The first Universal theme park in Europe will reportedly be built in the U.K., according to the BBC. The massive, 476-acre attraction is planned for the Bedford area and is slated to open in 2031. Construction is expected to begin next year. Universal currently has theme parks in Los Angeles and Orlando in the U.S., and also in Japan, Singapore and China. “This is not just about bringing great American creations to Britain, this is also about showcasing the great British creations to the world,” said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. “These are things like James Bond, Paddington Bear, these are…
Author: Matt Harding
Zombies Ready Deady Go! is now officially in stock and shipping globally, according to Sega Amusements International. “We’re seeing strong replay value and positive early earnings reports from initial installs,” said the company’s Lester Travasso. The game is a friendly 4-player competition that involves players of all skill levels racing quirky zombie characters to the finish line by rolling balls into targets. Roll a ball into the zombie’s mouth at the end of the playfield to unlock the big-ticket super bonus. Tickets in this redemption game are awarded based on race position and performance, so players are coming back time…
Bowl Expo 2025 will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in the Washington, D.C., area, from June 29-July 3. (Click here to register or visit www.bowlexpo.com for additional information.) Keynote speakers include retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral William McRaven and former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. The event will begin with the educational “boot camp” sessions and BPAA committee meetings on June 29. There will be more meetings and seminars on June 30, and there’s also a welcome reception that night from 7-9 p.m. The trade show itself runs July 1-2 from 11…
Now that the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2025 has had their shine, it’s time to begin thinking about the next group of industry icons who should be enshrined in 2026. AAMA has opened nominations now through July 18. Click here to submit someone. “You’ve seen who we’ve already honored – who do we still need to recognize?” AAMA queried. “If there’s someone whose impact has shaped the coin-op and amusement world, we want to hear about them.”
Beth Standlee’s training and coaching company TrainerTainment is celebrating 20 years in business next month. (Part of the excitement will be a RePlay Magazine cover in May.) The business, which recently announced that Candi Kelley has taken the reins as CEO, has also expanded on their offerings into The GrowthPro Group, the new parent company of TrainerTainment, ExecPro Services and SalesPro Services. It’s the same company you know and love with a refreshed name to more fully explain everything they do. While you’re waiting on your May issue of RePlay, learn more about them at www.trainertainment.net.
“At a time when the industry was dominated by men, a few women bucked the status quo by establishing businesses that were objectively better than their male led competitors,” said AAMA’s Executive VP Pete Gustafson. That was Faith Guthrie. Her life spanned three centuries – born in Kansas in the late 1800s, living throughout the 20th century and still working full-time into her 100th year. She was a route operator in Southern California, starting her G&G Vending Co. in 1952 with the purchase of 10 Rowe cigarette machines for $1,203.17. Eight of them were on location, and that purchase price…
King Kong: Myth of Terror Island is the newest game from Stern Pinball. Designed by the company’s Keith Elwin and with art from the company’s new art director Jeremy Packer (aka Zombie Yeti), this King Kong game puts players into the Terror Island world. In the gameplay, players join Ann Darrow, Jack Driscoll and Karl Denham on their journey to the island, which results in King Kong traveling back to New York City with “disastrous (and fun) consequences.” The pinball features four flippers, four bank drop targets with a hidden standup target and original animations, music, sounds and speech. Additional…
H. Betti Industries recently announced that Todd Cravens is now president of Betson Gaming. He joined the company in January as its senior vice president of gaming and “made an immediate and measurable impact across the business.” “Todd has quickly proven himself to be a dynamic and transformative leader and a key member of our senior leadership team,” said Bob Geschine, president of H. Betti Industries. “In a short period of time, he’s elevated not just our gaming business but added value across the entire enterprise. We’re excited for what’s ahead as he takes this next step.” Cravens was previously…
AAMA awarded AVS Companies as their 2025 Distributor of the Year at the Amusement Expo trade show last month. “Winning the AAMA Distributor of the Year award is a tremendous honor for AVS Companies,” said Tony Shamma, vice president of sales at AVS Companies. “We are incredibly grateful to our industry peers for recognizing our dedication to excellence. This award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team, and we will continue to provide the highest level of service and innovation to our customers.” Learn more about them by emailing sales@avscompanies.com.
Cosmic Air Park in Houston, Texas, recently upgraded its cashless software. Semnox Solutions installed their Parafait suite to enhance guest experience and streamline operations there. “In our older generation parks, we were running multiple systems, which added complexity and costs,” said Shawn Meghani, owner of Cosmic Air Park. “For our new build, we needed a turnkey solution – one system that could run it all. After researching various providers, we chose Semnox because they not only checked every box but also offered the technological scalability to grow alongside our company.” He added: “There is a learning curve, but they are…