Innovative Concepts in Entertainment
{{short description|American arcade manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, Inc.
| logo = File:Innovative Concepts in Entertainment Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
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| type = Private
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| industry = Game machine manufacturing
| predecessor =
| founded = 1982
| founder = Ralph Coppola
| hq_location_city = Clarence, New York
| hq_location_country = United States
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| products = The Flintstones, Ice Cold Beer, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Real Steel, Super Chexx
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| net_income = 10-20 million USD
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| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Joe Coppola (President), Daniel Coppola (Vice President)}}
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| website = {{URL|https://www.icegame.com/}}
}}
Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, Inc., abbreviated as ICE, is an American electronic game and redemption game manufacturer based in Clarence, New York, United States. The company was founded in 1982 and has since become the leader of the North American market.{{cite web |title=Innovative Concepts in Entertainment ("ICE") |url=https://www.tecum.com/portfolio/innovative-concepts-in-entertainment-ice/ |website=Tecum Capital |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906025404/https://www.tecum.com/portfolio/innovative-concepts-in-entertainment-ice/ |url-status=live }} The company was previously owned by MidMark Capital and Summer Street Capital Partners, but was sold back to the original owners in June 2008.{{cite web |title=PE Firms Sell Innovative Concepts in Entertainment |url=https://www.pehub.com/pe-firms-sell-innovative-concepts-in-entertainment/ |website=PE Hub |access-date=6 September 2022 |date=16 June 2008 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906035413/https://www.pehub.com/pe-firms-sell-innovative-concepts-in-entertainment/ |url-status=live }} Alongside redemption games, the company manufactures claw games and pinball.{{cite web |title=Pinball News - First and Free |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/news/ice.html |website=www.pinballnews.com |access-date=11 September 2022 |archive-date=31 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731184839/https://www.pinballnews.com/news/ice.html |url-status=live }}
History
Innovative Concepts in Entertainment was founded in 1982 by Ralph Coppola. In 1982, the company created Chexx, which thrust them into popularity. They would continue to produce redemption games, and later produce the game Cyclone in 1995, which became even more successful.{{cite web |title=The Strong Acquires Ralph Coppola Papers |url=https://www.museumofplay.org/press-release/the-strong-acquires-ralph-coppola-papers/ |website=The Strong National Museum of Play |access-date=11 September 2022 |archive-date=11 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911041034/https://www.museumofplay.org/press-release/the-strong-acquires-ralph-coppola-papers/ |url-status=live }} The success of Cyclone and the tactics in its design would greatly change the redemption game industry. Its design would be replicated and tactics copied. In the 1990's, ICE expanded to the crane game market, and by the mid-1990's became a leader in the industry as it rebounded in popularity.{{cite web |title=cover story - Innovative Concepts in Entertainment {{!}} Manualzz |url=https://manualzz.com/doc/24000518/cover-story---innovative-concepts-in-entertainment |website=manualzz.com |access-date=11 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911041038/https://manualzz.com/doc/24000518/cover-story---innovative-concepts-in-entertainment|archive-date=11 September 2022|url-status=dead}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company struggled to stay afloat due to New York's lockdown laws.{{cite web |title=Innovative Concepts in Entertainment resumes operations following closure |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/innovative-concepts-in-entertainment-resumes-operations-following-closure/ |website=www.vendingtimes.com |access-date=6 September 2022 |language=en |date=22 May 2020 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906025400/https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/innovative-concepts-in-entertainment-resumes-operations-following-closure/ |url-status=live }} However, they survived by creating a new website appealing to men trying to create a man cave.{{cite web |title=ICE – Innovative Concepts in Entertainment – July 2021 |url=https://www.replaymag.com/ice-0721/ |website=RePlay Magazine |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906025400/https://www.replaymag.com/ice-0721/ |url-status=live }}