Who founded Play Meter magazine?
Play Meter was founded by Ralph C. Lally II, an arcade operator who launched the magazine in December 1974 under the name Coin Industry Play Meter.
Questions about Play Meter
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Play Meter magazine stop publishing?
Play Meter ceased publication after its June 2018 issue, a closure that coincided with publisher Carol Lally's retirement from the business.
What made Play Meter the earliest example of video game journalism?
Play Meter is considered the earliest example of video game journalism because it established individual video game reviews and the ten-point assessment scale still used to score them.
How did Hurricane Katrina affect Play Meter's headquarters?
On the 29th of August 2005, a New Orleans levee broke four blocks from Play Meter's three-story headquarters in Lakeview. The resulting flood destroyed 31 years of the magazine's archives and forced a temporary relocation to St. Louis.
What trade show did Play Meter help create?
In March 1980, Play Meter publisher Ralph Lally established the Amusement Operators Expo, the industry's first spring trade show. It later merged through several name changes, including ACME and Amusement Showcase International, to become today's Amusement Expo.
How did Play Meter's circulation change over time?
Play Meter's circulation rose from 5,400 subscriptions in 1979 to a peak of 6,500 in 1991, then fell to 6,000 by 1995 and 3,000 by 2014.