and that's why we're dabbling with different platforms. Whether it's polygons, CG graphics, PSX...we'll have to look at all of them."

Speaking of advanced hardware, Capcom is also watching with great interest as Williams, Incredible Technologies, NANI and others test and deploy modem-based networks for tournament promotions. Will there ever be a day when Capcom games are downloaded into locations? "It's going to happen with music, so there's no reason it can't happen for video," Steve Blattspieler said philosophically. And Elizabeth Stroll added: "We've already made it possible for operators to download pinball software updates. When dealing with today's technology, almost anything is possible."

Another cutting-edge venture for Capcom is their Internet Web site and online promotions. "We have a very interactive Web page which promotes current and future equipment," Elizabeth reported. "We answer the kids' questions via email; they are our ultimate customers. I think this interaction helps keep them coming back to the games on location. We have done successful web site promotions, giving prizes for finding secret characters and pages, and some for just visiting the site. Players really do seem to appreciate the effort." Players may like it, but all the talk of Internet and modems and new systems causes some operators to come down with a case of "future shock." Never fear; in this case the transition to new technology will be handled in a smooth, gradual manner. While Capcom actively explores the brave new worlds of hi-tech, it's also continuing to support the CPS-II system. In fact, Capcom plans to introduce a number of additional titles for this system through the current fiscal year. "We're sampling Super Puzzle Fighter 2 for CPS-II now," Ron said, "and a couple more titles at least will also come out later this fall."

Of course, operators are always asking video manufacturers to help them stay ahead of (or at least in step with) home video systems, and Capcom is well aware of the close tie-in between these two markets. At a meeting in Ja

pan last

March, company founder and president Kenzo Tsujimoto declared Capcom would contin

ue to work hard at creating coin-op hits which can be translated successfully to the

home ... using the strength of each market to support the other. "We don't have a hard and fast policy on the lag time between coin-op and home game release dates," said Capcom execs. "But if you look at our record, you usually see plenty of time between them."

On the pinball side, plans for a merger between Sega Pinball and Capcom's pinball division were announced in late July. Details of the deal were not

available at presstime, since the nittygritty of negotiations were just getting underway. But this much is known: when the smoke clears, the two companies will be combined for pinball purposes, and both will own an interest in the resulting flipper manufacturing entity. "In other words, this is not a takeover or an outright sale," Steve Blattspeiler explained. "It is a genuine merger. The goal is to get some economies

Pinball teams: back row (I to r): Wally Welch, John Boydston, Steve King, Bill Pfutzenreuter, Greg Kmiec, Mark Coldebella. Front row(l to r): Grace Sierakowski, Horace Rodriguez, Greg Topel, Mike Miller, Rob Morrison.

Flipper Football team: back row (I to r): Dan Molter, Python Anghelo, Jeff Powell. Middle row (I to r): Frank Lowney, Bryan Hansen, Manny DeLa Torriente, Jim Karm. Front row (I to r): Joe Cherne, Mike Wheeler, Denise Wallner, Michael Zhang, Rick Morgan. Not pictured: Paul Mazur, Hugh VanZanten.

Sales and marketing: back row: (I to r): Darryl Williams, Ron Malinowski, Matt Willenbrink. Front row (I to r): Cindy Emling, Jennifer Howe, Rita Rokos, Elizabeth Stroll, Alison Stroll, Maya Uehara.

RePlay Magazine

September 1996

Page 203