Isn't being a collector and enjoying the hobby enough?

z3k3

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Isn't being a collector and enjoying the hobby enough?

I've noticed that a number of collectors need to have an online personality. Others clamor for mainstream acceptance. Many see high score achievements as a means to celebrity. I blame this on the influence of King of Kong on collectors. As a long time collector, I remember when this wasn't always the case. The hobby was (and for the most part, still is) about discovery, tech and restoration sharing.

Personally, I find this trend off-putting. Am I off base? What do others think?
 
I've noticed that a number of collectors need to have an online personality. Others clamor for mainstream acceptance. Many see high score achievements as a means to celebrity. I blame this on the influence of King of Kong on collectors. As a long time collector, I remember when this wasn't always the case. The hobby was (and for the most part, still is) about discovery, tech and restoration sharing.

No worries - it still is, because no one outside of the arcade circle cares a bit about any of the "celebrity" stuff you mentioned.

I checked. ;)
 
I've noticed that a number of collectors need to have an online personality. Others clamor for mainstream acceptance. Many see high score achievements as a means to celebrity. I blame this on the influence of King of Kong on collectors. As a long time collector, I remember when this wasn't always the case. The hobby was (and for the most part, still is) about discovery, tech and restoration sharing.

Personally, I find this trend off-putting. Am I off base? What do others think?

Everyone has different 'wants' from this (or any) hobby. Don't let how others approach the hobby affect what you want to get out of it, or how you go about doing it.
 
I know what you mean. If I see another thread about XXXX anymore....

A lot of it is just about marketing oneself. If it helps for business I can see that. Other times it is obnoxious.

We had a guy come into the arcade and tell us he was so-and-so arcade champion from so and so game and was on King of Kong for a bit.

I mean, am I supposed to be starstruck or something?

Walter Day has been trying to get hi-scores into the mainstream and King of Kong accomplished a LOT for the hobby and there's definitely a ton of interest that there wasn't years ago. I've personally known Walter since 1997 and he's basically dedicated so much to Twin Galaxies it is unbelievable.

However this isn't in reference to that but it really is in reference to the people that are attention craving for things that are not geared towards the community, more of a memememe sort of thing and I am we sure we all know names.

This is precisely why I keep out of all of this nonsense. I truly do have this arcade and museum so people can be reintroduced to the games. You don't see us do anything more except try to get people in there but then again the IN YOUR FACE way is just aggressive marketing. If you remember the aggressiveness from others the marketing did its job.
 
We had a guy come into the arcade and tell us he was so-and-so arcade champion from so and so game and was on King of Kong for a bit.

I mean, am I supposed to be starstruck or something?

Exactly.

And let's face cold, hard facts: the public at large would respond to this guy by giving him a swirlie.
 
Everyone has different 'wants' from this (or any) hobby. Don't let how others approach the hobby affect what you want to get out of it, or how you go about doing it.

Agreed. For some it's about restoring. For some it's about playing. For some it's about collecting. For some it's about showing off. For some it's about enjoying the friendship. For some it's about making a few dollars. For some it's about having a place for friends and family to enjoy.

And for some of us it's about any and all of those things at any given time. Just enjoy it and don't worry about other peoples motivation. Having them involved keeps the hobby alive.
 
Every hobby has different people with differing views on what is the most important aspect. Personally I enjoy repairing games but dislike restoring games. I love playing games, but I rarely devote much time to doing so. I really could care less about high scores, or competing with someone else. I do enjoy watching others play and discover new games though I hate watching someone "marathon" a game.

I feel that KLOV and the localized shows bring all aspects of the community together. Previously people stuck with the others who shared their primary interest and rarely branched out. I know that the Seattle Pin and Gameroom Show brought many pinball and video arcade collectors together and showed that both hobbies have much in common. Many of the local collectors have branched out into other aspects due to the show and I think that is a good thing.
 
No worries - it still is, because no one outside of the arcade circle cares a bit about any of the "celebrity" stuff you mentioned.

I checked. ;)

Hehehe...agreed, and that makes it even more inane. Like Groucho once said, "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members."
 
Hehehe...agreed, and that makes it even more inane. Like Groucho once said, "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members."

lol, Groucho was genius.
 
everyone gets something different from the hobby. For me its recapturing the feeling when i was a kid standing in front of these wonderful machines. Honestly i love the nights when i turn all the machines on and just chill out with my woman, a drink and just play some games.
 
everyone gets something different from the hobby. For me its recapturing the feeling when i was a kid standing in front of these wonderful machines. Honestly i love the nights when i turn all the machines on and just chill out with my woman, a drink and just play some games.

This is how I feel exactly....
 
The hobby has grown from just being games. I have met a ton of local collectors and made several great friendships out of this hobby. The local social aspect for me makes this hobby a 100% better.
 
The hobby, in my opinion is split into two factions: the gamer and the collector.

Most here are the latter. Seeking out games from the past, restoring them, tinkering with the mechanics, etc. The end goal to create a work of art which in a way is almost worshipped in their home gamerooms. The enjoyment seems to come out of having the game, displaying the game for others to see, and simply looking at the game and the aura it exudes.

The gamer could care less how dirty the game is, or whether it has rare, prototype sideart, or if the leg levelers are uneven. They only want to kick the machine's ass and try and do something over and over and over again until they perfect their own skills. Much like a marksman going thru countless rounds and boxes of ammo to really hone their senses and sharpen their skills at a certain rifle.

Typically from what I've seen in this hobby, the gamer tends to be more extrovert, trying to alpha male their skills in front of crowds and display their prowess. They tend to play these games in public forums in order to validate their scores and as such earn a degree more exposure or attention.
On the flip side, the collector tends to be a bit more introvert. Quiet, relaxed, content. Much happier creating a utopian fantasy in their own home gamerooms so that others can enter their happiness and share the fantasy which the collector so fondly remembers. Most of the time, you can never tell who a collector is in public until it comes up in conversation.

Forgot where I was going with all that....you get the point.

Gamer= look at me.
Collector= Come back later, I'm busy.
 
I haven't really enjoyed collecting or playing. I look forward to it when I have the time, space, and money to do so. I hate fixing games, I love restoring games, and I really enjoy making new cabinets and the joy it brings people to have a mint cab to make their dream machine.
 
everyone gets something different from the hobby. For me its recapturing the feeling when i was a kid standing in front of these wonderful machines. Honestly i love the nights when i turn all the machines on and just chill out with my woman, a drink and just play some games.

AMEN brother. I just want to keep that feeling alive and provide a point of reference for others down the road. At the end of the day, it's about the fun, and the fun is meant to be shared. Once hobbies are internalized to the point of being selfish then it has gone too far, so I try to make sure I keep a good point of reference on all of this and put people first.
 
KLOV = Collector crowd oriented
TwinGalaxies = Player crowd oriented

Can't we all just get along?

;)
 
I just want to play the games, but I'm not super good at any of them.
 
Everyone gets something different out of the hobby. That's what makes each one of us unique. I get the most enjoyment decorating my gameroom and sharing it with others (partywise).
 
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