• Suddenly, the Fish Came to Life in Vivid 3D
  
• What do Fish and Raspberries Have in Common?
• Fishbowl Frenzy Approved in New Jersey
• Fishbowl Frenzy Wins BOSA Gold Medal
• Frenzy Over New Game  (Play Meter)
• Sure Fishbowl Frenzy is a Hit Game, But That is Only Part of the Story  (Vending Times)
• Team Play Steps up the Fun Factor  (Play Meter)
• Fishbowl Frenzy Introduces Another Lure to Hook Players
• A Fishing Expedition  (RePlay)
• Best of IAAPA 2014  (Play Meter)
• Eat, Drink, and Play Fishbowl Frenzy at Dave & Buster’s
• Fun Stop Photos Draws a Crowd at IAAPA
• Frenzy Over Fishbowl Augmented Reality Game
• Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy Wins IAAPA Brass Ring Award
• Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy Makes Big Pre-IAAPA Splash  (Vending Times)
• Standing Room Only Expected for Fun Stop Photos
• Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy is Quite the Catch!
• Fishbowl Frenzy Thrills the Crowd – Again
• The Rest is History:  Team Play’s Story of Success  (Resource Connection)
• Fishbowl Frenzy is the Talk of the Show at EAS
• Team Play Wins Mitsubishi’s Innovative Photo Booth Award
• The Coolness Factor:  Can Technology Save Coin-Op?  (InterGame)
• Team Play Positions Fun Stop Photos as Contender  (Vending Times)
• Team Play’s Prize Hoops Conversion Kit  (Vending Times)
• Team Play, Inc. Chooses Mitsubishi Electric Photo Printers  (Mitsubishi)

Suddenly, the fish came to life in vivid 3D.

Elk Grove Village, IL, June 1, 2015 – Perhaps the most attention this year has been garnered by Fishbowl Frenzy™, the augmented reality videmption game created by Team Play, Inc., a small manufacturer loaded with big-name talent. Owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ken Fedesna and Ed Pellegrini, Team Play has proven that it possesses both the leadership and the expertise to create extraordinary coin‑op products. 

Team Play’s modus operandi is to employ innovative technology to revolutionize ordinary concepts.  In developing Fishbowl Frenzy, Team Play applied innovative transmissive LCD screen technology to transform the traditional ping-pong-toss carnival game into a ground-breaking videmption sensation.  The resulting combination of mechanical skill play and 3D video graphics has created a stir of excitement in the coin‑op industry, which Team Play lovingly refers to as “Fervor Over Fishbowl.”

Team Play’s development of Fishbowl Frenzy took three years and dozens of revisions.  Building on the game’s humble ball‑toss origins, Team Play engineers mounted fishbowls onto a vertical playfield and incorporated mechanical game play.  The fact that fishbowls need fish presented the next hurdle.  By simulating 3D fish within the physical bowls, Team Play created a marriage of mechanical and video components unique to the coin-op industry. 

But, the true epiphany occurred when Team Play mocked up fishbowls in front of a 65” transmissive LCD screen and moved the mechanical action behind the screen.  Suddenly, the computer-generated fish came to life in vivid 3D, and everyone at Team Play realized that they had created something truly remarkable. 

In its final form, Fishbowl Frenzy became a visually appealing, highly entertaining, augmented reality game based entirely on skill.  Players time the release of a ball that bounces through a field of pins located behind the game’s huge, transmissive LCD screen.  This real‑world game play is augmented by adorable, computer-generated 3D fish characters that interact with the play, celebrating each win by jumping and spinning in their bowls.  Fishbowl Frenzy is simple to play, but difficult to master.  Players feel that with enough practice they will be able to win the surprisingly challenging game, which keeps them coming back for more.

Everyone who has seen Fishbowl Frenzy agrees that the game is exceptional.  Operators report that players stand in line to play Fishbowl Frenzy, and the game frequently is the top earner in their locations.  Winner of the 2014 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Coin-Op Product and the 2015 Best of Show Gold Medal, Fishbowl Frenzy has been enormously popular with family entertainment centers worldwide.  It is a best seller for Team Play’s distributors, with games shipping to U.S. and international destinations as fast as Team Play can manufacture them.

Team Play predicts that with the release of its new Progressive Jackpot version of Fishbowl Frenzy, the game will occupy the top‑earning position in every location.  Orders already are pouring in for the Progressive marquee and replacement hard drive that will allow operators to link up to six Fishbowl Frenzy games. 

This year has been an exciting whirlwind of fame and fortune for Team Play.  The excitement promises to continue for the foreseeable future, as lobsters dance, players laugh, and 3D fish jump for joy over Fishbowl Frenzy.

About Team Play, Inc.


Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed
Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play
consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for
players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op redemption
games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent
earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs. 
Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return
from every Team Play product. Visit  www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

What do Fish and Raspberries Have in Common?

Elk Grove Village, IL, May 18, 2015  – The start of the usually slow summer season in the video game industry has been anything but leisurely for Team Play and its hit videmption game, Fishbowl Frenzy. 

“We are incredibly busy,” said Team Play CEO, Ed Pellegrini.  “Fishbowl Frenzy just keeps building on its own momentum.  Excitement over the game has continued to increase, and the orders are still pouring in from all over North America and worldwide.  The demand for Fishbowl Frenzy has been huge!” Pellegrini said.

But until recently, neglected operators in the State of Washington – America’s raspberry capital – could only sit on the sidelines and watch as everyone else in the Pacific Northwest raved about their Fishbowl Frenzy earnings. 

“Fishbowl Frenzy is such an innovative game and is so different from anything previously seen in the coin‑op industry, that approval by the State of Washington was not a given,” said Team Play’s COO, Ken Fedesna.  “At first, the Washington examiners rejected the game, because it was not immediately apparent to them that Fishbowl Frenzy is strictly skill based. But, we were able to demonstrate that Fishbowl Frenzy’s game play is driven exclusively by the player’s skill.”

Team Play recently received written notice that Fishbowl Frenzy has been approved by the State of Washington. The State’s Gambling Commission is charged with responsibility for examining amusement games to determine whether they satisfy statutory requirements.  In particular, amusement games must not have any auto percentaging which would give operators control over the game play outcome.  According to its approval notice, Fishbowl Frenzy meets the definition of an amusement game pursuant to Washington statute and is approved for use as a Group 5 Hand/Eye Coordination amusement game.

How did Team Play prove that Fishbowl Frenzy is skill based?  “We could have made complex arguments about the software, but a simple approach is always better.  We just recorded a video of our Lead Programmer playing the game,” Fedesna explained. “In the video, Brian points to the fish bowl that he will drop the ball into next, and then he does exactly that – time after time after time.  The rest of us can’t do that!  But, it’s pretty hard to dispute that Fishbowl Frenzy is a skill game when Brian can drop that ball anywhere he wants, all day long!”

Fishbowl Frenzy is being shipped to Washington State operators without any software modification. The operator’s manual, tech support information, and pricing ratio tables are available for download from Team Play’s web site www.teamplayinc.com at the game’s Tech Support page.

Operators nationwide continue to rave about the game’s earnings.  Fishbowl Frenzy often occupies the #1 earning position within arcades and family entertainment centers.  In fact, Fishbowl Frenzy is considered by many to be the best redemption game ever created. 

Winner of the 2014 IAAPA “Brass Ring Award” for Best New Coin-Op Product, and winner of the 2015 “Gold Medal” Best of Show Award, Fishbowl Frenzy combines a huge, one-piece, 65-inch transmissive LCD monitor with real fishbowls, mechanical game play, a challenging field of pin obstacles, and adorable 3D video graphics.  Easy to learn but difficult to master, Fishbowl Frenzy is extremely entertaining and keeps the players coming back for more.

Recently, Team Play released the Progressive Bonus Jackpot version of Fishbowl Frenzy at Amusement Expo in March.  Simply by purchasing a Progressive marquee and replacement hard drive, operators are able to link up to six Fishbowl Frenzy games. 

“The initial earnings reports for the Progressive have been truly extraordinary,” Pellegrini exclaimed.  “The software has been very reliable, and the players absolutely love the Progressive Jackpot Bonus.  We think the Progressive version is going to be another big hit,” Pellegrini concluded. 

In light of the huge demand, this would be a good time to get your order in the queue for the Progressive Kit and additional Fishbowl Frenzy games. Just visit www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you. 

In the meantime, excited lobsters will dance as delighted 3D fish jump for joy, because being approved by the State of Washington is well worth celebrating!

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

Fishbowl Frenzy Approved in New Jersey

Elk Grove Village, IL, April 20, 2015  – Team Play has received notice that its hit videmption game Fishbowl Frenzy is approved for operation in the State of New Jersey.

The New Jersey Control Commission examines amusement games to determine whether they satisfy statutory requirements.  Among other factors considered, the game play must be for entertainment purposes and based on the player’s active participation and skill.    

Team Play’s Chief Marketing Officer and President, Frank Pellegrini, said, “The New Jersey Commissioner who called me was very complimentary and was extremely impressed with the Fishbowl Frenzy game.  It was especially nice to hear such high praise from someone who examines virtually every redemption game on the market!” 

Team Play will ship Fishbowl Frenzy games into the State of New Jersey preloaded with software version 1.08 NJ.  The version number appears on the game’s LED screen during the power cycle.  In addition, a New Jersey addendum to the operator’s manual will be provided with the game and is available for download from Team Play’s web site  www.teamplayinc.com at the game’s Tech Support page.

Operators report that Fishbowl  continues to rank in their Top 5 earning games and often occupies the #1 earning position within arcades and family entertainment centers.  Winner of the 2014 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Coin-Op Product and the 2015 “Gold Medal” Best of Show Award, Fishbowl Frenzy is considered by many to be the best redemption game ever created.

Fishbowl Frenzy is an augmented reality game which combines a huge, one-piece, 65-inch transmissive LCD monitor with real fishbowls, skill-based mechanical game play, a challenging field of pin obstacles, and adorable 3D video graphics.  Easy to learn but difficult to master, Fishbowl Frenzy is terrifically entertaining and keeps the players coming back for more.

This month, Team Play will start shipping its Progressive Conversion Kit, which allows two, three or four Fishbowl Frenzy games to be linked together by purchasing a Progressive marquee and replacement hard drive. Ultimately, operators will be able to link an unlimited number of Fishbowl Frenzy games. 

In light of the huge demand, this would be a good time for New Jersey locations to order their Fishbowl Frenzy games.  And, get your order in the queue to add a Progressive Bonus Jackpot to your arcade! 

Go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you.  In the meantime, jubilant lobsters will dance, as ecstatic 3D fish jump for joy, because being approved by the State of New Jersey is well worth celebrating!

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

Fishbowl Frenzy Wins 2015 BOSA Gold Medal

Elk Grove Village, IL, March 23, 2015  – Team Play is pleased to announce that its hugely popular Fishbowl Frenzy™ has won the 2015 Best of Show “Gold Medal” Award in the Videmption Games category!  A Gold Medal is the highest award issued by the Best of Show Arcade Machine Awards (BOSA) which recognize creativity and innovation within the amusement industry.  Judging is based on playability and enjoyment, originality and uniqueness, market relevance, earning potential, and game pricing.

This is not the first time that Fishbowl Frenzy has been recognized for its innovative technology, entertaining game play, and market appeal.  Fishbowl Frenzy also won the 2014 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Coin-Op Product in November.  Since then, operators have reported that the game’s earnings are outstanding, with Fishbowl Frenzy consistently ranking in the Top 5 and often occupying the #1 earning position.

On the heels of winning the IAAPA Brass Ring and BOSA Gold Medal Awards, Team Play will debut its new “Progressive Jackpot” version of Fishbowl Frenzy at Amusement Expo in Las Vegas on March 25.  The Fishbowl Frenzy Progressive introduces a series of challenges of increasing difficulty which players must overcome in order to win the big prize.  With each game played the jackpot increases, until the potential ticket win reaches the operator-selectable maximum.  Regardless of configuration or the number of units linked, Fishbowl Frenzy remains strictly a game of skill. 

Beginning in April, operators will be able to purchase a Progressive marquee and replacement hard drive in order to link two, three or four Fishbowl Frenzy games.  So, this would be a good time to order additional units of Team Play’s award‑winning videmption game, Fishbowl Frenzy! Just go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a distributor near you. 

In the meantime, lobsters will dance as adorable 3D fish jump for joy, because being the 2015 Best of Show “Gold Medal” winner for Best Videmption Game is well worth celebrating!


About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

Frenzy over new game

FISHBOWL FRENZY / TEAM PLAY

             Analysis:  Team Play brings us its newest breed in video redemption gaming with Fishbowl Frenzy.  This is a plinko-style drop-the-ball game, but Fishbowl Frenzy has an innovative 65-inch vertical transmissive LCD screen overlaying the entire cabinet.  After a player’s ball drops into the various fish bowls to win tickets, animations blend in with mechanical game play to create an augmented reality game play experience.

                Pros:  The first word that comes to mind to describe Fishbowl Frenzy is, wow.  While the game play is fun and skill-based, similar to other ball drop games, the use of augmented reality and 3D animations create an environment truly unique and something we’ve never seen done before.

                Fishbowl Frenzy’s game play is quick, but it leaves the player with a yearning of one more game.  Even in less successful attempts when minimal tickets are won, the sheer entertainment value of the visuals that pop up over the physical mechanics is a sight to behold in itself.

Cons:  We know we’re reviewing a great game when we really have to
nitpick over improvements.  In Fishbowl Frenzy’s case, there’s no aspect
of the game that we feel needs improving.  

Our only concern is where the game could be placed in a physical
location.  The most entertaining aspect of the game is the unique
transmissive LCD screen technology, but if it is in a location with
subpar lighting with heavy glare, then it will reduce the effect of
this visual, leaving it as a mere generic drop the ball game.

FISHBOWL FRENZY: SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING VERY NEW

Sure Fishbowl Frenzy Is A Hit Game, But That Is Only Part of the Story

By now there can be
little doubt that Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy is a success.  The game has not only been posting high
earnings in a wide variety of locations, but has also attracted an enviably
wide demographic of players. And let’s not forget that the augmented reality
redemption game also nabbed a Brass Ring Award at the recent IAAPA show in
Orlando for Best New Coin-Op Product.

However, beyond the earnings and kudos there is more to the game than
meets the eye.  In terms of theme and
technology the ticket redemption game represents a breakthrough hybrid that successfully
combines the iconic, the familiar, and the cutting edge. This is no small thing.  Each element of the game required specialty
engineering skill sets applied in a particularly creative way.  That is to say, the Team Play team had to merge
multiple technologies and make it look easy.

Take, for instance, the game’s iconic theme.  Based on one of the oldest fair or carnival
games, the concept is as well known as you can get. So is the electro-mechanical
pachinko-like play of the game. The familiar comes into play by way of the
video game component. Each of the fish in the bowls is rendered in high-quality
3D video game graphics, boasting their own personalities and movements.   And then there is the cutting-edge 65”
high-definition translucent LCD. 
Although a relatively new technology, Team Play is not the first to use
it in coin-op, but has made good use of the still emerging technology on a
larger scale than ever seen before.  

HOW A GAME EVOLVES

“We’ve been working on this thing for three years,” said Team Play’s Ken
Fedesna. “In the last two years we’ve had a dedicated team working on it.” As
Fedesna explained, the concept – the fishbowl toss – was first to arrive on the
drawing boards.  In its initial planning
stages the concept closely followed the traditional horizontal format of the simple
carnival game. “It
actually started out with players shooting the ping-pong balls to land in the
bowls,” Fedesna recalled. “But that wasn’t working out too well.  Then Brian (Smolik) came up with the idea of what
if we drop a ball from above.”

The next question was
how to get the video fish in the three-dimensional bowls. At that point the
team explored several options. They could use individual screens behind each
bowl or some form of projection system. “Then we came across this translucent
screen,” Fedesna said. “It was being used in vending machines, but the cost was
prohibitive.”

However, technology
being technology, the cost was dropping fast. Within months, as demand picked
up for the new-fangled screens in other fields with deeper pockets, the cost
began to fall to within a viable range for coin-op.  The lesson here is that today’s exotic
technology very quickly becomes a workable component within reach of an
increasing number of less well-heeled industries, including coin-op.  

As work on the
project ramped up, additional personnel came on board.  A year and a half into the project, Team Play
had two software guys, three art people, a trio of electrical engineers along
with mechanical and production engineers working on the project. In all, Fishbowl
Frenzy required a 10-person team to bring it to market during its final stages.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Although operators no
doubt appreciate the copious cashbox Fishbowl Frenzy generates, there are also
larger issues at work.  The game offers what
engineers call “proof of concept.”  Specifically, that new technology can be
effectively, creatively, and profitably merged with existing technologies.  In the case of Team Play’s effort, that means the
long-established technologies of electro-mechanical and video merged with the
translucent screen. Whether this concept will be repeated in other games
remains to be seen, though it does seem likely.

“There is a lot of
really high tech stuff out there right now. And we in the coin-op industry
should be saying, ‘Hey, someone came up with this really great technology. How do
we take advantage of it?’” Smolik said. “I believe we’re right now on the edge
of where coin-op companies are starting to innovate again.”

A BILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION

As Smolik explained,
this new start of innovation in coin-op is being driven by necessity, if not
survival. “We have to innovate because we need a way to get people to put down
their cell phones and get out of their living rooms,” he said. “The realization
is that the smart phone you’re carrying around in your pocket is more powerful
and entertaining than a lot of video games out there.”

As coin-op industry
veteran Fedesna pointed out, the industry is shrinking in a way that includes
engineering staff.  That means at least
some of the more sophisticated “gee whiz!” components, such as Fishbowl Frenzy’s
translucent LCD,  will have to come from
industries with fat R&D budgets. Back in the day when games were run by
transistors, coin-op could fund much of its own innovation.  However, it is still difficult to imagine the
coin-op industry, even at its peak, developing the translucent LCD, the new
generation of ultra-thin flexible screens, or even the Super AMOLED touchscreen.

This is not
necessarily a bad thing. Companies like Samsung, Sony, as well as entire far
afield industries, such as the cell phone, automotive, and advertising are
well-equipped, staffed, and funded to do the heavy lifting in technological
breakthroughs.  They also have a lot to
bring to the table. And their innovations leave the door open – however
slightly – for potential synergies with coin-op.

“Truly, truly
innovative concepts like Fishbowl Frenzy are what will revitalize the coin-op
industry,” said Team Play’s Frank Pellegrini. “Pinball in the 1940s was
something that was innovative and strong. It wasn’t until the 1980s when video
came in that the industry flourished again. We do need to utilize new technologies,
if we ever want to see the Pac Man or Pong days come back.  Team Play hit a home run with Fishbowl Frenzy,
but what that next breakthrough technology will be, well, that’s the billion
dollar question.”

Team Play Steps up the Fun Factor   

Mention the names of the leadership at Team Play Inc., and a flood of game titles come to mind:  Police Trainer and Star Trek Voyager (The Arcade Game) right out of the gate.  Video kits and redemption games as well as the Regatta CD Jukebox are also on the list. 
That’s to be expected when the names are Ed Pellegrini, Frank Pellegrini, and Ken Fedesna, whose credentials laid the groundwork for Team Play.

In recent years the company has introduced Fun Stop Photos, Pirates’ Booty, and Prize Hoops.  Currently, Team Play has a big hit on its hands with the universally appealing carnival-themed video redemption game, Fishbowl Frenzy™, which received the Best New Product (Brass Ring) Award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in the category of Coin-Operated Arcade and Redemption Equipment.

Play Meter checked in with Team Play to find out more about its products, trends, and more.

What was the inspiration for Fishbowl Frenzy?

Everybody loves going to the county fair!  We started with a very basic carnival theme based on the game where players try to win a goldfish by throwing ping pong balls into a flat array of fishbowls.  Anyone who has gone to a carnival remembers playing that game.  But, making a coin‑op game both fun to play and easy to learn can be more challenging than you might think. 

We originally intended to have the players launch ping pong balls with a cannon device.  But, after several different prototypes, we concluded that the better solution would be to mount the fishbowls onto a vertical playfield, and have the player drop the ball from above.

The next major hurdle was simulating live fish swimming in the bowls.  Again, we tried several different design approaches before the “Eureka!” moment.   We mocked up a mechanical bowl in front of a transmissive LCD screen, superimposed a 3D animated fish, and immediately realized that we had created something truly special. 

Even though the final Fishbowl Frenzy videmption game bears very little resemblance to the initial concept, it still triggers those fond memories of going to the county fair.

What are some of your other popular products, and what makes them resonate with players?

Players are drawn to our products because they are fun.  Again, making a game fun to play and easy to learn sounds like a simple task, but it can be challenging to accomplish.  The game play has to be entertaining enough to keep the players coming back. 

Most recently, Team Play has been a huge game changer in the photo booth industry.  Our enormously popular Fun Stop Photos® photo booths seized market share almost overnight, because we introduced new technology and appealing new designs into what had become a mundane product.  Fun Stop Photos® created the first real “showpiece” photo booth.  The flashing strobe of our trademarked camera topper beckons to customers from across the room.  The rear camera grabs attention by snapping random shots and displaying them on the rear screen.  Team Play’s use of technology converted the photo booth into an interactive game that welcomes group participation.  The player experience is enhanced, and suddenly photo booths are fun again.     

Team Play has a long list of popular “Hall of Fame” products that are no longer in production, such as Pirate’s Booty, Prize Hoops, Star Trek Voyager and Crossfire Maximum Paintball.  We still get inquiries about the really old games, such as Police Trainer, Bopper Ball and the Regatta Jukebox.  Team Play always has endeavored to create tasteful and family-friendly entertainment that is fun for the player and rewarding for the location.  Fortunately, there always has been a market for that in the coin‑op industry.

What factors do you take into consideration when designing a new game?

First and most importantly, the game must be fun to play.  Every game should be visually appealing, entertaining and innovative like Fishbowl Frenzy.  The game play should be intuitive, so the player can quickly comprehend what he or she has to do in order to win.   And, the game should be simple to play, but difficult to master. 

The player must feel that, over a period of time and with enough practice, he or she will be able to win the game.  In addition, we consider the demographics of the likely players, because the wider the audience the better the earnings.  But, if the game is not fun, all other attributes are irrelevant. 

Because Team Play’s owners have so much experience in operation, we emphasize designing a game that is reliable and easy to service.  Based on our manufacturing experience, we consider whether the game can be manufactured for a reasonable cost and whether a reliable supply of parts will be available.  Because of our distribution experience, we emphasize that the game must sell for a reasonable price in relation to its earnings, to ensure that the operator will receive a high return on investment.  And, in order to generate earnings, we arrive back at the initial and most important consideration:  the game must be fun to play.

What games do you plan to exhibit at the Amusement Expo?

Team Play will be releasing the new Progressive Jackpot version of Fishbowl Frenzy.   The game has been a Top‑10 earner since we first started testing the initial prototypes.  With the Progressive Jackpot version, we fully expect that Fishbowl Frenzy will occupy the top‑earning position in every location. 

In addition, we will exhibit our 2nd Generation Fun Stop Photos photo booth.  We have continued to expand the features and improve the performance of Fun Stop Photos with software updates, which are easily downloaded from Team Play’s web site (www.teamplayinc.com) free of charge.

If the IAAPA Expo is any indicator, we expect that Team Play’s booth at Amusement Expo will be completely swamped.  Anyone who hasn’t yet played or seen Fishbowl Frenzy in person is in for a real treat.

Are you seeing trends to certain types of equipment today, and why?

Theme licensing is a major trend presently, especially from phone game applications. It seems that a lot of players and operators want to play something they recognize.  However, even though the license may attract the player initially, a successful phone game app doesn’t necessarily translate into a successful coin-op game.  

Photo booths also are still trending.  Non-traditional coin-op locations such as restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping centers are becoming more receptive to operating a photo booth.  These new venues are finding that their guests enjoy the photo booth, which generates a new revenue stream for the location and the operator.

Finally, we are seeing an increasing number of destination locations that are purchasing amusement and redemption game products.  These family entertainment centers (FEC’s) are providing their guests with an expanding variety of entertainment options under one roof and are becoming increasingly popular.

At trade shows and other events, what are operators telling you that they need for their routes?

As always, street locations and FEC’s need affordable products that have player appeal while providing a high return on investment.  FEC’s in particular need products such as Fishbowl Frenzy that will attract guests and provide them with activities and entertainment that they can’t get at home.

The company’s leadership is full of veterans with long histories in the coin-op world.  How important has that experience been?

The collective experience of Team Play’s owners is extremely important to our success.  Ken Fedesna, Ed Pellegrini and Frank Pellegrini each have decades of coin-op experience.  Collectively, Team Play’s leadership has extensive experience in every aspect of the industry including design, development, manufacturing, distribution and operating every type of coin‑op product.  We fully understand what our customers need in order to succeed in this industry. 

For example, it’s no coincidence that Team Play’s products are so extraordinarily popular overseas because Frank Pellegrini was a Senior Vice President at Konami and Sega’s Senior Vice President in charge of New Business Development, specifically in South America.  Team Play’s Fun Stop Photos photo booths include currency selections, voice overs and software settings in Spanish and Portuguese as standard features. 

Fishbowl Frenzy is a huge game, but it has been engineered to pack efficiently into shipping containers while utilizing every square inch of shipping space.  Frank’s experience provides Team Play with expertise in design, development, manufacturing and international markets.

Team Play’s Fun Stop Photos and Fishbowl Frenzy are incredibly easy to service, because Ed previously owned Atlas Distributing and now owns the large operator Dandy Amusements International. 

Fun Stop Photos was the first photo booth to incorporate redundant systems to expand capacity and enhance reliability.  We include two printers and two bill acceptors with every photo booth, thus doubling the print capacity and minimizing service visits.  And, the email‑upon‑error feature and discrete icons that appear on the rear screen notify the operator immediately when a printer runs out of paper. 

Similarly, Fishbowl Frenzy offers a variety of menu settings and comes debit card system ready, to make life easier for the operator.  Team Play’s emphasis on designing products to meet the operator’s needs is driven by Ed’s experience in distributing and operating coin-op products.

Finally and most importantly, Team Play has access to some of the most talented and highly respected software engineers in the industry because Ken Fedesna spent several decades directing development of coin-op and consumer games as Vice President and General Manager of Williams and Bally/Midway.  As evidenced by the caliber of Fishbowl Frenzy, we have been able to recruit an extraordinarily talented development team including Lead Software Engineer Brian Smolik, Art Director Bobby Llereza, and Mechanical/Electrical Engineer Pat Cox. 

The experience, industry relationships and reputation of Team Play’s owners allow our small company to attract exceptional talent, despite – or perhaps because of – the company’s small size.  As a result, Team Play’s video games, redemption games, and photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, player appeal, reasonable price, and remarkable return on investment, all of which derive from the company owners’ long histories in the coin‑op world.

How big is your staff and, collectively, how many years of experience total?

Team Play employs a team of 15 people on a full time basis.  When you include outside contractors, Team Play personnel collectively has over 490 years of coin-op industry experience.  You probably could play a coin‑op version of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” with Team Play’s staff!  We may be a small company, but we know or have worked with everyone in the industry.

What are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Right now, we are manufacturing Fun Stop Photos and Fishbowl Frenzy as fast as we can, and keeping up with demand is our biggest challenge.  We receive new orders and new distribution inquiries every single day, sometimes from countries that we have to look up on a map. 

Everyone at Team Play is looking forward to the day when every FEC, video arcade, movie theater, restaurant and bar has its own Fun Stop Photos printing photos and Fishbowl Frenzy dispensing tickets for prizes.  This year already has been an exciting whirlwind of activity.  There always is another new game in development at Team Play, so we’re not expecting to catch our breath anytime soon.  

For more information on Team Play, visit www.teamplayinc.com. 

Fishbowl Frenzy Introduces Another Lure to Hook Players

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water . . . Team Play has announced that its new Progressive Conversion Kit for Fishbowl Frenzy will be released at Amusement Expo Booth No. 1123 in Las Vegas on March 24-26. 

If the stand-alone Fishbowl Frenzy is any indication, then a Progressive version should be truly extraordinary.  Considered by many to be one of the best redemption games ever created, Fishbowl Frenzy won the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Coin-Op Product upon its official release in November 2014.  Since then, operators have reported that the game’s outstanding earnings quickly elevated Fishbowl Frenzy into the Top‑10 category.

“Part of the reason that Fishbowl Frenzy generates so much income is that the game is easy to learn, but difficult to master,” explained Team Play CMO, Frank Pellegrini.  “It is fun to play and strictly a game of skill.  Players feel that over a period of time and with enough practice they will be able to win the game, prompting repeat plays and generating more earnings.  In addition, Fishbowl Frenzy is innovative and visually appealing.  It is fun for all ages and is enjoyed by the parents as much as the kids.  As we all know, the wider the audience, the better the earnings!”

“Fishbowl Frenzy has been a huge hit,” added Team Play’s CEO, Ed Pellegrini.  “I think that our customers are going to be even more impressed when they see what the Progressive version of Fishbowl Frenzy can do for their locations.”

The Fishbowl Frenzy Progressive introduces a series of challenges of increasing difficulty which players must overcome, in order to win the big prize.  With each game played the prospective reward increases, until the potential ticket win reaches the operator-selectable maximum number of tickets. 

Team Play’s COO, Ken Fedesna, said, “Players already enjoy the thrill of winning tickets as a result of their skill in playing the game.  Just imagine how excited FEC guests are going to be when the Progressive version increases their potential tickets reward!”

Fedesna explained, “Simply by purchasing a Progressive marquee and replacement hard drive, locations will be able to link multiple Fishbowl Frenzy games to provide players on each of the linked games with the opportunity to win the Progressive Bonus.  This will allow the location terrific flexibility, because the games can be operated individually or converted into a Progressive to suit the location’s needs.  We anticipate that there will be huge demand for this option,” Fedesna said. 

Team Play’s manufacturing facility is gearing up for the onslaught of orders expected to be generated at the 2015 Amusement Expo in Las Vegas.  Team Play’s CMO, Frank Pellegrini, said, “Keeping up with the demand for Fishbowl Frenzy has been our biggest challenge, and we are manufacturing and shipping games as fast we can.  Showing the Progressive version at Amusement Expo is going to be very exciting and will intensify the pressure on our manufacturing staff and suppliers tremendously.  Fortunately, our manufacturing output has been increasing every week.  Production is going smoothly, our parts suppliers are keeping up, and we expect to be ready to quickly satisfy orders for the Progressive.”

Ed Pellegrini added, “If you only have one unit of Fishbowl Frenzy at your location, this would be a good time to order more.  You’re going to want to be ready to convert multiple Fishbowl Frenzy games into a Progressive just as soon as those conversion kits become available in April.”

Until then, players will line up for their turn to play Fishbowl Frenzy while 3D fish jump for joy, because the Fishbowl Frenzy Progressive is coming to Amusement Expo.

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

Eat, Drink, and Play Fishbowl Frenzy at Dave & Buster’s

Elk Grove Village, IL, Jan. 23, 2015  – Team Play has completed shipping its new Fishbowl Frenzy™ video redemption game to every Dave and Buster’s™, the first chain of entertainment destinations to receive the augmented reality, videmption game. 

It is now public knowledge that Fishbowl Frenzy has landed at Dave & Buster’s, and positive reviews have been popping up around the internet.  “We enjoy the online reviews,” commented Team Play principal and CMO, Frank Pellegrini.  “We love reading that the guests at Dave & Buster’s ‘couldn’t get enough of Fishbowl Frenzy’ and that the reviewer could hardly get a chance to play because of the ‘horde’ of customers ‘crowded’ around Fishbowl Frenzy.  Three years and a lot of work went into developing Fishbowl Frenzy, so it’s very rewarding to hear that Dave & Buster’s guests are enjoying the game.”

Team Play reports enormous U.S and international demand for Fishbowl Frenzy, production of which only recently started.  So how did Dave & Buster’s get to the front of the line?  Pellegrini explained, “Dave & Buster’s offers an exciting entertainment destination which attracts guests of all ages.  They were kind enough to quietly test Fishbowl Frenzy prototypes at two of their Dave & Buster’s locations, long before we publicly released the game.  They were so happy with the test results that they ordered units for all of their stores before the game was even in production.”

Winning the confidence of Dave & Buster’s was a big score for Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy and comes on the heels of another big score:  Winning the 2014 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Coin-Op Product. 

“We were thrilled that IAAPA recognized Fishbowl Frenzy with the Brass Ring Award,” said Pellegrini.  “And, we are honored that our customers believe in the product.  It is such a unique and entertaining video redemption game that it appeals to everyone.  We expected small children to like it, but we discovered that guests of all ages like to play Fishbowl Frenzy as much as the kids!”

Strictly a game of skill, Fishbowl Frenzy™ is visually appealing with its huge, 65” translucent LCD monitor and delightful 3D fish characters.  The game employs a unique combination of computer-generated graphics and mechanical play, unlike anything seen before in the coin‑op industry.  In developing the new augmented reality, video redemption game, Team Play combined advanced technology and adorable graphics with a carnival theme, to create a terrifically entertaining game which is easy to learn, fun to play, and appealing to everyone. 

Fishbowl Frenzy™ challenges players to time the mechanical release of an actual ball which bounces through a field of pins into one of the fishbowls attached to the game’s 65‑inch monitor.  Where the ball splashes determines how many tickets the player wins.  The translucent screen allows players to see through the LCD screen to watch the ball drop, while charming, computer-generated 3D fish celebrate each win, excitedly spinning and jumping. 

Test earnings of the prototype solidly proved Fishbowl Frenzy™ to be a top earner.  And, the consensus among everyone who has seen Fishbowl Frenzy is that the new videmption game is exceptional – quite possibly the best redemption game ever created.  “We especially enjoy hearing guests say that Fishbowl Frenzy is the best redemption game they’ve ever seen,” Pellegrini said.  “It’s impossible for photos and videos to convey how really cool this technology is, so people are really impressed when they see it in person.” 

If you didn’t see Fishbowl Frenzy at IAAPA, just visit your nearest Dave & Buster’s for a chef‑crafted meal, innovative drink, and exciting Fishbowl Frenzy game play.  And, if you haven’t ordered your Fishbowl Frenzy yet, go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you.  In the meantime, the lobster will dance as 3D fish jump for joy, because everyone loves to “Eat, Drink, and Play” Fishbowl Frenzy!


About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

About Dave & Buster’s

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, operates 73 large‑venue, high‑volume restaurant/entertainment complexes throughout North America.  Each Dave & Buster’s offers an impressive selection of high-quality food and beverage items, combined with the latest games and attractions.  Guests can watch sporting events in D&B Sports and play state-of-the-art simulators and games of skill they can’t play anywhere else.  The exciting environment of Dave & Buster’s also provides the perfect setting for corporate and group events.  For more information, visit www.daveandbusters.com. 

# # #

Contact:Team Play, Inc., 712 N. Central ave. Wood Dale, IL. 60191
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:    Sales@teamplayinc.com

Fun Stop Photos Draws a Crowd at IAAPA

Orlando, Florida, Nov. 20, 2014   – “With all the attention that Fun Stop Photos and Fishbowl Frenzy have been generating, we don’t need to hire celebrities,” laughed Frank Pellegrini, Team Play principal and Chief Marketing Officer, in reference to IAAPA 2014.  

As predicted, it has been “standing room only” at Team Play’s IAAPA Booth 2000 in Orlando, Florida earlier this week.  There has been plenty of excitement over Team Play’s two, new coin‑op sensations: the augmented reality redemption phenomenon known as Fishbowl Frenzy™ and Gen II of the extraordinarily popular photo booth, Fun Stop Photos®.  Both vied for attention at IAAPA – and got it!  

“First, it’s hard to miss that neon-green camera topper flashing its strobe across the trade show floor,” said Pellegrini.  “Fun Stop Photos is noticeable no matter where it’s placed, and the photo booth draws attention inside your arcade just as well.  That’s one of the reasons that Fun Stop Photos generates more income than other photo booths.” 

Pellegrini continued, “Fun Stop Photos is doing so extremely well in the photo booth market, because our core philosophy is that operators should enjoy maximum profits hitting their bottom line.  Quite simply, our photo booth generates the most revenue and offers the lowest media costs in the entire photo booth industry,” Pellegrini said.  “We market value for your investment dollar, instead of marketing with gimmicks.”

While Gen II builds on the momentum of the first generation of Fun Stop Photos photo booths by adding social media and a slew of exclusive new features, Fun Stop Photos remains two photo booths for the price of one. 

“Redundant systems make it an exceptionally reliable booth.  And, the rear camera acts as an open air photo booth for groups, at the same time that other customers take pictures inside the photo booth,” Pellegrini said. “The Fun Stop Photos photo booth comes with two printers, two touchscreens, two cameras, two currency acceptors, two boxes of media and a hundred or so borders pre-installed.  It’s credit and debit card ready, and the menu options are easier than ever to use.  Really, it’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We think these are the best photo booths for sale anywhere.”

Operators agree!  Reputable chains and operators such as Brunswick Zone, Enchanted Castle, Hollywood Park, Beach Arcade, Dandy Amusements, and Midwest Coin Concepts all have endorsed Fun Stop Photos at www.teamplayinc.com with testimonials appearing on Team Play’s web site. 

In recent months, other key, national accounts have chosen Fun Stop Photos over the competition, though Team Play is keeping quiet on those details.  “Just let me say that you will be seeing a lot of Fun Stop Photos booths being placed in the coming year,” said Pellegrini with a smile.  He continued, “Of all the photo booth manufacturers out there and all the photo booths for sale, Team Play is the photo booth manufacturer of choice for some extremely selective and highly successful companies.  Doesn’t that say it all?!”

Operators and coin-op distributors are not the only ones to take notice of Team Play’s enormously successful photo booth.  Earlier this year, Team Play won Mitsubishi’s highly prestigious 2014 Special Recognition Award for the innovative integration of Mitsubishi printers into the Fun Stop Photos® line of digital photo booths – an award based solely on merit and product quality. 

“You see a lot of hype and gimmicks in the photo booth market,” Pellegrini commented.  “I have been joking that having Team Play’s IAAPA Booth 2000 adjacent to the popcorn, hot dogs and cotton candy booth at the show would draw in more customers.  But celebrities and gimmicks don’t sell photo booths.  High earnings, low media costs and reliability are what ultimately sell photo booths.  That’s why Fun Stop Photos has been so extremely successful and has drawn such a large crowd at IAAPA.”

Pellegrini paused and added, “Still, I was right about the popcorn and cotton candy.”

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:   Sales@teamplayinc.com

Frenzy Over Fishbowl Augmented Reality Game

Elk Grove Village, IL, Nov. 19, 2014  – “We have already signed off on letting Fishbowl Frenzy be used in a television commercial,” said Team Play co-owner and Chief Marketing Officer, Frank Pellegrini.  “The reception of Fishbowl Frenzy has been incredible.” 

Team Play’s new ticket redemption game is now shipping, and by all reports everyone loves-loves-loves Fishbowl Frenzy™!  Just yesterday, Fishbowl Frenzy won the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for “Best New Product” in the coin-op category.  In light of the over 1,000 different companies exhibiting at IAAPA and 28,500 visitors registered, winning the Brass Ring Award is a fantastic honor for Team Play.

Team Play’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Geno Giuntoli, was
especially excited over Fishbowl Frenzy’s win of the 2014 Brass Ring
Award.  “Everyone thinks this is an incredible game, and the test earnings have been fantastic,” he said.  “I would have been surprised if it hadn’t won the Brass Ring Award, but at
the same time, I’m really, really excited that we won the award!  It’s
such a great honor, and there were so many games in contention.  We just
couldn’t be happier!“

Prior to its official release at IAAPA 2014, Fishbowl Frenzy™ had already caused quite a stir among those who caught a sneak peek of the game overseas at EAS in Amsterdam and ENADA in Italy, where Betson Enterprises showed the new game for Team Play.  And, the excitement was huge at IAAPA in Orlando, Florida, where Fishbowl Frenzy™ debuted to an enthusiastic crowd earlier this week. 

Fishbowl Frenzy’s innovative new technology and outstanding test earnings reports fueled a flood of pre‑production orders, even before the game started shipping in November.  “The national accounts that stepped up early are being shipped their games first, and distributors will start receiving their units in the sequence that they placed their orders,” said Pellegrini.  “The demand has been huge.  If you haven’t already placed your order for Fishbowl Frenzy, then you’re falling behind your competition,” he said.

Regarding reports that Team Play’s photo booth, Fun Stop Photos™, also is selling at a frenetic pace and is occupying every square inch of available space in Team Play’s warehouse, Team Play co‑owner Ed Pellegrini said reassuringly, “Fishbowl Frenzy is being assembled in warehouse separate from the Fun Stop Photos photo booths.  We were able to plan for the huge demand, because our chain accounts and distributors stepped up really early and placed their orders before production even started.  We suspected that demand was going to be huge when the prototype was first being tested.  Test earnings put Fishbowl Frenzy immediately into the Top-10 position, and it just kept improving from there as we tweeked the prototype.  I am confident that Fishbowl Frenzy would have been the No. 1, best earning game if we hadn’t pulled it off test to ship the unit to EAS,” he said.  

Frank Pellegrini added, “The Gen II Fun Stop Photos photo booths have been selling as fast as we can build them.  We had been talking about buying another warehouse just for photo booth manufacturing, so we knew that we would have to expand Team Play’s operations to accommodate manufacturing of the Fishbowl Frenzy game.  We are happy to report that Fishbowl Frenzy is now in full production, even on the weekends.  We just received another 250 units of the 65″ transmissive monitors on Friday, which was perfect timing.  Our suppliers are doing a great job of keeping up with our demands, and more monitors are on their way to Elk Grove as we speak.  Manufacturing is going great — full speed ahead — and we’re shipping completed Fishbowl Frenzy games nearly every day.”  The distributors and national accounts who placed their orders early are thrilled! 

What’s causing all this frenzy over Fishbowl? 

“The Fishbowl game is very unique, unlike anything we have seen in the coin‑op industry before,” said Ed Pellegrini.  “The three-dimensional visual effects are truly incredible.  We have been in this industry for a long time, and really great games only come along so often.  This one has been very exciting.”  He added, “We are really happy that Fishbowl Frenzy won the Brass Ring Award at IAAPA!”  

Fishbowl Frenzy’s advanced technology, mechanical skill play, extraordinary video graphics and cute characters combine to create a terrifically entertaining carnival themed game – the likes of which have never before been seen.  But operators will be especially pleased to learn that Fishbowl Frenzy is strictly a game of skill. 

The Fishbowl Frenzy game challenges players to carefully time the mechanical release of a ball, which bounces through a field of pins into one of the actual fishbowls attached to the game’s 65‑inch transmissive LCD screen.  Adorable, computer-generated 3D sea characters await below, providing charming entertainment of their own.  Game players watch through the translucent screen, waiting in excited anticipation to see where the ball will splash and how many tickets they will earn. 

Fishbowl Frenzy’s computer-generated fish celebrate each win, spinning and jumping with delight.  And, an entertaining carnival “Barker” fish encourages and congratulates the players throughout.  The game play is easy to learn and highly addictive fun.

Ed Pellegrini was especially gratified by the warm reception that Fishbowl Frenzy received at IAAPA.  “I haven’t been this excited about a new game in my entire career,” he exclaimed.  “By combining the transmissive screen and electro‑mechanical features with software-generated 3D fish, we have created an entertaining and fun game that is truly something special.  Everyone who sees this game loves it.”

If you haven’t placed your order yet, catch up with your competition and get in the queue!  Go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you. 

In the meantime, the fish will be jumping for joy, because there’s a whole-lotta-frenzy going on over Fishbowl Frenzy! 


About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:    Sales@teamplayinc.com

Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy Wins IAAPA Brass Ring Award

Elk Grove Village, IL, Nov. 18, 2014  – Team Play is delighted to announce that Fishbowl Frenzy™ has won the 2014 Brass Ring Award for “Best New Product” in the Coin-Operated Arcade and Redemption Equipment category at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida. 

“We are absolutely thrilled that Fishbowl Frenzy has been recognized with the Brass Ring Award for best new coin-op product,” said Team Play principal and CMO Frank Pellegrini.  “IAAPA is an excellent organization, and they put on a fantastic international show that grows and attracts new customers every year.  We are so very honored that Fishbowl Frenzy won this award!”

Prior to its official release at IAAPA, Fishbowl Frenzy™ had already caused quite a stir among those who caught a sneak peek of Team Play’s new augmented reality ticket redemption game while overseas at EAS in Amsterdam and ENADA in Italy.  And, there was plenty of excitement in Orlando, Florida earlier this week, where Fishbowl Frenzy debuted to an enthusiastic crowd. 

“At times, the booth has been so crowded that it has been impossible to walk from one side to the other,” said Team Play’s Geno Giuntoli, VP of Sales and Marketing for Team Play.  “The response at IAAPA has been absolutely incredible!  Everyone loves this game!” 

Pellegrini added, “Customers were visiting Team Play’s booth during set-up before the trade show officially opened, hoping to get a sneak peek and asking how soon they can get their games delivered. There has been an incredible amount of interest in Fishbowl Frenzy.” 

Strictly a game of skill, Fishbowl Frenzy™ combines advanced technology, mechanical skill play, exceptional video graphics and adorable fish characters with a carnival theme, to create a terrifically entertaining game – the likes of which have never before been seen.  The game challenges players to carefully time their release of a ball which bounces through a field of pins into one of the actual fishbowls below.  Adorable, computer-generated 3D fish celebrate each win, spinning and jumping with enthusiasm.  A cute, carnival “Barker” fish congratulates and encourages the players throughout.

Fishbowl Frenzy’s unique redemption game play is achieved by using a 65 inch transmissive LCD monitor.  Game players can see through the translucent screen to watch the ball drop, bouncing from pin to pin, as they eagerly wait to see where the ball will splash and how many tickets they will win.  The game play is easy to learn and highly entertaining fun.

Test earnings of the game prototype have placed Fishbowl Frenzy solidly within the top ten earning redemption games, with its ranking climbing every week.  The consensus among everyone who has seen Fishbowl Frenzy is that it is an exceptionally great game.

“We’ve been told that this might be the best redemption game ever created,” said Team Play’s COO, Ken Fedesna.  “Winning the Brass Ring Award further confirms what we have been hearing – that people really like this game.”

Team Play started fulfilling the abundance of pre-production orders for Fishbowl Frenzy earlier this month, shipping in the sequence that orders were received.  If you haven’t ordered your Fishbowl Frenzy yet, catch up with your competition and get in the queue!  Go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you. 

In the meantime, the lobsters will dance as 3D fish jump for joy, because being the “Brass Ring” best new coin-op product at IAAPA is well worth celebrating!

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:    Sales@teamplayinc.com

“The attraction is that the game is fun, and it’s a relatively quick learn,” said Pellegrini. “The player is in control of the game. The technology just adds to the overall experience, in that it appears very three-dimensional. We’ve already applied for patent and feel confident we will get it. No one has done this before.” Pellegrini noted that the game was designed in and is being manufactured in the United States. Gameplay is 100% skill, too.

“Over the years we learned that people like electromechanical games,” said Ken Fedesna, another Team Play principal. “We started with the idea that we wanted to do an electromechanical product. That’s when we came up with merging an electromechanical playfield with a translucent screen. Gameplay and skill are based on electromechanical action, and the fish look real.”

Team Play has been making videogames, redemption novelties and photobooths since 2001. Fishbowl Frenzy makes its official debut in booth No. 2,000 at the IAAPA Attractions Expo, Nov. 18-21, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. For additional information, contact Team Play at (847) 952-7533.


See more at Vending Times.
 

Team Play’s Fishbowl Frenzy is Quite the Catch!

Elk Grove Village, IL, Oct. 24, 2014  – A contender for the 2014 IAAPA Brass Ring Award, Team Play’s new Fishbowl Frenzy™ is proving to be quite the catch!  Between its innovative new technology and outstanding test earnings reports, Fishbowl Frenzy has caused a lot of excitement among distributors and operators over the past few weeks. 

The new augmented reality ticket redemption game was a huge hit and reported to be the “Talk of the Show” at EAS and ENADA.  Team Play has received a virtual flood of pre-production orders for the new game.  “We’re still getting new inquiries every day, and orders have been pouring in,” said Team Play co‑owner Frank Pellegrini.  “If you haven’t already placed your order for Fishbowl Frenzy, then you’re behind your competition.”

What’s causing all the excitement? 

Fishbowl Frenzy’s advanced technology, mechanical skill play, extraordinary graphics and cute characters combine to create a terrifically entertaining game – the likes of which have never before been seen.  “Fishbowl Frenzy is very unique, unlike anything we have seen in the coin‑op industry before,” said Team Play co‑owner Ed Pellegrini.  The three-dimensional visual effects are incredible.  More importantly, you will not find anything remotely similar on your cell phone or home video console,” he said.

Fishbowl Frenzy is strictly a game of skill, which combines electro-mechanical and video elements with a carnival theme reminiscent of your childhood visits to the county fair, trying to win a goldfish in a bowl.  Fishbowl Frenzy challenges players to carefully time the mechanical release of a ball, which bounces through a field of pins into one of the fishbowls below. 

Actual fishbowls are attached to the face of the game’s transmissive LCD screen, in which charming and adorable 3D fish characters are computer generated.  Players can see through the translucent screen to watch the ball drop, waiting in excited anticipation to see where it will splash and how many tickets they will earn. 

Fishbowl Frenzy’s delightful computer-generated fish celebrate each win, spinning and jumping with enthusiasm.  And, an entertaining carnival “Barker” fish encourages and congratulates the players throughout.  The game play is easy to learn and highly addictive.

Team Play co‑owner Ken Fedesna is especially enthusiastic about Fishbowl Frenzy’s prospects. “In my entire career, I don’t think that I have ever been this excited about a new game!  The advanced technology of the transmissive screen and our computer-generated 3D fish combine with the electro-mechanical aspects to create a highly-entertaining, highly-addictive game that is easy to learn and fun to play,” Fedesna said.  “This game is truly something special, and everyone who has seen it agrees.”

The earnings reports to date reflect that sentiment, as well.  On test since June, Fishbowl Frenzy has proven to be an exceptionally strong performer.  One location reports that if there are only four people in the arcade, all four will be lined up for their turn to play Fishbowl Frenzy.  In sum, the players are hooked!

The first units of Fishbowl Frenzy are in production and will start shipping soon, much to the delight of those who placed their pre-production orders early.  The game’s official release will be at IAAPA 2014 in Orlando, Florida on November 18-21.  Fishbowl Frenzy is a contender for IAAPA’s “Best New Product” Brass Ring Award. 

For a sneak peek, check out Team Play’s web site at www.teamplayinc.com and be sure to visit Team Play’s Booth 2000 at IAAPA.  “The photos and videos don’t do the game justice,” laments Frank Pellegrini.  “You really need to see it in person at IAAPA to appreciate the graphics.  But, at the same time, the longer you wait to place your order, the more operators will be receiving their Fishbowl Frenzy before you.” 

So, catch up with your competition and get your order in the queue!  Go to www.teamplayinc.com to find a Team Play distributor near you.  And, in the meantime, 3D fish will be swimming circles and jumping for joy, because Fishbowl Frenzy is quite the catch! 

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:   Sales@teamplayinc.com

Standing Room Only Expected for Fun Stop Photos

Elk Grove Village, IL, Oct. 24, 2014   – It’s likely to be standing room only in Team Play’s Booth 2000 at IAAPA this year.   Team Play is bringing two major sensations to Orlando and anticipates a particularly good show.   

First, Team Play’s much-anticipated Fishbowl Frenzy™ will be officially released and is expected to draw a huge crowd.   Second, Team Play will release a slew of new features for its hugely-popular Fun Stop Photos™ line of digital photo booths, which always draw a huge crowd of their own.  But most importantly?  “Our booth is right next to the popcorn.  What could be better?!” jokes Team Play owner Frank Pellegrini. 

“Actually, we are expecting to hit another home run with our Generation II Fun Stop Photos at IAAPA this year,” Pellegrini continued.  “The first generation was hugely successful, and Gen II builds on that momentum.  Fun Stop Photos is still two photo booths for the price of one.  And this year, we are releasing several exciting new features for Gen II, including all of the social media tools,” he said. 

In addition to uploading photos to social media, the newest version of Gen II includes Team Play’s exclusive “Smart Print” feature, which optimizes the photo booth’s printing to maximize throughput.  Also exclusive to Fun Stop Photos is “Adaptive Edge Sharpening” which dramatically improves the image quality derived from its Mitsubishi printers.  The booth’s Upsell feature allows customers to print extra copies of their photos.  Email-Upon-Error automatically sends notice when a printer’s paper media runs out.  Custom artwork capabilities allow the operator to upload logos, coupons, screen advertisements and custom borders.  Zoom and Pan features allow close‑up shots, while the wide-angle lens allows group photos from the back of the booth. 

“The photo booth comes credit and debit card ready, and the menu options are easier than ever to use,” Pellegrini added.

Team Play customers will be especially pleased to learn that all of the new Gen II features will be available via download, to update their existing fleet of Fun Stop Photos booths at no charge.  “Be sure to have us swipe your badge, and we will email you a link to the software updates,” said Team Play’s Geno Giuntoli, VP of Sales.  Giuntoli is the one you will see hanging on the Fun Stop Photos curtains, to demonstrate their strength and durability.  “IAAPA does tend to be a bit of a workout,” Giuntoli laughed.    

A relative new-comer to the photo booth market, Fun Stop Photos quickly garnered a large and loyal following in just a few short years.  “We were really excited that Fun Stop Photos was so well received when we first introduced the booth.  Since then, every year has been even better than the one before,” Pellegrini said.

Operators are not the only ones to take notice of this enormously popular photo booth. Recently, Team Play won Mitsubishi’s highly prestigious 2014 Special Recognition Award for the innovative integration of Mitsubishi printers into the Fun Stop Photos™ line of digital photo booths. 

How has Fun Stop Photos so quickly captured the photo booth market? 

Perhaps the excitement is because Fun Stop Photos are the only photo booths on the market that are effectively two booths for the price of one.  Team Play incorporates two Mitsubishi dye sublimation printers, two currency acceptors, two touchscreen LCD monitors, two high-quality cameras, and two cases of media into every Fun Stop Photos booth.  

Pellegrini explained, “With Fun Stop Photos, your customers can take photos both inside and outside the photo booth, at the same time!  Using the rear camera as an open air photo booth, 15 or more people can take group photos, while other customers are taking pictures inside the photo booth,”  Pellegrini said.  As a result, customers don’t have to wait in line, and the booth earns more money.

Not only does Fun Stop Photos generate extraordinary earnings for the operator, but the booth’s redundant systems contribute to the photo booth’s exceptional reliability.  “To be earning, the photo booth needs to be operating.  If one of your printers runs out of paper, Fun Stop Photos automatically switches all printing operations to the other printer, “ Pellegrini said.  “The photo booth also sends you an email and displays a discrete icon on the rear touchscreen to tell you to replenish the media.” 

These reasons alone would explain the huge demand for Fun Stop Photos.  But, on top of all that, Team Play also offers the lowest ongoing media prices in the photo booth industry.

Several well-known chains have chosen Fun Stop Photos over the competition.  For example, Fun Stop Photos is the booth-of-choice for Dandy Amusements, one of the largest video game operators in the United States.  Dandy’s Chief Operating Officer, John Lemieux, said, “We operate over 200 units of Fun Stop Photos.  We got rid of all of our other photo booths, because  Fun Stop Photos is much more reliable, very durable, incredibly simple to service, and easy for the customers to understand.  Most importantly, Fun Stop Photos earns Dandy more money than any other photo booth on the market.”

Pellegrini added, “It’s no wonder these photo booths are selling as fast as we can build them!”

Go to Team Play’s web site at  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information, and be sure to visit Booth 2000 at IAAPA 2014 in Orlando, Florida, right inside the main entrance.  Team Play will be easy to find.  Just follow the smell of popcorn, and look for a big crowd!

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:   Sales@teamplayinc.com

Fishbowl Frenzy™ Thrills the Crowd – Again

Elk Grove Village, IL, Oct. 17, 2014   –  Globo Frenzy è a Roma!   Make a quick trip to Rome this week for a sneak peek at Team Play’s new augmented reality Fishbowl Frenzy™ ticket redemption game! 

On October 15, Fishbowl Frenzy made its Italian debut to an adoring European crowd at ENADA, the International Amusement and Gaming Show in Fiera di Roma.   Once again, Team Play’s delightful 3D computer-generated fish have been exceptionally well received by everyone attending the show. 

Betson Enterprises’ Tom Kane made the trip “over the fish pond” to introduce Fishbowl Frenzy at ENADA.  Tom is the Director of Export Sales for Betson and has over 20 years of sales and management experience.  In sum, Tom knows a good game when he sees one, and he is thrilled to be distributing Fishbowl Frenzy. 

The much-anticipated game also appeared at the September EAS in Amsterdam, and Tom Kane described the game’s reception as “incredible.”  So far, the Italian crowd has followed suit with equal enthusiasm and interest in Fishbowl Frenzy.  In a word, Fishbowl Frenzy is ‘Fantastico!’

Fishbowl Frenzy combines mechanical and video elements with a carnival theme, reminiscent of everyone’s childhood attempts to win a goldfish in a bowl at the county fair.  Fishbowl Frenzy is strictly a game of skill, challenging players to carefully time their release of a ball which drops through a field of pins into one of the fishbowls below.  

Actual fishbowls are attached to the face of the transmissive LCD screen, in which charming and adorable 3D fish characters are generated.  Players can see through the translucent screen to watch the ball drop, waiting in excited anticipation to see where it will splash.  Advanced technology, mechanical skill play, extraordinary graphics and cute characters combine to create a terrifically entertaining game – the likes of which have never before been seen in the coin‑op industry.

Fishbowl Frenzy’s delightful computer-generated fish celebrate each win, spinning and jumping with enthusiasm.  And, an entertaining carnival barker fish encourages and congratulates the players throughout.  The game play is easy to learn and highly addictive.

On test since June, Fishbowl Frenzy has proven to be an exceptionally strong performer.  One location reports that if there are only four people in the arcade, all four will be lined up for their turn to play Fishbowl Frenzy.  In sum, the players are hooked!

Team Play intends to start shipping Fishbowl Frenzy™ next week.  If you haven’t placed your order yet, you’re already behind your competition.  The game’s official release will be at IAAPA 2014 in Orlando, Florida on November 18-21.  Fishbowl Frenzy is a contender for the Brass Ring Award!

Visit Team Play’s web site at www.teamplayinc.com and visit Team Play’s Booth 2000 at IAAPA.  Meanwhile, the fish will be swimming circles and jumping for joy, because Fishbowl Frenzy is quite the catch! 

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly games that are fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op video games, redemption games and Fun Stop Photos photo booths are known for their excellent earnings, reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs.  Each is designed to provide operators with the highest possible return from every Team Play product. Visit  https://www.teamplayinc.com for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:   Sales@teamplayinc.com

After college, the two Pellegrini brothers opened a small chain of video arcades and started a video game development company.  But, for decades, game development remained a side business.  “My brother and I always wanted to work together,” said Frank Pellegrini.  “We developed games like Pub Times Darts, Bozo’s Buckets and Police Trainer, but they were secondary to our full-time jobs.  Our careers took very different paths within the same industry,” Pellegrini explained. 

For the first twenty years of his career, Frank Pellegrini occupied an increasingly impressive series of executive positions with video game powerhouses such as Konami USA, Electronic Arts and Sega Enterprises.  Pellegrini invented and patented the use of debit card systems in video arcades.  He traveled to Japan more than 50 times for Konami, developing legendary video games such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lethal Enforcer.  And, he spent months traveling throughout South America finding new business opportunities for Sega Enterprises.

Meanwhile, his brother, Ed Pellegrini, was busy running Atlas Distributing, which was the largest video game distributorship in the U.S., and the two brothers’ development company remained just a side business.  But, things changed with the sudden resignation of Frank Pellegrini’s mentor and direct superior at Sega.  “One day, I was in charge of Sega’s new business development, reporting directly to one of the most powerful Japanese businessmen in the world.  The next day, I had to either start proving myself to a whole new regime, or choose to leave and start over somewhere new.  I decided that the timing was right to run my own business as a full time endeavor,” Pellegrini said, “and Team Play was born.” 

The rest, as they say, is history.

Since 2001, Pellegrini’s video game company, Team Play, Inc., (www.teamplayinc.com) has produced a steady supply of family-friendly coin-op video games, redemption games, and photo booths.  Team Play’s enormously popular Fun Stop Photos™ digital photo booths have seized the photo booth market by storm.  And, Team Play’s new augmented reality, ticket redemption game dubbed Fishbowl Frenzy™ promises to be one of the best ever developed. 

“I thought that my husband and brother-in-law had lost their minds when they decided to reinvent the photo booth,” said Pellegrini’s wife, litigation attorney Sheri Pellegrini.  “There already were several digital photo booth manufacturers in the market, but Frank and Ed developed a state-of-the-art photo booth that is far superior to the competition.  Fun Stop Photos generates better earnings, costs less to buy, costs less to run, is exceptionally reliable, and has been incredibly well received,” she said. 

Frank Pellegrini added, ”Every year has been better than the year before.  Now, we are selling the second generation of Fun Stop Photos as fast as we can build them.”

Likewise, Team Play’s newest game, Fishbowl Frenzy, promises to be a huge success.  Fishbowl Frenzy hasn’t been released yet but is already considered to be one of the best redemption games ever created.

Team Play has combined festive carnival fun with adorable 3D animation and 65 inches of high-definition transmissive LCD to create quick, addictive game play that is fun for everyone.  The test earnings have been outstanding, and the technology is completely unique, never-seen-before fun.

“The distributors who have seen Fishbowl Frenzy under non-disclosure agreements are seriously excited about the game,” Pellegrini said.  “We have been trying to keep it under wraps until its November 18 release at IAAPA in Orlando, but we already have pre‑sold a huge number of units – more than we ever could have imagined,” he said.  “It’s all good!” 

What’s the greatest thing about owning a success story like Team Play?  You would expect Pellegrini’s answer to reference the satisfaction of Team Play’s growth and the enormous success of its games.  Instead, Pellegrini said, “Having your own company gives you the opportunity to help your family and friends.”  In addition to Pellegrini’s brother, his cousin, Geno Giuntoli, and niece, Kimberly Pellegrini, work at Team Play. And, Pellegrini has had the opportunity to bring his friends into the family business, as well.

“A couple of years ago, we brought in our lifelong friend, Ken Fedesna, as a part owner of Team Play.  Ken had been an Executive VP at WMS Industries and Midway Games.  When their division closed, Ken brought us some terrific software engineers who wanted to work in a smaller company,” Pellegrini said.  “The high quality of our personnel clearly is reflected in the quality of our games,” he proudly added.

Pellegrini especially appreciates that his video game company still offers a relaxed and friendly corporate environment.  “I usually wear jeans to work, and we laugh every single day,” Pellegrini said.  “We play this ridiculous game where we hide a Marge Simpson doll in someone’s office and wait to see how long it will take for him to notice,” Pellegrini laughed.  “It’s a lot of fun, and we have great camaraderie.  Everyone here is a part of the family.”

Of course, running the family-owned development company is very different from running the New Business Development division of a corporate powerhouse.  “I certainly never had to drive the forklift at Sega!” Pellegrini laughs.  But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s the downside?  “Having your own business can be a bit exhausting,” Pellegrini admitted.  For the past 14 years, Pellegrini has arrived at Team Play’s offices by 6:00 a.m., every morning, and he doesn’t leave until 7:00 p.m. or later every night.  Plus, Pellegrini’s commute is a grueling two-hour drive each way.  “I do wish the office was a bit closer,” Pellegrini said, “but I don’t have to travel for business nearly as much as I used to.  Being responsible for the success of a company that employs your family plus 15 or 20 employees is a huge responsibility, but it’s also very satisfying.  I really enjoy working with my wife, my brother, my cousin, and my best friends.” 

Nonetheless, Pellegrini said that he wouldn’t hesitate to sell Team Play and start over again with a new endeavor.  “Half the time, I’m dreaming up my next invention for a new start-up company, and half the time I’m dreaming of setting up a nice hot dog stand on a beach,” he said.  “Meanwhile, I have a whole warehouse of photo booths waiting to be shipped and not enough hours in the day.”

Is it worth it?  “Absolutely,” Pellegrini promptly declared.

Go to Team Play’s web site at www.teamplayinc.com for more information.  Or, send us an email to sales@teamplayinc.com or call 847.952.7533.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Oct. 1, 2014   –  Team Play’s new augmented reality, ticket redemption game called Fishbowl Frenzy™ appeared at EAS 2014 in Amsterdam last week, and the response has been tremendous.

“We were trying to keep the game under wraps until IAAPA in November,” said Team Play’s President and co-owner, Frank Pellegrini.  “But, we agreed to let Betson Enterprises take Fishbowl Frenzy to EAS in Amsterdam, and apparently Fishbowl Frenzy was the talk of the show!” Pellegrini said with a smile.

During the game’s development, Team Play showed Fishbowl Frenzy™ to a very few distributors under non-disclosure agreements.  The game has been out on test at only two undisclosed locations.  Despite all the secrecy, Team Play already has received an overwhelming number of orders for the game. 

“It isn’t even in production yet!  We haven’t finalized the pricing structure, and still the orders have been pouring in,” Pellegrini said.  “Fortunately, everything is progressing according to schedule, and we expect to start shipping Fishbowl Frenzy by mid-October.  Our distributors can hardly wait!”

Pellegrini’s brother and Team Play co‑owner, Ed Pellegrini, agreed. “The response has been absolutely incredible.  At one test location, the manager told us that if only four customers are in the store, all four will be lined up waiting for their turn to play Fishbowl Frenzy.  And, one of our distributors said that this might be the best game ever created!  Of course, we agree.  This game is truly something special,” Ed Pellegrini declared.

What’s so special about Fishbowl Frenzy™?

Start with a festive carnival theme, reminiscent of everyone’s childhood excursions to the county fair, hoping to win a live goldfish in a bowl.  Then, combine the mechanical action of dropping balls with adorable 3D animation displayed on a huge 65-inch, high definition, transmissive LCD.  The end result is quick, highly-addictive game play that is extremely fun to play and watch.

“You can see through the clear display and watch the balls drop,” explained Team Play’s co-owner, Ken Fedesna.  “We affixed fishbowls directly to the front of the screen.  The animated fish characters participate in the game play, for a 3D effect unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the coin-op industry,” Fedesna explained.

And the coin-op industry has taken notice. 

“The response from EAS has been huge,” said Geno Giuntoli, VP of Sales at Team Play.  “Every day, we are getting inquiries from companies in places like India and Italy, wanting to distribute the game,” Giuntoli said.  “I am blessed to already be selling the best photo booth on the market, Fun Stop Photos.  Now, I’m going to be selling the best redemption game we’ve ever seen.  Life is good!” Giuntoli laughed.

As a result of the extreme interest, Team Play, Inc., released some photos of Fishbowl Frenzy™ on its website at https://www.teamplayinc.com much earlier than originally planned.  Of course, the photos don’t begin to do justice to the game’s 3D effects.  Fishbowl Frenzy™ will be officially released for sale November 18-21 at IAAPA 2014 Booth 2000, where Team Play will exhibit its hugely successful Gen II Fun Stop Photos™ photo booth and new Fishbowl Frenzy™ ticket redemption game. 

“You will see us as you come down the escalator,” Giuntoli said.  “Booth 2000 is right inside the main entrance.”  Giuntoli paused and then added, ”Just look for the huge crowd.”

About Team Play, Inc.

Team Play is owned by coin-op industry veterans Frank Pellegrini, Ed Pellegrini and Ken Fedesna.  From their facility near Chicago, Team Play consistently creates tasteful, family-friendly entertainment that is fun for players and rewarding for operators.  Team Play’s coin-op photo booths, video games and redemption games are known for excellent reliability, ease of service, and reasonable operating costs, designed to provide operators with the highest possible earnings from every Team Play product. Visit  Team Play’s web site for more information.

# # #

Contact:
Frank Pellegrini
Chief Marketing Officer and President
Team Play, Inc., 201 Crossen Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Phone:  (847) 952-7533
Fax:       (847) 952-7534
Email:   Sales@teamplayinc.com

Another summer arcade season is drawing to a close. In my location, it’s been a very good year, given the stagnant economy. If you’re like most amusement operators (myself included), redemption and instant prize games have driven your earnings all summer long. But you’ve probably noticed it’s getting harder to capture and keep people’s attention. In the eyes of the public, coin-op just isn’t cool anymore.

The manufacturing community hasn’t exactly responded in a way that is helpful to operators. The newest releases from the leading video game manufacturers, for example, bare a striking resemblance to everything that came before them. When is the last time a new driving game knocked your socks off? The cost for a brand new driver is prohibitively expensive compared to its modest, even anemic earnings. Even lease options offer little ROI potential. Yet the leading distributor is still pushing the same old video instead of offering the operator something of real value.

Clinging to outdated ideas is bad. Deliberately forsaking the lifeblood of our industry is worse. Countertop touch screen games are a fixture in almost every bar and diner in the country. But if you have a good look around one of these locations, you’re bound to see people glued to their smart phones instead of the countertops. Why? Because for the price of a single play on a countertop, you can download an almost identical game app to your smart phone and play it as much as you want. Operators are feeling the pain. And to make matters worse, the leading manufacturer is rubbing salt into the wound by licensing its touch screen games as phone apps, bypassing its operators and rendering its own hardware redundant. Smart phone users can now play the exact same games without taking cash out of their pockets.

Fate is a cruel mistress. Decades ago, technological innovation gave rise to our industry; now it threatens our very existence. Home gamers play titles like Halo or Call of Duty with or against anyone in the world via the internet. In bars and clubs across America, people are ignoring countertop games and playing apps on their smart phones. We’re at a crossroads, people. The hi-tech revolution can kill us or save us. I don’t know about you, but in times of sink or swim, I choose to swim, and swim hard.

To be cool again, we need to get “smart,” and embrace new technology. The smart phone is the most important status symbol among young people today. Electronics retailers are running commercials about “phone envy,” and a leading wireless carrier is urging America to finish our work faster so we can all get back to playing Angry Birds.

What’s that? You haven’t heard of Angry Birds? Then you’re missing out on the number one prize item in the country, as well as a bona fide pop culture phenomenon. It’s generating the kind of consumer frenzy that Pokemon and Beanie Babies did years ago. Angry Birds is a free game application you can download to any smart phone. It’s humorous, easy to play, and downright addictive. More importantly, the game has spawned an entire franchise of licensed merchandise that is flying off of retail shelves. I put all my stock in Angry Birds merchandise early in the season; I put it in every game that could handle it, and made it the theme of my location for 2011. Plush toys, t-shirts, stickers, and bracelets featuring the phone app characters have been driving my business all summer. They’re so hot, in fact, that one winner in my arcade won a large major prize, and asked if he could trade down for some Angry Birds gear. That’s cool.

So one part of the coolness factor is to know what merchandise is cool. The other part is to take what’s already cool, and make it even cooler by enhancing the user experience. In other words, even the smart phone can use a shot of Adrenaline. Adrenaline Amusements is rethinking video games by making smart phone apps larger than life. Adrenaline’s Touch FX is a wide format touch screen system designed for arcades, FECs, bars, and any location with room for a full-size cabinet. It’s attractive, fun to play, and it appeals to people of all ages.

The coolness factor here is that Adrenaline licensed another wildly popular smart phone app, Fruit Ninja, and super-sized it on a 46-inch screen. Adrenaline did the exact opposite of what the leading countertop manufacturer did, and to the benefit of operators everywhere. Because it’s on a giant touch screen, the game play is identical to the phone version. The big difference is that the player can now show off in front of friends, family, and onlookers, so Fruit Ninja is becoming a “bragging rights” game, like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero before it. Amusement giant Dave & Busters was impressed enough with initial tests of Touch FX Fruit Ninja to put the game in most of its locations. And Adrenaline is staying ahead of the curve, closely watching the phone app market, and preparing to license the next batch of hot titles as upgrades for Touch FX. That’s cool.

We’ve seen what a little coolness can do for video games, but what about something as mundane and benign as a photo booth? It’s a quiet workhorse, usually placed near the exit to hopefully capture a few extra dollars from patrons on their way out the door. Manufacturers have tried different gimmicks – like superimposed hairstyles, morphed photos, and digital backgrounds – to make the photo booth more appealing, yet the traditional four-print strip remains the most dependable earner. So, can this humble piece draw a crowd? Can a photo booth be cool? You bet.

Enter game changer, Team Play, Inc., with its impressive Fun Stop Photos. While the industry leaders have been resting on their laurels, Team Play has been using technology – and the coolness factor – to turn the photo booth into a genuine showpiece. Topping the Fun Stop is a camera-shaped beacon in day-glow green. A flashing strobe beckons the curious from all corners of the location. Once a crowd has gathered, the fun begins. The back of the machine has a working camera that snaps photos of the crowd and displays them on an external monitor. Kids take turns mugging for the camera and showing off for their friends. With the help of technology, Team Play has made the photo booth into an interactive game, and enhanced the user experience. That’s cool.

Fun Stop Photos also has a host of features designed to make life easier for the operator. For starters, the average operating cost is only $0.20 per print, and can be as low as $0.14, with no dongle necessary. Compare that to the operating cost of the leading photo booth at $0.80 to $0.90 a print. If that isn’t enticing enough, Fun Stop has two 26-inch monitors, two dollar bill acceptors – in plain sight, and two photo printers. So a jammed bill acceptor or an empty paper tray won’t put the booth out of operation. Team Play has also added a revolutionary and thoughtful anti-theft measure to Fun Stop: if the machine senses any evidence of tampering with the cash box, it will take and save to the hard drive a ten-photo sequence of the offender in the act. Busting thieves; that’s very cool!

So technology can help us as an industry to recapture the coolness factor. But we, as operators, need to embrace it, follow it, capitalize on it, and give special attention to manufacturers who are doing the same. You don’t have to run out and buy a smart phone, but you should stay informed about what apps, games, and features are popular among your audience. Talk to your kids; talk to their kids. And remember, at the end of the day, we can offer people a user experience that no smart phone and no social networking application can duplicate: genuine, organic, human interaction. Technology can never replace this experience, but it can sure enhance it. And that, my friends, is cool.

But when you look at Fun Stop Photos more closely, the subtle features become more impressive than the obvious ones. First, the photo booth is equipped with two Mitsubishi dye-sublimation printers, each capable of producing 600 4×6″ sheets per roll for a total of 1,200 prints.

The second printer, Team Play’s Geno Giuntoli explained, is a backup. “Suppose you’re heading into the weekend with just 50 or so shots left on the roll,” he said. “You don’t have to sacrifice profits by throwing out media to put in a new roll. And the operator doesn’t have to make a service call because the machine ran out of media. Once the paper runs out, the second printer with a full roll is automatically enabled.”

“Sure, we much prefer operators buy their media from us,” Giuntoli said, “but in order to make our photo booth business model more attractive to them, we need to keep sources open and not force them to buy from only us.” On average, Team Play says Fun Stop Photos’ media cost per vend is 20¢.

Fun Stop Photos is made in the United States, with electronic components coming from overseas. The machine has a footprint of 30.5″ by 43″and stands 78″ tall, without the camera replica topper. Two versions, for the vending and events markets, are available. The operator’s model can be outfitted with a card reader for credit card acceptance. The special events unit has a more subdued color scheme.

The coin-op version vends two 2×6″ nostalgic-style strips with four frames on each; recommended price is $3. The rental version also dispenses strips, but can also offer two larger frames on the 4×6 sheet.

Team Play employs graphic designers and artists for its photo booth content. Fun Stop Photos has 80 border choices for holidays, special events and other applications. Custom borders can be created for and added to a booth for an additional charge.

Graphics can be designed for location promotions. One particular operator of Fun Stop Photos has been successful in using the fourth frame of a photo strip as a coupon that’s redeemable at its location for discounts on food and drinks.

“Couponing can work for any operator in movie theaters, bars, restaurants, FECs and many other locations looking to promote sales for their goods and services,” Giuntoli observed. “And you can easily change out coupon content weekly.”

According to Giuntoli, there’s an even greater opportunity for adjunct advertising. He says an increasing number of operators are putting to work the photo booth’s LCDs to run advertisements, and this can be a major selling tool for placing  equipment on location and keeping it there.

“The booth’s external monitor is perfect for advertisements for locations, and can be employed to promote pool and dart leagues, events like Super Bowl parties and a location’s food menu,” Giuntoli explained. The photo booth system can store and run video ads when the machine is in attract mode.

While Fun Stop Photos is only a few years old, it has a long history of industry knowledge behind it. Team Play boasts one of the most experienced management teams in coin-op. The company was founded by brothers Ed and Frank Pellegrini, who have had a string of hit games that go back to Capcom Bowler, Police Trainer and Star Trek Voyager. Ed Pellegrini also owns Dandy Amusements, a national amusement machine operation. Ken Fedesna, who became a principal of Team Play in 2009, was general manager and vice-president of former pinball and videogame giant Williams/Bally/Midway. Giuntoli joined the company in early 2012 after several years of service with jukebox maker NSM Music.

“The response has really been tremendous since we came to market with the photo booth,” Giuntoli said. “But what surprises me most — and I actually doubted it until I saw it for myself — was how much better Fun Stop Photos performs than the competing booths.”

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — New from Team Play Inc. is a merchandiser conversion kit designed to extend the earnings-life to LAI Games classic Stacker machines. Called Prize Hoops, the basketball-themed update makes use of the game’s existing cabinetry and other original components to offer operators a cost-effective new game.

“To the best of my knowledge, this might be the first-ever kit that converts a merchandiser into a new game,” said Team Play’s Geno Giuntoli. “We’ve been the king of conversions for videos, with Police Trainer, Star Trek Voyager and Crossfire Maximum Paintball; and now we’re bringing the kit concept to merchandisers.”

Giuntoli emphasized that the introduction of a kit aimed at older Stacker machines is not a criticism of the game or the manufacturer. “Stacker is a great game,” he said, “but it is 10 years old. We thought this was a good opportunity to take a perfectly good cabinet and turn it into a new piece with higher earning power.”

The Prize Hoops kit includes a motherboard and I/O board, hard drive and power supply, a wiring harness and a 24″ LCD monitor. Also supplied is a full graphics package, including side decals, a styrene marquee and interior cabinet graphics, plus a Lexan control panel overlay and marquee overlay. Team Play is also offering an optional topper resembling a basketball backboard with LED lights.

“We’ve designed it so that it is basically ‘plug-and-play’
installation,” Giuntoli said. “The operator just opens the back of the
unit, removes the Stacker monitor and associated electronics, and then
slips in our LCD display and electronic game module. The LCD screen
bolts into place in the existing mounting brackets; there’s no drilling
or wire splicing involved. The whole conversion can reasonably be done
in an hour and a half.”

One noteworthy change effected by the conversion is that the game now offers three categories of prize: small, medium and large. Giuntoli pointed out that this affords operators a wide range of size and value options, making it easier for them to stay within state-imposed limits of prize value where required. Game play also is available in both “percentaged” and “completely skill” versions.

Initial tests in locations where the Prize Hoops conversion kit replaced an older Stacker merchandiser show that the earnings improved appreciably, the company reported.

Giuntoli told VT that the Prize Hoops upgrade is the first in a planned series of sports-themed kits engineered for merchandisers. At present, the company has kits with football and soccer themes on the drawing boards.

Information may be had from Team Play by calling (847) 952-7533 or visiting teamplayinc.com.

Since the introduction of Team Play, Inc.’s first coin-operated video game console system in 2001, the Illinois-based company has dedicated itself to designing and producing high-quality video and amusement arcade games.  While expanding into the photo booth market, Team Play has chosen Mitsubishi Electric professional photo printers for its innovative Fun Stop Photos arcade and event photo booths.

“We’ve seen an explosion in the popularity of self-serve photo booths at weddings, corporate events, and coin-operated venues,” said Frank Pellegrini, President and co-owner of Team Play, Inc. “Industry demographics tell us that our core video game products typically appeal most to males under the age of 30, while photo booths appeal to a much broader audience. We knew a well-designed photo booth would be an excellent solution to expand our coin-op arcade business and diversify our customer base.”

Team Play’s products are engineered to deliver the greatest return on our customer’s investment,” Pellegrini explained. “The Fun Stop Photo event photo booth is equipped with two integrated Mitsubishi CP-9550DW photo printers.  We chose the Mitsubishi CP-9550DW digital photo printer because Mitsubishi Electric products have a solid reputation for reliability and durability, and the CP-9550DW has the features we need such as: superior photo print resolution and color; easy-access media loading; and economical, high-quality Mitsubishi Electric brand photo paper media.”

“Our Fun Stop Photos event and arcade photo booths raise the standards for innovation and quality,” Pellegrini added. “Each booth features two high-definition LCD monitors; two high definition cameras (internal and external) and two Mitsubishi CP-9550DW photo printers which are rack-mounted inside the photo booth for easy access. The photo booth has a stylish, appealing design, is readily transportable, sets up quickly, and incorporates a host of advanced features that deliver high quality photo prints in just seconds.”

“Mitsubishi Electric has become an integral business partner for our expansion and growth plans,” said Pellegrini. “The combination of speed, quality, reliability and cost-effectiveness offered by the CP-9550DW photo printer has allowed us to differentiate our booths from the competition and to generate a new stream of revenue for the company and for our customers.  With innovative products, a reputation for quality and reliability, and economical, high-quality output, Mitsubishi Electric photo printers have been a key factor in our successful expansion into the photo booth market.”

Team Play, Inc. develops coin-operated amusement products that consistently deliver superior quality, design, and earnings – resulting in the greatest return on investment for their customers.  Each member of the Team Play management team brings over 30 years of experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution and operation of coin-op video games and digital photo booths.  As a result, Team Play offers an unparalleled collection of talent and experience in all aspects of coin-op video games and photo booths. 

Contact Mitsubishi Electric Dealer Info and Sales Inquiries:  1-888-307-0388
Contact Team Play, Inc. – www.teamplayinc.com