Close Menu
  • CURRENT ISSUE
    • Cover Story
    • Profiles – Companies, Products & People
    • Spotlight Feature
    • VR Spotlight
    • Favorites & Special Reports
    • Bob Cooney Special Reports
    • Editorial
    • Datebook
    • Columns
      • Q&A with AMOA
      • Q&A with AAMA
      • George McAuliffe’s GAMEROOM GURU
      • NOW TRENDING by Howard McAuliffe & Nick DiMatteo
      • Adam Pratt’s ENDGAME
      • Jack Guarnieri’s JERSEY JACK
      • Beth Standlee’s PARTY PROFESSOR
      • Fun Across America
      • Frank Seninsky’s FRANK TALK
      • Tom Fricke’s REDEMPTION & THE LAW
      • Randy White GUEST ESSAY
  • INSTANT REPLAY
  • PODCASTS & VIDEOS
    • Machines, Myths & Legends
    • Podcasts
    • YouTube Videos
  • GET REPLAY
    • Subscriptions
    • Sample Copies
    • Order Back Issues
    • Index
  • ABOUT
    • About RePlay Magazine
    • Meet the Team
    • Cookie Policy
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • Elev8 Fun’s Jensen Beach Holds Grand Opening
  • Emerson Lanes Expands; New Arcade by Betson
  • Action Lab Leadership Co-Hosts Amusement 360
  • IATP Annual Conference Sept. 8-10 in Arizona
  • Ace Pickleball Club Next to New D&B
  • Oregon Spring Meeting Another Good One
  • Ray Borges Joins Sales Team at Coastal
  • Bandai Namco, Krispy Kreme Celebrating Pac-Man’s 45th
X (Twitter) Facebook RSS
RePlay Magazine
  • CURRENT ISSUE
    • Cover Story
    • Profiles – Companies, Products & People
    • Spotlight Feature
    • VR Spotlight
    • Favorites & Special Reports
    • Bob Cooney Special Reports
    • Editorial
    • Datebook
    • Columns
      • Q&A with AMOA
      • Q&A with AAMA
      • George McAuliffe’s GAMEROOM GURU
      • NOW TRENDING by Howard McAuliffe & Nick DiMatteo
      • Adam Pratt’s ENDGAME
      • Jack Guarnieri’s JERSEY JACK
      • Beth Standlee’s PARTY PROFESSOR
      • Fun Across America
      • Frank Seninsky’s FRANK TALK
      • Tom Fricke’s REDEMPTION & THE LAW
      • Randy White GUEST ESSAY
  • INSTANT REPLAY
  • PODCASTS & VIDEOS
    • Machines, Myths & Legends
    • Podcasts
    • YouTube Videos
  • GET REPLAY
    • Subscriptions
    • Sample Copies
    • Order Back Issues
    • Index
  • ABOUT
    • About RePlay Magazine
    • Meet the Team
    • Cookie Policy
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
RePlay Magazine
You are at:Home»INSTANT REPLAY»Ralph Coppola Gets HOF Legacy Induction

Ralph Coppola Gets HOF Legacy Induction

0
By Matt Harding on April 25, 2023 INSTANT REPLAY

The late ICE founder Ralph Coppola was among the recent legacy inductees into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame. Coppola started ICE (Innovative Concepts in Entertainment) in 1982 with his original partner Jack Willert, and the company’s first game on the market was Chexx (Bubble Hockey). Chexx sold over 5,000 units in the machine’s first year, and 7,500 in the first 18 months.

The hockey games are still in production to this day and is now known as Super Chexx Pro. “The fact that 40 years later the game that started it all continues to be manufactured is something that is near and dear to the entire ICE family,” the company stated.

Under Ralph’s leadership, ICE continued their R&D efforts in the 1980s with notable games Kixx and Turbo Drive. ICE came out with Putting Challenge in the early 1990s and this new game was being built in their newly-relocated 22,000-sq.-ft. factory in Buffalo.

From there, ICE diversified their product offerings and introduced its first of many licensed games with the launch of Hungry Hungry Hippo from the makers of Hasbro/Milton Bradley and, shortly thereafter, had another title in Flintstone kiddie version pinball.

Cyclone, one of the most successful redemption games of its time, was introduced in 1995. Ralph was instrumental in bringing this concept to market after first seeing a capsule-based game in Japan. Coppola bought the license from the developer, and, after some serious restructuring, Cyclone became a staple in family entertainment centers worldwide. The company would go on to sell Cyclone for over 25 years.

In the late ‘90s, Coppola guided the company into manufacturing skill-based cranes with the introduction of both iconic claw games, the Plush Bus and Pinnacle. These cranes became staples in grocery stores, FECs and restaurants.

There was further expansion for the company throughout the 2000s and 2010s. In 2004, it secured the NBA license for its games (NBA Hoops is a staple product of theirs) and in 2008, they had their first coin pusher – The Price is Right.

Ralph oversaw the company’s iconic carnival series, which ICE first introduced to the market around 2014. It started with the highly successful Milk Jug Toss and has since included such successful titles as: Down the Clown, Bean Bag Toss, Hoopla and Snowball Toss.

“Today, Ralph’s vision and foresight are still very much visible in the business,” the company said. “With an unparalleled customer service team that Ralph instilled in the company from the beginning, is still to be found today, and for the future to come. Furthermore, ICE continues to offer parts for games from decades ago, even ones they are no longer are producing. Ralph’s belief about service and parts availability after the sale is still at the company’s core.”

At the time of his passing in 2019, Ralph was credited with being personally involved in bringing over 150 arcade games to market during his 36 years at the helm of the company.

Amusement Industry Hall of Fame ICE Ralph Coppola
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleAVS Companies Has Grand Opening in Texas
Next Article Laserforce Expands Globally

Related Posts

Elev8 Fun’s Jensen Beach Holds Grand Opening

Emerson Lanes Expands; New Arcade by Betson

Action Lab Leadership Co-Hosts Amusement 360

Comments are closed.







RePlay Logo

RePlay Magazine is a monthly trade publication covering the game center and route business. Since 1975, RePlay has been reporting on the equipment, people and trends that have made "coin-op" a fun and exciting business.

Stay up to date in between print editions with the Instant RePlay email newsletter! It's FREE!

We LOVE print magazines, especially our own, but news doesn't move just once a month. Instant RePlay to the rescue! Sign up and receive newsletters to keep you in the know.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: RePlay Magazine. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

© 2020 RePlay Magazine - All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce content, email [email protected].

Copyright © 2014 ThemeSphere. Powered by WordPress.

  • About
  • Privacy
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.