Quoted from wesman:Jesus, wtf has this hobby become?
I grew up being contented to hang with buds and toss quarters in. I don't think I'm much of a fan of the home market, frankly. It's pretty grotesque and takes away from what felt like an incredible escape as a teen. Owning shit at stupid prices isn't really an interest to me.
Each day, a $5500 JP2 becomes far, far more sane. Sadly. And I really don't care for Stern stuff often.
Hey Wesman, I hear you. I grew up in the arcade scene of the 80s and 90s, and bought my first pinball machine (a $900 Judge Dredd) around 15 years back when it was looking like pinball was on the way out and all my local pin haunts got rid of their games... through that purchase I discovered RGP and pinball shows and the fact that pinball was still very much alive... at home!
As far as what happened? I think it’s simple. We grew up. Got hitched. Bought $400k+ houses, $80k trucks. Maybe raised kids and sent them off. Built businesses or climbed the ladder at work. You made it. You had disposable income to drop on games (or you’re an op, lol) and decided you know what?? PINBALL!
But after doing all that dropping 6k - $10k on something you like (and even better will hold some value) is actually pretty kinda nice. I just bought $6000 worth of appliances I promise won’t be worth shit in 10 years, lol.
And if you haven’t hit that point in your life or you’re on your way there still, there are still games you can get into sub 2k, maybe even less... as well as other ways to be a part of pinball like shows, leagues and even Pinside.
Worse comes to worse in pinball, if you cannot afford that dream game or just don’t feel like spending the cash hey, maybe you find it in a bar for a buck a play, or one of your pin bros picks it up and you play it at his place, right?