PEOPLE
 HONORABLE RECOGNITION: LAI Games USA in
Dallas, Texas, a manufacturer of coin-operated games, photo booths, and kiddie rides, received the 2010 Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) Innovator Award for its “Mini Little Masterpiece” touch-screen coloring game. The award recognizes efforts of suppliers and manufacturers in developing exciting new products for the coin-op and entertainment industry. “Mini Little Masterpiece” lets kids create works of art through a touch-screen interface. Once complete, the child signs the “masterpiece,” then a camera photographs the child next to it, creating a souvenir. www.laigames.com
IMPRESSIVE CHANGE: Andy B’s Family Entertainment Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was honored with the 2009 Brunswick Center of Excellence Award for its “exemplary blend of cutting-edge planning and design, businesscritical general management and operations, effective marketing and sales strategies, and superior customer service.” Owner Andy Bartholomy added 16 lanes to the 40-lane center; upgraded the scoring system; renovated an old snack bar, party room, and storage area into a 60-game arcade and prize redemption room; and added a 16,000-square-foot gokart arena. He also brought in a consulting firm to retrain his staff in high-level customer service and hired a food and beverage manager to improve the center’s meal offerings and corporate event services. www.andybtulsa.com
NEW PARTNERSHIP: Animation studio Red Star of Sheffield, England, announced a new partnership with London- based The Juice to distribute its 3-D film content to visitor attractions. The Juice will act as the exclusive worldwide distributors of Red Star’s upcoming films, “Dracula 4-D” and “Sleigh Ride,” and will market the films’ branded merchandise. Red Star’s first film, “The Curse of Skull Rock,” has played at attractions around the world and won two international awards for children’s animation. www.redstar3d.com
U.S. DEBUT: AnimaLive, winner of IAAPA’s 2009 first place exhibitor award for “Best New Product: Show Production and Entertainment,” has appointed Michael Gross its director of sales. Gross will lead AnimaLive’s new U.S. office in Austin, Texas, and was previously vice president of sales for FEC Holding LP. He brings more than 20 years’ experience in the amusement industry and extensive knowledge of the North American market to his new post.  www.animalive.com
NEW SALES MANAGER: UK-based Simworx has appointed Ross Albiston to the position of sales manager. Albiston has experience in the visitor attractions sector, amusement and leisure industry trade shows, and joint- venture revenue agreements. He’ll work from both the Simworx headquarters and his office in Manchester when not out in the field. Albiston previously worked as a business development manager for World Golf Systems Group. www.simworx.co.uk
PRODUCTS
GO TOUCHLESS AND CALCULATE THE SAVINGS: The ICS Mobile Touchless Cleaning System from Hydro Systems helps facilities adopt touchless cleaning systems, reduce costs in the areas of water and chemical consumption, and lower energy bills and man-hours. The ICS can clean a typical six-fixture restroom with less than half a gallon of water; it is also useful for waste receptacles, pool decks, handrails, and more. Hydro Systems has developed an online “Cost Savings Calculator,” which allows users to determine how much annualized chemical, water, and labor saving
 HANDLING THE HEAVY STUFF: Rubbermaid Commercial Products has introduced a new line of heavy-duty carts and trucks consisting of 55 products. The line utilizes Rubbermaid’s Duramold structural resin and metal composite structure, creating a higher strength-toweight ratio than metal, wood, and solid plastic decks, and has been tested to support and transport up to 2,500 pounds. Rubbermaid says the variable-grip-handle carts won’t warp, dent, splinter, rust, or rot and are resistant to most chemicals. www.rcpmaterialhandling.com
DISNEY SELLING EXTENSIVE ACCESS: The Walt Disney Company has begun selling annual season tickets that are valid at all of its parks in the United States. The  “premier passport” will have no blackout dates and will be accepted at both Disneyland theme parks and all four Disney World theme parks and two waterparks. The $700 pass represents a $358 savings over purchasing separate California and Florida premium annual passes. http://disney.go.com
BIG TIME CONTROL FOR SMALLER SHOWS: Alcorn McBride is now offering customers the V4 Pro, the company’s newest addition to the Pro line of show controllers for use in amusement parks, museums, and retail outlets. The V4 is designed for smaller shows and offers some advanced features of the larger V16 Pro. Users can control, monitor, and update the controller across a LAN or Internet connection. www.alcorn.com
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