The Public Computing X5 has been in the market for just over three years and we believe there is still many years of life left in its timeless design. This is why during most of 2007 we have invested in selecting a limited set of component-features that can be ordered with this unit.

An example is the coin-mechanism from WH Münzprüfer Berlin GmbH in Germany. They have been manufacturing coin-mechanisms for over eighty years. The unit that we have selected for integration into the X5 has been in production for more than 12 years and is simply the most reliable unit available. In 2003 they were the first to release an USB-port version for power and communication. For this component Public Computing has designed a simple but robust coin-drop-box that fits well into the X5 with an extended backdoor.

The combination of best-in-class components with the timeless X5 design has proven to be a great success that will be continued in the years to come.

Namco Europe Limited has underlined its intentions to expand into new business sectors adding British Kiddie Rides specialist Amutec to the existing business. The deal comprises the purchase of the Amutec name and a 10,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, together with expansive assets.
Namco Europe Managing Director, John McKenzie explained: “This strong brand complements our existing range of activities and it is our aim to add value and support to the Amutec marque, re-establishing it as a market-leading innovator within the highly competitive kiddie ride sector.“ He continued: “The business at Mablethorpe will once again develop new rides and products, facilitate the refurbishment of rides and continue ADIPS testing, whilst full spares support will be offered by west London-based Brent Electronic.”
The purchase was pre-empted in early January with Namco Europe creating a new Kiddie Rides division, headed by General Manager Chris Bell, whose 25 years’ amusement industry experience includes 20 working in the kiddie rides sector, eight of which were spent as consultant and Sales Manager with Amutec.
Chris Bell added: “The response to our new kiddie ride range at ATEI was phenomenal, adding an extra dimension to the Namco offering. The fresh impetus and professional business planning now being implemented will, I am certain, help restore the highest regard for the Amutec brand, as well as bringing many new opportunities to Namco’s other product sectors.”

Sound Leisure will attend the Dubai Entertainment Leisure and Amusement Show (DEAL) next month and is looking for a partner in the region to sell its range of hand-crafted Nostalgia boxes. Sound Leisure will be showing a combination of CD and Ipod models at the show and believes that the high quality workmanship of the range will prove popular with customers in Dubai and surrounding areas.
Since Sound Leisure redesigned its Nostalgia range in 2006, sales have doubled. Clients have appreciated the combination of cutting edge technology with traditional design details. The Nostalgia jukeboxes are created in a subdivision of Sound Leisure, where each box is lovingly hand built by craftsmen, who often customise jukeboxes to specific requirements.
Sound Leisure’s Nostalgia jukeboxes feature solid wood ply cabinets, sturdy aluminium sand castings and a new amplifier and speaker system that has a superior sound quality to any of its rivals. In addition, the machines benefit from the simplest Jukebox CD changer mechanism in the world.
Sound Leisure is the only company currently capable of manufacturing a slim-style Nostalgia cabinet, the Melody. Another unique feature is that the top models benefit from LED sound-to-light and remote-control colour selection.
“The Nostalgia range is all about quality, these are not mass produced units, although they benefit from being produced in one of the largest jukebox manufacturing plants in the world. In fact, this division is similar to a cottage industry within the plant,” said Chris Black, Sound Leisure Managing Director.
“We often sell these jukeboxes to celebrities and in the world’s top retail outlets, such as Harrods of Knightsbridge. Over the past few months, we have manufactured boxes in a host of different colours and even produced one with gold castings! Many of these Nostalgia boxes are already heirlooms that are handed down through generations,” he added.

That’s the message from Money Controls srl ahead of this month’s Enada Primavera in Rimini. They are stressing both the suitability of their products for the Italian market and the highest level of customer response from their Milan service centre.

Money Controls has the largest selection of hoppers in the industry, and two, the Compact Range and the Combi Hopper System, feature strongly on the company’s stand. Both are ideal for use in Comma 6A machines, meeting all the technical requirements of the new regulation, whilst providing field-proven reliability and security.

With fast payout, in ‘single’ or ‘stream’ mode, a small footprint and a range of bowl options, the Compact hopper range provides a solution whatever the application. As a result, over one million have been supplied worldwide.
Developed to meet the requirements of the Italian AWP market, the Combi Hopper system features a low float, high security and fast payout of €2, €1 and €50c coins from just two hoppers, with no hunting for coins. Launched two years ago, it has already been integrated into machines by major software houses in Italy. It is now available with a high-capacity bowl, making it the ideal solution for handling the increased jackpots in Italy.

The Money Controls’ stand features several other products from the company’s extensive portfolio, including: PayLink, their USB integration module, the SR5i and SR3 coin acceptors, and the Ardac Elite and Lumina bill validators, for the casino and amusement markets, respectively.

Stephan Rosseneu, Western European Sales Manager, based in the company’s Milan office, is looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers to the Money Controls’ stand and show them not just the company’s products but also their enhanced customer service: “With the opening last year of our new centre in Milan, I believe we now deliver the best possible customer response, with full service capability and next-day delivery. Whether you’re an operator or OEM, we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements. Please visit our stand, 005 in Padiglione A5. You will be made most welcome.”

DINOSAUR KING TV SERIES IS NOW AIRING ON JETIX
Sega’s animation series ‘Dinosaur King’ launched on March 1st on Jetix TV.  The show is transmitted 7 days a week and will air twice daily at 8am and again at 5.30pm.  There are 26 episodes to the 1st series which will then run as repeats for 3 months.  The second series is set to launch on Jetix in the autumn.
Dinosaur King is already a huge hit in Japan.  The TV series debuted in the spring of 2007 and experienced ratings as high as 24%.  Launched as an arcade game in Japan in 2005, the cards were a major success with over 70 million sold to date.  The arcade game was rolled out to the U.K in 2006 where similar card collecting successes were achieved.  The TV series emulates the main action taken from the arcade game, where cards are used to help the dinosaurs battle.
Sega’s Arcade trading game took the U.K by storm in 2006 and 2007.  Kids from all over the U.K. took part in competitions to become the ultimate Dinosaur King Champion with a spectacular final held at Butlins, Minehead. “Dinosaurs are a hugely popular subject with children, coupled with Sega’s fast paced action arcade game was always a recipe for success” commented Alan Smith (General Manager, Sega Kids).  Smith continued: “The unique factor of being able to control the dinosaurs really underpins any childhood fantasy; the arcade game is easy to play, easy to learn and uses the traditional playground pattern of Rock-Paper-Scissors to help kids battle with the dinosaurs.”