Do you get anxious...

CyberDude

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When family is over for get togethers or holidays and ask to play your machines. How do you feel about it? Nervous or anxious that one might get broken? Do you have rules for the game room or just let'em have at it. Just wondering.
 
I would imagine that feeling would be worse at shows. I know I would if I spent a lot of money and time on a build. Unless you have players games, then probably not so much.
 
I enjoy it when family wants to play my games, my mom even joins in on Pac-Man ... I had to set some ground rules with my nephews at first (they are 7 and 11) ... basically just explained to them how much work I put into them and that I want to share them with everyone but they have to respect the games and no go ape sh!t in the game room.
 
My main thing was no drinks on the games...

Otherwise, have at it. They are made to be played.
 
The only time I ever got anxious was a time when another collector had his four or five year old over and started smacking and banging on a dedicated Cloak and Dagger control panel (ack!) It was a game I was holding for a pal so I got a little nervous and had to say okay that's enough. If your relatives are just going to play them and not beat up on them I cant imagine much of anything going wrong =).
 
The only thing I get nervous about are the games working properly. I think its cool when friends and their kids wanna play, I just don't want their excitement to get dashed by a game that craps out or chokes up somehow while they are playing. Yeah, the kids are rough on sticks and buttons sometimes....but its all about playing and having fun... so that's ok IMO.
 
yeah I don't think regular rough play would have made me anxious.. this one had escalated to tantrum and like going after the panel.. errored on the side of caution and just turned off the game before fingernails may have entered into the situation =).
 
My only rule when having a party is no food or drinks near machines and please wash hands before playing (as usually I have tons of greasy food at parties)

If friends with kids are over I also ask they watch there kids so they don't bang things or try to pull/scratch art. Everyone I know sees the level of effort I put in restoring so most people are already already watching their kids. But yeah these game were mean to be enjoyed and I am always amazed that kids still are in wonder about them, though I find the pinballs are the ones kids are most hypnotized by.

That said if someone's kids were trashing a game I'd have no problem saying something or telling them to get the kid out of there
 
i think it depends on the age of your guests. my grown-up/teen/older kid guests are generally fine. most of them don't even trifle with drinks/food near the games

it's the little kids that think that the games are a jungle gym that i'm only mildly-concerned about.

99% of the time though if i asked them "please don't [x]", they gladly comply and everything is fine
 
I just dont want them dropping the guns for my time crisis setup..

Other than that i dont have anything worth collecting or anything i cant fix by myself...
 
Have atcha... I like fixing my machines more than actually playing them most of the time, so I don't mind if the kids get a little rough. Yes, there are times it sucks (like having to pay for replacement parts), but it would happen eventually anyway. I don't go full on restoration like some of you, otherwise I probably would care a little more.

Then again, my kids are 7 and 11. They grew up around these games and the hobby, so they do know to respect the machines. It's usually their friends I have to worry about.
 
The only thing that bugs me is sticky fingers. Somehow my son gets gross sticky hands no matter what he's doing and gets the joysticks all sticky and fingerprints all over the glass.
 
I fire them up the night before just to make sure everything is going to work. Honestly, the biggest hassle is the two MAME cabinets. I always just put one popular game on them with the intention of leaving it, but some button masher always winds up finding the shortcut to exit or volume (which are purposely sprawled across two player controls).

If you're worried about food or drink in there, you don't have enough places to set stuff. I don't want people to feel like they can't relax.
 
When family is over for get togethers or holidays and ask to play your machines. How do you feel about it? Nervous or anxious that one might get broken? Do you have rules for the game room or just let'em have at it. Just wondering.
No rules. I'm just ecstatic Someone is actually playing the games.

My vision was to have an arcade that my kids or people played in every day. Obviously that's not realistic but I got the games with hopes they'd get used.

the only part I worry about breaking down are the pcbs. My 3 year old weighs about 40 or so pounds and I can verify that a wico can hold atleast that much weight hanging from it.
 
I agree with the no food, drinks or sticky fingers rule, but other than that my guests are welcome to have a good time.

These machines were designed to stand up to the rigors of being on route. It would really take some outrageous behavior by a guest to hurt them.
 
For the kids, besides the classic arcade rule- No Drinks on the games... Let 'em play and have fun. These games clean up real nice. If you can get grease and grime off of them that's been there for 25+ years, you shouldn't have any problem getting day-old cheese doodle remnants off.

As far as adults, we always have beers down there. The top of Nintendo cabs make great places to put your beers. :D
 
I don't mind at all when company is over and they want to play one of my arcade machines. I haven't really restored anything to new/like-new and I would consider my machines in just above route-ready condition (i.e. cabinets are in decent shape, side art non-existent/painter over, but new joysticks/buttons) so I don't mind mashing buttons and joysticks. I only ask they don't spill anything and don't kick the cab after I beat you in SF2
 
In the beginning I watched everyone like a hawk (especially the little ones) but have since relaxed about most of it. I don't foresee them doing anything to them that didn't happen to them in the arcade and they seemed to survive that. My only bitch is when they slam the flight stick on Afterburner or the handlebars on Hang-on because their pissed that they suck at it. Only because I hate to readjust potentiometers if they slam it hard enough and throw out the settings.
 
I love it when people come over to play my games, thats what they are here for. My kids know to respect the games and when their friends come over my kids tend to be the police. As far as adults go, we are always having beers, etc. My Defender cocktail table ends up being just that, a cocktail table and is usually the spot where I have to pickup cans etc. Yes is leaves rings but that what these were meant for and a little windex and it is back to shiny and clean.
 
Pretty much what everyone has said already. Keep drinks away, don't be stupid, have fun. Definitely enjoy watching others enjoy them.
 
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