The Redemption & FEC Report #31 – Technical & Operational Tips

The Redemption & FEC Report #31 – Technical & Operational Tips

Ask Frank ‘the Crank’ Seninsky

Here’s the Ticket!

Service and modification tips are great time and parts savers and also help increase game revenues. If any of our reader technicians have a tip, please email it to Frank the Crank at [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, title, and facility. All tips are much appreciated.

American Changer CPU Protection Tip
(Dave Forlano, Regional Technician, Alpha-Omega Amusements)

Problem: CPU is not working (blown chips) due to a quarter or token falling into the gap between the cardboard insulator and the solder side of the CPU board. The CPU board is mounted to the top side of the cabinet with a thin cardboard insulator between the cabinet and CPU. Coins can get pushed out of the top edge of the hopper bin and once in a while one will slip into the gap and be the cause of an expensive repair.

Solution: Avoid this disaster by placing and securing a ‘deflector’ on top of the CPU, acting like a window awning, and any falling coins will harmlessly fall away from the CPU and drop to the bottom of the cabinet. (See picture).

There are many games, especially coin-action games, where sensitive circuit boards and power supplies are mounted in harms’ way of stray coins (and any loose metal parts), horizontally to the cabinet floor or on the cabinet floor. Once you encounter a blown board you will be highly motivated to cover these vulnerable boards with a piece of plexi-glass or cardboard. Make sure to put holes in your cover so that the boards can breath (permit heat to escape).


Increase Ticket Capacity on Coin Pushers (Ray Dachik, Technician/Manager, Alpha-Omega Amusements)

Running out of tickets on our high revenue generating coin pushers or having to frequently add more tickets is a headache most technicians can do without. Coming up with a simple way to install a larger ticket bin in the small space looked like a worthwhile project.

I chose an Atlantis 4-player because it has the least interior space per player station compared to Elvis or Gold Coast. Starting with a 3-stack ticket bin that I got from parts, I cut it down to 9.5 inch height which is enough to hold more than 4000 tickets. Next a 14 inch piece of 1” wide flat metal stock is used mount the ticket bin at a 130 degree angle. The angle is specific to Atlantis. Note that adding tickets is now easier because the new ticket bin is slightly tilted forward, towards the front. (See diagram and finished picture). These days, I like Atlantis much better!

Costs: 3-stack ticket bin is $19.95 (Benchmark, Part#THSHM002). Metal flat stock was $7 for 48” that will make 3 brackets. I used 2 small bolts with nuts, 2 screws. Cutting, drilling, bending, and installing took under 1 hour. The 2nd one took 30 minutes.

As other pushers have more interior space, there is a possibility that a 3-stack that holds 6000 tickets will work. I’ll let you know.



Monster Drop Ball Pulley Belt Stops When 3rd Ball is NOT in Place
(Ray Dachik, Technician/Manager, Alpha-Omega Amusements)

Problem: The Receiver Board optic sensor ‘sensed’ a blockage and stopped the Ball Pulley Belt even when there was no ball above it. When I touched the Receiver Board the red light would go off and the belt would start moving and deposit a ball onto the track, but then the red light would come back on immediately after the ball rolled past it and stay on. This stopped the belt even if there was no stationary ball above it.

When the game is working properly, the Receiver Board should stop the Ball Pulley Belt when the 3rd ball is in place above it when the game is awaiting a win. The Receiver Board has a red LED that lights up when a ball is detected above it. The red LED should come on briefly when a ball rolls over the sensor but the belt should not stop unless the sensor detects a stationary ball above it.

I pulled the Receiver Board and noticed that the receiver bulb was surrounded by a protective shrink boot that extended above the bulb. The little round opening left by the shrink boot was filled with dust. After cleaning off the dust, I peeled the shrink boot down permanently to expose the top of the bulb (See Diagram). The Receiver Board has worked perfectly now for several months and our Monster Drop is making more money. This leads me to believe that the Shrink Boot may have been responsible for causing many intermittent reported problems in the past as the dust buildup started getting worse.

I pass this information on because replacing the Receiver Board will only temporally solve the problem and the same problem will occur again.

The Redemption & FEC Report #31 – New Products & New Technologies

The Redemption & FEC Report #31 – New Products & New Technologies

Power Drop X-Treme to be released by Benchmark

For all of Redemption & FEC Report readers who have been following the huge earnings of the industry’s #2 ranked game Monster Drop Extreme (2 player) for the past two years, Benchmark has designed a similar single player model called Power Drop X-Treme (PDX) that has a lower cost and smaller footprint (5’ x 5’) with a marquee height of 13.5 feet (that can be lowered to 11.9 feet). This is great news for the industry as now many more FECs can now benefit by adding a PDX to their game mix. For more information visit (www.benchmarkgames.com) or click on the Benchmark linked ad.


Zone Laser Tag Now Has a ‘Membership Levels & Ranking’ Guide
Many of the 500+ existing operators of Zone Laser Tag Systems worldwide should be very excited about having their laser tag players able to participate in the different membership levels and be officially ranked. As a player plays more games they reach standardized goals and higher membership levels. This is a great marketing tool to encourage repeat play and also to attract new players who hear about this from their ranked friends. The players can view their standings at a kiosk within the facility or going to the Zone membership website. Other guests are attracted to the kiosk and this also gets customers to join. It is our understanding that a player can play at any Zone laser tag site and their achievements are automatically updated.

What this could mean? This added dimension to laser tag play makes it more exciting for both individual pay and team play. Teams can be matched based on experience level totals to compete against each other and tournaments can be set up just like in other sports. I can envision traveling teams being hosted by a different Zone laser tag facility each week. This translates to a higher public recognition of laser tag as a sport. Having a variety of different arenas and different models of Zone systems will just add to the interest level. Who knows, maybe all of the laser tag companies will get together and create playing standards? Could there be fantasy laser tag teams? Probably not, but we can dream about it?

Zone operators can register and obtain the new Guide by going to www.zonelasertag.com or contacting Erik Guthrie at [email protected].

The Redeption & FEC Report #31 – Breaking News

The Redeption & FEC Report #31 – Breaking News

SpongeBob Pineapple Arcade Redemption Game Jumps to #3 Ranking During Testing

Here’s the Ticket!

Andamiro’s SpongeBob card pusher game was set-up by the AEM/Alpha Team on 7-29-15. Players win tickets/points but also can win character cards and trade them in for tickets/points. Collecting a set of 9 different character cards is worth a super bonus.

The first week Sponge Bob grossed $3102 with a 17% win % and an overall ranking of #6. Week 2 revenues were $3008 @ 21% with a ranking of #5. Week 3 revenues were $4576 @ 23% with an amazing ranking of #3. This is absolutely incredible for a new 2 player game to rank that high especially with so many other new test games at the test location. The concept of redeeming cards and collecting card sets is similar to the #1 ranked Wizard of Oz pusher and we are glad to see that this simple concept can add additional dimensions to a redemption game or a merchandiser.

08/21/15 $4,576 23% 08/14/15 $3,008 21% 08/07/15 $3,102 17%

Note that the Win% is increasing as more players are collecting their cards and waiting until they have a complete set and can redeem the set for 5000 tickets/points. [Update-Week 4 came in at 32%]. We set the value of each character card at 50 tickets and the complete 9 card set at 5000 tickets. Currently a won token is worth 5 tickets. TRR will keep you updated as we track the Win% and make adjustments to keep it in the average 30% range. There are many options available to keep SpongeBob attractive to the players.

SpongeBob Pineapple Arcade – 2 Player                       8/21/2015
Product Disc Value Each in Tickets Qty Ticket Amount
Tokens Awarded 5 21 105
Tokens Awarded by Game 1 135664 135664
Character Cards 50 138 6900
Complete Card Set 5000 Tix 5000 4 20000
Total Tickets     162669
Value Points Won & Redeemed $1,236.28
Gross Revenue $4,576.00
Win %     27.02%
       
.0076 – ticket value Tickets    
Form Courtesy of Amusement Entertainment Management

 


Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM) Continues to Help the Industry

AEM’s mission statement has always been to help move the industry forward and continue to raise the bar. In addition to assisting Elaut with the Tower of Tickets Rotary and Coast to Coast with the development of a Ticket Crane, AEM is currently working with 28 clients (medium to large size) whose feasibility studies have been completed. Of those 28 clients, 26 have obtained funding and are in the development stage process. AEM is well known throughout the financial industry and has a great track record. Below is a sampling as reported by Jerry Merola, AEM Managing Partner:

“AEM is presently developing Pennsylvania’s first indoor skydiving venue in the Pocono Mountains. The $9 million project will propel thrill seekers 40 feet into the air within a specially-designed air chamber operated by a DC-3 jet engine. It’s entertainment on steroids.”

“Toronto’s largest indoor waterpark is currently under development at The Hershey Center Sportsplex. AEM is coordinating all aspects of the project, including market feasibility, capital fundraising, and government relations. The $75 million project is expected to go online in early 2017.”

“Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s newest FEC will open in November, 2015 with the help of AEM. The 22,000 sq. ft. FEC incorporates design and operating concepts that will allow it to stand apart from the rest. AEM provided full development services, including market feasibility, procurement of bank financing, equipment selection, and establishment of the operations strategy.”


Click on the AEM ad at the top left to learn more about AEM or go to www.AEMLLC.com.


 


Last Foundations University Class for 2015

Don’t Miss This Opportunity If You Are Opening a New Center or Looking
to Revitalize Your Current Center!

October 13-15, 2015
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel

(free airport shuttle)
4440 West John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX

SIGN UP NOW!!

Foundations Entertainment University, finishing up its 12th year, continues to be the entertainment industry’s resource for covering all aspects of market & financial feasibility, planning, design, financing, development, marketing and managing a location-based entertainment business for long term success. The class provides a complete blueprint for anyone developing and opening a new center or significantly expanding or renovating an existing location-based entertainment facility. Just as important – existing facilities can learn how to stay ahead of the competition and expanding markets.

Foundations Workshop Tuition Fee of $489:

  • 3 full days of classroom instruction
  • Lunch Tuesday-Thursday and dinner Tuesday and Wednesday (our special hotel rate includes breakfast)
  • Tuesday late evening/night behind the scenes tour of local family entertainment centers
  • Comprehensive manuscript manual and CD
  • Informal one-on-one consultations with instructors

Registration includes lunches & dinners. Two or more people from same company, first per person at regular rate; 50% discount for each additional person.

A limited block of hotel rooms has been reserved until 9/25/2015 at the Sheraton DFW Hotel at the special workshop rate of $155 single occupancy or $165 double occupancy per night plus tax and includes breakfast and wifi. Room availability and this room rate is only guaranteed through 9/25/15. To book your room, clink here or call the hotel at +972.929.8400 and ask for the room rate for Foundations arriving 10/12/15. The first night’s deposit is required.

For more information and to register on-line, visit www.foundationsuniversity.com


Special Search

Alpha-Omega Amusements and AEM are looking for 2 special FEC’s where its 45 year operating expertise and marketing knowledge can be used to create a top quality games zone where revenues have the potential to fall in the range of $1,000,000-$1,500,000 on a revenue-share basis.

The space required would be a minimum of 3000 sq. ft. to a maximum of 4000 sq. ft. Any interested parties, please contact Frank Seninsky directly at [email protected].

TRR-FEC Volume 31 – July / August

Scroll Down for All the News                                                Volume 31 ~ July / August 2015