Am I the only one?

[Scooby]

 I am just wondering. Am I the only one who likes building a cab more than actually playing the games? Or are there others out there?

My first cab took me some years to complete. I like to think about how to do stuff and read about it on the internet. I plan things in my head. Rethink it a couple of times.  Do some actual work. Set things aside for some month. A lot just takes place in my head... But I hardly play any game longer than half an hour.

How about you guys? Do you build to play the games or just build for the sake of it?

[Ond]

I think there's plenty of people here who have made the journey from being focused on building a cab for game playing to building for the sheer enjoyment of the build. I'm not a gamer. I enjoy the art of arcade machines.  That includes seeing restorations of original cabs or designs which are faithful to original cab design aesthetics and function.  I also really like to see well executed new DIY designs that still trigger a nostalgia nerve in me.

The hobby can be a way to build on the many skills needed to get a good result building your own machine.  Carpentry, electronics, computers, design etc.  Game playing is the happy icing on the cake.   

[BadMouth]

I've always enjoyed building more than playing.  Figuring things out and getting them to work is the fun part.
 

[jennifer]

Building a machine is far more challenging than the game, And would think it a carryover from playing the games back in the day, They were colorful, and full of a seemingly infinite potential...Today after knowing the secrets, it is far less magical, yet still fascinating, Even if Jennifer does play a game, or a selection on a juke, it is not for entertainment, it is more of a evaluation of all my hard work...And a critique of those that came before.

[pbj]

20 years ago, it was “screw you, I’m here to play games.”

10 years ago, it was “I can build a better one and play it at home.”

Now it’s, “you are my tribe, I’m here to talk ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.”

 

[Mike A]

I enjoy building, but I enjoy playing more. Probably because building is usually a solitary experience for me. Playing is usually a community experience.

[bobbyb13]

Can't say which I enjoy more really- maybe both equally fun for me at this point.

But I CAN say that I spend a hell of a lot more time building than playing lately!

[gamepimp]

Once I finished my cabinet and started playing games on it I realized that...I really suck using a joystick. I've always been mostly a console gamer and gamepads feel more comfortable and natural to use. I still fire up the occasional game and play for a while, but that's about the extent of it. Other people absolutely love the cabinet and it gets plenty of use when we have people over. I would do it all over again just for that reason alone.