John's Arcade Forum - Classic Arcade and Pinball Collecting and Restoring Discussion Forum - RETRO MAME - Nintendo Vs Forum

1. What are we?
2. What are you?
3. Are you willing to a pay a premium for a collector game?
3. What's your goal?
4. Is there an end?

I think we're all different to some degree. I'm just a guy who wants a cool arcade in his garage. I imagine simply asking this on a forum we're all slightly more than a casual arcade owner. I have a bunch of pins and now I'm starting a small gathering of arcade machines. I don't have much money so can't afford a Star Wars, Star Trek, Defender etc. I'm already out of space so my end is when I'm not prepared to let anything else go to make room for more.

I'd call myself a player slash historian. I'd be a collector if I had a larger space with a larger wallet. I will never on purpose totally restore a pin or arcade to new looking, unless it's a total basket case of course. I prefer the battle scars, scratched in high scores and AB hearts CD on the side of my machines. If I can find a great 100% original example I'll definitely take one. I want my games to have working coin slots so the kids can burn the quarter drop sounds into their memories as it has for us.

I'd like to believe that we as a group are all like-minded hobbyists that all respect the history of these games.

I'm a collector / player. My goal the last few years has been to restore a few games a year that I like. I also buy games that I really want that don't need restoring but I make them as perfect as possible. I have paid a premium for games but I have also gotten deals. I consider these to be washes.

Goal? To keep refining my collection until it has only 100% keepers. :)

I hope there is no end! I love the hobby because I get to learn about electronics, fix things, and make them look pretty. It's a deep hobby, really.

And, of course, I love to play the games!

John have you found your definition of "keeper" games change over time or have you been steadfast with what you are looking for. Very difficult for me right now as my knowledge is limited other than my fading memories form the 80's  :P

I think that my definition of a keeper does change. You really don't know what a keeper is until it's in the basement for a few months or longer.

Makes total sense, I guess that's the fun in it all otherwise this would come to an end rather quickly.

1. What are we? 
2. What are you? 
3. Are you willing to a pay a premium for a collector game?
3. What's your goal?
4. Is there an end?


1. I don't know what "We" are .. refere to number 2.
2. A parent , A jack of all trades.
3. For an arcade machine yes.. for a pinball no.
4. Sell one of my cars and buy 30 arcade machines.
5. It comes and goes.

Personally I used to be a player, them I was a PC Mamer, then I had kids, then the kids grew a little bit, then I became a player again, rediscovered arcade games, watched a certain someones youtube videos, learned and learned, watched king of kong, bought a machine, learned more, bought another one, learned even more.

NOW I DRIVE THE SCHOOL BUS!

Not one to wish time away, but one day when kids grow up, there'll be more machines, for now, 2's plenty.

1. What are we?

A virtual community.
2. What are you?

I'm part of the Eurotrash membership.
3. Are you willing to a pay a premium for a collector game?

No - No fun, No Learning, No satisfaction
3. What's your goal?

Drew Barrymore
4. Is there an end?

Yes, but we can always play again.

Hi Stevespeeze!

1. as has been said, I am pretty sure we all have different reasons for in this hobby here some love the restorations, others it's owning the games, others playing the games. that's what's great about this hobby, so many different facets to enjoy and keep you interested

2. I think I'm a little of both, player and collector, although I tend to prefer the term of enthusiast over collector, because to me that term has a slightly negative connotation, generating pictures of someone more interested in the value of a game rather than the game itself (though this is slightly more true of console collectors).

3. depends on the game really, that being said, I am much more likely to buy a dirt cheap basket case, or inexpensive non-working game and repair, if something is too expensive I just wait for the next one.

4. goal is to one day have all the games I loved as a kid, and a few newer discoveries in a room full of nice games that I can actually invite people to.

5. when I get either everything I set out to, or they carry me out in a pine box....

LMAO  :D

Wise words Mr, wise words.

Lol I painted school buses for 8 years ha.

+1 I mostly get games that I enjoyed playing as a kid, but I try to buy them to restore them as I cant budget to buy them in pristine condition, and I enjoy seeing how they work and get them looking/playing nice.