It's been said before ... by many...

retroACTIVE

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Going through some serious consideration of selling it all... I really enjoy the restoration aspect of this hobby but I am really having a tough time carving out the personal time to commit to these things... not to mention it's nickel and dime-ing me every time I turn around.

Dunno ... got to chill my thoughts for a bit before I go and do something I regret.
 
Going through some serious consideration of selling it all... I really enjoy the restoration aspect of this hobby but I am really having a tough time carving out the personal time to commit to these things... not to mention it's nickel and dime-ing me every time I turn around.

Dunno ... got to chill my thoughts for a bit before I go and do something I regret.

Hope you can come to a decision you can live with. You do what's best for YOU!

Dibs on the Galaga?

;)

Chris
 
Going through some serious consideration of selling it all... I really enjoy the restoration aspect of this hobby but I am really having a tough time carving out the personal time to commit to these things... not to mention it's nickel and dime-ing me every time I turn around.

Dunno ... got to chill my thoughts for a bit before I go and do something I regret.

For me, the space this crap takes up is the stressful part.
 
Space is the big one but we all bought into this hobby knowing that would be a 'small' byproduct. Seriously guys, it happens..... thin the herd and stop buying shit just because its there.

I finally reached a tipping point and dropped my collection from 60 down to 15. You don't have to have EVERY game you remember, only the ones you liked. For me, that's how I'm approaching things now....

Seeing a smaller amount of games that's manageable (if I move), plus a garage i can actually walk in means so much more. Unfortunately, you have to experience the bad before you can recognize the good and what you truly want.

If you do get rid of games, try to get rid of stuff you can easily get again if you have second thoughts. Most stuff can be gotten again, but the rare stuff....well, not so much so step back and think hard about tossing those.

If you're done, then you're done, no harm, no foul.
 
Space is the big one but we all bought into this hobby knowing that would be a 'small' byproduct. Seriously guys, it happens..... thin the herd and stop buying shit just because its there.

I finally reached a tipping point and dropped my collection from 60 down to 15. You don't have to have EVERY game you remember, only the ones you liked. For me, that's how I'm approaching things now....

Seeing a smaller amount of games that's manageable (if I move), plus a garage i can actually walk in means so much more. Unfortunately, you have to experience the bad before you can recognize the good and what you truly want.

If you do get rid of games, try to get rid of stuff you can easily get again if you have second thoughts. Most stuff can be gotten again, but the rare stuff....well, not so much so step back and think hard about tossing those.

If you're done, then you're done, no harm, no foul.

+1 on this

there have been time recently I didn't do anything, aside from playing a couple of games for weeks at a time.
but I can't wait to get back out there.
I hate the restoration part, but I love the electrical, troubleshooting, rebuilding monitors, and most importantly the playing part.
I have to say I love the kill also. Looking and finding that deal or hard to find game. good stuff. Not to mention you get a few good buddies out of it.

give it some though brother
 
Here is where I am with my inventory... it's a piddly collection for some... but every single one of my games has been either been meticulously restored or at a minimum has been electrically rebuilt.

Star Wars w/ NOS Amp tube, rebuilt Deflection and HV (w/TO220 mod) Vector Labs Multi ... rebuilt flight yoke... everything completely restored.

Missile Command w/Takeman Panel, rebuilt Trackball and Braze Multi

Defender Completely restored (stenciled of course) w/JROK

Tempest Excellent condition w/Tubes mod.

Asteroids Deluxe... good shape... could use a touch up here and there.

Space Duel... clean... rebuilt 6100, has some bubbling of the artwork
along the bottom but no water damage

Berzerk completely restored with new Vision Pro, ZZPU multi, P360 stick and repro panel.

APB ... don't think there is another like this and I don't think I would recoup the cash I've put into this unless I find a real APB lover. This game is perfect.

Space Invaders.. another total restoration... w/Braze multi. I love this game... it's gorgeous!

Millipede ... Great shape w/Braze multi.

Who Dunit works, also have the Exidy multi... doesn't work with the Who Dunit boards.


Atari 4P football, Galaga and PP projects
 
I've considered selling many times. I find sometimes I get overwhelmed especially when I had more non working games than working. I've sold several games, quit buying crap I don't have any interest in (well trying) and have my collection much more manageable. I've also sold games I wish I'd kept. Make sure and think about it for a while and I'm sure you'll make a decision that's best for you. - Barry
 
I sure before you had this hobby you had others like it.. classic car
restoration? You're going to be drawn to these creative/technical
creation/restoration type hobbies. They are going to be over the top and
expensive and take a lot of time. Most of us are this way. Why do you think
you see so many classic cars sitting in the driveways of collectors. Its just
what we do.

Jobs are important but you have to make time for yourself. Maybe you are
putting to much pressure on yourself to build the "perfect" collection and not
spending enough time enjoying them and sharing them with others. Carve out
some time to have an arcade party with friends, or just take a week off from
the job, decompress and play them. You have a great collection.. I've seen
it! Most people here only have a couple machines tops. You have a
very respectable collection.

Find a way to rebalance work, life, and your hobby. There is room for all three
but you have to work to keep the balance.

Mike..

P.s. Dibs on the Missile Command:p
 
Going through some serious consideration of selling it all... I really enjoy the restoration aspect of this hobby but I am really having a tough time carving out the personal time to commit to these things... not to mention it's nickel and dime-ing me every time I turn around.

Dunno ... got to chill my thoughts for a bit before I go and do something I regret.

Been there and now that my collection is gone, i feel much better. I always liked the restoration aspect side of the hobby myself but when it gets to the point where all you do is live, sleep and breathe these things, it's over the top and something has to give. Not sure if i'll ever completely leave the hobby but it's a bit easier to tackle one/two machines per year instead of looking at a pile of crap that never seems to diminish.

Take stock, take a break, have a drink, sleep on your thoughts and if it doesn't get better in a month, start selling your shit. You can always do it all over again if the urge strikes you.
 
If space were the issue, I'd say there's your problem right there - that 4 player football, set up to play, would take the space of 3 games, right?

Yeah ... I wish I had the football done... I've completely rebuilt the cab I just need to put it together. The control panels need to be re-screened... thats what's keeping this one in limbo
 
Space is the big one but we all bought into this hobby knowing that would be a 'small' byproduct. Seriously guys, it happens..... thin the herd and stop buying shit just because its there.

I finally reached a tipping point and dropped my collection from 60 down to 15. You don't have to have EVERY game you remember, only the ones you liked. For me, that's how I'm approaching things now....

I did the same thing. I had gone through almost 20 different games in two years with a max capacity of 11 in the basement. Many of what I had were in some state of needing repairs or restoration and I never had time to actually enjoy playing the games. Parts everywhere in our basement. And the majority of the games were only there because they popped on CL up at a good deal. So between needing some extra cash and just wanting to reclaim some of my sanity I got rid of everything. Now I'm rebuilding my collection with the promise to myself (and my wife) that the only games I will pick up are the ones in my top 10. It would be top 5 but 4 of the 5 are on the 60-in-1 pcb so that cab takes care of those for me. The only game I regret letting go was my Mario Bros WB cab. But it went to a local friend so at least it's not far away. And I know when I have the cash I can easily find one in nice condition to replace the one I sold. The other upside to skipping all the "good deal games" that I really didn't want is that I won't have to haul games back up the stairs out of the basement so often. I'm not saying the games I have are 100% keepers forever but so far, the three games are not going anywhere anytime soon.
 
+1 to pretty much everything that's been said so far. I think every one of us gets to this point sooner or later. I always just take a step back and take a week or two off from my fixation with arcade games. ;) I've never "paniced" and decided I needed to sell everything and get out... the only thing that would drive me to do that would be if I were in a dire financial position. This is just a hobby after all, don't let it consume you. Having said that, you have to be a bit driven to do restorations of your caliber. Just don't rush into any decisions, give it some time, then as Avid said, if you still feel the need to get out, then no harm, no foul.
 
Been doing this for 11 years and I think the worst was 7 or 8 years ago, when you could still sell games for a good price. I was fixing $50 games in the apartment I was living in at the time. Imagine removing the marquee on my Ladybug project, only to have a rat's nest of mess spill into the carpeted floor. It felt more like work for a while, and I went through a period of 2-3 years where I did next to nothing with the stuff. Having multiple project games is definitely aggravating, but that's all I buy, so I punish myself I suppose.
 
The way I minimize costs is to NOT do full on restorations. I repair a game to solid as possible running condition...thats it. If it breaks down then it sits until I have time/money to spare. I let other guys do the full ground up restos...because while they are spending lots of time and money ..I'll be playing my games. ;)
 
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