Author Topic: Do you ever feel like a dork for owning arcade games? (Read 21599 times)

RayB · « **on:** February 09, 2011, 04:15:50 pm »

Just wondering if anyone else suffers the internal conflict of feeling too old for such things?

Bootay · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:20:22 pm »

Nope. Video games are my passion and have been since I was 8 years old. I don't think I will ever feel too old for them.

Or to own them...

Donkbaca · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:26:08 pm »

No, i feel like a dork for WANTING an arcade game and not having one...

Jollywest · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:30:45 pm »

Not so much a Dork but maybe a bit of a Geek (as my better half likes to refer to me as), then again Geek could just be the UK equivalent.

Bootay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:03:42 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 09, 2011, 04:50:21 pm

Hey man, at least it's not online role playing games. I've had friends sucked into that madness and they just get weirder every year.

+1 I know tons of people sucked into these...some lose their jobs, their wives/girlfriends over them. It encompasses their whole life...then when you FINALLY get them out of the house to go out somewhere...they sit there ---smurfing--- talking about the game. I DON"T UNDERSTAND YOUR WOW AND EQ LINGO!!! STOP TALKING TO ME ABOUT IT!!..

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:48:15 pm »

Hay Ray, if you feel that way, maybe I can haul some of that dorkiness away for you ... the youngest kid's bedroom could fit a cab or six ... he really likes Juno First!

Level42 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:55:12 pm »

Ray, you're 40. You should have passed the point in live that you actually let OTHERS decide over what YOU like....

I don't give a )^&%# what others think about my hobby. Most responses are actually very positive. Some are neutral, and a couple think I'm nuts having this hobby. Who cares...

I actually LIKE that I have a hobby that few others have....

WhereEaglesDare · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:01:17 pm »

Quote from: Level42 on February 09, 2011, 06:55:12 pm

I actually LIKE that I have a hobby that few others have....

+1

I also coin collect, not as much as I used to since starting this adventure, but I do still from time-to-time.

amendonz · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:32:01 pm »

sometimes you i do feel like a bit of a dork, especially those times you're showing someone your new mega drive game thats omgz SOO rare and AWESOME! and they think its the lamest thing ever hahaha.

i don't care though, wouldn't trade this hobby in for anything. i mean whats a few hundred to play 1 game released 20 yrs ago

WhereEaglesDare · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:48:58 pm »

Yea, that can get awkward.

SavannahLion · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:53:50 pm »

No not really. It just bothers me when they ask, "why?"

I usually counter it with why they do their particular hobby. If they're still clueless then it means they're too stupid to be in the house. I kick them out at that point.

Pinball Wizard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:23:05 pm »

Arcade games don't make me feel like a dork but the rest of my life does. I mean don't get me wrong I don't play role-playing games or anything I just take uber smart classes and stuff. Do I have friends in real life? Yes. Do I know what the sun is? Yes. Do I spend half the day thinking about girls? Yes. Do I own 50+ arcade games? Yes. Do I live in my mom's basement? No. I think that last one is really important.

RayB · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2011, 10:49:15 pm »

I should have framed the question in two-parts. How many of you are married or shacking up?

I'm single now, so yeah I tend to care about what potential mates think. Face it, these things aren't popular with most of you with wives, so the last thing I want is for women to think I'm some sort of man-child nerd.

When you're first dating, it's really easy for women to come up with excuses why a guy won't do.

Know what I mean?

Paul Olson · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2011, 03:42:06 am »

If she can't accept the man-child nerd, then she is really not wanted long term anyway. Just go to her place the first night. If there is a second night, introduce her to the real you. If she has an issue with it...game over!

newmanfamilyvlogs · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:00:53 am »

I've found wife acceptance of an arcade machine sky-rockets the first time they find a game they actually enjoy.

Remember, a successful arcade game was one that made money, and to make money it has to simultaneously be challenging and fun.. that's pretty much the hallmark of something that's addicting.

Hearing your young child ask "Daddy, can we play Bubble Bobble?" helps too. (:

Rando · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:58:12 am »

Not really,
- Whoever I tell that I'm in the process of building a stand-up machine is pretty interested, and several have told me if it goes well to build them one too.
- My son (10) is psyched and can't wait.
- My wife who was initially skeptical has been telling more people about what I'm doing than I have. She plays a few games on the PC for now before going to bed, is impatient for me to build an actual control panel, is doubtful that I'll be able to create a realistic "Arcade experience" but much more on board.

Now, when I bring up my comic book collection to anyone, much different story...

Level42 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:58:36 am »

Yup. Centi and Ms.Pac are almost always loved by the women.

Actually it was funny, because I was about to make a comment about how it surprised me that there really wasn't that much difference between men and women where it came to finding this hobby (I'm talking collecting/restoring/playing original classic arcade cabs here) cool or stupid.

There are lots of women who grew up with those games too...

Unless you're hunting for a younger chick Ray ?

My wife is not really super supportive, but she doesn't mind it either. She does play an occasional game, mostly on the Judge Dredd pinball.

I've seen guys in this hobby with gf's/wives that range from being quite anti, to very enthusiastic about it (the lucky ---daisies--- !)

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....

Bootay · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2011, 10:20:40 am »

My wife is pretty supportive of the hobby. She doesn't come down and play or anything but as long as we have the money she is down with me buying whatever I want. Besides, it keeps me out of her hair. heh

spoot · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:11:06 am »

I could care less what others think about how I try to enjoy my life. If they don't like it....too damn bad. Had some people back in the day who were total football freaks (USA football) give me some crap. I told them...."well, I don't understand the appeal of watching a bunch of large men bending over in tights wrestling over a ball".......he left me alone after that.

ChadTower · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:11:48 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 09, 2011, 04:50:21 pm

Hey man, at least it's not online role playing games. I've had friends sucked into that madness and they just get weirder every year.

Yeah. In college it was Quake and Quake II. Half of the people in my major at UMass flunked out the semester Quake II was released. I know a couple people who became dangerously addicted to WoW, too.

Quote

That being said, pin collecting DOES attract a lot of guys with more money than sense or guys that like to pretend they have a lot of money. $:-\$

It also attracts a lot of only child men who have no idea what life is like when every moment of every day and every dollar goes towards some self indulgence. I've seen some tantrums over pin stuff that made me want to reevaluate whether or not I wanted to continue with it has a hobby.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:54:48 am »

I have had a couple of parties at the house and snuck a couple of people into the office to show them my test mame machine. My wife comes up to me and starts saying, "why are you imposing your dorkiness on these people?" But people love that stuff. I would go up to one of them and say, "hey, what was your favorite arcade game going up?' nine times out of ten its galaga, people love that game. Anyhow, I boot up my FE, pulll up galaga, and their jaws drop. Then I say, come, on, that was too easy, give me something else. After a few minutes they are all giggling and amazed.

The single women were all impressed, they were like "as soon as you get this built we need to have a pacman tournament!"

Everyone has something dorky about them, the key is you don't advertise it. I don't go up to people and say, hi, I collect old video games, what's your name? Nothing to be ashamed of, but nothing to hide.

ChadTower · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:58:17 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 10, 2011, 09:33:49 am

This is also reason #1 I quit disclosing how much I spent on anything. "Next time you find a $50 pinball machine, give it to me!" Yeah, how about no?

I get this too.

"so, that pin only cost you a couple hundred bucks?"
"yep"
"let me know, I'll buy a couple for that"
"it was filthy, dead, and a lot of work to find"
"I'll give you $50 for the trouble"
"I put 30 hours of work into it to make it reliable and clean"
"how about $75, then"

Or I get this:

"whoa, dude. These things cost five grand apiece! Did you win the lottery?"
"they cost five grand thirty years ago"
"five grand is five grand"
"they're like cars with 250,000 miles on them"
"still, five grand each. You could have bought a boat!"

ChadTower · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:54:45 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 10, 2011, 12:34:58 pm

How many of those 30 hours were spent cramming them into a shed and then piling crap on them so you can't play them anymore?

The only games I have with stuff piled on them are folded up. I don't think I have ever had more than 8 pins at a time counting folded, playable, totally dead, etc.

BadMouth · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2011, 01:20:06 pm »

"STOP PLAYING THE NERDY GAMES!!!!" (repeated 5 times) - Drunken guest to her husband at my last Halloween party
(He was playing Mortal Kombat)
---smurfette---

TheShanMan · « **Reply #24 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.

flashiv · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2011, 02:37:27 pm »

Fiancee is right in the middle. Play a few games (Q*bert & Ms Pac-man) occasionally, but is more a pinball girl, and that is only in the sense that she plays whatever is in front of her, once in a while. I have a Space Explorer "home pinball" ( I know it's barely a pin) and she thinks it's great. Me I want a Elivra Scared Stiff!

Mikezilla · « **Reply #26 on:** February 10, 2011, 05:38:53 pm »

Quote from: RayB on February 09, 2011, 10:49:15 pm

I should have framed the question in two-parts. How many of you are married or shacking up?

I'm single now, so yeah I tend to care about what potential mates think. Face it, these things aren't popular with most of you with wives, so the last thing I want is for women to think I'm some sort of man-child nerd.

When you're first dating, it's really easy for women to come up with excuses why a guy won't do.

Know what I mean?

I get what youre saying, especially now a days. At least you dont live in California, the most pretentious place in the world. But you also dont have to tell her right away. Or if you do, dont build it up and say " I got something to tell you" or something weird like that. Just say that you restore old arcade games and they are bits of old memories that you like to relive time to time. Or say that your mother bought them for you right before she died. If a chick makes fun of you after that, she can go to hell for being a ---smurfette---.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #27 on:** February 10, 2011, 05:44:57 pm »

I live in CA!

Its all about how you present it. Present it as a hobby, not your life. A "this is what I do in my spare time" sort of thing, rather than a, "this is what I schedule my life around" sort of thing. Tell her you like the challenge and the ability to relive your youth, and that you let poor handicap kids play for free. Its always good to make up stuff about how generous you are.

People dig retro and vintage stuff. Just don't be a geek about it, and she will probably think its cool.

Bootay · « **Reply #28 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:02:49 pm »

Before I was married I found it easiest to present it as a side job...as in, I repair old arcade games and pinball machines. I present it as if it is something that I make mad loot off of.

When I present it as a money making job the chicks never minded. They actually seemed sort of impressed. But of course I wasn't making any money from it, if anything it cost me a lot...but they didn't need to know that. LOL

VanillaGorilla · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:05:51 pm »

If you try to suppress something you love this much, you will be profoundly unhappy. You cant 'trick' a woman into loving you. Any woman worth loving will accept that you are a man-child nerd (and most of us here are to some capacity), and all of the other shortcomings you have.

I'm 41. My fiancee is 27 and a real hottie, and she accepts me joysticks and all. She doesn't get it when I spend 2 hours playing zookeeper, but I throw on Sonic Adventure, or super Mario World, and then she 'gets it'. From behind.

Bootay · « **Reply #30 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:09:30 pm »

Quote from: VanillaGorilla on February 10, 2011, 06:05:51 pm

If you try to suppress something you love this much, you will be profoundly unhappy. You cant 'trick' a woman into loving you. Any woman worth loving will accept that you are a colossal dweeb, and all of the other shortcomings you have. I'm 41. My fiancee is 27 and a real hottie, and she accepts me joysticks and all. She doesn't get it when I spend 2 hours playing zookeeper, but I throw on Sonic Adventure, or super Mario World, and then she 'gets it'. From behind.

First off no one said anything about Love...
I said before I was married I would sometimes present it that way, back then it wasn't about love. Now that I am married though my wife is fine with the hobby I make no money on.

VanillaGorilla · « **Reply #31 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:02:03 pm »

That was actually directed towards Ray, not as a reply to what you said Bootay.. just sayin

Quote from: Bootay on February 10, 2011, 06:09:30 pm

Quote from: VanillaGorilla on February 10, 2011, 06:05:51 pm
If you try to suppress something you love this much, you will be profoundly unhappy. You cant 'trick' a woman into loving you. Any woman worth loving will accept that you are a colossal dweeb, and all of the other shortcomings you have. I'm 41. My fiancee is 27 and a real hottie, and she accepts me joysticks and all. She doesn't get it when I spend 2 hours playing zookeeper, but I throw on Sonic Adventure, or super Mario World, and then she 'gets it'. From behind.

First off no one said anything about Love...
I said before I was married I would sometimes present it that way, back then it wasn't about love. Now that I am married though my wife is fine with the hobby I make no money on.

Pinball Wizard · « **Reply #32 on:** February 10, 2011, 09:21:22 pm »

The girl I'm almost dating thought that I was obsessed for a little while because I spent one weekend at 2 different pinball places and I go to auctions and stuff. I then clarified that it is more of a thing to do like she reads books and I play pinball/arcade games. My life doesn't revolve around it but it is my thing I like to do. After that it was all good. You just have to let a girl realize that she comes before your games. Not a I'm going to sell them all off for you type of thing but that you won't make her walk home just so you can fit that free cabinet you saw on the side of the road on the way home. As long as your not an obsessed wierdo you should be good.

drventure · « **Reply #33 on:** February 10, 2011, 09:48:37 pm »

Quote

i mean whats a few hundred to play 1 game released 20 yrs ago

Oh man. A few Hundred bucks? I look at where I'm at with my build and wonder why i'd spend this kind of money to play old games

To be fair though, it also plays new games, stepmania, Frets on Fire, and VPinball, etc quite nicely so that helps.

That and I could never really get into console games, this seems like a good compromise

Bootay · « **Reply #34 on:** February 10, 2011, 09:55:22 pm »

Quote from: VanillaGorilla on February 10, 2011, 08:02:03 pm

That was actually directed towards Ray, not as a reply to what you said Bootay.. just sayin

Quote from: Bootay on February 10, 2011, 06:09:30 pm
Quote from: VanillaGorilla on February 10, 2011, 06:05:51 pm
If you try to suppress something you love this much, you will be profoundly unhappy. You cant 'trick' a woman into loving you. Any woman worth loving will accept that you are a colossal dweeb, and all of the other shortcomings you have. I'm 41. My fiancee is 27 and a real hottie, and she accepts me joysticks and all. She doesn't get it when I spend 2 hours playing zookeeper, but I throw on Sonic Adventure, or super Mario World, and then she 'gets it'. From behind.

First off no one said anything about Love...
I said before I was married I would sometimes present it that way, back then it wasn't about love. Now that I am married though my wife is fine with the hobby I make no money on.

It's all good Gorilla.

flashiv · « **Reply #35 on:** February 10, 2011, 10:01:18 pm »

Quote from: Pinball Wizard on February 10, 2011, 09:21:22 pm

You just have to let a girl realize that she comes before your games. Not that I'm going to sell them all off for you type of thing but that you won't make her walk home just so you can fit that free cabinet you saw on the side of the road on the way home.

What if it's a short walk home? Is it OK then?

Gray_Area · « **Reply #36 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:16:18 pm »

I've found that if you're passionate about something, people have a respect for you. You can tip that either way by whether they're interested in what you're passionate about, and how much you give them on it.

Tonight I met my brother at a bar and grill. He's pretty out-going, and so of course he was already chatting it up with a couple guys who happened to be sitting close at the bar. I walk up wearing my Donkey Kong shirt, and the guy closest remarks about it and gives this little story about why he remembers Donkey Kong. It was a cute story, and I smiled and laughed. I wasn't asked about the shirt, and I didn't say a thing about video games.

Mikezilla · « **Reply #37 on:** February 11, 2011, 11:46:04 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on February 11, 2011, 09:57:47 am

Anyway, back to the point of this thread. Frankly, RayB, I'd blame all the eyeliner and ---smurfy--- industrial music for your recent singledom vs a pacman cabinet.

Just saying.

Awww. If this is even half true, go to Costco and get the jumbo pack of Vaseline. Youre gonna be single for awhile.

RayB · « **Reply #38 on:** February 11, 2011, 04:16:51 pm »

Very funny.

Mikezilla · « **Reply #39 on:** February 11, 2011, 04:57:36 pm »

Im just kidding cmon now.


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