Arcadenut
Well-known member
It showed up shortly after I ran out of room and money
Now I'm doing more trades, just to get some new stuff flowing through the game room.
When does (did) the fever start to die?
- Thread starter modessitt
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- christmad. classic.
It showed up shortly after I ran out of room and money
Now I'm doing more trades, just to get some new stuff flowing through the game room.
I was on BYOAC first as well, with a big time Centipede problem. Lots of problems, actually. It was there that I came across a post by my oldest arcade friend offering local monitor repair. The rest is history. I met a lot of great local arcade friends and they have all helped my collection steadily grow to where it is today. I couldn't have done it without each of them. I'm kind of wondering what other machines I would want. I grew up in 1987, the JAMMA age, and I quickly found through my friend's collections that the best cabs came about well before I was on the scene. I love the classics and my collection reflects that. Are there any other games I want at this point? I can't think of any big names that I'm missing. I don't want lasers, I don't want Star Wars. The games from 1987 and up have been reproduced well on consoles. I'd like to play Space Lords again to see if I really want to dedicate that much room to a game. My bottom line is if I had to stop buying cabs tomorrow, I am happy with the games I have and I can't see any games that would neccesarily be better than what I have already. I still haven't sold any of my games and do not plan to. Maybe I'll start a thread that asks..okay, what am I missing?
Tripredacus
Well-known member
I have seen drop offs in certain hobbies once the space runs out, but for me there is always something else to go into. So if you think of your hobby as being just one thing, be it games or anything else, yes it can drop off. But if you have multiple collecting hobbies you will find yourself bouncing between them until some day you decide to be like everyone else. That hasn't happened to me yet, hopefully not you guys either!
gatordad
Well-known member
When I first started I bought anything cheap just because, also when I started I flipped many games to make a buck,
Now I have an agenda, a small selection of games and pins that I want.
I will never have the setup that some on here have, but I'm comfortable with that, the one's I keep are the ones either I or my family enjoys.
Now I have an agenda, a small selection of games and pins that I want.
I will never have the setup that some on here have, but I'm comfortable with that, the one's I keep are the ones either I or my family enjoys.
cadillacman
Well-known member
i STILL LOOK EVEN THOUGH IM POOR!! heh..
For me once i had a bunch of games an dhalf were dead, that put a nail in the coffin.
In the last year and a half ive moved, due to moving got a susbstntial paycut, i have a son to take care of now, so the fever has died somewhat. I still have it though as like i said, im still looking for ther next project.
Its funny- i used to love to get whatever game, dedicated or conversion, it didnt matter.
Now that im a little older, wiser, and running out of arcade floorspace, all of a sudden i have a sweet tooth for only dedicated original games.. funny how that works isnt it?
For me once i had a bunch of games an dhalf were dead, that put a nail in the coffin.
In the last year and a half ive moved, due to moving got a susbstntial paycut, i have a son to take care of now, so the fever has died somewhat. I still have it though as like i said, im still looking for ther next project.
Its funny- i used to love to get whatever game, dedicated or conversion, it didnt matter.
Now that im a little older, wiser, and running out of arcade floorspace, all of a sudden i have a sweet tooth for only dedicated original games.. funny how that works isnt it?
Riptor
Well-known member
When you spend more time fixing other peoples games and no time fixing your own.
I passed on a mario brothers and mspac that were both local this week.
I passed on a mario brothers and mspac that were both local this week.
OP
OP
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
You're living my life...
rainman154
Active member
Funny, my collecting is just starting. I can't stop looking at CL or Ebay. This site has been a great resource too. People seem really helpful here.
Once I get some more space, I hope to continue restoring my systems and adding new ones.
It's such a unique hobby and I am hoping to learn a lot on these boards.
Once I get some more space, I hope to continue restoring my systems and adding new ones.
It's such a unique hobby and I am hoping to learn a lot on these boards.
Like many have previously stated, I too have slowed down mostly due to no more room. I haven't checked craig's list in a month and don't follow ebay much anymore either. I am thankfull to have befriended a local op who is more than happy to hook me up with projects, and he has gotten some stuff from me as well.
Actually, I don't think the fever has fizzled much, if any, because I play rounds on most of my games regularly. And I have three different "deals" in the works, so if these work out, I will have room to add a couple more. Furthermore, deals worked out or not, if the right deal comes along for the right game, I won't hesitate to pull the trigger. Luckily I have family near by who have garages.. lol
Actually, I don't think the fever has fizzled much, if any, because I play rounds on most of my games regularly. And I have three different "deals" in the works, so if these work out, I will have room to add a couple more. Furthermore, deals worked out or not, if the right deal comes along for the right game, I won't hesitate to pull the trigger. Luckily I have family near by who have garages.. lol
JamBurglar
Well-known member
I'm a DJ a heart (thousands of records) so this is sort of an auxillary hobby for me, but there's some similarities. I've learned to be pretty choosy, like the Jiff moms. When you see a good deal, you want to seize the moment, but it's probably better to think about whether you'll actually keep and use what you're buying. After years and years of buying up records, I started to realize that if I'm not going to use it, then why am I buying it? It's a hard lesson to learn because your instinct is to act. We call it "digging" in the DJ world. I haven't stopped digging, but I've learned to be much more selective. It sounds like a lot of you guys have gotten there with arcade games.
I don't think I'll ever buy a Dragon's Lair, a Golden Axe, or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All those games have nostalgia for me. Dragon's Lair is my true grail game, the one I wanted since the mid 80s back when I thought the idea of having an arcade for home use was insane in itself. But I know that if I buy one, I'll master it in a week or two and then it will sit. That would probably go a long way in killing the drive for me. Donkey Kong was my other grail game and I bought one (paid way too much probably), but I don't regret it because I play it a lot (especially since I can swap DK Jr. in there.) That experience fuels my drive. But I'm more about playing the games than restoring them so I'm just patiently waiting for the next game to show up.
I'm sure it's totally different for the guys who like restoration more than playing the games, and for the guys who make a living off of games. It is cool that everyone sort of co-exists and feeds off each other though. I'd rather pay $1000 for a mint game than $100 for a game I have to fix up.
Maybe I should by that Dragon's Lair though. Hmmmmmmm.
I don't think I'll ever buy a Dragon's Lair, a Golden Axe, or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All those games have nostalgia for me. Dragon's Lair is my true grail game, the one I wanted since the mid 80s back when I thought the idea of having an arcade for home use was insane in itself. But I know that if I buy one, I'll master it in a week or two and then it will sit. That would probably go a long way in killing the drive for me. Donkey Kong was my other grail game and I bought one (paid way too much probably), but I don't regret it because I play it a lot (especially since I can swap DK Jr. in there.) That experience fuels my drive. But I'm more about playing the games than restoring them so I'm just patiently waiting for the next game to show up.
I'm sure it's totally different for the guys who like restoration more than playing the games, and for the guys who make a living off of games. It is cool that everyone sort of co-exists and feeds off each other though. I'd rather pay $1000 for a mint game than $100 for a game I have to fix up.
Maybe I should by that Dragon's Lair though. Hmmmmmmm.
SgtSmackaho
Well-known member
When does it stop?
For me the minute I brought home my first pinball machine... I lost almost ALL interest in vids,It lasted like that for a year but now Im starting to miss my games and am sourcing parts for a MAME build so i can play but still have space for more pins...
(Flame on you crazy diamonds)
For me the minute I brought home my first pinball machine... I lost almost ALL interest in vids,It lasted like that for a year but now Im starting to miss my games and am sourcing parts for a MAME build so i can play but still have space for more pins...
(Flame on you crazy diamonds)
Modessitt,
Per Websters Dictionary
HOBBY: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
OBSESSION: a persistant disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling
I think that that for some the "fever" is a hobby and for others it is an obsession. For me it is a hobby but one that I could easily see becoming an obsession under different circumstances.
I caught the fever a long time ago but was restrained for various reasons along the way. It was always a space/time/money/living situation restraint early on. Then two years ago I moved into a house with more room and was planning to be there for a while so I decided to dive in, but even then I knew I couldn't have a whole room full of games so I went the MAME route. I go my cabinet that I have now from Modessitt (thanks again). It was a gutted NFL Blitz 99 cabinet. It allowed me to persue this hobby and get the most out of it. I got my MAME cabinet up and fully working, my wife, friends and family all enjoy playing it and I am proud of what I did. I envision making some changes to my existing cabinet and maybe getting a dedicated cocktail. Choosing and finding one is the tough part.
Mod for you I don't think the "fever" can be considered a hobby as it is also your occupation. This is favorable for you in that you have a lot of access to cabinets, parts, monitors, etc and have the skills to do the work yourself. At the same time it has probably made it more of an obsession. In no way am I saying that is a bad thing. As others have stated if it weren't for people like you and many others we wouldn't have your knowledge, skills and resources. We wouldn't have communites and web pages of information and more than likely most of these great games would be lost for ever.
I think most of us dream about being able to work on arcade machines all day and then go home to our own machines at night and enjoy playing and working on them. The reality is, that is not practicle for most of us so we get by enjoying this hobby in our own ways. However you maintain and enjoy this pursuit please keep at it and don't ever let the fever die.
Per Websters Dictionary
HOBBY: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
OBSESSION: a persistant disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling
I think that that for some the "fever" is a hobby and for others it is an obsession. For me it is a hobby but one that I could easily see becoming an obsession under different circumstances.
I caught the fever a long time ago but was restrained for various reasons along the way. It was always a space/time/money/living situation restraint early on. Then two years ago I moved into a house with more room and was planning to be there for a while so I decided to dive in, but even then I knew I couldn't have a whole room full of games so I went the MAME route. I go my cabinet that I have now from Modessitt (thanks again). It was a gutted NFL Blitz 99 cabinet. It allowed me to persue this hobby and get the most out of it. I got my MAME cabinet up and fully working, my wife, friends and family all enjoy playing it and I am proud of what I did. I envision making some changes to my existing cabinet and maybe getting a dedicated cocktail. Choosing and finding one is the tough part.
Mod for you I don't think the "fever" can be considered a hobby as it is also your occupation. This is favorable for you in that you have a lot of access to cabinets, parts, monitors, etc and have the skills to do the work yourself. At the same time it has probably made it more of an obsession. In no way am I saying that is a bad thing. As others have stated if it weren't for people like you and many others we wouldn't have your knowledge, skills and resources. We wouldn't have communites and web pages of information and more than likely most of these great games would be lost for ever.
I think most of us dream about being able to work on arcade machines all day and then go home to our own machines at night and enjoy playing and working on them. The reality is, that is not practicle for most of us so we get by enjoying this hobby in our own ways. However you maintain and enjoy this pursuit please keep at it and don't ever let the fever die.
