Hello Everyone., I Live in Montreal, and recently got the arcade bug. Being 31, I played all the classics growing up, and just wanted to start reliving that era through collecting and building my own. I have started building my first classic cocktail design MAME Cabinet and of course am starting to find my constraints and limitations. Number one problem I have is space. I have a 4.5 apartment which is obviously limiting, but I also have a 3 year old son with me half the week. So although he is loving the games part, Im not too crazy about him being part of the tools, saws part etc. So I guess my first question is.. Is there a place for a guy to go, where he can work on his machine... kinda like a rental garage/workshop?...Are there others like me who may want to band together and rent a place a as a time share/social thingy?lol...and finally. is there any discussion out there as to maybe building a community based retro arcade, maybe in a location like the Belgo Building...downtown Montreal? I know there  isn't a huge market for arcades, and we obviously do not want to open a venue simply for drug trafficking etc. I thought of the Belgo, more for the potential to attract the surrounding artists and patrons of the Belgo, possibly to generate modest income for the people involved (ie.Supplying game, Time etc.), but more as a place to enjoy the games, maybe work on a project (in a workshop area) and to socialize with other enthusiasts..

Now, I haven't surfed this whole site as of yet, so please excuse me if there is already a whole plethora of info on this subject, already available here...and also, feel free to post links to those pages...just trying to get a grasp on it all and maybe get more involved.

thanks

Salut, je vais y aller en francais car vu que tu est de montreal qu'il y a des chances que tu comprenne et c'est moins long pour moi.

Habituellement les gens restorent et fabrique leur game chez eux, je ne voit rien dans le genre que tu suggère.
Aussi il y a souvent des meeting qui s'organise pour se rencontrer et partager la passion. Le forum est plus ''pinball oriented'' mais il y a aussi qque ''vids crazy'' comme moi !

La ''Montreal Pinball League'' viens de débuter, si ca t'interesse viens faire ton tour, regarde la section concerné sur le forum pour plus d'infos !  

PS: A 31 tu es probablement plus jeune que la moyenne

ya I was pretty young when alot of the classics came out, but still felt the need to pilfer my mothers purse for quarters and other change to make them.. O the good ol' days.

Salut llotek,

Welcome to the bug However, I like people calling themselves Old player when they are 31! It really makes me feel young (not) .  I am new to this myself and if I may give you a bit of advice.  Stick to this forum for a while and read everything you can.  There is a wealth of info and everyone is willing to help. Don't be shy to ask.  Lastly, you stated you are from Montreal but you can put it in your profile after you click on your own name it will be on the left of your choices, simply put it there.

take care and play on brother

Sorry to burst a bubble, but chances of opening a commercial arcade are slim to none. Quebec law KILLED arcades with licensing fees on machines. I have inquired with the government on opening something like GJD is doing in toronto with the arcade museum and found out quickly that Quebec don't want arcades. The paperwork for a non-profit organization is simply brutal, and in the end, it would cost at a minimum near 6-digits to get going... and I don't mean a Bally display.

The best viable solution remains MAACA and the MPL in Quebec.

Ahhh ok, well thanks for the info. I think i get the bureaucracy.. no one really wants some semi dingy place used mainly for drug dealing and other shady stuff, which im sure was an issue of some sort back when making the current laws. anyhow, Im not done there, certainly going to get involved with the league...

the casino and loto-quebec is much more profitable for them/us...

Quoted from llotek

Being 31, I played all the classics growing up

I'll just add my friendly jab to the new guy...  

You realize of course that you were BORN the same year Space Invaders came out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_invaders

You were two years old when PacMan hit the arcades...

Us "old farts" were actually teenagers during that era...

Welcome aboard sonny-boy !    

Cheers,
Ole Man Steph,

Quoted from Steph

Welcome aboard sonny-boy !    

Cheers,
Ole Man Steph,

What is wrong Ole Man Steph afraid to tell how old you really are by updating your profile and putting in your DOB?  

take care

Quoted from Sparky

Sorry to burst a bubble, but chances of opening a commercial arcade are slim to none. Quebec law KILLED arcades with licensing fees on machines. I have inquired with the government on opening something like GJD is doing in toronto with the arcade museum and found out quickly that Quebec don't want arcades. The paperwork for a non-profit organization is simply brutal, and in the end, it would cost at a minimum near 6-digits to get going... and I don't mean a Bally display.

The best viable solution remains MAACA and the MPL in Quebec.

Sparky, wouldn't a "private" arcade-like be more profitable or easier to set up (i.e.: less expensive)? Like the Go-kart places where you have to be a "member" to be able to ride/play?

All pins and arcades could be set up on free play, but players would have to have a "member's" card in order to play them?

Just a thought!

tartagliag

I know there are lots of restrictions here (in scarlem)

As for OLD player.....


I'm in my mid 30's and seem to be one of the "young pups"

Quoted from gmaranda

What is wrong Ole Man Steph afraid to tell how old you really are by updating your profile and putting in your DOB?  

May 1966.

Too young to be a Boomer, too old to be a Gen-X'er,
...but just right for the Golden Age of Arcade !  

As for why I don't put my DoB in my profile,
it's simply a matter of personal privacy and security.

With just about every other facet of my existence available on-line via Google,
(.. even a street-view on my damn house !!! )
I'd rather keep what little private info I have ...private ...    

---

As for the "age" issue, I hope no-one takes this too too seriously ...
I'm 43 going on 23, and with a 2, 4 and 7 yr old kids in tow,
most people think I'm in my 30's....  

...ah, if only I had my 80's hair back .... !    

cheers,
Steph

Hi! again Steph.  I understand your need for privacy and I was simply bugging you a bit.  I was born in 1966 also and like yourself I find myself in between generations.  Believe it or not but the last year to be considered a baby boomer is guess what............keep guessing your are close............that is right 1966!  So depending on whether or not you want you can call yourself a baby boomer! Still don't believe it myself but it seems to be true.  

Regardless, I could not care less about my age because I can't do anything about it so I just keep on going.  

Have fun.

Quoted from Steph

May 1966.

Ewwwwwwww....  You're so oooooold...



Mike

You old dudes done flapping your gum's yet  

At what age does your reaction time slow down so that you can no longer play pinball effectively? Is that why old dudes like EMs?

Quoted from jonny_eh

At what age does your reaction time slow down so that you can no longer play pinball effectively?

In caucasian males, 18 years old.

Hey kid if I could find my teeth I'd bite your head off!!!

Quoted from jonny_eh

At what age does your reaction time slow down so that you can no longer play pinball effectively? Is that why old dudes like EMs?

HO!! Man!!! This hurts!!!!

Hey!!! wait, I just bought an EM.......

tartagliag

Quoted from jonny_eh

At what age does your reaction time slow down so that you can no longer play pinball effectively? Is that why old dudes like EMs?

Not sure ... my scores on most DMD's has been getting better year over year

Quoted from SquidVicious

Not sure ... my scores on most DMD's has been getting better year over year

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Law_of_Practice

Vs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hick%27s_law

Quoted from SquidVicious

Not sure ... my scores on most DMD's has been getting better year over year

No Dan your mistaken, you vision just keeps getting worse and worse so you only think you are getting better and better

Somebody needs to change the title of this string to "Talkin' Shite"



PM to Sparky

I think kind of "permis de réunion" but instead of alcohol, its pinball, would be cool but the thing i see is... put a member ship at 150$... how many member you can have i think at this condition maybe 20 plus you do a kind of guess entrance at 15 $ for non member.. don't know so with 3000$ with member an average of 2 guess by week +/- 1500$ so 4500$ a year its doesn't pay local fee ( with electricity...). Unfortunately i don't think its will work. Any other guess from experience people like Sparky?

Quoted from MrMikeman

Ewwwwwwww....  You're so oooooold...



Mike

Hell last time I checked your age started with a 4...

Glad to have been born in time to witness the arcade hayday. Steph is going to carry on about you youngin's while he pulls on his suspenders.

Quoted from Vengeance

No Dan your mistaken, you vision just keeps getting worse and worse so you only think you are getting better and better

fair enough or more likely my senility keeps me from remember what my previous scores were.

Quoted from tartagliag

Sparky, wouldn't a "private" arcade-like be more profitable or easier to set up (i.e.: less expensive)? Like the Go-kart places where you have to be a "member" to be able to ride/play?

All pins and arcades could be set up on free play, but players would have to have a "member's" card in order to play them?

Just a thought!

tartagliag

Quoted from bilbaomtl

I think kind of "permis de réunion" but instead of alcohol, its pinball, would be cool but the thing i see is... put a member ship at 150$... how many member you can have i think at this condition maybe 20 plus you do a kind of guess entrance at 15 $ for non member.. don't know so with 3000$ with member an average of 2 guess by week +/- 1500$ so 4500$ a year its doesn't pay local fee ( with electricity...). Unfortunately i don't think its will work. Any other guess from experience people like Sparky?

Ahhhh... the clubhouse discussion.   Unfortunately, the government doesn't discriminate between membership-to-play or quater-to play when it comes to arcades. The second you have an arcade machine in a commercial space, and by one means or another the customer pays to play, licensing fees are applicable. And to that, add:

- rent for the space
- maintenance
- an accountant for government records, taxes, etc...
- city permits (fat chance of getting that... cities still associate arcades with loud teenager cesspools full of drugs)
... and all that other bullshit. I have enough stuff on my plate, thank you.

It would be 100% easier to have a large piece of land, big enough to have a house on, as well as a building that would contain a personal arcade. Then I would simply invite people over to play, and they pitch in.

Kind of the same set-up Shoeguy had for a while... mind you he paid rent for the space, and it was a headache all the same.

I tell you what...

Find me 100 members willing to sign a contract to pay 50 bucks a month over a guaranteed period of 5 years for unlimited access to an arcade and I will do it... how does that sound?

Quoted from jonny_eh

At what age does your reaction time slow down so that you can no longer play pinball effectively? Is that why old dudes like EMs?

I dare you to last more than 3 minutes on a woodrail without pausing during play, smartass.

Any pro player will tell you. Want to improve your skills? Play older machines. They make you work hard for 100 points. Skill shots and ball saves are for sissies.  

Quoted from Sparky

Find me 100 members willing to sign a contract to pay 50 bucks a month over a guaranteed period of 5 years for unlimited access to an arcade and I will do it... how does that sound?

If the place is in Ottawa...mmmmmm...maybe.

tartagliag

Quoted from Sparky

Find me 100 members willing to sign a contract to pay 50 bucks a month over a guaranteed period of 5 years for unlimited access to an arcade and I will do it... how does that sound?

Sound bad, really bad... but thanks for your input... BTW you think you can do it with 5000$ a years (25k for 5)? if we say 35 at 150$ could be possible.
But i think the bigger issue is the human been. More big it will become harder its will be to collect money, make sure people won't destroy the pin.... Have to put cash for the place and bought the pin... sound bad really bad!!

Quoted from tartagliag

If the place is in Ottawa...mmmmmm...maybe.

tartagliag

I agree with tag. Sparky, please move to Ottawa as soon as possible.

Quoted from bilbaomtl

Sound bad, really bad... but thanks for your input... BTW you think you can do it with 5000$ a years (25k for 5)? if we say 35 at 150$ could be possible.
But i think the bigger issue is the human been. More big it will become harder its will be to collect money, make sure people won't destroy the pin.... Have to put cash for the place and bought the pin... sound bad really bad!!

50$ a MONTH x 100 = 5000$ a month... not per year. With only 5000$ per year, you can rent a 14x18 heated garage and that is about it. You haven't even bought a game yet.

But with 5000$ per month, you can get games, fix them and pay for upkeep.

But hey... if you find me 25000$, I will build a garage on my house and you can come play all you want.

Quoted from sentinelking

I agree with tag. Sparky, please move to Ottawa as soon as possible.

Almost happened a few times. You never know.

Ok im done with the "pelletage de nuage" and count on me for 25k "le cheque est dans male"

Quoted from bilbaomtl

Ok im done with the "pelletage de nuage" and count on me for 25k "le cheque est dans male"

Good!!! Parle-moi de ça, un gars qui a pas froid aux yeux!!!!

tartagliag

Quoted from bilbaomtl

Ok im done with the "pelletage de nuage" and count on me for 25k "le cheque est dans male"

I have been thinking about doing it... but considering that I am that much in personal debt, I would need 50000$ to build my 26x30 garage. So considering I make about 200$ on a playfield to cover my labor, I have to do 250 playfields to achieve my goal.

I tell you what... someone come up with that many playfields to do, I will do them all and then build a garage big enough to house the arcade. If I push and the playfields don't need too many touch-ups and are dissassembled, I can probably pump out between 5-10 a week.

So Ya. I certainly had a good laugh reading all this stuff. and yes. my first experience with  pacman was '82...my mother dragged my into an arcade in ottawa somewhere, I was 4. And thanks to all for making me feel so young.. It certainly does sound like any real commercial or other type project would be a no go in QC, not really surprising, but none the less, kinda sad, seeing how many classic machines are floating around the city. oh well. ill stick to meeting all you old farts...then try to make up for calling you old, and hopefully get an invite to your place..

Quoted from llotek

So Ya. I certainly had a good laugh reading all this stuff. and yes. my first experience with  pacman was '82...my mother dragged my into an arcade in ottawa somewhere, I was 4. And thanks to all for making me feel so young.. It certainly does sound like any real commercial or other type project would be a no go in QC, not really surprising, but none the less, kinda sad, seeing how many classic machines are floating around the city. oh well. ill stick to meeting all you old farts...then try to make up for calling you old, and hopefully get an invite to your place..

You shouldn't feel young. I wasn't even born yet in '82! To me, you're ALL OLD!! On top of that, you'll always be older than me!

[quote=656]

You shouldn't feel young. I wasn't even born yet in '82! To me, you're ALL OLD!! /quote]


Didn't you just get married ...?

THAT will age you quickly  !

Throw in a few rug-rats and you'll see your youth get sapped away in no time !  

... now where are my dang dentures !


Steph

They had actual places where you could go and play pinball and video games???   They called them arcades???  Wow, never heard of them!!  Man, you guys are old.    

Quoted from underachiever

They had actual places where you could go and play pinball and video games???   They called them arcades???  Wow, never heard of them!!  Man, you guys are old.    

Yeap! and they had real girls like the one on your picture!  Of course they were all over me and I had to ask them to leave me alone so that I could play pinball.  I tell you the 80's were a drag!!!

Quoted from Sparky

Sorry to burst a bubble, but chances of opening a commercial arcade are slim to none. Quebec law KILLED arcades with licensing fees on machines. I have inquired with the government on opening something like GJD is doing in toronto with the arcade museum and found out quickly that Quebec don't want arcades. The paperwork for a non-profit organization is simply brutal, and in the end, it would cost at a minimum near 6-digits to get going... and I don't mean a Bally display.

The best viable solution remains MAACA and the MPL in Quebec.

What!? Does that mean you don't have any Fromagerie du Chucky in Quebec??

Ya I gathered his Young agae by his Mortal Kombat Avatar. and yes...talk to us once you have a couple kids. withing months the wrinkles and grey hair start. welcome to the real world...and welcome to your new favorite -"get away from the family hobby"

Quoted from Steph

[quote=656]

You shouldn't feel young. I wasn't even born yet in '82! To me, you're ALL OLD!! /quote]


Didn't you just get married ...?

THAT will age you quickly  !

Throw in a few rug-rats and you'll see your youth get sapped away in no time !  

... now where are my dang dentures !


Steph

Easy now. Im actually from Ontario. and never went to chucky cheese ..grew up in a small town...chucky cheese was just a commercial on cable tv for us...but gee. i didnt have cable either. thank god for tron and black tiger.....and get away....and elvira....and...

Quoted from websherpa

What!? Does that mean you don't have any Fromagerie du Chucky in Quebec??