Author Topic: Do you ever feel like a dork for owning arcade games? (Read 24596 times)

Paul Olson · « **Reply #40 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:54:45 pm »

Quote from: TheShanMan on February 10, 2011, 02:26:51 pm

Quote from: Level42 on February 10, 2011, 08:58:36 am
Not sure about you guys, but I know plenty of people who simply don't _have_ a hobby. They seem to work, watch TV and.......that's about it.....
I think those are the real DORKS....

100% right on the money!

My wife is supportive and my kids love it. Given that, why would I care if anyone else thinks I'm weird? Probably some people do, but no one has ever had the nerve to tell me that.

Jeff, you are weird.

ChadTower · « **Reply #41 on:** February 14, 2011, 11:29:02 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 14, 2011, 09:33:11 am

Breakfast in San Antonio...

"so this guy on the mame forum wants to know if collecting arcade games makes him a dor.."

"Yes"

"Oh well, he's kinda my industrial-buddy, we exchange the occasional e-mail when a new album comes out. I teased him that it was really the eyeliner and ---smurfy--- industrial music that did his relationship in"

"Hm.. tough call"

Member of the tour [to the tour guide]: "Excuse me? When are we going to see the basement?"

fixt

Mikezilla · « **Reply #42 on:** February 14, 2011, 11:46:53 am »

Haha pee wee.

RayB · « **Reply #43 on:** February 14, 2011, 03:32:59 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 14, 2011, 09:33:11 am

Breakfast in San Antonio...

"so this guy on the mame forum wants to know if collecting arcade games makes him a dor.."

"Yes"

"Oh well, he's kinda my industrial-buddy, we exchange the occasional e-mail when a new album comes out. I teased him that it was really the eyeliner and ---smurfy--- industrial music that did his relationship in"

"Hm.. tough call"

Frankly I resent the implication that I was dumped or otherwise at fault (and an emo!?!).

yotsuya · « **Reply #44 on:** February 14, 2011, 04:30:02 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 14, 2011, 11:36:32 am

They really don't like it when you ask them about the basement. Predictably, I've done it many times.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why anyone that wasn't a Texan or Mexican would visit the Alamo but please continue to dump your money on our tourist trap.

I loved visiting the Alamo. Honestly, San Antonio is one of my favorite cities to visit in America.

RayB · « **Reply #45 on:** February 14, 2011, 04:44:14 pm »

I loved San Antonio the one time I went, except for the humidity (yikes!). I stayed in a small motel across from the Alamo, and just a walk away from that river with the bars and restaurants on either side. Is Dick's still open? That place was a blast. (I was there to attend AMOA !)

ChadTower · « **Reply #46 on:** February 14, 2011, 04:50:19 pm »

Quote from: RayB on February 14, 2011, 03:32:59 pm

Frankly I resent the implication that I was dumped or otherwise at fault (and an emo!?!).

Being resentful, and saying everything is someone else's fault, is what makes a person emo.

RayB · « **Reply #47 on:** February 14, 2011, 05:44:46 pm »

---fudgesicle--- off Jim*, I was 22 and there on business. Didn't see any paper hats, just a hundred or so bras hanging off every available space (wtf?!) and a great ZZ Top cover band (I used to love ZZ Top). I'm sure you have some cynical comment to make about that.

(AMOA = Amusement & Music Operators Association AKA an arcade game tradeshow! )

* of course I say that in the nicest way possible. ;-)

Gray_Area · « **Reply #48 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:01:06 pm »

I thought the reason for the thread was that Ray was feeling old.

Friday I wore my Tron shirt. Everywhere I went people of various ages were captivated by and exclaimed about it, with an emphasis on the recent Legacy. I still haven't seen that.

In addition, the bar I was at that night had a speed hack Ms Pac. My brother was playing in between pool, and we traded off Pacs. A (arguably handsome and undorkly dressed) guy in his 20s came up and started talking appreciatively about Ms Pac-Man and the coolness of playing on the cabinet. I told him the game wasn't quite original, and he had to get his head around that a little, but I guess all hope isn't lost.

RayB · « **Reply #49 on:** February 16, 2011, 03:40:22 pm »

But I'm not looking to meet men.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #50 on:** February 16, 2011, 05:08:28 pm »

Ray, at your age, you can't be getting too picky

RayB · « **Reply #51 on:** February 16, 2011, 05:41:04 pm »

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 16, 2011, 05:08:28 pm

Ray, at your age, you can't be getting too picky

You interested?

Donkbaca · « **Reply #52 on:** February 16, 2011, 06:03:06 pm »

Nah. Sorry. Not into arcade dorks. Or dudes.

VanillaGorilla · « **Reply #53 on:** February 16, 2011, 06:07:37 pm »

Ray - just convince them ladies that all the hand eye coordination that you've developed over the years playing arcade games spills over into some other USEFUL skills...besides masturbation.

Gray_Area · « **Reply #54 on:** February 17, 2011, 02:14:47 pm »

Actually, one of the first that day to come up to me and exclaim about my shirt was a thirty-year-old woman. At the bar, there were two women in a group of three (they were in their forties, and the third was one of theirs daughter) who loved my Tron shirt.

I got numbers from the first one, and one of the second set.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #55 on:** February 17, 2011, 02:20:07 pm »

It helps if you have a sweet mustache

mike boss · « **Reply #56 on:** February 21, 2011, 09:15:39 am »

I get some flack from the other half regarding my collection.
I tend to get positive feedback on the collecting from most...........when they see & play the games.
Perhaps when I tell people I have some they might think, "stupid, games are for kids" or "why waste your money?"
But again when they see and play it brings back nostalgia for most.

ChadTower · « **Reply #57 on:** February 21, 2011, 09:18:36 am »

Heh, yeah, I'll hear "you could have bought an awesome 65" plasma with that!" Because I really want to pay $2500 for a TV that'll be dead in 3 years and worth nothing.

Dartful Dodger · « **Reply #58 on:** February 21, 2011, 02:16:16 pm »

Not for owning them. Most people I know who are to mature to play video games still understand the value of collecting and the appreciate the skill involved in maintaining them.

It's the playing arcade games that makes me feel like a dork, but it's worth the embarrassment.

RayB · « **Reply #59 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:57:25 pm »

I wish this thread would just die. $:-\$

However, I'll mention that I've started dating a woman that can best be described as "awesome", and her reaction to seeing my "row" was "That's so cool!"

Saint, lock this!

Donkbaca · « **Reply #60 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:58:50 pm »

Sweet, did you grow a mustache like I suggested?

Please don't lock saint, there are too many people invested

ChadTower · « **Reply #61 on:** February 23, 2011, 03:57:27 pm »

Erm, you suggested that less than a week ago. How much stache do you think he could have grown?

Donkbaca · « **Reply #62 on:** February 23, 2011, 04:07:59 pm »

Yeah, I suggested it a week ago and BAM he gets a gf. Coincidence? I think not. If he's Armenian, he could have a 3 foot beard in a week...

ChadTower · « **Reply #63 on:** February 23, 2011, 04:32:57 pm »

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 04:07:59 pm

Yeah, I suggested it a week ago and BAM he gets a gf. Coincidence? I think not. If he's Armenian, he could have a 3 foot beard in a week...

I would love to meet an Armenian emo. The urge to kick his own ass might be strong enough to cause levitation.

Mikezilla · « **Reply #64 on:** February 23, 2011, 05:07:59 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on February 23, 2011, 04:32:57 pm

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 04:07:59 pm
Yeah, I suggested it a week ago and BAM he gets a gf. Coincidence? I think not. If he's Armenian, he could have a 3 foot beard in a week...

I would love to meet an Armenian emo. The urge to kick his own ass might be strong enough to cause levitation.

Cenobyte · « **Reply #65 on:** February 23, 2011, 06:06:05 pm »

Well, I'm 40 years old, happily married, no kids and for the last 15 years my life has been one big midlife crisis, except for the chicks on the side

I love old games (arcade, Amiga, C64) and I love to slot race with a couple of guys. We set up a nice place for the guys & me where we have a 90 foot 3 lane slot race track, a pool table, some slot machines, music & beers and now there's gonna be a cocktail Mame setup being built (oh, and a bartop is also under construction).

Oh and yes: I have the midlife crisis car as well: for 20 years I'm a big Corvette fan, so I have a yellow '04 convertible in the garage. That's kind of strange when you live in The Netherlands

But I love my life & I love these games!

RayB · « **Reply #66 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:43:49 pm »

Quote from: Cenobyte on February 23, 2011, 06:06:05 pm

But I love my life & I love these games!

Note how his wife doesn't make it into the final summary sentence.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #67 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:46:04 pm »

Slot cars is way more dork than arcade games.

I bet he has mustache. 99% of all guys that drive corvettes have a mustache. Don't believe me? Check the hypothesis the next time you are on a road trip

Cenobyte - do you have a mustache?

ChadTower · « **Reply #68 on:** February 24, 2011, 08:57:27 am »

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 08:46:04 pm

Slot cars is way more dork than arcade games.

That jumped out at me too. I've never met someone into slot cars above the age of 17 that wasn't really weird. Hope it's different in the Netherlands.

Gray_Area · « **Reply #69 on:** February 24, 2011, 03:05:50 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on February 24, 2011, 08:57:27 am

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 08:46:04 pm
Slot cars is way more dork than arcade games.

That jumped out at me too. I've never met someone into slot cars above the age of 17 that wasn't really weird. Hope it's different in the Netherlands.

Well, he does kinda sound weird. In a good way. Aren't people in the Netherlands kind of weird? They have efficient housing, the best schools....where am I going with this? I don't know! Must be rubbing off.

Quote from: RayB on February 23, 2011, 08:43:49 pm

Quote from: Cenobyte on February 23, 2011, 06:06:05 pm
But I love my life & I love these games!
Note how his wife doesn't make it into the final summary sentence.

Oh! My dyslexia made me see wife. Thanks for ruining it. By the way, congrats on the girlfriend.

ChadTower · « **Reply #70 on:** February 24, 2011, 04:27:07 pm »

Quote from: Gray_Area on February 24, 2011, 03:05:50 pm

Must be rubbing off.

Don't tell us when you're rubbing off to Dutch men. Kthx.

Epyx · « **Reply #71 on:** February 25, 2011, 11:39:31 am »

As a Dutch Canadian here is a funny snippet concerning the rubbing of dutch men. I lived in Holland until age 5 then went back to live with my Dad as a teenager aged 16/17...So in effect spent 1 year of high school there....I remember being in PE (Physical Education Class) and telling others I needed to take off my shoes. In my head I did a literal translation from English to Dutch and said "I have to take off my shoes first" or "Ik moet eerst mijn schoenen aftrekken"

Well in Dutch that translated to "I have to first masturbate my shoes"...there being a subtle linguistic difference between pulling off your shoes and taking them off. My classmates laughed for about 10 minutes and I have of course remembered it to this day...

As for the main point of the thread...hell no...When I first dated my wife 19 years ago I hid my D&D gaming figures but after a few weeks when I was comfortable with her I put the geek patch on my sleeve and have worn it ever since...if she doesn't accept the hobby...she isn't a long term keeper period and its time to move on...to another woman...not another hobby!

Cenobyte · « **Reply #72 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:27:26 pm »

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 08:46:04 pm

Slot cars is way more dork than arcade games.

I bet he has mustache. 99% of all guys that drive corvettes have a mustache. Don't believe me? Check the hypothesis the next time you are on a road trip

Cenobyte - do you have a mustache?

Nope, no mustache

Quote from: ChadTower on February 24, 2011, 08:57:27 am

That jumped out at me too. I've never met someone into slot cars above the age of 17 that wasn't really weird. Hope it's different in the Netherlands.

It's different

Oh well, it's a hobby that does give strange looks now and then. Strange thing is: every time I invite someone that thinks it's dorky, they like it very much after 30 minutes of racing. BTW, I'm not fooling around with a little track in the attic, this is my track:
http://www.cenobyte.nl/slotracing/mytracks/corvettespeedway/index.html

And yes: i DO love my wife since she's really cool about all my hobby's

Mikezilla · « **Reply #73 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:29:44 pm »

Quote from: Cenobyte on February 28, 2011, 05:27:26 pm

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 23, 2011, 08:46:04 pm
Slot cars is way more dork than arcade games.

I bet he has mustache. 99% of all guys that drive corvettes have a mustache. Don't believe me? Check the hypothesis the next time you are on a road trip

Cenobyte - do you have a mustache?

Nope, no mustache

Quote from: ChadTower on February 24, 2011, 08:57:27 am
That jumped out at me too. I've never met someone into slot cars above the age of 17 that wasn't really weird. Hope it's different in the Netherlands.
It's different
Oh well, it's a hobby that does give strange looks now and then. Strange thing is: every time I invite someone that thinks it's dorky, they like it very much after 30 minutes of racing. BTW, this is my track:
http://www.cenobyte.nl/slotracing/mytracks/corvettespeedway/index.html

And yes: i DO love my wife since she's really cool about all my hobby's

I never understood those. How do you actually "race"? Dont you just stare at the cars going around on the track? I thought there was only one speed on those things.

Cenobyte · « **Reply #74 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:34:17 pm »

Quote from: Mikezilla on February 28, 2011, 05:29:44 pm

I never understood those. How do you actually "race"? Dont you just stare at the cars going around on the track? I thought there was only one speed on those things.

Nope, you can control speed & braking with the controller in your hands. Some tuned cars actually reach real speeds of up to 30mph and some drag race slot cars can go up to 60 or 70mph pulling up to 10 amps of power.

It takes some handy work to get the car around the track without crashing it.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #75 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:36:19 pm »

That is so freaking awesome. I would totally drink beers and race on that thing

Bootay · « **Reply #76 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:38:12 pm »

Quote from: Epyx on February 25, 2011, 11:39:31 am

As a Dutch Canadian here is a funny snippet concerning the rubbing of dutch men. I lived in Holland until age 5 then went back to live with my Dad as a teenager aged 16/17...So in effect spent 1 year of high school there....I remember being in PE (Physical Education Class) and telling others I needed to take off my shoes. In my head I did a literal translation from English to Dutch and said "I have to take off my shoes first" or "Ik moet eerst mijn schoenen aftrekken"

Well in Dutch that translated to "I have to first masturbate my shoes"...there being a subtle linguistic difference between pulling off your shoes and taking them off. My classmates laughed for about 10 minutes and I have of course remembered it to this day...

As for the main point of the thread...hell no...When I first dated my wife 19 years ago I hid my D&D gaming figures but after a few weeks when I was comfortable with her I put the geek patch on my sleeve and have worn it ever since...if she doesn't accept the hobby...she isn't a long term keeper period and its time to move on...to another woman...not another hobby!

+1 that's what the point of my post waaaay back a few pages was. Luckily my wife was down from day one and we talked about it before she ever came to my house so I didn't need to hide anything. So she was always a keeper. Unfortunately after we got married she all of a sudden lost interest in all of the things that attracted me to her in the first place including my hobbies. But she never ever bothers me about them and lets me do what I want so I can't complain too much. Only difference now is I just do my hobbies alone now or sometimes my son will hang with me.

Cenobyte · « **Reply #77 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:47:32 pm »

Quote from: Donkbaca on February 28, 2011, 05:36:19 pm

That is so freaking awesome. I would totally drink beers and race on that thing

Yep, we like to do that too

We have regular "men's racing & drinking" nights:
http://www.cenobyte.nl/rammers/
(Sorry, text is in Dutch, but pictures say enough I guess

)

Gray_Area · « **Reply #78 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:26:23 pm »

Quote from: Bootay on February 28, 2011, 05:38:12 pm

Unfortunately after we got married she all of a sudden lost interest in all of the things that attracted me to her in the first place...

This is a strange sentence...

Quote from: Mikezilla on February 28, 2011, 05:29:44 pm

I never understood those. How do you actually "race"? Dont you just stare at the cars going around on the track? I thought there was only one speed on those things.

Just like Cenobyte said. In the olden days, you had a trigger handle. Sometimes, with the throttle maxed, we'd see how spectacularly the car would fly off the track.

Gorotsuki · « **Reply #79 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:09:28 pm »

I only feel like a dork when I touch myself.


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