Quoted from Zitt:LOL. You attend the largest pinball convention in the USA and maybe the world.
You complain that there were lines to play machines because there wasn't enough machines because you, yourself, didn't bring one.
And now you complain about the noise?
I've been actively bring machines since 2007 with my *first* show.
You think this was bad; you'd have hated it when there was actually music over the pa system.
I get it; you guys want to fly in and play games... but I just won't accept your arguments that you should have had a better time when it's clear you put forth no effort.
To the argument that this is "big business"; I can't argue with that.
TPF has grown to big. To many non-local "users" taking advantage of our hospitality and good will and bitching that they didn't have a good time because other people came to play machines but didn't bring any.
Chicago Expo is MUCH worse with people bringing non-functional craptastic machines to get in for free.
It's CLEAR from the 2 hour exhibitor-only show that the ratio of people bringing machines to people attending is way to skewed to the latter.
So; continue making arguments why the show sucked and why games were broken.
Your doing a pretty good job of convincing me that I should just join you and just pay my ticket and play games other people bring.
Well, I attended, as I have several times over the last decade. I live in Nebraska, and have my whole family there in Plano so it is a great double dip to see the fam and play pinball. There are some guys- Trox, Dothedoo and others from Nebraska that always bring games. I have only brought a game once. I don't have a trailer or the means to bring machines and have to leave on Sunday morning every time to be back to work at 6 a.m. Monday. Not important, as I do support the event through tickets sales, and always buy stuff at the swap meet, vendors, and machines if I find one I want.
No real point in that, but I do feel the need to say this..... I have never met Zitt. Don't know whether he is a jovial guy or a grumpy one. A smiler or someone with resting bitchface. A prince or a pauper. But I do know this from my experience here and at TPF. Every time I have attended TPF, Zitt has had his Star Trek (and probs more, I just know his ST machines when I see them) machines at the event. They are always top notch. I frequent the STTNG thread, and he is constantly helping people with their issues. He makes mods, offers them to others, and I promise he isn't getting rich doing so. Point being, he gives a shit about the hobby and all of us. He's shown it countless times. So, I guess my point is THANK YOU Zitt, and I am saddened that you feel underappreciated. This should not be the case, as you are as supportive to the hobby as they come. Thank you for everything you do. And yes, I'd be super pissed too, if someone was treating those machines of yours with disrespect. I didn't see any of that on your machines, but I promise you I would step in and do a little educating if I did. People suck (not all, but a bigger percentage than it used to be). I think I get how you feel, as much as I am able from afar. You bust your ass to get machines ready, then transport, then set up.... then hear people (some, especially the millennials) bitching the whole time you're there about "not enough machine"... "too many machines not here"... "too many machines turned off"... etc etc and then you see people treating your beautiful machines poorly because they paid a whole 45 bucks for the right to abuse them. Then you have to take them down, transport them home, unload and then come here to listen to more "it's wasn't good enough" talk.... I get it man, that could frustrate anyone. Sorry, kinda long winded here, but I just wanted to say thank you, as I have never taken the time to tell you, you are appreciated.
To everyone else, I appreciate you, your contributions, big or small, to the hobby also. I haven't "chosen" Zitt's side on anything, just dawned on me that I have never said thanks for all you do. I'm not "calling anyone out", this post is directed at no one, just musing. I see both sides of what everyone is saying. I just don't like a true pinhead, Zitt or anyone else and there are a lot of them here, who have done a lot for the hobby for many years, to feel underappreciated for all he or she does. Concerning, as we need these people. We all have friends here. We all have people we don't "know", but enjoy their posts (talkin' bout you mudflaps... beelzeboob... the list is endless... We all have posters we may not care for here. But we are a community. Seek to understand... listen... be nice... just seems 80% of the threads go sideways these days, and I think a little more niceness, tact and unity (hey, it's pinside, we've always talked mad shit, not saying I wish it was perfect, just not SO predictably negative) could go a long way in changing the overall current "pinside tone" and reputation. Yeah, yeah, just one more long winded post about being more positive.... Anyway, my .47 cents...