ShuffleAlley.com has developed Shuffle Alley, a new updated version of the puck bowler and released their first game, The Parker Bohn III Pro Bowler in March this year at ASI in Las Vegas.
The 250 Parker Bohn III Pro Bowler games ShuffleAlley.com produced in July this year has created demand for another 250 games that are due to go into production next week. The games will be contract manufactured at Stern Pinball in Chicago with another production run scheduled for January 2004 as well.
Company Founder and game creator Jack Guarnieri, whose industry experience started in 1975 said, "This game is a long distance runner. It will be on location earning money and providing fun for players for many years to come. It's a solid investment. It was designed by an operator for an operator."
Earnings range from $150 a week to over $100 a day depending on the location. There are many Shuffle Alley leagues where the new Pro Bowler is replacing existing older Shuffle Alley games. The average weekly collection is between $190-$260. The games have been placed in traditional taverns, but many have been placed at Bowling Centers, FEC's, Arcades and other street locations.
The Pro Bowler is popular for many reasons, the skill action of sliding the puck at the mechanical pins encourages repeat play when combined with the big 27" flat screen colour monitor, video clips of Hall of Fame Pro Bowler Parker Bohn III, animation scoring and music. The game can be set to dispense tickets and is also available in two lengths, the standard eight-foot alley or a shorter six-foot alley, which enhances the play for kids.
There are four operator-adjustable difficulty settings and competition between up to six players at a time is combined with the three game choices a player can pick to compete in. Currently a player can choose Regulation Play, 3-6-9, which is a Pro-Am game awarding the player an automatic strike in the third, sixth and ninth frame, a handicap-type game, and Mulligan Play. The Mulligan is a do-over player option. If you miss your spare, the player can buy a Mulligan (do-over) and slide the puck again to pick up the remaining pins. This is something new in that this game resets each pin individually so any combination of pins can be set up by the game. To see players choose different games and still be able to compete with each other is amusing for spectators as well as players and gives the game another dimension.
This game can be updated with a CD ROM for future game releases and software updates which ShuffleAlley.com continues to develop. Black light and Cosmic bowling versions are also slated for release.
Further information and details can be found on the
ShuffleAlley.com web site along with a list of factory authorized distributors. The game will be shown at the upcoming IAAPA show in Orlando and at ATE, London in January 2004.
