Thanks for the messages everybody.
Its not been a good time for me lately, hence not being online much.
I am a long time sufferer of what we now call seasonal depression, it feels like the world is literally sitting on top of your head, 6am starts when its dark, juggling clients, 13 hour days with a 5 hour round-trip commute and no time hardly to do anything fun, I haven't been near the work bench in weeks because I keep looking at the stuff that needs sorting and get a mental block.
I'm really pleased to see a number of people coming to the Arcade Club, this was an idea that Andy had been nurturing since before we met and although i'm always biting my nails about an almost operator environment and keeping games running, i'm really happy to see that idea growing and gaining visitors, the machines all behaving very well, being treated with respect but most importantly, played. There's some good local gamers coming in and we're recording scores.
Its taken us a little longer to get it up and running than we planned but we know now to add about 3-6 months to any idea.
In case some are wondering, the reason hardly anything was said about it on the forum before launch was that, as you know, I hate asking the community to give money to us, you all help out as much as you can and offer your time freely and some even go digging around for much needed parts to help us keep machines going - I have a moral block on putting a price on things to friends and we weren't sure if it was ok to post a paid product (read on for why) - this doesn't aid my seasonal depression.
In order to do good and keep going we also have to make some money and that's where our business side has to kick in otherwise it'll all fall apart so we have a list of things we'll be doing which are aimed at the general public to continue to fund frivolous spending programmes like restoring machines, getting PCB's repaired and sending chassis off.
Regrettably the moment you mention charge or business in as positive a context as you can, you open yourself to abuse, over the last 9 months since we made our announcement in February i've endured a lot of direct negativity from a number of people by pm, contact on the website and even some in person.
I promised everyone another community party as we only got to do 2 this year, one at my old place and the christening of the New Frontier but I just haven't been up to organising it to the standard you're all used to nor would have had the time to do all the things needed behind the scenes or be there.
Sadly we've run out of time now this year as I like to give you all 6 weeks or so, a lot would not be able to travel and with xmas looming I can imagine a lot of people's schedules will be pulled everywhere with works parties, other half's demanding you go shopping and then the season will be upon us.
I doubt January will be a good month so we'll probably announce a February date just after new year. Everyone welcome, old members or new.
Anyway, I just wanted to take the opportunity to give everyone an update.
I know there's a thread all of its own for things received but today a little something arrived.....
Not a birthday present but still nice to receive, A Zacarria TRON. Andy had bought this originally and I had an interest to have one in my permanent collection so we did a deal and the money will go towards something else we've got coming - i'd better pay the man but that'll be tomorrow, we don't pay things out on Birthdays
My friend Ben who lives next door also unexpectedly dragged me out for tea earlier on tonight so a couple of beers and a cocktail or two with a very nicely done Peri Peri Chicken.
So that's my story for the last few weeks since October - what have you lot been upto?
Its not been a good time for me lately, hence not being online much.
I am a long time sufferer of what we now call seasonal depression, it feels like the world is literally sitting on top of your head, 6am starts when its dark, juggling clients, 13 hour days with a 5 hour round-trip commute and no time hardly to do anything fun, I haven't been near the work bench in weeks because I keep looking at the stuff that needs sorting and get a mental block.
I'm really pleased to see a number of people coming to the Arcade Club, this was an idea that Andy had been nurturing since before we met and although i'm always biting my nails about an almost operator environment and keeping games running, i'm really happy to see that idea growing and gaining visitors, the machines all behaving very well, being treated with respect but most importantly, played. There's some good local gamers coming in and we're recording scores.
Its taken us a little longer to get it up and running than we planned but we know now to add about 3-6 months to any idea.
In case some are wondering, the reason hardly anything was said about it on the forum before launch was that, as you know, I hate asking the community to give money to us, you all help out as much as you can and offer your time freely and some even go digging around for much needed parts to help us keep machines going - I have a moral block on putting a price on things to friends and we weren't sure if it was ok to post a paid product (read on for why) - this doesn't aid my seasonal depression.
In order to do good and keep going we also have to make some money and that's where our business side has to kick in otherwise it'll all fall apart so we have a list of things we'll be doing which are aimed at the general public to continue to fund frivolous spending programmes like restoring machines, getting PCB's repaired and sending chassis off.
Regrettably the moment you mention charge or business in as positive a context as you can, you open yourself to abuse, over the last 9 months since we made our announcement in February i've endured a lot of direct negativity from a number of people by pm, contact on the website and even some in person.
I promised everyone another community party as we only got to do 2 this year, one at my old place and the christening of the New Frontier but I just haven't been up to organising it to the standard you're all used to nor would have had the time to do all the things needed behind the scenes or be there.
Sadly we've run out of time now this year as I like to give you all 6 weeks or so, a lot would not be able to travel and with xmas looming I can imagine a lot of people's schedules will be pulled everywhere with works parties, other half's demanding you go shopping and then the season will be upon us.
I doubt January will be a good month so we'll probably announce a February date just after new year. Everyone welcome, old members or new.
Anyway, I just wanted to take the opportunity to give everyone an update.
I know there's a thread all of its own for things received but today a little something arrived.....
Not a birthday present but still nice to receive, A Zacarria TRON. Andy had bought this originally and I had an interest to have one in my permanent collection so we did a deal and the money will go towards something else we've got coming - i'd better pay the man but that'll be tomorrow, we don't pay things out on Birthdays
My friend Ben who lives next door also unexpectedly dragged me out for tea earlier on tonight so a couple of beers and a cocktail or two with a very nicely done Peri Peri Chicken.
So that's my story for the last few weeks since October - what have you lot been upto?
