What area of the medical profession do you represent?

He’s an unregistered nurse, of course.

Or MAYBE lives with common sense knowing that there is a 0.04% chance of death ?????

Or a chance that you may lose lung functions and all kinds of crazy stuff.

I know this is not the topic to discuss in, but just because of low death rate this can mess you up for the rest of your life.

Please be careful and take this serious, so we can all get back to the barcades soon.

(and maybe some football games very soon also).

Deez nuts!

Stop being scared. Go support your local pinball place.

Agree. Life is full of risks and choices. I chose to NOT LIVE IN FEAR.

Having likely had Covid-19 in February that I got from working at an arcade bar, I can tell you that my lungs do not feel the same. I have persistant irritation and cough, but hey guys GO HAVE FUN!

I believe we play with balls around here, jerky.

..... and we have devolved into another COVID conspiracy theory, my freedom thread. Super.

Anyone who actually owns an arcade bar (or just an arcade in my instance) knows you have to live in the real world here. The reality is every single state (maybe with the exception of South Dakota) has put real rules in place that we all get to live under for now (like them or not). The further reality is that this does affect the mindset of most people in the places we operate, and I have to cater to how the majority is thinking, not the minority. It’s how you run a business. And those real rules are there because they (among other rules for multiple industries involving social gatherings and interactions) are designed to lower spread. Basic problem is that they are all patchwork, inconsistent , half measures, creating this completely unstable landscape for a business like my own or straight up bar to operate under. So they don’t achieve much other than status quo bad to slightly worsening. And that means people don’t come and will continue to not come. To be honest I would rather NOT have to deal with the one or two who come in and start advocating for what their rights are in my business. That would let me just focus on those who will come out, who will live in the rules, and not spend energy on the single digits who want to have a debate with me on how the state and I have done them wrong. I’m a business, don’t really have time to debates with individuals while I am trying to stave off closure. An arcade is not the place to make ones stand on their freedoms. And my business is regulated by regulations that I don’t control and tell me what people have to do while in my establishment. And you know what I really would love to see people social distance and wear masks and take vaccines when available simply so that we can get the numbers down so that the majority start feeling safer, are willing to come back, and so we remove these regulations. Would gladly go into another lockdown if it would let my business operate more consistently. Individualism is an amazing and praiseworthy feature of the United States. But it is an absolute disaster area for coordinating a consistent response to a pandemic that will let me get back to running my business at a profit again.

not a knock on you personally, because i understand why you feel like you dodged a bullet. but i will never live in a world where i feel i can pat myself on the back for not trying to do something i wanted to do. i will never be scared that some unforeseeable event will take anything away from me. i'm living it firsthand right now. i own a pinball bar that i busted my ass my whole life to build up to and create, and it's been in a shutdown choke-hold since March. i put my life savings into it, and have no regrets. as long as i can stay alive during this, at least when this is over, I'll have an opportunity again. And I'll appreciate it more and make it better than it's ever been! if i had not opened it because of the fear it might get shuttered by a pandemic, or anything else, then when this is over i'd have nothing. That's all.

"But I tried, didn't I? Goddammit! At least I did that."
-R.P. McMurphy

It's one thing to not live in fear. It's quite another to be disrespectful of others. You may not fear driving your Ford Pinto 100 mph, but it's disrespectful to the person, and their families, when you lose it and take someone else out with you.

When you don't respect those around you enough to wear a mask, you are doing the same thing. You exemplify the reason that barcades are having to remain closed. When you don't have the respect for other people, and small businesses, this is what happens. If people would mask up, wash their hands and maintain some social distancing, these barcades could safely re-open and stay in business.

No shit, I wish people could keep that talk in the proper “containment” thread and gtfo of other discussions. We get the fucking points, we have read it, no need to regurgitate it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arcade bars will not die, but they are dead for now in Colorado because they are simply not allowed.
To say they will die is like saying concerts, sports, bars in general, and many other things not allowed right now will all die.
They are all hurt and some will not survive as they have closed permanently already, but saying they will not exist in the future is just ridiculous.

Casinos are thriving now, though......long live the arcade bar!!!

This baffles me.... Our local casino is open 24/7. Safeguards are at a minimum and several employees have tested postive. Masks are required unless you're smoking but even this isn't enforced.

Meanwhile, I am jonesin' beyond belief to play some pinball. Longest drought I've ever experienced. If you can touch slot machines and other gaming equipment, why not a pinball machine?

Gaslighting requires repetition. Therefore it will be regurgitated until you either accept it, or get frustrated and walk away leaving it to spread. Tale as old as time.

it shouldn’t baffle you. Casinos have huge political pull. And states depend on them for their cut of gaming revenue to fund state operations.

The difference between playing pinball indoors and playing a slot machine indoors is Zero. But one is legal and one isn’t. Both are probably not safe to do in crowded indoor spaces right now.

Me either. I like my life that way. I'm a happy camper! That is able to use common sense to make my own smart choices.

As I said, inconsistencies abound. The reason government exists is to make sure we all play by the same rules. But unfortunately for now the government can’t even agree on what the rules are other than Walmart is essential (open your doors, full your parking lot, anything goes), casinos (shrug we don’t know), gyms (hey they can’t be that bad right ?) and bars (and by extension arcades and movie theaters) are bad cesspools of disease. If we had real contact tracing and 1 day turnaround testing (and Virginia just launched a tracing app but it’s not got real high uptake yet) then we could 1) actually stratify risk and figure out where and how most people are getting this (my betting proposition is a) work where we tend to let our guard down around our known contacts followed by b) home where a single infected person from work gives to rest of their family) 2) make rules and establish programs that impose restrictions proportionate to real not perceived risk to get the number down 3) get the actual numbers down thru 1+2 with aggressive contact tracing so we can go back to some normal type of life, people can not be scared, and my arcade will entertain more than 15 people at time once more. The death or survival of arcade bars is not dependent on a vaccine, despite what one might read in the press, but rather a systematic national plan for getting this under control. I do not unfortunately see this forthcoming so my only plan for now is limp along and hope something different happens than what we have now. Everyone is doing the equivalent of hanging around the basket waiting for someone to shoot but nobody knows where the ball is.

This totally reminds me of the old days when we had prohibition.

It is so cool that we have so much technology these days to help with so many different issues. (I love when someone wrongfully jailed finally gets out because of new DNA evidence).

And I know wrong thread, but I have a bitch. No barcade anywhere close to me. There is a Dave & Busters, but last time I checked they do not even have any pins.

I 100% agree with that. Rules should be the same for all similar businesses, and if proper precautions taken they should be allowed to be open.

This was a great place. Enjoyed it. Clean and all the game’s were in nice shape. The new normal........

I’m new to this since April and I really hope the govnt helps these people out with closing doors as me n my wife still work (hospital and jail)and for some reason are getting stimulus checks when all we’re doing is saving $ I don’t get it .This hobby just took me by surprise I grew up on the south side of Chicago (I’m 50)and never seen a pinball machine in the 60-80 bars I went to believe it or not.Ive purchased 2 pins this year and my 2 kids will get they’re 2 by Christmas and I’m bursting at the seams to take them to a stern tour and the expo(I used to work at the Westin in wheeling they have this at ).As far as a newbie goes the 7 Or so 30 year olds in my neighborhood(I’m calked grampie round here) That have come over to play are all shocked! We’re in total agreement we need a pin bar in our town of crown point IN .Ive read the history and how it almost died so I don’t think Covid will kill the momentum I believe it’s only building up .This sport needs to be unleashed and the only way to do that is pin bars ! I wish the best for all those trying they’re hardest hang in there better days ahead and it better be soon you deserve it!!

Here is the help I got. 10 cents shy of $4.20 and how many months late? Letter says 7/24 but I just got the check two weeks ago and then this official WH letterhead the other day. Post Office is pretty slow these days...

FullSizeRender-3 (resized).jpg

real or not, you can't keep shutting shit down. life has to go on as normal.

there are only 2 choices

Cure
or
let it run it's course however it's going to go.

That's it. This dancing around bullshit, doesn't help anyone. Just destroys businesses and livelyhoods. It's not going to go away if we stay home. it's not going to go away if kids stay home from school. It's not going to go away if bars, arcades and theaters stay closed. None of this matters. This shit will continue and linger around. We either have to survive through it with our lives continuing as normal, or they need to find a vaccine.

Holy shit!!!! I’m at a loss for words .I take this very serious as my Dad passed of this (had COPD but wasn’t his time ) but not giving a chance for businesses to run a clean ,aware ,safe place to go unwind is crazy at best ! The most vulnerable are not going out to places like yours they’re at home protecting themselves .Theres no harm in a red light for those who have higher % to catch this (I have MS and work in Chicago’s jail/court systems keep me home ) but for most as long as they take precautions what the hell!! This is a pincade in Ft Wayne IN i was just at with my kinds I made them put masks on when other people came as we were the first ones there !

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Anything wrong with plain arcades ?

LTG : )

Not at all my friend (I thank you for all your help with my issues) .I don’t go to bars anymore and I’m happy as a pis taking my kids to this place .Just most of the younger crew want alcohol served I’d imagine .Both are great for pinball.

I bet you could get a job in the current administration as a health czar considering you're completely incompetent in that realm and rather good with pinball. We can call you Pin Carson.

Actually I don’t understand why the big guys that make these great machines don’t get together and form a sort of board that concentrated on marketing and giving cost breaks to business owners that are they’re only present marketing agents out there beside the small,small % of people that can afford them for home.I guess like guns ,where would the sales be without the NRA.Im just a regular guy starting out with the love of this but it seems obvious to me Pinball needs to organize.

Stern has #playstrong, which is a hashtag you can use & then they'll retweet you playing your new $6000 TMNT. Needless to say, that marketing campaign isn't doing anything for arcades at the moment.

Best wishes Jah ! I hope things get straightened out buddy for you and all . The help needs to get steered in the right places and for all you who have lost someone close to this shit I feel your pain... literally !

Or, as recent studies have found, up to a 55% chance that your heart and other vital organs will be permanently damaged, even in young people. It also affects cognition and memory due to the fact that the virus triggers auto-antibodies that attack the brain. It's bad news, and it isn't "the flu." Surviving it is just the beginning.

Apologies to the mods, but the nicest thing I can say about zr11990 is that he's a huge fucking idiot.

Wear a mask. How hard is that?

So for Decades Arcade we have: 45 unidirectional fans bringing air from outside thru the arcade and routing it out the front door turning over the air every 10 min, 50 UVC light that blast every square inch of the arcade for 15 min every 2 hours (kinda of like kids pool breaks where everyone has to get out of the pool), 18 MERV-13 air purifiers, multi hour disinfection at night with UVC and ozone generators, all machines coated with long term anti viral coating and disinfected every hour, no food except outside (have a fan there too), hand sanitizer required upon entry, and aggressive and strict surveillance of mask wearing while in the arcade - ya get kicked out if not wearing it correctly and you cannot be redirected to do so. And in particular we concentrate on dead air space like the bathroom to make sure it’s not dead. Finally we register everyone so we can help contact trace if needed. My point is why not rank risk by what the business actually does to prevent infection. Why not recognize those businesses who give a crap and do something beyond a bottle of hand sanitizer at the door and saying a prayer upon entry (looking at you Walmart and Lowe’s) Inside doesn’t have to be unsafe, just because you are essential doesn’t give you license to do whatever the hell you want to do (come on in everyone, we have enough parking for all). If every person and business did what we are doing we might have this actually under control. My business did its part, and went into more debt to do so. About the only thing left is free coronavirus tests at the door which I’d do if available. What’s everyone else’s excuse.

Agree with the feeling to open everything up so we can decide for ourselves. Living in NYC and having had the virus with confirmed test and donated plasma I honestly don’t feel it’s as bad as some have come to say it is. I have two elderly parents that live with me and I took extra precautions and cleaned regularly and they never came down with virus. People with underlying conditions will need to take extra precautions and may decide the risk is not worth it to go to an arcade bars.

I have watched bars break social distancing rules and have seen protestors not following CDC guidelines and NY’s numbers continue to fall. When the AIDS epidemic hit people where afraid to share a glass or touch loved ones. looking back on it and seeing how it affected society maybe things could have been done differently but with this we went into a whole political 24 hr news cycle with governors and health officials scaring the hell out of us and I hope we all look back on as society being foolish again... till then I go out and support any bar or arcade and hope they all come back.

I never would have guessed that all these tough guys were one handkerchief away from being giant babies.

I'm not entirely sure why Pinside allows itself to be 4chan for purposes of these gatherings of outright falsehoods, liars and sham artists. Oh, the guy that profits on the stock market ignoring the virus has a hot sports opinion about medicine that supports keeping his pockets full and his investors' $$ right where it is? Shocking.

None of you will acknowledge the prediction that the virus is gone after the election. None of you. But I will. There will be dead horse beatings aplenty come December. Bet your ass on that.

I can't wait for the Q-Anon thread. That'll be fun.

oh, and can I get a moderator to go ahead and downvote this post for Phil-Lee? In fact, can Robin just write a code that automatically downvotes every post I make on any obscure topic by that guy? It'd save him a lot of work.

spend money! Save lives!

These guys don't know what 4chan is tho.

They're all too old for 4Chan. This is like 4chan Silver.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that pinostalgia works at a casino.

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I've only ever heard of anything like this in coin op once.

When Sega came out with Virtua Fighter 2, it was $1K more than other fighting games. Sales weren't good. So Sega came up with a plan. Pick one up, put it on your open account at your distributor for 6 moths, and they'd pay the interest. Great deal, I picked one up then.

LTG : )

Moderator's comment:

Folks, please keep in mind that debates on covid, masks, the election, responses of political figures, etc. all belong in the main covid thread.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-official-coronavirus-containment-thread/

If anything like that is posted here, it will be moderated. In an effort to try to keep the thread on track, please instead try keep your comments directly related to arcade bars & coin op and the issues/concerns/news/ideas surrounding them.

If you have been previously banned from the main covid thread and attempt to broach those debate topics here, you will be automatically banned from this thread as well.

That is all. Carry on

"I'm tellin' you I didn't do it, but if I did do it... It was an accident"

I feel so bad for the people that put their lives and dreams into opening places like these, only to see them destroyed by covid.

god I love this website

my friends and I have a women's pinball group and we negotiated to take over the local arcade this Wednesday night. It will be just us, wearing masks, sanitizing between games, staying distant.
Whatever we can do to keep any cash flow at these places...
you can also buy from them online. Much of it's for Ottawa-local people as it includes perogies and beer, but also shirts can be mailed if you want to support them!
http://www.houseoftarg.com/targmart
(we'll be taking home lots of their perogies)

the other major arcade spot in the city (Neighborhood Pub) isn't reopening at all in the meanwhile, due to Covid risk.

And for reference we're a city of 1 million people, we had 19 new cases of Covid registered today, and that's a HUGE INCREASE for us as we only had 3 new cases on Sunday.
Ontario has a population of almost 15 million and registered 99 new cases yesterday and was another day of zero deaths. (factoring that up to a USA's population, that'd be like 2200 new case in a day!)