(news@playmeter.com)

May 7, 2008 p.m.
WEDNESDAY

"The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with." 
(Bruce Springsteen)

Big Buck Bowl begins today: The May National Tournament for Play Mechanix's Big Buck Hunter Pro (BBHP) Online begins today. The "Big Buck Bowl" tournament will run May 7 to May 27 with 52 winners walking away with over $2,000 in prize winnings. "Big Buck Bowl" is the second nationwide monthly tournament for Big Buck Hunter Pro Online, now that the successful beta test has ended and BBHP Online has officially gone gold. Keenan Hughes was the winner of the "Caribou Classic" tournament that ran April 7 to April 27. The second and third place winners were Matthew Budzisz and Cynthia Bingham, respectively. 

Dave Snipes, the CoinUp Manager for Play Mechanix, is looking forward to the results from the May tournament. "Over 17,000 players have already created tournament accounts and we are sure to see some great scores," said Snipes, adding, "We have a rabid fan base and we are thrilled to see BBHP cabinets make the jump to online every day, which allows more players to join the Online nation." For more information, call Snipes, (630)942-1070, ext. 131; e-mail (dsnipes@playmechanix.com). 

Ecast play list honors mom: Today Ecast Inc. launched "Mommy Dearest," the latest in its series of topically themed play lists. The play list automatically appeared on all 10,000-plus Ecast-powered jukeboxes across the nation and showcases 15 songs around the theme of the upcoming Mother's Day celebration. The play list and its attract loop will run May 7 until May 12. As with all Ecast play lists, "Mommy Dearest" is designed to give additional visibility to the Ecast catalog, encouraging single song downloads and thereby boosting cash box revenue. Appealing to a variety of musical tastes, the play list provides songs from genres including Country, Pop, Hip Hop, and Rock.

The list of artists ranges from 2Pac, Dave Matthew's Band, and Merle Haggard to Ziggy Marley, The Police, and Christina Aguilera. "Ecast has consistently led the way with leveraging broadband to provide something fresh and different but relevant," said Suzanne Maineri, Marketing Communications Manager, Ecast. "By taking a current event and having fun with it, our play lists make the jukebox music experience that much more meaningful and part of everyday life. The evidence can be seen in the cash box." For more information, call (866)443-2278; web (www.ecastnetwork.com).

Stern Pinball featured in The New York Times and on Fox News: April was a big month for the pinball world, with the media looking at the history and future of pinball and paying visits to Stern Pinball.

On April 25, Stern Pinball was featured on the front page and inside the first section of The New York Times. The article, "For a Survivor in the Pinball Industry, the Game Isn't Over," demonstrates that the public remains highly interested in pinball and its continued success. The New York Times also featured a teaser of the Spider-Man pinball machine on the front page and photographs of Shrek and Indiana Jones in the article. Journalist Monica Davey began the article: "Being inside a pinball machine factory sounds exactly as you think it would. Across a 40,000-square-foot warehouse here, a cheery cacophony of flippers flip, bells ding, bumpers bump, and balls click in an endless, echoing loop. The quarter never runs out." 

Fox News reporter Jeff Flock interviews Gary Stern.

Gary Stern, President of Stern Pinball, was quoted, saying that "in 10 years, pinball will be fine," and that his company "will be here, cranking out pinball machines. Fifty years hence? Pinball will be around." Roger Sharpe was also interviewed about the history of pinball, as well as Tim Arnold, Owner of the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nev. Stern said, "Articles such as the one in The New York Times both indicate the public's love of pinball, and generate further interest for game play and ownership. We have received lots of calls from readers and they want to know where they can find pinball games to play. There is demand." 

On April 30, both national and Chicago-based Fox News Television broadcast live from Stern Pinball's factory in Melrose Park, Ill. The Fox Business Report went live at 6 a.m. EST as reporter Jeff Flock interviewed Gary Stern next to a row of Indiana Jones pinball machines on the factory floor. There were subsequent live broadcasts from the factory floor throughout the day, as Flock interviewed Indiana Jones game designer John Borg and Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean game designer Dennis Nordman. Software engineer and champion pinball player Lyman Sheats demonstrated the Indiana Jones model. Stern said, "The public loves pinball and the news media knows it. This type of reporting generates more demand for pinball to play and buy. Folks are looking for places to play." For more information, call (800)542-5377; Web (www.sternpinball.com).

May 5, 2008 p.m.
MONDAY

"People rise out of the ashes because, at some point, 
they are invested with a belief in the possibility of triumph over seemingly impossible odds." 
(Robert Downey Jr.)

Merit ends production of 17-inch Aurora: Merit Entertainment will stop offering its 17-inch Aurora product as of July 1, 2008. In keeping with Merit's 30-year history of product support, the company will continue to support the 17-inch Aurora well into the future. Merit will continue sales of the 19-inch Aurora. "With the Aurora, we developed both 17-inch and 19-inch screens to offer choice to our operators, but the market has dictated that the 19-inch is what players and locations want," said Bob Mills, Merit's Vice President of Sales. "Those operators who have had success with the 17-inch Aurora should get their orders in to their authorized Merit distributors before the end of June, to take advantage of our limited supply of those models." For more information, call (800)523-2760; Web (www.meritgames.com).

BCA releases results of annual membership survey: The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) is making available the results of its annual membership study, including two in-depth and comprehensive reports specific to the billiard retailer and pool room operator segments of the BCA membership. The BCA, in partnership with Ellison Research, of Phoenix, Ariz., conducted the study in January. The main goals were to understand the overall state of the BCA, in addition to providing retailers and room operators with specific information about their respective parts of the industry. A total of 300 interviews were completed, including 153 billiard retailers and 61 room operators. Data gathered was used to compile the two reports. For more information, call (404)760-4248; Web (www.bca-pool.com). 

Valley-Dynamo operator program update: Valley-Dynamo reminds operators about its Great 8 Pool Table $200 discount on tournament tables. This discount can be combined with the Buy 7, Get 1 Free operator program and the zero percent financing. The program will continue through June 30, 2008. Invoices must be received by July 15, 2008. Also, take advantage of zero percent Firestone Financing for 12 months on all Valley-Dynamo equipment; 90 days no payment/12
months. This can be combined with the Buy 7, Get 1 Free Great 8 program. Minimum purchase: $15k. This offer can be combined with the tournament tables discount. The company also advises that it has available the Ultimate Tic Tac Toe and Block Party redemption games, and Cuisin' Hoops and Tot Shots basketball games. For more information, call (800)248-2837; (www.valley-dynamo.com).

May 2, 2008 p.m.
FRIDAY

"Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, 
to listen to each other, and to understand how we see the world, 
and cinema is the best medium for doing this." 
(Martin Scorsese)

Bay Tek appoints Rick Rochetti: Bay Tek Games has appointed industry veteran Rick Rochetti to the post of Director of Sales and Marketing. Rochetti will lead all sales and marketing efforts, while helping form the direction of Bay Tek's product portfolio. The 31-year-old company currently offers a mix of ticket redemption games and merchandising games. Bay Tek is getting ready to release Big Bass Wheel, which it says is already producing impressive numbers in the field. Rochetti has over 28 years of experience; his career began on the distribution side at Bally Midwest, and then with Taito Corp. He later joined Mr. Satomi and other industry veterans at Sammy USA. After the merger between Sammy Corp. and Sega Amusements, Rochetti served as Sega's President; he is credited for years of consistent growth under the Sega umbrella. 

Rochetti said, "I am extremely honored and excited to become part of the Bay Tek team and the reputable history they have. It's hard to find an organization with such character and integrity that delivers great product." During this transition, Rob Ozarowicz will redefine the Inside Sales position to encompass much more than ever before. Ozarowicz has 10 years of industry experience; he will be the link between production and sales. His knowledge of the industry and customer base will allow him to help customers work through opportunities that arise, and ensure Bay Tek fulfills its customers needs. "We are very excited for what the rest of 2008 has in store; we have an impeccable team on staff with product that I'm very proud of," said Bay Tek CEO Larry Treankler. Rochetti may be reached at (847)778-0303; e-mail (rrochetti@baytekgames.com). Rob Ozarowicz may be reached at (920)822-3951, ext. 1701; e-mail (rozarowicz@baytekgames.com). For more information, visit (www.baytekgames.com).

Reserve a spot at IALEI's Region II Meeting: There is still time to reserve your spot for the International Association for the Leisure Entertainment Industry, (IALEI)'s First Region II Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The agenda includes the Certified Inflatable Safety Course, hands-on training for Code Adam, teambuilding at Fun Spot Action Park, or the many educational sessions. Dates are Sunday, May 18 to Tuesday, May 20, at the Caribe Royale Hotel. Stay at the Buena Vista Suites, located next to the Caribe Royale Hotel. To make hotel reservations, call (407)239-8588); Web (www.buenavistasuites.com). To view the Region II brochure, go to (www.ialei.com). 

May 1, 2008 p.m.
THURSDAY

"The greatest wealth is health." 
(Virgil)

NAMA's Fit Pick at Times Square: Fit Pick, The National Automatic Merchandising Association's (NAMA) new nutrition standard program, was recently featured six times on the New York Times Square Jumbotron as part of the a campaign to unveil the program nationally. The unveiling was held in conjunction with an event in Clark County Washington where county officials announced they have chosen to formally adopt Fit Pick for all of the county's vending machines. NAMA President and CEO Richard M. Geerdes, NCE, said, "From coast-to-coast Fit Pick has captured the attention of operators and consumers alike. In Washington State, Clark County officials decided to abandon the county's own health and wellness vending program once they saw Fit Pick, and decided to adopt our program instead. Articles about Fit Pick are running across the country, and in New York, our Fit Pick logo even ran on the Time Square Jumbotron six times during rush hour (April 16-18). It's exciting to see this program becoming so popular."

Fit Pick is the latest health and wellness tool created by NAMA as part of its Balanced for Life national health and wellness initiative. The program includes stickers that can be placed in front of qualifying products, thin clings that explain the nutrition standard, coin slot stickers, round stickers to help educate consumers, and a list of products that meet the specified nutrition standard. The Fit Pick program was initially available only to members of NAMA. After the program was officially unveiled, however, a variety of organizations expressed interest in formally adopting Fit Pick. As a result, Fit Pick is now available nationally to members and non-members alike. For more information, visit (www.fitpick.org).

LIVESTRONG Day at Dutch Wonderland: On Tuesday, May 13, Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park in Lancaster, Pa., will open its doors to pediatric cancer patients from the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation as part of the national Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) LIVESTRONG Day. Ephrata native, cancer survivor, and Dutch Wonderland Safety and Security Manager Vicky Darden is organizing the event. From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., patients and their families will enjoy Dutch Wonderland's rides, games, and food venues at no cost. Opening ceremonies are at 9:30 a.m.; the event is closed to the general public. LIVESTRONG Day at Dutch Wonderland is one of more than 200 events being held nationwide to engage communities with experiences that increase awareness and show support for cancer survivors and their loved ones. For more information, visit (www.livestrong.org).

IAAPA accepts nominations for 2008 Board of Directors and more: Nominations are being accepted by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for its 2008 Board of Directors and Third Vice Chair; nominations are due June 20. The Third Vice Chair will proceed through Second and First Vice Chair posts to become Chairman of the Board in 2012. Nominations are encouraged from all facility types and geographic areas. Any questions on the Board and Third Vice Chair should be directed to Susan Mosedale, (703)836-4800; e-mail (smosedale@IAAPA.org). In addition, nominations are being accepted for the 2008 IAAPA Hall of Fame Award; he deadline is Aug. 8. Nominees for the Hall of Fame are judged on not only their personal success, but on significant contributions to the entire industry. Any questions about the Hall of Fame Award should be directed to Jan McCool, (703)836-4800, e-mail (jmccool@IAAPA.org), or David Mandt, (dmandt@IAAPA.org).

April 30, 2008 p.m.
WEDNESDAY

"Remember, you are in competition for time. Be quicker, better, different. Be a leader of change." 
(Mike McKinley)

Hornitos Tequila launches promotion with Ecast: Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Hornitos Tequila, a member of the Sauza family, launched the "Perfect Combination" interactive promotion on the Ecast touch screen media network. While using Ecast to browse and choose songs, consumers are presented with a variety of touchable ads. Each leads to a custom, full screen micro-site designed for interaction with the brand. For example, consumers can search and view a variety of Hornitos signature cocktails and recipes, including the Hornitos Anejo and Cola. The network also features interactive games available on the micro-site. In Smash the Pinata, consumers can select their weapon of choice (wiffle ball bat, nunchucks, or fly swatter) and then attempt to hit a moving target and damage the pinata. With each successful strike, the pinata sports a band-aid, then a neck brace, and is eventually broken apart by Hornitos tequila bottles. 

"Ecast gives Hornitos a dynamic and interactive means to reach consumers on-premise," said George Giatzis, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales for Ecast. "Brands are blown away when they see such a significant increase in product sales during the campaign on our network. Hornitos has done a stellar job of leveraging Ecast to create the kind of engaging experience that keeps the brand top of mind during and after the bar experience." For more information, call (866)443-2278; Web (www.ecastnetwork.com).

Medalist players to participate in the Intercity Prestige Cup: Medalist Marketing Corp. announces that four players have been selected to participate in the Intercity Prestige Cup, held in La Rochelle, France, June 8-10. The players were chosen based upon rankings after having exceeded the Medalist World Championship Dart Tournament game requirements. Paul Lim has been excluded due to his host position at this event. The U.S. Team members are: Scotty Burnett, Chris White, Dave Fatum, and Robert Heckman. For more information, call (253)939-2900; web (www.medalistgames.com). 

April 29, 2008 p.m.
TUESDAY

"At the end of the day, business is all about being profitable and growing." 
(Millard "Mickey" Drexler)

Betson New York Media Night: Betson Enterprises held it's 2nd New York Media Night on April 17 at the Black Bear Lodge in New York City. The media event was an invitation-only event hosted by Betson with over 20 major media journalists in attendance. Writers from AOL, Cnet, and the Associated Press spent the evening playing Big Buck Safari, the newest release from Play Mechanix, the design team that developed the Big Buck series of games. "It's great to experience the growing support for the Big Buck Hunter series. It is truly amazing how realistic the designers have made this game," said Bob Boals Vice President of Betson Enterprises. Black Bear Lodge Manager Belle Caplis said, "Much of the bar's income is generated due to the popularity of the Buck Hunter games. We use the games and their competitive themes to our advantage, hosting tournaments."

Many of the guests were already familiar with the games and were excited to play against their industry counterparts. The event was also a time to demonstrate the latest features of Big Buck Safari and the online competition features of Big Buck Hunter Pro Online, which allows players to enter tournaments and play against other players in regional or national tournaments. Plans are underway for next year's New York Media Night. For more information on Betson products and financing, call (800)524-2343; e-mail (info@betson.com); Web (www.betson.com).

TouchTunes teams up with Rock the Vote: TouchTunes Music Corp. has announced a partnership with Rock the Vote, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging and building political power for young people. Starting this week, 20,000 TouchTunes digital screens will feature Rock the Vote branded banner ads and an interactive Rock the Vote survey. This campaign will give TouchTunes users information on voter registration and the opportunity to get involved in the political process. Users can voice their opinions on a variety of social and political issues surrounding this year's presidential election, regardless of their political leanings.

"Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture, and new technologies to motivate and engage young people in the political process," said Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote. "The TouchTunes network leverages these touch-points and is a unique platform to ask young voters about the issues they care about most and register them to vote." Ron Greenberg, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital Media, said, "We are proud to partner with Rock the Vote and support their efforts to get young people of all political parties involved. Our national network of over 30,000 digital interactive music systems offers Rock the Vote a perfect way to achieve its core mission. It's a great example of our ability to reach and influence millions of 21-34 year-olds in social settings in an entertaining and engaging way." For more information, visit (www.touchtunes.com) and (www.RocktheVote.com). 

April 25, 2008 p.m.
FRIDAY

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." 
(Sir Winston Churchill)

Rock-Ola goes "green": The Rock-Ola wrapped up the “green conversion” of its Torrance factory just in time for Earth Day on April 22. The facility’s prominent new green awnings are a sign of the environmentally conscious changes taking place inside the renowned 70,000 square foot factory. Throughout the Rock-Ola headquarters and factory building, all standard fluorescent light fixtures—almost 1,700 plus emergency exit signs—have been replaced with high-efficiency fluorescent tubes and computer-controlled electronic ballasts. Service for the conversion was provided by California Edison, who also picked up three-quarters of the cost of replacement. In exchange, California Edison can draw down 10% of Rock-Ola’ s power during peak summer usage hours, helping to offset power needs in other parts of the state. “It’s a win-win for Rock-Ola and the environment,” beamed CEO Glenn Streeter. The conversion is estimated to pay for itself in energy cost savings within 11 months and lighting expenses are estimated to be 40% of the cost prior to the new lighting hardware. In addition to the cost savings, the new system provides significantly more light than the older conventional fixtures.

Rock-Ola Product updates: Since the European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) Directive, Rock-Ola has been using RoHS compliant parts in all export jukeboxes. Effective July 1, 2006, the directive requires that all products for sale in the EU comply with RoHS. Though the United States has not yet adopted a comprehensive policy on the matters of electronic waste, Rock-Ola has taken the initiative to replace its domestic product parts containing lead with RoHS compliant parts, using California’s SB80, Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 as a guideline. Under its new green-colored awnings, Rock-Ola will continue to make “environmentally friendly” choices for products and procedures just as the famous jukeboxes create a “friendly environment” in restaurants, bars, and at home.

Merit's Free Spring Software Update Now Available: Merit Entertainment announces the arrival of its free 2008.5 software update for all ION and Force machines. Operators who purchased Merit's 2008 software will receive the free update discs from their distributors. MegaNet operators have the added option to download the free spring update to all their broadband-connected IONs without needing to spend time and gas money driving out to their locations. Operators simply select the 2008.5 download on their MegaNet Web site and their work is done.

The spring software features new games, updated and enhanced trivia and photo content plus several "under the hood" improvements. Aside from the ease of remote downloading, MegaNet operators will also have exclusive access to 4 fresh Sneak Peek games in the coming months. Check out Merit's Web site with all the latest information at www.meritgames.com.

H. Betti Industries Sets 8^th Annual Golf Benefit for June 4th: Golf Outing will be held at the scenic Beaver Brook Country Club in Annandale, NJ. The Wednesday event begins at 11:30 AM with registration and lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 PM with cocktails at 5:30 followed by dinner. This year the tournament proceeds will be donated to Giuseppe Cirillo, a 32-year Betson veteran who is on disability leave, and may be unable to return to his job. The contribution to Cirillo, will be used to help with his medical expenses.  

For further information on registering for this year’s golf outing, please contact Joe Ingui at jingui@betson.com or Brian Murphy at bmurphy@betson.com, or by calling Betson’s headquarters at (201) 438-1300. Contributions, prizes and hole sponsorships are welcome.

Go Speed Racer Go!:  S & B Candy & Toys has developed a fantastic race themed candy and toy assortment to support the May release of the next summer blockbuster “SPEED RACER”. For over three generations kids of all ages have watched Speed Racer’s Mach 5 Race across the TV screen to victory.

 S & B’s “At The Races” candy and toy mix features 15 different Speed Racer stickers, Hot Wheels cars, licensed Nascar note pads, racing wheel yoyo’s, mini Hot Wheels cars in capsules, racing wheel spin tops, Checkered Flag candy, Hot Tamales Fire, Race Car candy and much much more.

S&B can be contacted at (800)-773-0531 to receive a full color product flyer or see the full line on the web www.sandbsales.com

April 23, 2008 a.m.
WEDNESDAY

"Music doesn't argue, discuss, or quarrel. It just breathes the air of freedom." 
(Harold Arlen)

Betson West announces relocation: Betson Enterprises announced today that its West Coast distribution office (Betson West) in South San Francisco, Calif., will be relocating to Hayward, Calif. The current location will be closed Fri., April 25, to facilitate the move to the new location and will reopen at the new address April 28: 3470 Depot Road, Hayward, CA 94545. The new location can be reached at this toll-free number, (800)526-7906 or the local number, (510)293-9127. For more information, call the corporate office, (800)524-2343 or (201)438-1300; Web (www.betson.com).

Augustana teams up with Ecast for promotion: Joining previous promotion efforts from Flogging Molly and James Otto, piano-driven pop band Augustana is premiering their upcoming album on the Ecast Inc. network. Beginning today, Augustana's "Can't Love, Can't Hurt" went live across Ecast's more than 10,000 nationwide venues nearly one week before its release in stores. To drive music plays of the album, it appears in proven promotional features, including Ecast's Just Added play list as well as an artist-dedicated interactive video loop and the Ecast New Releases video loop, which are seen by half million music enthusiasts each week. 

"Like many bands today, Augustana has built substantial buzz using online vehicles such as MySpace," said Lisa Tiver, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for Ecast. "The Ecast music network is an excellent complement to any online promotional campaign, targeting young adult influencers when they are out of home, having a good time, and actively engaged with the music experience."
Promoting a new release on the Ecast network is a winning combination for bands and artists trying to reach the young, music listening audience. In fact, a recent Arbitron study found that the touch screen broadband network not only reaches the coveted 21-34 age demographic, but Ecast consumers feel passionately about music and 70 percent felt it was a good way to introduce friends and family to music that they like." For more information, visit (www.ecastnetwork.com).

Shelti offers tournament-used dart games: For a limited time, Shelti Inc. will have available tournament-used Shelti Eye2 electronic dart games. These are new games that were played during a recent state or national tournament, then re-packaged in their original cartons and made ready to ship. For more information, contact your distributor or call Cathy Scarbrough, (877) 893-1739 ext. 225; Web (www.shelti.com). 

Announcements from NBVA: At their recent convention in Las Vegas the National Bulk Vendors Association (NBVA) amended their constitution and by-laws to reduce the number of directors from 39 to 21 and to enable the association to discipline members who fail to observe the voluntary toy safety standard adopted by the association in 2004 or who fail to comply with all applicable toy safety laws and regulations. 

The new slate of officers for the Association are pictured from left: 
Treasurer-Bernie Schwarzli of Beaver Machine Corp., 
President-Randy Chilton of Coinstar Ent. Services, 
VP-Steve Siegel of Great American Vending Machine Co., 
Secretary-Mark Pogue of MEPCO Inc.

The next NBVA convention is scheduled for the Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, NV from April 23-25, 2009.  For membership or exhibiting information, contact the NBVA office at 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60606; phone 312-521-2400; fax 312-521-2300; email nbva@muchshelist.com or visit website (www.nbva.org).

April 22, 2008 p.m.
TUESDAY

"Knowledge is what you get when you travel and see things in a different environment." 
(Millard "Mickey" Drexler)

Betson's Annual Spotlight Open House: Betson Enterprises held its Annual Spotlight Open House April 9 at its corporate headquarters in Carlstadt, N.J. The event was attended by over 100 guests, who had the opportunity to tour the corporate showroom, view the newest vending equipment, and play the latest amusement games while enjoying a full buffet lunch. Sales staff, as well as company executives, were available to meet and greet the guests while answering questions about the products and competitive financing plans. "The Open House was a huge success, and a great day to establish new customers while visiting with current clients and friends," said Bob Boals, Vice President of Betson Enterprises. Guests were excited to learn about the latest games and upgrades that were available, such as Big Buck Safari Deluxe, Big Buck Hunter Pro Online, and Hollywood Reels. For more information, call (800)524-2343; e-mail (info@betson.com); Web (www.betson.com).

AMOA to establish a Ray Shroyer Scholarship: The Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) will set up a scholarship to honor long-time AMOA Director and Vice President Ray Shroyer, who lost a valiant battle with cancer in March. Ray was a strong believer in the AMOA Notre Dame Management Program. A scholarship bearing his name will be created for the next AMOA Notre Dame Management Program Class XIV, forming now; the $2,500 scholarship will cover tuition and materials for a student in the new class. The first session for Class XIV will be Oct. 17-20 on the campus at the University of Notre Dame. For more information, contact Lori Schneider, (800)937-2662; e-mail (lschneider@amoa.com).

Job market tight for teens: A news item in the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) News Flash noted that the job market is tight for teens looking for those summer jobs or part-time jobs. According to an article from the Star-Telegram, authored by Maria Perotin, "Nationwide, the unemployment rate for 16-to-19-year-olds rose to 16.5 percent last month from 14.5 percent a year earlier. Meanwhile, the overall employment rate is 5.1 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics." The reasons cited for teen unemployment: more competition from older adults, new immigrants, single moms, and anyone who wants or needs a second job. 

IAAPA offers Skill Builder programs: The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has created two new, customizable Skill Builder programs. "Serving Guests with Disabilities in the Attractions Industry" helps owners and employees gain the customer service skills they need to serve guests with disabilities. "Understanding Sexual Harassment in the Attractions Industry" trains employees on the sensitive issue of sexual harassment: how to avoid it and how to deal with it if it happens. These programs offer case studies on a variety of amusement facilities and can be used in a group training session, or as an individual. Available in English and Spanish, both Skill Builders are presented in modules that provide flexibility to customize segments and address issues and regulations specific to your facility and location. A special member price for both Skill Builder programs is available through May 15, 2008. For more information, call (703)836-4800; Web (www.iaapa.org). 

April 21, 2008 p.m.
MONDAY

"All fine architectural values are human values, else not valuable." 
(Frank Lloyd Wright)

Hotel deadline extended for IALEI's Region II Meeting: There is still time to make your hotel reservation for the International Association for the Leisure Entertainment Industry (IALEI)'s First Region II Meeting in Orlando, Fla., May 19-20. The deadline has been extended to this Friday, April 25, to receive the discount of $95 for a single/double room at the Buena Vista Suites. Go to (www.buenavistasuites.com) or call (407)239-8588 to book your reservation and mention the Group Name: IALEI. Friday is also the deadline to reserve your spot to attend this meeting. The agenda will include information-packed sessions, roundtables, and networking opportunities. To see what else is happening during the meeting or to register to attend, view the Region II brochure by visiting (www.ialei.com). 

Fantasy Entertainment partners with Firestone for advance sales of Portable Photo Booth: Fantasy Entertainment has announced a new addition to its product line, a multi-product portable photo booth designed with new features of special interest to rental companies. Advance orders are now being accepted for shipment in July 2008, and customers can get 12-month, zero percent financing through Firestone Financial. The addition of the portable booth compliments the Vintage photo booth, which was introduced in January 2008. "Our portable photo booth is an exciting new design with features that makes it unique in the industry," said Dale Valvo, Fantasy Entertainment's President and CEO. 

"Now, the fun, spontaneous photo booth experience can be offered by a host of new service providers at locations where a full-size photo booth may not be practical," said Valvo, who mentioned disk jockeys, photographers, and event facilities as target markets. Like the Vintage booth, the portable unit's outputs will be customizable through the use of Fantasy's exclusive Web-based Graphic Design Tool. Firestone Sales Executive Sal Cifala said, "Firestone is happy to partner with Fantasy and provide an exciting finance promotion. We feel that it is a product that is established and will continue to help the operator with a strong ROI." For more information, call Fantasy Entertainment, (800)933-2682, Web (www.fantasyent.com); or Firestone Financial, (800)851-1001; Web (www.firestonefinancial.com). 

NAMA Spring Expo larger: The National Automatic Merchandising Association's (NAMA) recent Spring Expo at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas welcomed 218 exhibitors in 503 booths representing companies from 39 states, three Canadian provinces, and three from China, all offering a wide array of products and services. Many of the new food products sported NAMA's orange and green Fit Pick stickers for healthier food choices. NAMA's health and wellness vending information program, Balanced for Life, helps the vendors recognize foods that meet nutrition standards. 

The agenda included NAMA's Western Golf Classic, the Spring Fling exhibitor-hosted party, and announcements about the NAMA Foundation Scholarship. The education program featured the popular Supervisor Development Program for newly appointed and experienced supervisors and managers, as well as the Quality Coffee Certification Program for new coffee service operators. Educational workshops covered topics such as cashless vending and profit enhancing opportunities. In addition, a number of attendees sat for the NAMA Certified Executive Exam. The next big NAMA event is the National Expo, set for Oct. 15-17 at America's Center in St. Louis, Mo. For more information, call (312)346-0370; Web (www.vending.org). 

April 18, 2008 p.m.
FRIDAY

"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done 
because he wants to do it." 
(Dwight D. Eisenhower)

NBVA trade show in progress in Las Vegas: The 58th National Bulk Vendors Association (NBVA) Convention and Trade Show is currently underway at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas; it concludes Sat., April 19. The show welcomed 38 exhibitors, with a preliminary count of 300 attendees; some came from as far away as Australia and Colombia. Seminars were well attended, including one focused on improving vendors' operations to achieve growth and success. The association reports the addition of 22 new members. Dan Case of Tejas Distributors, a Past President of the NBVA, commented, "Although our attendance this year has been less than we would like to see, the people who are here are true, qualified buyers, which leaves time for the exhibitors to deal with solid buyers and not window-shoppers." For more information on the show, call (312)521-2400; Web (www.nbva.org).

Cardinal Distributing merges with What's Up LLC: Cardinal Distributing Inc. announces its merger with What's Up LLC, giving Cardinal exclusive production and distribution rights to the What's Up brand. Under the terms of the arrangement, Cardinal will focus on the financing, production, and distribution of both company's products, freeing the What's Up team to concentrate on sourcing, developing, and marketing the product lines. Though the two companies will maintain their individual product lines and sales offices, operators will be able to purchase both brands by contacting either company. However, What's Up will be closing its El Paso, Texas, warehousing and distribution facility, and both companies' merchandise will be shipped from the Cardinal facility in Baltimore. For more information, call Cardinal (410)325-2121 or What's Up (920)739-4904; Web (www.cardinaldist.com) and (www.whatsup-online.com).

TouchTunes welcomes operator input: This week, TouchTunes Music Corp. hosted a meeting of its operator advisory board, which was established to open clear lines of communication between the manufacturer and its operator partners, and encourage feedback from the field. Twice a year operators meet with TouchTunes staff away from tradeshow floors and personal comfort zones for a free flow of information. The spring meeting was held in New Orleans. Ron Greenberg, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President for Digital Media, spoke about the value of the operator board: "It's consistent with our whole approach to operators. It's all about sharing, and receiving guidance from them." He said that input from past meetings "has definitely affected some of our decisions," adding, "with new ideas like advertising, we want to be sure we are in lockstep with operators. We get a tremendous amount of value from these meetings. We want to hear from the market." Over 30 operators attended, representing small, medium, and large businesses. Andy Shaffer of Shaffer Services, commented, "It's incredibly valuable to be able to talk to both engineers and executives. We don't often get this kind of opportunity, nor do they get an opportunity to tap into the street operator reality." For more information, call (888)338-5853; Web (www.touchtunes.com). 

AAMA hosts pavilion at Pizza Expo: Nearly 6,000 pizzeria operators from around the world attended the International Pizza Expo (IPE), April 1-3, in Las Vegas. Show management said the 2008 event was the second best attended in Pizza Expo history. The sold out trade show floor consisted of 1,000 booths with everything needed in a pizzeria, from equipment, to food, to coin-op games. The American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) again sponsored the AAMA Pavilion on behalf of its members and the overall coin-op industry. As in past years, the Pizza Expo followed the Amusement Showcase International (ASI), with both events in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The IPE will return to Las Vegas next year in the north hall of the LVCC, March 10-12, the same dates as ASI 2009. 
Participants in the AMA Pavilion were: Allstar Vending, Bay Tek Games, LAI Games, Mammoth Glow Machine, and Namco America. Additional AAMA members present at the show included Benchmark Games, Betson Enterprises, Marshall Productions, Peek-A-Boo Toys, and Smart Industries. For more information, visit (www.pizzaexpo.com).

Great bowling balls of fire: The firefighters of Engine Co. 2 in Norristown, Pa., love Incredible Technologies' Silver Strike Bowling (SSB) so much they have a machine in their firehouse. It's an online Silver Strike Bowler's Club machine, and the firefighters love checking their statistics and having a shot at the sweepstakes. Engine Co. 2 recently had good reason to celebrate when one of their own, Stephen Keeley, won the SSB March sweepstakes and received a $10,000 American Airlines gift card. His entry was chosen randomly from over 1.9 million entries. "The guys can't stop talking about it," said Keeley. "It's just awesome. It's exciting." For more information, call (847)870-7027; Web (www.silverstrikebowling.com). 

Top foosball players compete in Atlanta: Athletes and enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Atlanta to compete in a unique sports event: the U.S. Open of Table Soccer April 17-20 at the Airport Hilton in Atlanta. An estimated 400 participants from as many as 15 countries are expected to face off in "handle-to-handle combat." Table soccer fans will be watching some of the best foosball action anywhere, with fierce competition expected to occur between members of the U.S. National Team and the national team members of numerous other countries such as Germany, Austria, Costa Rica and the U.K. Adding to the excitement, as a United States Table Soccer Federation sanctioned event the top U.S. finishers in Women's Doubles, Women's Singles, and Men's Open Doubles will all qualify to compete in the International Table Soccer Federation's World Championships Finals in Italy in October. For more information, call (563)580-9485; Web (www.ustsf.org).

April 16, 2008 p.m.
WEDNESDAY

"Every song is a special piece of creative energy." 
(Martin Scorsese)

Ecast's BarPulse for March: The Ecast BarPulse for March shows that diversity and popularity are the hallmark of the most played songs on the Ecast network. The BarPulse chart, which tracks top plays of new music added to the network each month, reads like a "who's who" of popular artists. Early singles off forthcoming albums by platinum selling artists Madonna and Disturbed placed alongside established favorites such as Flo Rida's "Low," which has experienced consistently strong play since its addition to the Ecast network in December, and now continues to drive plays for the recently released album "Mail on Sunday."

"The variety of music choices on the Ecast network is illuminated in the March BarPulse," said Paul Koehler, Label Relations Manager for Ecast. "Hip hop, R&B, country, and alternative rock are all represented and it is a reflection of the Ecast audience, not to mention its broad reach." Ecast BarPulse ranks plays of new music on the Ecast broadband media network in over 10,000 bars and nightclubs across the country. Ecast adds over 1,000 songs each week, and then issues a monthly ranking of the most popular song plays, nationwide. For more information, visit (www.ecastnetwork.com)

Hotel deadline tomorrow for IALEI's Region II Meeting: There's only one day left to make hotel reservations for IALEI's First Region II Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Thu., April 17, is the deadline to receive the discount of $95 for a single/double room at the Buena Vista Suites. Go to (www.buenavistasuites.com) or call (407)239-8588 to book your reservation and mention the Group Name: IALEI. The Region II Meeting will be held from Sun., May 18, to Tue., May 20, with information-packed sessions, roundtables, and networking opportunities. For more information, or register, visit (www.ialei.com). 

VirtuPlay releases five new INTEVO Players Club titles: VirtuPlay Corp., developer and manufacturer of INTEVO, the advanced touch screen entertainment countertop, has five new game titles for its INTEVO Players Club that were released at the recent Amusement Showcase International (ASI). VirtuPlay debuted it's new Guided User Interface that is loaded with more options, five new tournament-based games (Rev It 21, Spot It, Whack'em Golf, Secrets of Pandora, and Blast'em UFO's), plus extended INTEVO Players Club features. All new features will be automatically available to all INTEVO's currently on location. (as always, free of charge). For more information, call (905)265-7529, ext. 27; e-mail (sales@virtuplay.ca); Web (www.intevo.ca). 

April 15, 2008 p.m.
TUESDAY

"We'll try to cooperate fully with the IRS because, as citizens, 
we feel a strong patriotic duty not to go to jail." 
(Dave Barry)

Betson Enterprises opens New England office: Betson Enterprises held a grand opening celebration on March 16 for its newest location: Betson New England at 560 Turnpike St., in Canton, Mass., 20 miles from Boston. The day was full of fun and surprises for both children and adults. Betson displayed new products in both the amusement and vending categories, as well as the full line of licensed billiards products with the MLB, NFL, and NBA logos. Joe Beston, General Manager, said, "Today was the day we unveiled the New Betson New England office to our customers. I know they were pleased." Betson offered grand opening specials on products and parts, as well as financing specials on new and used equipment. For more information, call (800)274-6326, e-mail (info@betson.com); Web (www.betson.com).

ASI lands on YouTube: This year's Amusement Showcase International (ASI) has been blogged about and spotted on YouTube. Adam Pratt, a 26-year-old arcade operator, attended the show and captured various aspects that can be found on his blog site, known to many as Arcade Heroes, as well as YouTube. American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) member companies, whose products were mentioned, included Stern Pinball's Indiana Jones pinball, Global VR's EA Sports NASCAR Racing and Blazing Angels, Coastal Amusements' Sea Wolf, and Triotech Amusement's UFO Stomper. Pratt also spoke with AAMA's President Mike Rudowicz, as well as show Co-Chairman Frank Cosentino of Namco America. In addition, Pratt wrote an ASI wrap-up report for game industry site Gamasutra, titled "Round-Up: The State Of The Arcade At ASI 2008." AAMA's public relations efforts included inviting the public to experience ASI. The idea was to not only inform the public of coin-op's continued existence, but also to allow the public to see the products available. Because of these intentions, the association notified Las Vegas media that the show was coming to town. KKLZ-FM and KSTJ-FM announced the event live on air and also gave away tickets to its morning show audience. On day two, columnist Doug Elfman wrote a review of the show, which included information on Saturday's open-door policy, as well as the World Pinball Championship that landed on the front page of The Las Vegas Review-Journal. It has not been decided yet if ASI will again open its doors next year when it co-locates with the Fun Expo. For more information, visit (www.coin-op.org). 

Sign up now for NAMA-GSU Emerging Leaders Program: The registration deadline of April 21 is fast approaching for the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Emerging Leaders Development Program. NAMA, in partnership with the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at George State University (GSU) will offer the five-day course at the Georgia Tech-Global Learning Center May 4-8. The course is designed for mid-level managers in the vending, coffee service, and foodservice industry who want to become tomorrow's leaders. GSU faculty who will teach at the Emerging Leader Program include Debby Cannon, Director of the School of Hospitality, who will talk about team dynamics; Michael Kasavana, PhD., CHTP, NCE, the NAMA Endowed Professor in The School of Hospitality Business at MSU, who will show how to apply V-commerce technology; and other industry experts. Participants will learn to identify strategies that positively impact business performances, strengthen ability to use information in decision-making, assess organization strength by measuring internal and external factors that drive success, network and brainstorm with other business leaders, and re-energize and re-focus leadership practices. For more information, visit (www.vending.org).

April 14, 2008 p.m.
MONDAY

"If you wait long enough, people will surprise and impress you. 
People will show you their good side." 
(Jon Snoddy)

Connected operators get a Sneak Peek at Lucky 11's: Merit Entertainment has released its latest Sneak Peak Game, Lucky 11's. The game automatically downloads to all MegaNet-connected Megatouch IONs. In Lucky 11's, the player is challenged to tally casino chips that total 11 and clear the board as quickly as they can. Sneak Peek Games like Photo Pop and Beer Pong 21 have been proven earnings boosters, according to Merit. Sneak Peek Games are free to all MegaNet-connected IONs (including the Aurora). Merit reminds operators that MegaNet itself is free for any broadband-connected Megatouch linked to an AMI jukebox. "With the advantage of Sneak Peek Games, MegaNet operators always have the freshest content," said Colin Higbie, Merit's Director of Marketing. "Megatouch IONs already out-earn the competition. Sneak Peaks push earnings even higher on connected machines by automatically downloading the hottest new games months before anyone else get them. We strongly encourage all Megatouch operators get connected so they can stay ahead of the competition by offering more to their players and increasing their earnings." For more information, visit (www.meritgames.com).

ASI was busy for Ecast and partners NSM, Rock-Ola, and Wurlitzer: Light attendance did not slow this year's ASI show for Ecast and its hardware partners NSM, Rock-Ola, and Wurlitzer. New promotions, product, and a strong presence resulted in a healthy show for Team Ecast and the opportunity to talk serious shop with their combined customer base. "When attendance is soft, you actually have a better opportunity to discuss with an operator where his business is truly at," said Scott Walker, Director of sales and Marketing.

The announcement of the Ecast's Fast Track promotion was well received, according to Ecast. New operator sign up was brisk for the promotion, which complements the products offered by NSM, Rock-Ola, and Wurlitzer. Operators on the original Fast Track benefited from the new promotion as well with an extended savings period. On the hardware side of Team Ecast, NSM enhanced its overall offering with the introduction of its new conversion kit as an addition to the Icon dedicated box. NSM also announced its partnership with Polk Audio, bringing legendary high quality sound to their jukeboxes. Rock-Ola made some modifications to its product lineup, most notably the even sleeker, all black Slimline and the competitively priced RockStar 3, also sporting a new look. Rock-Ola were pleased that its distributor partners attended and all placed orders. After hours, show attendees at the Big Bar were treated to the some good times as operators competed for cash prizes at the Name ThatTune contest, with Rock-Ola's Slimline powering the music. Wurlitzer showed continued momentum with the Digital Princess, which is in the tradition of the classic Wurlitzer 1015. 
For more information, visit (www.ecstnetwork.com).

Big savings on all Fortune games from Family Fun Companies this month; Pharaoh's Treasure shipping again: Family Fun Companies wants to make sure all operators know that the $500 Operator Discount continues until the end of the month. "We have had a very good response to this promotion and want to make sure all operators who want to take advantage of this savings know the end for this promotion is just around the corner," said Jim Chapman. "The other great news is that we are getting in more Pharaoh's Treasure games. The numbers have been fantastic and we are happy to be shipping additional units next week. Contact your local distributor to get your orders in on this aggressively priced four-player pusher." said Jim. For more information, visit (www.familyfuncompanies.com). 

TouchTunes and LocaModa to connect over 30,000 jukeboxes to social networks: LocaModa, a technology company providing a mobile social platform that connects consumers' favorite online networks and out-of-home locations, and TouchTunes Music Corp. have partnered to extend the TouchTunes experience to mobile consumers and social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. In addition to extending the on-location experience to social networks, the partnership between TouchTunes and LocaModa will allow patrons to use their mobile phones to interact with flat panel screens driven by the TouchTunes jukebox's media server. Applications will feature fun, engaging content such as information about the music playing on the jukebox, user generated content, and even patron photos via their social network profiles. All interactions can also be displayed as data feeds on social networks. Online users will be able to view and participate in the activity at their favorite locations, for example: who is actually there, what music is currently playing, and they can even "gift" songs to friends at that location.

Art Matin, CEO of TouchTunes, said, "LocaModa's platform enables our jukeboxes to be the new media intersection of entertainment, digital out-of-home, Web, and mobile. With LocaModa, we give our customers the ability to interact using their mobile phones, and we extend our reach to new audiences via social networks. It's clear that richer, wider, and more measurable interactive user engagement will help monetize new advertising channels for TouchTunes and our operators." Because user messages and brand content can be displayed both online and on-location, advertisers can easily extend their brand's reach and multiply the number and value of their impressions. For more information, visit (www.touchtunes.com) and (www.locamoda.com).

April 14, 2008 a.m.
MONDAY

Addition to AMOA Nation:  While talking with AMOA this morning we found out that AMOA Staffer Maggie Kapinos and husband Paul had a baby boy on Friday. Several months ago, when she made the announcement that she was expecting the couple's second child (daughter Delilah is four-years-old), Maggie pledged to work up until the end of her pregnancy...and she meant it.  Thursday was her last day of work.  The baby weighed in at 8 lbs., 4 oz. and 21 inches.  They are both doing well.  We join Lori, Renie, and Jack plus a whole bunch of folks in Maggie's extended AMOA family in wishing her all the best during her maternity leave.

April 9, 2008 p.m.
TUESDAY     

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." 
(Albert Schweitzer)

Rowe and Firestone create a spring promotion: Rowe International and Firestone Financial Corp. are teaming up to offer special pricing and tiered financing options including zero percent APR and no payments for up to 180 days on Rowe's GrandSTAR, NiteHAWK, and Solara digital downloading jukeboxes. This program is available to all qualified operators on purchases from participating authorized Rowe distributors through Firestone from now until June 30, 2008. "There will never be a better time for operators to upgrade music," said John Margold, Rowe's Senior Vice President of Sales/Marketing. "Special pricing on our jukeboxes and music fees, combined with great rates from our friends at Firestone, give operators flexible finance options that will suit just about everyone," said Margold. Investing in three new Rowe jukeboxes qualifies for 7.99 percent for 24 months, with a first payment due in 120 days, plus 50 percent off AMI Music fees for the first three months. Increasing to six jukeboxes entitles the purchaser even better terms: zero percent APR for 12 months. There's also a 5.99 percent APR for 24-month option with no payments due for six months. Buy nine or 12 jukeboxes and the incentives continue to grow. "We are very excited to partner with Rowe on this aggressive promotion," said Jim Hines, Vice President of Sales at Firestone, adding, "Rowe has really stepped up for their customers, and it's a perfect time for operators to invest in their routes." For product information, call Rowe (800)393-0201, Web (www.roweinternational.com); for finance information, call Firestone, (800)851-1001; Web (www.firestonefinancial.com).

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