article on why not to collect arcade games

[SuperGunGuru]

Thought I'd share this one with you guys. I just read it on RGVAC and found it laughable. I know a lot of the folks on here have mame machines, regular cabs, or both, but I think we'll all find some humor in this one. Apparently it's from Synch magazine (I've never heard of it let alone read an issue of it).

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You don't want the Home-Arcade Hassle

Five reasons why owning a classic video game, like little ricky did on
silver spoons, is not worth it - by damon brown.

1: You don't have the space. The average arcade machine is 9 feet tall,
3 feet square at the base and weighs 250 pounds, while sit-down
(cocktail) machines and delux four-player titles are considerably
bigger and heavier. Also, classic coin-ops heat up quickly and need
space to breathe, not for the studio apartment, yo.

2: No they ain't cheap. Everyone wants to own a Ms. Pac-man, Frogger or
Dig Dug machine. Sellers know this and gouge buyers on the most popular
titles, which go for about $2,000 each. Lesser-known games cost half as
much, but do you really want to shell out for Popeye or Tron?

3: Shipping is a doozy. Buying an upright is one thing: getting it home
is another. Expect to pay at least $200 to ship a system to your
doorstep. But you could save some bash by picking up the machine at the
local airport. Hope you drive a truck.

4: What money-back gaurantee? Thanks to the demise of the local arcade,
thousands of mom-and-pop shops are unloading con-ops for cheap, but
these machines usually don't come with warranties, and good luck
finding replaccement parts for that monitor, joystick and backlit
marquee.

5; Sky-high electric bills. Arcade machines require loads of juice.
Expect your electric bill to triple. Of course you could always unplug
the coin-op when it's not in use, but that would delete your defender
high score.

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[AlanS17]

1. Don't have the space? I'll take that machine off your hands for you.
2. If you're paying that much then you deserve to get ripped off.
3. That's why you buy locally.
4. Of course there's no money-back guarantee on used goods. Don't buy it if you're not prepared to be able to maintain it.
5. Costs about as much to power as a 19" TV. And oh yeah... TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE DONE!!!

[grueinthebox]

1. Don't have the space? I'll take that machine off your hands for you.

I thought you were more or less out of space at this point, yourself... 

[Bones]

1: You don't have the space. The average arcade machine is 9 feet tall...

9 ft tall huh? Wow, now I don't feel so silly regarding the size of the monstrosity I am creating.....

[SirPoonga]

1: You don't have the space. The average arcade machine is 9 feet tall...

9 ft tall huh? Wow, now I don't feel so silly regarding the size of the monstrosity I am creating.....

Yeah, that's what I thought.  That wouldn't fit in most houses with 8 foot ceilings.

[RayB]

What a joke. I want to find who wrote that and set them straight. It can't be a joke because half the information is correct, the other half, just plain wrong.

Maybe it's just a very lousy attempt at humour.

[Stingray]

... good luck finding replaccement parts for that monitor, joystick and backlit marquee.

Yes, we all know how hard it is to find control panel parts. Why there are probably only a couple hundred or so online retailers, and golly, the last time I needed a cap kit it probably took me all of five minutes to find and order it.

Lesser-known games cost half as
much, but do you really want to shell out for Popeye or Tron?

Yeah, nobody wants that junk. I'll be happy to haul off all of those unwanted Trons & Popeyes that you guys have cluttering up your garages.

-S

[ChadTower]

Tron costs half as much as what, a car?

[Havok]

I want the Tron!

[Karetaker]

Damon Brown the first step is admitting you have a problem. You need to get yourself into a rehab at once. From there they will help you with your addiction. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Many before you have fell victim to crack cocaine. I urge you to seek help at once for your crack problem. At the very least please don't write anymore articles while under the influence of this drug.

[missioncontrol]

this guy is right......

I'm here to help.....

I'll gladly come by and take away your games for you....

just think of me as your friend.......... 

[monkeybomb]

Tron costs half as much as what, a car?

No it's true -

[Q*Bert_OP]

What game is 9' tall?

Revolution-X?

[AlanS17]

1. Don't have the space? I'll take that machine off your hands for you.

I thought you were more or less out of space at this point, yourself...

[ChadTower]

That would be why you tell us you have 15 machines in the garage and none in the house, yes?   

[Goz]

The author suffers from severe rectal-cranial inversion syndrome.

-Goz

[ChadTower]

It's a hard condition to manage when people keep putting their foot up your ass as well.

[Stingray]

I'd say he needs a good swift kick to both places, so that should make things easier.

-S

[ChadTower]

That's what I'm all about.  Efficiency.

[Stingray]

That's why you're the chief kicker.

-S

[AlanS17]

That would be why you tell us you have 15 machines in the garage and none in the house, yes?

[M3talhead]

If you all look very closely, you'll see Dave Foley's signature at the bottom of that article. This must have been part of an ad for his cocktail Arcade Legend unit. Since all arcade machines cost well over $1000 and wont fit into any American household due to their sheer size, it makes his cocktail machine ideal since is meerly sips electricity, fits into a standard 3" x 5" envelope,  and has a 98% money back guarantee.

[tommy]

You can make an argument on anything as it would be too much trouble to maintain and the cost.  Cars , houses, you certainly wouldn't live in the the street and walk the earth. Funny, no, silly , yes.

I think the guy ran out of things to write and just made up some things for no reason.

[ChadTower]

That would be a wonderful point if transportation and a place to sleep were entertainment items like an arcade cab.

Comparing two things a person needs to survive to an arcade game simply does not work.   

[arcadefever]

i didnt have any space

[tommy]

That would be a wonderful point if transportation and a place to sleep were entertainment items like an arcade cab.

Comparing two things a person needs to survive to an arcade game simply does not work.   

Sure it does. You're thinking to deeply. Get a grip.

[psik0tik]

lol 9 feet tall.

[coinguy]

Why restore old classic cars?
Why pay hundreds of dollars to re-chrome a Seeburg jukebox?
Why buy a TimePilot (Centuri) game and put an XBOX in it?
Why buy transistors, resistors and other parts when you can buy
a factory built device at Radio Shack?
Why make your basement look like a theater with big screen tv,
concession area with video games and a working Bell System payphone?

Because your friends love to come over and talk about how talented
you are and ask how they can do it too!

[WTB]

Why restore old classic cars?
Why pay hundreds of dollars to re-chrome a Seeburg jukebox?
Why buy a TimePilot (Centuri) game and put an XBOX in it?
Why buy transistors, resistors and other parts when you can buy
a factory built device at Radio Shack?
Why make your basement look like a theater with big screen tv,
concession area with video games and a working Bell System payphone?

Because your friends love to come over and talk about how talented
you are and ask how they can do it too!

  Exactly. And: Because I can.

[mammoth]

hey guys i live in an area where storage 14' x 12' cost me $150 .00 per month, that's why it has 10 arcade games in it - i guess i'm guess stupid - oh i forgot just got ripped off from the guy in texas who sold me 4 different monitor cap kits for under $30.00. delivered -damn i hate  it when i ripped off (i wouldn't put 17 caps in a bag with instructions for $50). any way to email this idiot or should we just forward all these comments. bob - mammoth