Thanks to our new eyes and ears in Chicago we have heard a few good rumors
to pass on.  Actually, our new Sales Manager, Frank Cosentino, has seen a
some new pieces out on location and has given us a run down as follows:

Konami has a two-player simultaneous video out on test called Rock and Roll.
The story behind the game is that the lead singer of a band is captured and
the guitar player and drummer go out and search for him.  (At the beginning
of the game, a big hand comes down and takes the lead singer away.)  The
playfield is a three-quarter view ala Gauntlet.  The players pick up musical
notes and other music-oriented things for weapons, etc.  Apparently, a
guitar is used as a gun...and other logical things like that.  The
characters in the game are large, two inches tall.  Reportedly, Rock and
Roll is not doing so well on test; Konami has taken several of the units out
of the test sites after only a short time on location.

Konami is also working on their first home-grown effort.  Super Basketball
is a two-player simultaneous game designed here in the U.S.  Using button
controls, players can jump and shoot, tribble, steal, pass and switch the
ball.  Basically, this is a remake of their original Super Basketball.

Bally has a new three-player video called Power Drive.  Players select from
three different monster trucks.  The game is in a Rampage-style cabinet with
Track and Field-type controls that are big buttons that look like tires.
There is a wheelie button and a 2-or 4-wheel drive shifter.  The screen
scrolls horizontally as players compete on a straight race course.  There is
an initial buy-in feature, dubbed as a $1000 entry fee.  Power Drive is said
to be a very physical game to play.

Bally also has a new pin game called Strange Science.  It is supposed to
have a very busy playfield with lots of ramps, bells and whistles but fewer
skill shots than the new Williams pin (see below).  Apparently this action
on this game is more random than skill.

Williams Pinbot is reputedly their best effort ever...even better than High
Speed.  There are five targets at the back of the game that correspond to a
grid of lights.  When all the lights are lit, a cover comes off of a robot-
like thing in the center.  The players next objective is to capture two
balls in the eye sockets...Sounds pretty bizzar to me.

Premier's new pin, Goldwing is an airport-themed game with a real siren.

Taito has a 4-player upright soccer game called Kick and Run.  The cabinet
on this one is similar to Quartet.

Kitcorp/Sun has licensing deal in the works with Sega to produce a 2-player
universal Quartet kit.  What will they call this...Duet, maybe?

This (along with my previous message on Sente's Street Football, another
football game from Cinematronics, etc.) could be a pretty good preview of
the AMOA, we'll see.