[Wired In raw #25: Amusement Operators Expo #2]

Raw footage for "Wired In," a never completed series on the technological trends and innovations of the 1980s. The videomakers gather footage from a video game convention in Chicago. We watch as numerous attendees play some of the hottest new video games. A.O.E. #2.

Note: Jamie Fenton is a trans woman. Even though she was presenting as male at the time this footage was originally recorded, these notes refer to her using her proper gender.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with color bars and room audio.

00:33Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of Bally/Midway Programmer Jamie (Jay) Fenton. Fenton talks about the buzz around her video game “The Adventures of Robby Roto.” She also talks about the video game convention. The videomakers move on to interview a representative for a pool table company. The representative talks about the video game market and its effect on the market. “The big money is in the video games and the operators are buying video games and putting all of their cash into video. Although the pool tables have a long running time. You make money on it steadily for years and years. A video game fades from the picture after six months to a year–the game is obsolete.”

04:09Copy video clip URL The videomakers make their way over to a Pac Man retail table. We see a slew of Pac Man paraphernalia, varying from ties, to shirts, to stickers, and hats. We then watch as Tom Weinberg plays a motorcycle video game called “Babydromo.” A representative explains the concept of the video game for the videomakers.

07:05Copy video clip URL We watch as a man plays a miniature Pac Man video game. A representative talks about the Pac Man brand. He states that Pac Man fever will last for quite a while. The representative goes on to talk about the expansion of the Pac Man brand. This lasts for several minutes.

12:34Copy video clip URL The videomakers speak with another representative who demos a video game for them. “Bimbo: 3 Ring Circus” is a video game meant to serve the 2-9 year old demographic.

13:31Copy video clip URL Cut too footage of a representative demoing a change machine. The videomakers continue to gather footage from around the convention hall.

16:00Copy video clip URL A representative shows the videomakers a Play Action Pac Man Mug. We also see a number of other Pac Man retail items. The representative talks about the possibility of the “Roto” video game becoming popular. This lasts for several minutes.

18:58Copy video clip URL Tom Weinberg sings a song while gathering more footage.

19:33Copy video clip URL Tape ends.