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How long do you think DIY arcades will continue as a hobby?

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eds1275:


--- Quote from: ark_ader on March 16, 2013, 09:33:59 pm ---Especially if you make them apartment/wife/wallet friendly.

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Totally. One of the great things about this hobby is that you can make a cab using a free computer, $50 worth of parts, and one sheet of MDF if you make a bartop/mini standup. That's $50 to get a taste of what there is to offer - hell you could even do that and build it into a cereal box and sit in front of your existing computer. And then of course the sky is the limit when it comes to how much you can spend on aesthetics alone - not to mention different types of controls varying in function and quality and personal preference.

Part of this hobby for me has been bonding with my nephews working together on a project (making a small arcade machine, and then designing and programming a game based on the cabinet.) Am I a professional woodworker or computer programmer? Hell no. I've got some woodworking chops but the last time I programmed something it was in basic 2.0 on a c64. But with the internet as a resource and the time to work on it we can get it done.

mcseforsale:

The biggest problem I see is not many people actually DO stuff anymore.  Our entire society has been made into consumers, instead of constructors.  When I tell my neighbors/friends/colleagues/whatever that I'm doing my own basement, or making an arcade, they think I'm nutz.

My dad had us swinging hammers and building stuff when we were 8 or so.  There was always a project and he was always working on something.

Nowadays, most kids sit and stare at the idiot box or computer screen txt talking and vegging out. 

The one bright spot was a neighbor walked by with his kids last week and we started talking about the basement project and pool tables and arcades and he asked if I had one.  So, off to the garage.  Apparently he'd been thinking about this for some time, but had taken up stained glass  :dunno and was now considering it.  I think when I do my bartop, I'll cut some extra panels for him. 

AJ

Le Chuck:


--- Quote from: ark_ader on March 16, 2013, 09:33:59 pm ---Next year I will find a retired cabinet maker and get him to make flat pack arcade cabinets and sell them at $100, but in bulk.

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before or after you finish your recent build(s)?  ;D

shponglefan:


--- Quote from: ark_ader on March 16, 2013, 09:33:59 pm ---It is burned deep in our culture, and with movies like Wreak it Ralph, just keeps the nostalgia alive.
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To be honest, I think movies like that are just a sign of the 80's nostalgia cycle (as are other movies like Transformers, GI Joe, Smurfs, etc),  Given another half decade, and I think we'll start seeing the 90's nostalgia take over... which sadly is not going to include arcades..  :(

eds1275:


--- Quote from: shponglefan on March 17, 2013, 12:50:48 pm ---To be honest, I think movies like that are just a sign of the 80's nostalgia cycle (as are other movies like Transformers, GI Joe, Smurfs, etc)

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I haven't seen a tranformers movie since the last one came out in 1984. I saw a movie with the same name, but it was a love story and there were some robots that looked like bunches of wire.  :angry:


I think the hobby will live on. My nephews are into competitive gaming (not professionally, but going crazy to beat a high score.) My niece and I are building a cab this summer which we designed together and she is really into the puzzle games. I think that not only will arcade machine building come back, but arcades themselves - running more modern games in slim cabs.

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