Author Topic: Are you "the arcade guy" now? (Read 5809 times)

ChadTower · « **on:** January 12, 2006, 03:21:08 pm »

Twice at work now people have come up to me, people I don't know, with questions about arcade games. These are people I haven't met so apparently word is getting around a bit that I work on games. I don't even talk about it much. I've had this happen a few times outside of work too.

Does this happen to you as well?

Jabba · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2006, 03:39:03 pm »

Heh, I was at a suppliers site last year and happened to mention I worked built Arcade machines for fun and showed em my web site. Now when I go up, they always ask me which Arcade I'm working on now...

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2006, 03:39:17 pm »

Yip.... and I'm certainly no "expert" by any means.

ChadTower · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2006, 03:44:01 pm »

The guy today, who I've never met, came to me asking about a problem with an EM pin he has... which certainly is not a strength of mine. His problem sounded very much like a broken solder joint, though, and could probably be found fairly quickly.

Witchboard · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2006, 03:52:31 pm »

I'm not really known as the "arcade guy", but people at work do ask me what I'm working on from time to time.

Farmboy90 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2006, 03:54:43 pm »

Same here. LOL People are crawling out of the woodwork now. It is just great.

Any male age 25-35 that I come in contact with is now all of a sudden my best friend.

LOL

You would have thought I won the powerball or something.

Too bad chicks are drawn to me because of it.

markrvp · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2006, 04:45:04 pm »

The guy at Radio Shack always asks a lot of questions.

thebrownshow · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2006, 04:47:05 pm »

I get most of my parts sent to the office, so I've always got some kind of arcade crap on my desk. Ordered a new panel for my Dynamo cabinet a while back and got all sorts of questions.

So yeah, at work, I'm definitely the "arcade guy"

MameMaster! · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2006, 04:51:59 pm »

I have been recently tapped for ideas for video gamed themed Employee Referral Programs (including prize ideas)....and just yesterday advice on how to obtain an Xbox 360 and what would be a reasonable cost for that.

Yep. They all know I'm a geek in my office.

Zakk · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:24:17 pm »

Naw, I'm still known as "the successful-handsome-rich guy". It's a hell of an albatross to carry.

More Cowbell · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm »

I don't know if everyone I deal with is just a lame-o or what. I have the opposite experience where people just look at me with a blank stare when I tell them that I've built an arcade machine. I tell them that it plays every game that they remember from the arcades, Atari, Nintendo, etc. and they pretty much pat me on the head and say, "That's nice." Makes me want to move to Australia where apparently everyone is wild about arcades.

ahofle · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:58:08 pm »

Haha, yep same here. Most people just don't get it, or must've never set foot in an arcade in the 80s/90s.

Orclord · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:07:53 pm »

Same here.....Blank look....

Oh....

Anyway did you see that program on telly last night...

RayB · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:18:19 pm »

Not quite. I'm "the Spore Cubes" guy.

pmc · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:38:46 pm »

I think alot of (normal) people are nostalgic about arcade games and would love to chat about their memories and experiences. But when they hear that I went so far as to build an entire cabinet, they kinda want to back away slowly without breaking eye contact.

On the other hand, the regular geeks (I'm in IT) love to talk about this stuff and wish they had the drive, time, skill, and desire to build, restore, or buy something.

-pmc

DrewKaree · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2006, 08:21:35 am »

Quote from: Zakk on January 12, 2006, 05:24:17 pm

Naw, I'm still known as "the successful-handsome-rich guy". It's a hell of an albatross to carry.

Who do you think they're mistaking you for?

DrewKaree · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2006, 08:24:19 am »

Quote from: More Cowbell on January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm

I don't know if everyone I deal with is just a lame-o or what. I have the opposite experience where people just look at me with a blank stare when I tell them that I've built an arcade machine. I tell them that it plays every game that they remember from the arcades, Atari, Nintendo, etc. and they pretty much pat me on the head and say, "That's nice." Makes me want to move to Australia where apparently everyone is wild about arcades.

If you've gotta tell them, save your breath. Once word gets out, they'll be bugging you all the time. "Hey dood, when are you going to that auction again and can I give you like, $300 or so and you just pick me up a Golden Tee 2005?"

Ass hats.

Havok · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:06:29 am »

Yeah - I get that too. Since I work in IT, we're all a bunch of geeks anyways so I get lots of questions on it. They all loved my website, and I have introduced a number of people to Mame and StarRoms...

Hey - that's legal? WTF?

I thought all the Mamers were pirates, and took money away from these big corporations, so they can't feed their families...

Doc Thirst · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:48:17 am »

Mostly I see the change with the ladies.

RayB · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2006, 07:08:12 pm »

Quote from: More Cowbell on January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm

... they pretty much pat me on the head and say, "That's nice." Makes me

To alot of people, grown men talking about video games is no different than if you were talking about playing with dolls.

Of course those kinds of women usually have NO hobbies beyond shopping and dreaming about their wedding day. (there are lots of em like this)

Roughy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2006, 07:32:43 pm »

I've got a hot little biscuit of a wife and she loves my Golden Tee.

She likes the video game stuff, too.

HAR!

SirPeale · « **Reply #21 on:** January 13, 2006, 07:41:38 pm »

At work, they don't say it, but I'm likely not the 'arcade guy' but more of the 'pain-in-the-ass' guy.

Of course, the problem is I work for an arcade outfit, so...

XtraSmiley · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2006, 08:25:13 pm »

Quote from: Farmboy90 on January 12, 2006, 03:54:43 pm

Same here.

Jay.H · « **Reply #23 on:** January 13, 2006, 09:20:40 pm »

I very quickly became the arcade guy at work when I brought 5 defender style cabinets up there to make use of the paint room.

I even have a prospect to buy what turned out to be an extra arcade due to a dropout in our build group.

pointdablame · « **Reply #24 on:** January 14, 2006, 01:27:14 am »

I'm more the "tech guy" than the "arcade guy"

My friends and family know me as the person that always has his hand in some new project or gadget, and the arcades are just another of my crazy hobbies to all of them. I get asked about the arcades a lot... but not any more than computers or new gadgets, etc.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2006, 03:55:59 am »

Quote from: Peale on January 13, 2006, 07:41:38 pm

At work, they don't say it, but I'm likely not the 'arcade guy' but more of the 'pain-in-the-ass' guy.

Of course, the problem is I work for an arcade outfit, so...

are you STILL at that place?

danny_galaga · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2006, 03:59:28 am »

Quote from: More Cowbell on January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm

...Makes me want to move to Australia where apparently everyone is wild about arcades.

hey, thats why I moved to Australia

SirPeale · « **Reply #27 on:** January 15, 2006, 01:19:38 pm »

Quote from: danny_galaga on January 15, 2006, 03:55:59 am

Quote from: Peale on January 13, 2006, 07:41:38 pm
At work, they don't say it, but I'm likely not the 'arcade guy' but more of the 'pain-in-the-ass' guy.

Of course, the problem is I work for an arcade outfit, so...

are you STILL at that place?

I'm sticking it out for now. Not terrible lately...in fact, Mumbles has gone from three days at the shop to two. And Cool Guy spends most of his time there now.

elvis · « **Reply #28 on:** January 16, 2006, 01:10:09 am »

Quote from: More Cowbell on January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm

Makes me want to move to Australia where apparently everyone is wild about arcades.

If you come here, do it for the weather and the women as a priority. They're not *THAT* arcade mad here.

farmecologist · « **Reply #29 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:24:51 am »

I agree with Havok....since I'm also in IT, I have no problem talking with my co-workers about my arcade hobby/obsession. In fact, a couple of my co-workers have build arcade machines since I introduced them to the hobby. I'll have to say though that I *do* get strange looks from some of the 'younger' people though.

*However*, most of my other friends/family always look at me like I'm the "crazy tech guy" when I tell them about my projects. The strange thing is, when they actually *see* the finished product, they love it!

Hey, I guess everyone needs a hobby of some sort. I give my wife strange looks all the time because of her 'scrapbooking' hobby....

ChadTower · « **Reply #30 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:24:59 am »

Quote from: RayB on January 13, 2006, 07:08:12 pm

Of course those kinds of women usually have NO hobbies beyond shopping and dreaming about their wedding day. (there are lots of em like this)

Most of them are like this... I tried for years to convince my wife to pick up a hobby. No luck. I am lucky, though, that she is not the type that revolves every moment of her spare time around me. THOSE are the women that are impossible to deal with... the ones who want every moment spent with them. <shudder>

Zakk · « **Reply #31 on:** January 16, 2006, 12:36:50 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on January 16, 2006, 11:24:59 am

not the type that revolves every moment of her spare time around me. THOSE are the women that are impossible to deal with... the ones who want every moment spent with them. <shudder>

My my, but you do have the troubles don't you.

How do you type with that straightjacket on anyway?

ChadTower · « **Reply #32 on:** January 16, 2006, 01:10:31 pm »

I'm like Jimi Hendrix with a keyboard.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #33 on:** January 16, 2006, 01:50:40 pm »

You light it on fire and get stoned a lot?

Jay.H · « **Reply #34 on:** January 16, 2006, 02:22:05 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on January 14, 2006, 01:27:14 am

I'm more the "tech guy" than the "arcade guy"

I am also known generally as the remodelling guy [specifically: wood floors guy, paint guy, doors guy, plumbing guy, AC/DC guy (electricals, not 80's rock

)].

ChadTower · « **Reply #35 on:** January 17, 2006, 10:14:41 am »

Damn I need all those skills to finish my basement and have a proper gameroom that's not 45 degrees.

Zakk · « **Reply #36 on:** January 17, 2006, 10:51:48 am »

Ask some of the girls (that are latched onto you in adoration) if any of them can do renos.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #37 on:** January 17, 2006, 11:08:38 am »

They're just using him to get to me, Zakk

More Cowbell · « **Reply #38 on:** January 17, 2006, 11:45:45 am »

Quote from: elvis on January 16, 2006, 01:10:09 am

Quote from: More Cowbell on January 12, 2006, 05:51:23 pm
Makes me want to move to Australia where apparently everyone is wild about arcades.

If you come here, do it for the weather and the women as a priority. They're not *THAT* arcade mad here.

Women, weather, and arcades. It sounds like a magical wonderland. A magical, wonderful, skin cancer-filled wonderland.

Spoken from a man who moved out of Arizona 5 years ago.

Stingray · « **Reply #39 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:00:57 pm »

Quote from: markrvp on January 12, 2006, 04:45:04 pm

The guy at Radio Shack always asks a lot of questions.

He's got questions, you've got answers.

-S


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