What causes Folks to 'Leave' the hobby?

[ncfiala]

For me it all comes down to money and space, and time to a lesser extent. It's easy to get excited about this hobby when you can buy a new game every week or two and you have plenty of space to put them in. When you can hardly ever buy games and have nowhere to put them when you do, your enthusiasm starts to dwindle quicky. I don't think I'll ever get out. I think I'll always have games. But I can't really even consider this a "hobby" at this point. It's just too expensive. I can't buy enough games and restoration supplies to keep me busy doing this stuff every day. It's just something I do once in a while. Plus there is always something else competing for my time and money, like research, skill toys (yoyos, contact juggling, devil sticks, etc.), pets, consoles, guitar, BMX, etc.

Not to mention the fact that there is no "scene" here. Some people have a decent sized group of collectors in their area so they can work on stuff together and have partays and whatnot, which might make the hobby more fun sometimes.

 

[Phetishboy]

Not to mention the fact that there is no "scene" here. Some people have a decent sized group of collectors in their area so they can work on stuff together and have partays and whatnot, which might make the hobby more fun sometimes.

I am thinking of having a MN collector Party here at the Galaxy Blue Arcade this summer. You're invited if you wanna come. I'll get the dates squared away and we'll see what kind of 'scene' we can make. (Ob-scene I hope.)

 

[arcadejunkie]

I can solve all your problems. Just give me all your games and feel free to come by and play them whenever you like. You get your space and time for other projects and can drop by and play the games whenever you like and I get a bunch of free games. See problem solved. This offer is open to anyone else with a lot of cool games I want too. I'm always looking to help out.

I will toss them all in my volkswagon jetta and drop them off for free too!

 

[spoonman]

Everything in moderation. I don't get the guys who go and buy a trailer full of trash they have no interest in keeping. I have a humble collection of 5 games. 3 vids and 2 pins and I dont even have enough room at my house for those games so some are at friends and family.

If I bought more games my wife would prolly kill me. I keep looking on kijiji everyday though incase a "grail" comes up. I have passed over some nice deals in the past on fun games because of no room / no money / not on my short list of must haves.

I used to have other hobbies like playing magic the gathering but that requires ppl to play with to be fun (when you have a young family it can be too demanding to get out to a regular game night). Our hobby is great because it is fun all by yourself and gets even better when you add more ppl to your gaming circle.

Since I can not grow my collection presently I am doing other things like meeting other locals who collect and planning trips for things like the allentown get together to keep me interested and going strong.

and for the record i am one of those who spend way to much on restorations so i would be in big trouble if i had a dozen waiting in a garage for resto.

 

[PhoenixStar]

I think some people fail to pace themselves and get burned out.

There are other people who it is more about the chase than the catch and once they have everything they want they lose interest.

BINGO! I think people go on arcade binges like they are massive drug addicts, and when they have so much bullshit repairs to tinker with or when they are temporarily satisfied, the low comes in real quick.

 

[zfcamaro]

I don't plan on ever getting out of the hobby...I can't even imagine going into my basement and not being surrounded by Arcade Magic.... Whenever I feel burned out I just take a break for a couple weeks.

 

[cleverlyj]

Not to mention the fact that there is no "scene" here. Some people have a decent sized group of collectors in their area so they can work on stuff together and have partays and whatnot, which might make the hobby more fun sometimes.

that's the weird thing around here. there's quite a few people, yet no one really gets together. we all kind of hide from each other for whatever reason...

 

[gutsman004]

I can see both sides of it.To me,as I'm sure it is to a lot of you,is the nostalgia factor.It's just super cool to actually own a game you have fond memories of,and even better playing the game just like you remember at your own leisure,without having to fill it full of quarters.
On the flip side,repairing them can get costly,and a lot of the parts can be hard to find at times,not to mention most of them are a complete pain in the ass to move.

And I can see the collect everything and then sell it off aspect of it as well,as I was that way when I collected hockey pucks.I pretty much collected everything I wanted and was like,"now what?" While I've had to sell off my previous collection of games several years ago,I knew I'd come back to the hobby and I have with an increased passion.

And while I would love to have a room that recreates that "arcade game room" atmosphere of days gone by,I think for now I'll just settle for a few games that have earned a place in my personal pantheon of arcade favorites. I think if everyone does that there should be little to no burn out...ideally anyway.

 

[YODAinMN]

GorfChampion isn't getting out of the hobby either. He's steering away from the forums because it takes up too much of his time.

 

[Game_Girl]

I get really busy sometimes and have to take a break from the forums or still view but don't have as much posting time. I also have to take a break sometimes from buying/maintaining equipment as well. I can break from it but completely leave it....NEVER!

 

[Phetishboy]

GorfChampion isn't getting out of the hobby either. He's steering away from the forums because it takes up too much of his time.

That's what I am talking about. I see this over and over. Having to take a break from the forums, if not the hobby. Why? All you have to do is check in, read some new posts, post or start a thread and check back later in the day. Why is this place such a problem for people? I really think it boils down to having a thick skin and not getting too worked up over what is posted on a message board. A lot of people really seem to take comments directed at them so seriously it almost kills them. You can actually watch their attitudes change, their post tone change, and then eventually most either post a goodbye thread, just quietly leave, or have a huge meltdown and get banned. Weird.

 

[jow]

post a goodbye thread

Those are the best.

 

[savit4l8r]

You forgot about posting a youtube link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtS0rwQK_pI

 

[savit4l8r]

Or...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cav-P82jj5k

 

[savit4l8r]

Perhaps?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHFK1yKfiGo

 

[savit4l8r]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEKTSO1scaI

 

[TheShanMan]

I can check the forums often because my work is conducive to it, but for others it may not be. And I think some people get too "addicted" to the forums and start spending more time on the forums than they really have time for, so they back away.

I think others spend a lot of time on the hobby outside of the forums and want to stay away just for balance in life. FullThrottle comes to mind. He's still very much in the hobby but you hardly ever see a post from him anymore. He was telling me at CAX how he needed to get balance in his life because his life revolved around the hobby, to the detriment of other areas of his life. I miss seeing him on here but I commend him for doing what he had to do.

 

[MonsterBash]

I went through 'moments' for a couple years but never really got out.

For me (just turned 39) vids back then was a way of life. I would cut the neighbors law for 50 cents to walk 1.5 miles to the pizza joint that..looking back on it had some pretty cool games. Then about 15 year ago or so I was like..holy chit..you can buy these things?

I bought a few vids I had to have then got into pins. Of course I sold a bunch of vids i REALLY wish I didn't. Pins started to take it's course about 8 years ago and my collection went stagnant and unplayed for a LONG time (5ish years). Funny story as I actually started hunting down the news groups again about 2 years ago to start selling some of my pins to finance a house purchase.

The newgroups and forums totally rekindled my interests and instead of selling I added 7 pins and a couple balls bowlers in the last 1.5 years. Now that we did indeed buy that new house the free cash isn't there anymore...so I pulled back to vids again as they are more affordable.

That new house has a 2100 SQ FT basements and although we are not completely moved in..I've spent a lot of time on my williams muilti. Got everything to do it..just bondo'd the CPO last night. I'm REALLY enjoying 'tinkering' in the new basement.

I think people that were really into these games years ago (when they cost a quarter to play) will be the guys that stay

 

[ScumBum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEKTSO1scaI

haha

"Screw you guys , I'm leaving the hobby "

 

[EVB]

As far as the forums go... I think I've seen a few people leave or post less cause they get butthurt over a little moderator reprimand.

There are still plenty of people in the hobby that don't post much. That's for sure. Like the dudes that come in say once a month looking for a part. Someone ships dude a freebie then you don't see him again for another month when he needs another part.

Another fave... Some newb spamming pics of his awesome gameroom all over the forums. Many members give newb props on his games etc that a boy. Newb does not respond at all after that. No thank yous, no other posts, nothing. Weird. Seen that a few times.

Yep, and I know we need sellers of parts. Honestly, though, is that all some of you do here?

Everything is for sale.

Well...screw you guys, I'm outta the hobby...