt, the AVS Companies vice president of micro markets and vending: “While he takes on his new leadership responsibilities, Ken will continue to be heavily…
Author: Matt Harding
BuckFest, which will feature the 2025 Big Buck Hunter World Championship, is set to take place Oct. 10-11 in Nashville and offer $125,000 in prizes. Keystone Light will serve as the official beer sponsor of that event. The company said the partnership will continue in November when fans 21-and-up can enter the Big Buck Hunter Tournament by playing the arcade game at their favorite bars and other participating locations for a chance at exclusive prizes. Exclusive, limited-edition Keystone Light merch will be awarded to the top 25 players of the tournament. All players will also be entered for a chance…
HAUNTED, the first fully immersive horror experience from Zero Latency, is available to venues worldwide as of Oct. 3, the company recently reported. Set inside a “mysterious, shifting house that seems to live and breathe,” the experience offers players cinematic horror featuring 5K visuals, responsive spatial audio and warehouse-scale gameplay for up to eight players. “This is an experience that lingers,” said Tim Ruse, CEO of Zero Latency VR. “HAUNTED is a deeply immersive, sensory-rich story designed to stay with players long after they leave the arena. It taps into fear in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s loud and chaotic. Sometimes…
Embed recently released news about upgrades to its regularly evolving Embed Ecosystem, specifically related to innovation rollouts in time for IAAPA. The company will be in booth #1040 at the Orlando trade show, scheduled for Nov. 18-21 at the Orange County Convention Center. Among the updates are many innovations to BOOKINGS, integrated digital waivers, roaming POS and real-time reports and analytics. “From front-of-house to back-office, Embed powers a seamless, revenue-driven ecosystem – exactly how operators like it,” said CEO Renee Welsh. Added CTO Andy Welsh: “With these latest enhancements to the solutions under the Embed Ecosystem, BOOKINGS, WAIVERS, SALES, and…
Following the departure of longtime CEO Paul Williams, Sega Amusements International has appointed Siraj Elkhawad to the position. Justin Burke was also promoted as the company’s COO and Nigel Allison was promoted to manufacturing and R&D director. The company said the leadership changes reflect their “ongoing commitment to growth, innovation, and delivering unparalleled value to its customers worldwide.” Elkhawad has more than 27 years of experience in the amusement industry with more than six years as Sega’s finance director and nearly 20 years as its financial controller. “My focus will be on building on our strong financial foundations to drive…
The Pelican Group, a California-based vending and amusement management company, has announced it won a bid to manage the game rooms at more than 400 Regal cinemas. “I am proud to provide our operators this top-of-the-line long-term business opportunity,” said Richard Scherer, owner and CEO of The Pelican Group. Added Adam Rymer, chief commercial officer at Regal: “Regal’s partnership with The Pelican Group to manage our amusement program marks an exciting step forward for our theatres nationwide. This initiative will bring the game rooms at Regal cinemas into the modern entertainment era with state-of-the-art equipment, advanced card system technology, and…
Charlie Keegan is now the CEO of Five Star Parks and Attractions, the company announced. He’s been on their board since February 2023 and brings more than 30 years of international experience in entertainment, leisure and hospitality. “I’m honored to serve Five Star Parks and Attractions at such an exciting time,” Keegan said. “This is a company with incredible momentum, a strong culture, and a clear mission to deliver joy through unforgettable experiences. I look forward to working with the team to build on that foundation and take our parks to new heights.” Most recently, Keegan led DistrictPlay, his advisory…
Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is joining up with Saudia Arabia in a deal to buy the publicly-traded Electronic Arts video game giant. According to CNN, Kushner’s Affinity Partners and the Kingdom’s public investment fund Silver Lake will be putting up $55 billion to acquire the company that produced such consumer hits as Madden NFL (the deal is scheduled to conclude in the first quarter of 2027). CNN reported that Kushner said he grew up playing videos and now enjoys playing them with his children. “I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” he reportedly stated. (CNN also advised that Electronic Arts…
LAI Games and Ubisoft are building on their past success Virtual Rabbids with a new unattended attraction called Ubisoft All-Star VR. The first demo of the 2-4-player game was shown recently at IAAPA Expo Europe. The companies say the new attraction “represents a major leap forward in arcade VR” and “features groundbreaking driving and steering haptics, high-precision motion by D-BOX and a stunning cinematic LED wall that makes it a true showstopper on any game room floor.” Players can choose from a lineup of Ubisoft heroes like Ezio from Assassin’s Creed, Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell or even the Just…
Shaffer Distributing Company’s director of business development, Adam Kleinhenz, was honored with AAMA’s Shining Star Award at the association’s gala. The award recognizes those who “demonstrate exceptional dedication and impact within the amusement industry.” “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award,” Kleinhenz expressed. “It’s meaningful to be recognized personally, but even more rewarding to see the effort of the AAMA, and the work it does to improve our industry, acknowledged as well.” Scott Shaffer added: “We are so proud of Adam for his work with the AAMA. He always puts 100% of his heart and soul into what he believes in. I’m…