Hello all. I thought I would quickly introduce myself as I've just joined. My name is Martin and I've just entered the brave world of Arcade Machine ownership. Before this point, I've been collecting console videogames for around 6 years and have amassed around 1200, ranging from Atari to Vectrex. However, the holy grail has always been my own arcade cabinet.
i'd got close one or two times before, but personal reasons meant it never happened. So, in the vein of Bart and Lisa, I continued to ask the question: "Can I have an Arcade Machine? Can I have an Arcade Machine? Can I have an Arcade Machine?" at the wife and, finally, she agreed (or threatened to leave me, I forget the fine details of the chat). So i've been looking ever since, waiting for the right one. I didn't want any old machine, or a mame cab. It had to be one that made the memories flood back.
There are a number of games that I have fond memories of, mainly Bank Panic, Out Run, Op Thunderbolt, Gorf and Battlezone. But, while trawling eBay I spotted a cabinet that happened to be my first experience of Videogaming. It was 1978 and we were at Pontins in Selsey (I think). In the Restaurant on the first day, we were having breakfast and I saw "Boot Hill" sitting in the corner. Like a moth to a candle, I made my excuses (or was it a tantrum?) and spent the rest of the morning watching people play it.
Then last week one came up on ebay that was in okayish cosmetic condition, but wasn't working. So I've bought it. My view is, even if it doesn't work, it's still a hell of a conversation piece
I am pretty confident I can deal with the cosmetic aspects of it without too much hassle, but will be totally out of my depth at the "getting it to work" bit (assuming it is actually repairable). Once it arrives (hopefully this week), I'll post some pics if you guys are interested (or you can see some if you search for it under Completed listings on ebay). Any specific advice on this would be much appreciated. According to my dad, job 1 will be to get a Fire Extinguisher. Personally, I think he's still miffed about me missing the rest of breakfast in '78.....
Anyway, enough rambling for now! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Martin
i'd got close one or two times before, but personal reasons meant it never happened. So, in the vein of Bart and Lisa, I continued to ask the question: "Can I have an Arcade Machine? Can I have an Arcade Machine? Can I have an Arcade Machine?" at the wife and, finally, she agreed (or threatened to leave me, I forget the fine details of the chat). So i've been looking ever since, waiting for the right one. I didn't want any old machine, or a mame cab. It had to be one that made the memories flood back.
There are a number of games that I have fond memories of, mainly Bank Panic, Out Run, Op Thunderbolt, Gorf and Battlezone. But, while trawling eBay I spotted a cabinet that happened to be my first experience of Videogaming. It was 1978 and we were at Pontins in Selsey (I think). In the Restaurant on the first day, we were having breakfast and I saw "Boot Hill" sitting in the corner. Like a moth to a candle, I made my excuses (or was it a tantrum?) and spent the rest of the morning watching people play it.
Then last week one came up on ebay that was in okayish cosmetic condition, but wasn't working. So I've bought it. My view is, even if it doesn't work, it's still a hell of a conversation piece
I am pretty confident I can deal with the cosmetic aspects of it without too much hassle, but will be totally out of my depth at the "getting it to work" bit (assuming it is actually repairable). Once it arrives (hopefully this week), I'll post some pics if you guys are interested (or you can see some if you search for it under Completed listings on ebay). Any specific advice on this would be much appreciated. According to my dad, job 1 will be to get a Fire Extinguisher. Personally, I think he's still miffed about me missing the rest of breakfast in '78.....
Anyway, enough rambling for now! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Martin
