CAPCOM NIXES OUTSIDE ENHANCEMENT KIT
FOR CHAMP EDITION, PROMISES OWN VERSION
Around mid-September, the industry grapevine began buzzing about an enhancement kit for Street Fighter II Champion Edition. After hitting a few California arcades, the kit reportedly doubled the take on what is already the trade's hottest video game. Capcom has not approved this or any other supe-up chips and told RePlay it will fight same as copyright infringement. However, Capcom attorney Ian Rose added: "We do not intend to leave operators high and dry on this. We are working on our own version of the enhancement chips and will release them as soon as possible. It could be in a couple of weeks [i.e. early
October] or it might take longer." Regarding the unauthorized kits, we received only sketchy information. But the California kit seems to consist of two EPROMs and one P.A.L. ad plug onto the game's existing boards to enhance the action. One source told us the manufacturer is Hung Hsi Enterprises of Taiwan and that the first 20 seconds of the game says "Only for use outside the U.S.A." One bootlegger we spoke to says he won't touch it with a 10 foot pole, especially because Capcom is still making SF Champ games. We also learned that former New York operator Steve Hochman has introduced his own enhancement kit
Past AMOA prexy John Estridge has earned the right to grin big and say "I told you so!" After years of his urging, AMOA finally comes to Nashville, Tenn. for Expo '92 from Oct. 1-3... and it's shaping up as one of the biggest shows in years. At presstime, up to 8,000 people were expected to attend. Advance registration, sales of banquet tickets,
for the same game. His set of EPROMS was designed here in the States, however. His is called Super New and a marquee sticker comes with the chips (which also plug in). The legal nature of video enhancement kits was fought out by Midway years ago, on their belief that nobody could tamper with their copyrighted games without their permission. However, many in the trade then and now believe enhancements to be perfectly ethical goods. It's rather early to know exactly what Capcom intends to do about nonauthorized enhancement kits, but they did tell us they would not sit idly by.
and reservations for various functions were way ahead of such figures at this point in several past years. AMOA has filled its room block at the Opryland Hotel (site of the show) and had to make additional arrangements with two or three more hotels. At Expo, Utah operator Craig Johnson becomes AMOA president. Average age of the four principle officers will be 35; they promise to "aggressively pursue" opportunities in today's fastchanging business climate. Meantime, Expo features 202 companies in 756 exhibit booths crammed with new games, phonographs, supplies, etc. Held during the show will be separate board meetings of AMOA and AAMA; a "summit meeting" of leaders from both U.S. associations with Japan's JAMMA group; educational seminars galore; plus parties, equipment raffles, and music by Barbara Mandrell at AMOA's annual awards banquet. Sources tell us to expect some very happy surprises at Expo, too. More info on registration, show hours, exhibit floor layout, and profiles on AMOA's incoming officers, can be found in our special AMOA Show Section, starting on page 51.
