RePlay Magazine's Blog

Bowl Expo 2010

2010-05-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Bowl Expo has increasingly become one of the hottest events on the amusement and location-based entertainment industries’ calendars. Game technology manufacturers and service providers have stepped up their presence before the bowling trade, which continues to retrofit existing centers with enhanced amusement components and develop new facilities that embrace traditional family entertainment attractions.

As a bowling center owner, manager or operator, what’s your amusement and attraction agenda at June’s Bowl Expo? What product are you in the market for and how could it fit into and underscore your overall concept? Will keynote speaker Sarah Palin be a striking enough draw to get you to the convention center before the show floor opens? Share your perspective on the politics of bowling and games for possible inclusion in the upcoming issue of RePlay.

Operator Interface: Back to School

2010-04-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Continuing education opportunities combine business learning with networking possibilities to grow professional expertise in the small business arena. Regardless of new equipment and accounts, it's knowledge that gives operators the competitive edge. From AMOA's Notre Dame program to NDA's League SMART Conference to local civic groups, what tips have you learned and successfully implemented back home? What info and topics would you like to see addressed? What outside resources have been advantageous in improving your company? Share your perspective on how opening yourself to new ideas has changed you as a business person and has evolved your company.

Operator Interface: FEC Forum

2010-03-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

FECs are getting into the game in preparation for the anticipated summer season, bringing higher traffic and profits. How are you preparing your facility to draw families with out-of-school kids and especially the trend-setting teen market to your location? Whether it's new attraction packaging, marketing plan or social networking, how are you implementing new equipment, policies and ideas to put a hot spin on your brand and generate fresh excitement? Share your plan of attack for getting customers out of the house, through your doors, on your games and at points of sale.

State of the Association

2010-03-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

In the best of times, state associations monitor lobby-worthy developments while providing community and recreation to amusement operator members. In the worst, they're pre-mobilized organizations prepared to make lawmakers aware how bills can impact and exploit their small business, both directly and indirectly. In both cases, there's strength in numbers, however the onus is always on leaders to build a vision of their state's operators, often competitors, being bound in a cause that can and will impact their individual bottom lines.

What is your level of participation in your state association? What's the status or outcome of specific initiatives with which you've been involved? What are the biggest challenges to maintaining the health of a state association, and how does yours promote its member benefits? Your feedback may be selected for inclusion in the forthcoming issue of RePlay Magazine.

Operator Interface: Amusement Expo Era

2010-02-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

Next month, the coin-op industry starts a new chapter with Amusement Expo, the premiere tradeshow collaboration between the AAMA and the AMOA. Show planners are eager to make the product showcase, resulting from industry consolidation and years of lobbying from the trade's three tiers, the must-attend event of the year, a distinction that depends on buyer attendance for its first several years.

Additionally, Amusement Expo must prove the health of the working relationship between its sponsoring associations, highlight the value of out-of-home entertainment to other trades, and chart a bold and creative path through tough economic times to a future where technology and game play should theoretically offer more opportunity.

What are your expectations of Amusement Expo? What significance and advantage do you hope it can offer you and your business that may set it apart from the former ASI or the AMOA Expo? What challenges do you foresee the associations or tradeshow needing to address in order to establish the expo's vitality to the industry's overall success?

Healthcare & Coin-Op

2009-12-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

The healthcare debate has not only been hashed out for decades in Congress but in the offices of small businesses. The employer-based insurance system, straining beneath ever increasing healthcare costs and premiums on the one hand and a soft economy on the other, has led to owners tweaking, comparing and overhauling coverage, or making adjustments to support existing plans.

As a coin-op and amusement business owner, what are the biggest challenges and considerations you face in providing insurance to staff and families?

What are your thoughts on the Senate healthcare plan being wrestled into a final bill for voting on this month? Would the plan, currently set to cover millions of Americans over the next decade by requiring them to buy insurance -- potentially through a government-run program designed to theoretically keep costs in check, possibly unburden your health plan expenditure, or would you likely continue with your current plan?

Have you taken advantage of AMOA's member benefit healthcare option?

Your thoughts may be selected for inclusion in RePlay's focus on coin-op and healthcare.

Operator Interface: IAAPA & I

2009-11-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

IAAPA is in full-swing this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center. About three dozen new product debuts and street operator attendance, along with its base of FEC and amusement park customers, indicates that it has finally cemented its reputation as the premier fall event for the industry. Whether in Las Vegas or back at work, what's your take on the health of this year's mega event and what new product and developments seen there suggest about business in 2010?

Operator Interface: The How & When of 2010

2009-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

The operator's business plan is at best a mostly clear-cut map of the future. More critically, it's a ready-made contingency plan for the unknown and a method of prioritizing a company's needs and initiatives. “Your business plan should be one that is conservative but have reasonable assumptions from one year to three years to five years," said Firestone Financial's Jim Hines at the financial tools seminar during the AMOA Expo last September.

As 2009 dwindles, all economic signs indicate further need to strategically shore up business as the recession wears on into the new year. What areas are you focused on to grow or at least maintain your amusement firm in 2010, as well as to better prepare for success when the economy rebounds? Whether it's diversification, new product, administration practices or other factors, share the ways you're keeping your bottom line ensured. Your responses may be selected for inclusion in the December 2009 issue of RePlay.

Operator Interface: Gaming On?

2009-08-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

Illinois’ legalization of video gaming requiring operator involvement has given renewed fire to other state operator associations' push for similar legislation in response to state budget crises. Ohio has approved gaming at racetracks. A measure newly hammered out in Pennsylvania authorizing video gaming units in bars and taverns is awaiting consideration by the legislature. Pollsters report that 79% of most likely voters in North Carolina say their state should regulate and tax video gaming to provide money for education — one of many causes being championed in by The Entertainment Group of North Carolina, a lobbying group of operators and related businesses.

At the same time, debates have been revived about the pursuit of gaming vis a vis society’s well-being, making for sometimes tricky uphill battles. As expressed by an amusement operator and trade leader in RePlay’s March 2009 Operator Interface, “I would like to see the gambling initiative get ratcheted down. It’s not a way to build a country by getting money from gambling. It’s a very bad idea.” But more lawmakers' "desperate times necessitate desperate measures" attitudes are increasingly receptive to the operators' rallying cry, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste."

Are you or your association pushing for video gaming in your state? Where does your state association stand in advancing similar agendas, or is operator-run video gaming politically unfeasible? What’s the conventional wisdom regarding gambling in your territory? How do you feel about the possible proliferation of gaming personally and as an operator?

Operator Interface: ATMs in Action

2009-07-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

ATMs have played an increasingly greater role in the amusement route operator's offerings to locations and in collected revenues. Equipment providers are now standard and expected exhibitors at tradeshows, showing their latest and greatest wares. Whether you've operated cash dispensers for many years or a few months, RePlay wants to know what propelled you to operate them, your experiences maintaining them in the field, and the benefits and concerns they bring to your business.

Is security an increased concerned when servicing them? Do you split the fee with the location? Has the economy influenced cash withdrawals and fees? What advice would you give to others entertaining their implementation?

Your input may be selected for publication in our forthcoming September 2009 issue.

Operator Interface: Distribution Down South

2009-06-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

This summer marks major changes in the distribution landscape of the Southeast. In the wake of Greater Southern closing its doors and Birmingham Vending shuttering its Florida branch, Betson and Brady Distributing have quickly positioned themselves to seize the regional marketplace.

Betson just opened its 12th office -- its first branch to serve the region -- in Marietta, Ga., supplying product to its new home state, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas, along with promotional deals for product from Raw Thrills, Chicago Gaming and Jennison Entertainment, among other factories they represent. In an interesting twist, David Capilouto, former co-president of Greater Southern, will manage the branch.

Meanwhile, Brady -- the dominant southern distributor headquartered in Charlotte with offices in Memphis, Orlando and Miami -- seeks greater penetration of their territory by also centralizing an office, still yet to open, in the Atlanta area. They will be the exclusive provider of Valley product for Georgia and Alabama and a host of other games, including the ICE line.

What role does distribution play for your business in light of the tier's consolidation and regional players branching into broader territories? How have your business decisions been influenced by these developments? Can the combined forces of these particular distributors, the national titan and the existing institution, cultivate growth potential for coin-op amusements in the South?

Operator Interface: On-Location Advertising

2009-04-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

On-location advertising platforms are the newest offerings for locations by operators. TouchTunes' Barfly; Ecast's IQ; Tap.tv, which has partnered with Rowe and Merit; and Rivals Media, a group of nine distributors that recently partnered up to bring forth On Site, are banking that their customizable networks will grow from a buzz to a trend.

Before this development, flatscreen TVs in bars and taverns were sometimes seen as counterproductive to coin drop. Now they're a potentially promising revenue stream for operators from third-party advertisers wanting to get their name out, as well as for a clever motor for driving the location's business.

Have you implemented a customizable media solution to your locations and their patrons, or do you plan to? Do you think the service is a viable addition to your menu of services? Which of the three systems do you think excels in its features? Advertise your thoughts, and your opinions may be selected for including in the next issue of RePlay Magazine.

Operator Interface: Preparing FECs for Summer Lovin'

2009-03-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Only several months away is the hotly anticipated summer season, traditionally bringing higher traffic and warmer profits to FECs. To capture the full potential of the summertime market, however, changes in how amusement goods are offered is in order. How are you preparing your facility to entice out-of-school kids and families looking for daycation options? What new promotions, policies and ideas can be set in motion to put a fresh spin on attractions, creating the sensation of new experiences within a favorite familiar location? In what ways could the public's concern over the economic downturn be capitalized on by emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of FEC fun? Share your plan of attack for getting customers out of the house, through your doors, on your games and at points of sale, opening their wallets again and again.

Operator Interface: Coin-Op's Next Frontier?

2009-02-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

New and innovative product with improved return on investment: that's the biggest need that amusement operators continue to express to RePlay. As part of our mission to increase open dialogue between operator and manufacturer tiers, share what specific developments you would like to see come from factories to enliven coin-op's sales and image. What technological advances would you like to see play a role? What kind of thinking is needed on both sides of the coin to not just deliver new and improved product for the 21st-century consumer but to market them as well?

Operator Interface: Barack & Business?

2009-01-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama has taken office and started working on the initiatives set forth during his campaign. Among other pressing concerns, jump-starting the economy tops the list, a process that will no doubt be long and contain numerous moveable parts. Employers may see changes in healthcare and even tax credits based on new hires, among other proposals presented in the lead up to his election.

How you think Obama may potentially affect small businesses like amusement operators across the country? What specific changes would you like to see implemented to assist companies struggling in this difficult financial market?

Operator Interface: New Changes for New Year

2008-12-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

The deepening recession and prolonged election season dominated 2008, characterizing it as a transition year. As we enter 2009, what resolutions and changes can be made in your business and in the amusement trade as a whole to soldier through the prevailing economic climate? How might the new year differ from this one for the amusement industry in terms of operating and promoting amusement games?

Generating Advertising Revenue Ideas for Coin-Op

2008-09-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

The promise of advertising revenue for amusement operators is topping industry headlines, once more. Operators, please give us your thoughts about the prospect for advertising from your touchscreen games, jukeboxes and possibly even remote screens connected to your equipment on location.

iPod Nights: Not Music to Your Ears

2008-08-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

The ascendency of digital music led to a new dilemma for jukebox operators: the hijacking of jukes by consumer iPods. In so-called iPod Nights, consumers plug in personal Mp3 players for sharing personal music with friends and other patrons, disrupting the cashbox.

The practice, which reached a crescendo in 2005, has been condoned and even marketed by certain owners, catching the eyes and ears of national media outlets. That same year, the AMOA pressed the Recording Industry Association of America to defend its member copyrights against infringement only to be informed that policing such events would not be worth their effort when facing larger illegal file-sharing issues.

Have iPod Nights in your area continued at the same pace? What factors influence their happening the most? What threat might they pose down the road? What percentage of revenues do you estimate they knock off, and what possible solutions could exist to curtail them?

Operator Interface: How to Keep Heads Above Water?

2008-06-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

Wide-spread flood damage in the Midwest has once again put disaster preparedness in the forefront of minds of business owners everywhere. Hundreds of millions of dollars in losses continue to be tallied, including amusement equipment and at least one operator's office building in the most hard-hit area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Meanwhile, states down river are shoring up levees as the Mississippi River rises.

What measures do you have in place in the event of a natural disaster in your area? If you have experienced a similar event, what advice do you have for operators across Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri going forward?

If you run an amusement route or facility in the affected areas, what advance preparations were you able to make? What damages were incurred and how has business been disrupted? To what extent were losses recoverable or irrevocable? What are the steps you're taking to restore locations and your business?

ASI 2008: Your Verdict?

2008-04-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

By all unofficial accounts, ASI 2008 saw a downturn in exhibitors, attendees and energy from previous years. Nevertheless, manufacturers unveiled impressive new product by most standards, including the buzz-worthy Big Buck Hunter Safari from Betson/Raw Thrills and Global VR’s WWII-drama driver, Blazing Angels.

Operators on the show floor who spoke to RePlay voiced opinions ranging from enthusiasm about purchases made for jumpstarting the summer months, to deep concerns about the amusement industry riding today’s downhill economy, to calling for a springtime one-show solution to ameliorate the industry’s ills. Meanwhile, exhibiting suppliers were divided between those making fair sales on the first two days and others who did less writing overall than they had hoped.

What was your impression of the event and the product on hand? What role does ASI continue to play in your business year? What factors may have contributed to this year being slower overall?

Operator Interface: No Smoking?

2008-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

Smoking bans gripping locations are initially causing a 30% drop-off in coin-op revenues, according to industry estimates. That fluctuates from route to route, region to region, but many are alarmed over the cumulative effect over the next decade. In fact, the recent AMOA Council of Affiliated States was devoted almost exclusively to this issue.

“We need a grass-root development to band together to bring this inequity before the U.S. Supreme Court,” proposed one Connecticut operator to RePlay. “At least then we will know once and for all if this is imminent domain. If it is, then pay us for taking our business away. Between all the bar owners and operators, I am sure we can afford a high-priced lawyer to bring this issue to the court.”

Since anti-smoking sentiment and legislative fervor have gained momentum not only in the U.S. but around the world, what is a realistic course of action for the industry to take? If smoking bans are inevitable in this political climate, is the best that operators can hope for a statewide ban (as opposed to ones for selected communities) and one that exempts age-restricted locations like bars and taverns? Have lobbying efforts toward that end been measurably helpful?

Smoking bans are definite challenges, but operators are troubleshooting, diversifying, partnering with entertainment providers and more to rethink their companies and to staunch their losses. Join the dialogue and share your efforts and prescriptions for confronting and offsetting the smoking ban issue.

We're Looking for a Few Good Operators (Under 40)

2008-01-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

They say you don’t exist — or at least not in any sizeable numbers. They say the industry is drying up with little to no fresh blood, new perspectives or confidence in the future. We know there are 20- and 30-somethings in the field, diligently pounding the pavement on the street and in tradeshow aisles. Step out of the woodwork and share your reasons for entering into the coin-op amusement industry — and staying. What are the positives about the business? As a member of coin-op’s younger class, what’s your opinion on the divides between generational stances and ways of looking at the problems we all face? The role of the operator? The industry at large?

The Operator's Vote

2008-01-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

The race is on. The calendar is speeding toward Super Tuesday, February 5, when voters in 22 states descend on polling stations to vote for their candidate to lead the Democratic and Republican Parties’ race to the White House. (For the record, that’s you operators in Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Kan., Mass., Minn., Mo., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.D., Okla., Tenn. and Utah.)

If you’re engaged in this primary process — or have already participated in the Iowa and New Hampshire caucuses or elections in Nevada, South Carolina or Florida — are coin-op issues on your mind in the voting booth? Have candidates specifically spoken to your needs and interests as a small business owner directly or indirectly? How did that affect your selection of a candidate? What concerns and causes will be on your mind as operator and citizen come the presidential election this fall?

Operator Interface: Vegas Expo or Bust?

2007-07-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

What are your plans for attending the AMOA Expo, Fun Expo and souvenir show this September? What expectations do you have?

If you're going, what company reps do you want to talk to? Do you have any potential purchases in mind?

Operator Interface: Should the AMOA, AAMA and IALEI co-locate their tradeshows?

2007-06-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Give us your Yeas and Nays on whether the time has come to combine the AMOA and Fun Expos with the Amusement Showcase International.

Does the schedule of one show in the spring and one in fall, in addition to IAAPA, actually spread the downsized coin-op trade too thin? Would consolidation bolster tradester and exhibitor attendance, perhaps giving a shot of adrenaline to the overall health of the industry? Would seasonal distributor open houses become even more popular?

Or are the ripe buying times for route vs. location operators -- fall vs. spring, respectively -- too inflexible for compromise? What about the AMOA and AAMA, who both rely on their shows as moneymakers?

Why or why not? Discuss.

Operator Interface: Do you give what you receive?

2007-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

What charitable deeds does your street operation make to the local community? Donations, sponsorships, scholarships? If you have a location, are there causes you support outside of offering discounts or coupons?

Do you publicize these good works and, by proxy, give your business and the industry at large a better public image?

Are such donations just a luxury that only larger companies can afford? Can everyone give back in some way, regardless of size and overall health of the business?

Share your thoughts, words and deeds with us today.

Lucky or Good?

2007-04-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

As most in the coin-op trade know, Club Lucky and Promo Nation are groups of amusement operators that have formed national consortiums to run tournament promotions. Club Lucky, in particular, is bargaining for direct buying rights from manufacturers.

Is this almost 20-person strong collective, drawn from larger-than-average operating companies, justified in asking for the special clout as major, multi-state operating businesses and arcade chains? How will local competitors of club members be affected, competitively? And how does the group fit into the larger discussion of the necessity for the industry’s middle-tier — regional distributorships?

ASI 2007, part ii: Wrap Up

2007-04-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

What did you take away from ASI 2007? What caught your eye as interesting? What was “all hat and no cattle”?

Considering its size, was it a more focused show on the core of the industry, catering to buyers in a more intimate format, as show planners argue? If not, what was the tradeshow's main value?

Also, as a recent blogger posed, “Why does coin-op need two shows a year when a much larger industry such as amusement parks only has one (IAPPA)? Is there so much new equipment shown each year that we need two shows? If a regional show is required, why not depend on the distribution network to provide it?”

ASI 2007

2007-02-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

The Amusement Showcase International 2007 is less than a month away. Planners are optimistic about a slight spike in exhibitors and registrants perhaps due to moving the locale back to Las Vegas.

Do you share that optimism? Why are you attending, or why not? Are there particular manufacturers and product that you want to check out? Will this show follow the lead of last year's event -- that is, a more intimate, boutiquey tradeshow with a healthy showing of FEC and arcade managers?

Planners are foregoing the traditional reception for what they are calling the Big Bar -- a recreation of the Chicago Hyatt's lobby bar, the bustling center for after-hours industry activity -- erected on the show floor. Do you think this will spark interaction among tradesters, or will people flock to leave the space they've been in all day?

Share your thoughts and expectations about these or any other issues.

Operator Interface: How do you get your party on?

2007-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

We're turning our focus to the cash cow of arcades and family entertainment centers: birthday party programs. What was your learning curve in launching and profitably running a party system? How many do you throw during the week and weekend, respectively? What do your packages include? Have you branched out into corporate events?

Get this party started by sharing what works and what doesn't in professionally throwing a festive bash.

Also, feel free to continue grading RePlay (see previous post). Inquiring minds want to know.

Grading RePlay

2007-01-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now that you've taken stock of 2006 and of what 2007 may hold, it's our turn. We want to know specifically what works for you about RePlay. What sections do you read each month? What articles and columns have assisted you in conducting business?

Don't by shy: Give us your honest opinion about what works for you, what doesn't and, most importantly, what you would like to see in our pages or approach.

Have winter storms given business cabin fever?

2007-01-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

An unseasonably warm winter in much of the country has been punctuated by brutal blizzards and quirky weather patterns. A state of emergency was declared in Colorado in December, while much of Texas and Oklahoma were recently paralyzed by an icy grip for days. How has your operation or distributorship in the country's mid-section been affected by these massive storms? How has business been impacted?

New Year's Resolutions...?

2006-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Has your business been shrinking over the last five years? What have been doing to shore up revenues and location accounts? What specifically do you plan to do in 2007 to grow or maintain your market presence?

Taking Stock of 2006

2006-12-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

Heading into the holiday season, we are often inclined to take stock of the year that is coming to a close. How was 2006 for your business? More of the same? A burst of new growth from online music? Less competition from other operators as consolidation continues? A shrinking or expanding location base, depending upon your approach or locale? None of the above. Chime in and lets us know how 2006 was for your company and what you are expecting for 2007.

What are the criticisms being leveled at online games and jukes?

2006-10-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of RePlay's recently pointed out the considerable resistance to fees for downloading jukeboxes and online games among operators. What is the objection rooted in, considering that the servers for these machines have resulted in greater functionality and therefore generally increased revenues? If fees are part of the way manufacturers maintain their networks and the way content providers receive their due share, where does the resistance lie? Is it part of the general feeling of being nickeled and dimed by too many fees already or something more specific?

Expo 2006: Was it as good for you as it was for me?

2006-10-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

We know you were at the AMOA and Fun Expos. RePlay saw you there, roaming the aisles, inspecting product, talking shop.

So give us your impression of the shows, and don't hold anything back, least of all your honest opinion. From the looks of the product and tones of conversations, where does the industry stand today? What do we have to look forward to? Why?

Bryan Dodge: inspirational or unhinged? The souvenir show: a bigger drag for you or for them?

Let fellow readers, showgoers, blog posters and AMOA honchos know your exact impression. All those inquiring minds want to know, fellas. So spill it.

Operator Interface: Behind Bars?

2006-08-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

How would you characterize your relationship with bar owners on the whole? How do you nurture those relationships? Do you have business dealings with them above and beyond revenue sharing? What are the issues indemic to those give-and-take bonds today?

Operator Interface for AMOA and Fun Expos and Big Kahuna West

2006-07-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

What are your plans and special interests in preparing to go to the AMOA Expo and co-located shows in Las Vegas this September? What expectations and potential purchases do you have in mind? Any opinions on the new souvenir show, Big Kahuna West, that will also be at the civic center? Thoughts on staying at Bally's and travel logistics?

Operator Interface for August 2006

2006-06-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Are you required to pay license fees to the state? To local governments? To both? What about taxes on gross receipts, the purchase of games, etc.? What percentage of your gross income goes to such fees? Is your state association addressing this issue?

Operator Interface for July, part ii

2006-05-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

What is your strategy for investing in new equipment?

Phone queries have revealed that some operators devote 30% of their revenue to new games, while others borrow generously and buy year round. Some have seen investment suffer in the past three years, while others believe the peaks and valleys in spending have averaged out.

What are your tricks of the trade? What product categories do you invest in the most? the least?

E3 Sound-Off

2006-05-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

Did you attend Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles? What struck your eye as noteworthy in light of today's coin-op amusement industry?

Newsweek's review of the show's buzz product was, "Nintendo's Wii: a hit for both kids and Grandma. Xbox 360: perfect for the dorm room. PS3: for movie lovers with a trust fund." Is this a realistic evaluation? How does affordable, family-focused fun register on the radar?

A discussion on E3 began in a former post, with an attendee commenting the show "was interesting in that there was little media focus or attention on the violent home titles. There was more interest on new hardware (Sony's Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii) as well as mobile phone software. It was also nice to see coin-op equipment on the floor, but why were they pieces not available to us operators yet (Time Crisis 4 and DDR Supernova)?"

Operator Interface for July

2006-05-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Are you systematic in reinvesting in your operation? What percentage of your gross revenues do you normally re-invest in your business each year? Does that percentage remain the same or vary from year to year? Where does that investment money go, toward new games, other equipment like computers, vehicles, etc.?

Operator Interface for June, part ii

2006-04-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

How much of the Family Entertainment Protection Act, which prevents minors from buying violent home video games, is a purely political exercise? Is it congressional teeth gnashing or is there genuine concern? How do you explain the phenomenon that Democrats are the main proponents of this measure, not Republicans?

Will the amusement industry ever feel the brunt of these actions, or is it all much ado about nothing?

Operator Interface for June

2006-04-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Are you concerned about pending video game content legislation on state or national levels expanding from the home market to the amusement industry? What are industry members in your state doing to educate lawmakers about the difference in home and coin-op games?

Operator Interface for May

2006-03-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

What was your impression of the 2006 ASI show in Chicago? Did the new product interest you? Did you make any purchases? Why or why not?

The Impact of Gambling

2006-03-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

Our debut Operator Interface question: "How has your state lottery and/or legalized gambling impacted your route and accounts recently? Are operators in your state working toward partnership agreements with the lottery like those in Iowa, who are now operating pull tab games for the lottery system?"

Please post your answer in the "Comment" section below along with your name, your company name and the city where you are located.

Thanks for your participation,
The Editors