Welcome to the new frontier, an arcade christening party.
Warning - long post
Well, its about time some of you are going to be yelling - we've been waiting for this since February - you promised it in June and you're now talking about August????
Ok, are you done yelling? Are you ready to forgive and hear an explanation???
I've been a bit quiet this last few months. We've covered 4 shows (South Coast Slam, Play Blackpool, North East Retro Gaming and London Film And Comic Con) and finished a building project.
I've done a few repairs and tried to join in as much as possible but its outside influences that have delayed things.
At exactly the right time in my work life but exactly the wrong time in this process I got offered a second contract job. Most of you in IT outsourcing know the deal - its reasonably easy to get a 5-day a week job but you can literally get sent anywhere. I've never gone in for those much so i've been working 2-3 days a week for the last god knows how long for a company which meant I had a bit of spare time. I was devoting this to the arcade project. However, sometimes you get a call from a friend and you owe a favour and you can't say no so i've been on a 6 day week since end of March across two companies, one in Trafford Park area which means a 2 hour commute each day fighting against a bus/train schedule that just doesn't work - you can imagine how little energy I have to fix things on those nights after not getting home until after 7:30 and leaving before 7am.
That aside, there was a more sinister reason we didn't go through with the June party - the place looked sh*te! I mean, ok, it was a built room with ceilings and a carpet and walls and everything but that ambience that i'd created at my place just wasn't there and one of things i've had so much great feedback about has been the environment, its not just some room with a bunch of old arcade machines in it. I'd managed to capture a little of that feeling of being in the arcades - minus the stale chip oil, cigarette smoke and bingo caller of course.
The place just wasn't ready. Sure we could turn on machines but there was only the ceiling lights we'd put in to do servicing, no music, no mood. So I hope you'll forgive us for delaying the opening.
We're still a little way from completion but all the key elements needed have been done and we can finish the last bits well in time.
Anyway, cut the "Our Tune" music now, you're thinking "but didn't you team up with Andy etc to get things done better and quicker" - yes but we both have other businesses outside the arcade so its still a secondary thing and contrary to the recurring comment "but you're a business now" we're actually not that profit centric so as long as we cover costs we're happy to have a massive play room for our toys. I've been asked a few times how can we possibly make this work by a few bean counter types - very politely i've explained that we can and we will and unless you're an employee that's our business thank you.
And on that subject, there's a number of whispers going around and people getting the wrong ideas etc. So i'll take a few moments to do some housekeeping..
1) There is only myself and Andy involved in this endeavour at the key staff level.
2) A bone-fide business was created to allow us to protect our own assets (the machines) from the complexities of having a business unit and paying business rates etc - we're structured in the right way.
3) No, "XXXXXXX" is not a business partner of ours and is calling the shots etc. We have formed agreements with a few members to house a few of their machines, each deal is unique and between us and them, some involve doing some restoration work, some repairs (which are likely to go out to the known repairers to ensure a top job).
4) There is no internal count, brashness or chest-beating of who owns what or brought what or had how many of what to this, I own about 60 games - some of which are just shells i'd picked up for a rainy day project, Andy had bought a fair few more than that, we've been generously loaned a few that we didn't have and we took in a large number from Replay Events to ease their storage burden and get some of them going again so that they can be used at shows, by ourselves and enjoyed by visitors.
There's a few other things but we'll leave it there for now, that takes care of the main rumours.
I'd like to invite anyone who has any questions about what's going on or who or blah de blah to just simply ask, i've been called a lot of things in my time but unapproachable isn't one of them.
You, the community, we class as our close friends and we want to be as open as possible.
Moving on........
Anyway, if you're still awake by this point then you're obviously following along and so I can get to one of my promises in our announcement video - the community parties.
On Saturday 30th August I invite as many forum members that can make it to come to our opening party.
The location isn't a huge secret but not for public posting so as with all the previous parties, directions will only be sent out to those who are registered as guests in the week just before.
For planning purposes use BB4 as a destination postcode, if you're looking for somewhere to stay over etc and want to find hotels, see our FAQ on the website for a few suggestions, you can use BB2 or BB4 as areas.
The itinerary.....
The main event will run from 7:00pm until either 12:00am or 1:00am depending on numbers, noise leakage etc, you are our crash test dummies for this new building - don't worry its passed construction inspection. What we mean is it'll be the first time it'll have been full of people since building and housing the machines. A lot of people generally leave by about 11:30 anyway so if it does thin out there'll be less "voice leakage" which is the harder to contain and we can stay a bit later on the games.
I've learned from other events that a lot of you like to make a full day of it and arrive quite early so i'm catering for this with a pre-party at my place. I'll have about 15 machines you can play on for the afternoon as well as sit and have a chat and a drink.
The pre-party is for anyone who wants to come a little early and then either help get a few people there and back with some car sharing or we can use a minibus to get over - cost will be shared between the people on the bus.
For those wanting to stay at my place overnight like we've done before as well as those who live nearby or those who just plain want to, there'll be an after party when we get back, this'll likely involve more drinks, more games but its more geared to those who are staying over. The after party doesn't have an end time but the rule as always is keep the noise down - everyone is pretty well behaved and at some point i'll retire to bed and then do the breakfasts - that's unless Bomjac is coming and I might stay up drinking whiskey with him.
I will make floor space available for 8 people - I don't have next door anymore but Ben might be nice and let me use a bit of space for those people he already knows.
Catering will be provided in a buffet style as usual at the venue, its strictly BYO booze but we'll provide a fridge and soft drinks too like before.
So nothings really changed except the location and we've even got a bit more flexible.
Please RSVP via the registration form at this link only, the registration system will also let you indicate if you want to come to the pre/after party.
http://www.retrogamesparty.co.uk/openingparty
You can as always bring a +1/+2 with you but just register them on the form or add them later.
Andy and I look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to the new venue.
Floor space:
John Bud
ColinD
Chuckie Egg
Dave_orton_2000
RGP2014-08-25 14:11:03
Warning - long post
Well, its about time some of you are going to be yelling - we've been waiting for this since February - you promised it in June and you're now talking about August????
Ok, are you done yelling? Are you ready to forgive and hear an explanation???
I've been a bit quiet this last few months. We've covered 4 shows (South Coast Slam, Play Blackpool, North East Retro Gaming and London Film And Comic Con) and finished a building project.
I've done a few repairs and tried to join in as much as possible but its outside influences that have delayed things.
At exactly the right time in my work life but exactly the wrong time in this process I got offered a second contract job. Most of you in IT outsourcing know the deal - its reasonably easy to get a 5-day a week job but you can literally get sent anywhere. I've never gone in for those much so i've been working 2-3 days a week for the last god knows how long for a company which meant I had a bit of spare time. I was devoting this to the arcade project. However, sometimes you get a call from a friend and you owe a favour and you can't say no so i've been on a 6 day week since end of March across two companies, one in Trafford Park area which means a 2 hour commute each day fighting against a bus/train schedule that just doesn't work - you can imagine how little energy I have to fix things on those nights after not getting home until after 7:30 and leaving before 7am.
That aside, there was a more sinister reason we didn't go through with the June party - the place looked sh*te! I mean, ok, it was a built room with ceilings and a carpet and walls and everything but that ambience that i'd created at my place just wasn't there and one of things i've had so much great feedback about has been the environment, its not just some room with a bunch of old arcade machines in it. I'd managed to capture a little of that feeling of being in the arcades - minus the stale chip oil, cigarette smoke and bingo caller of course.
The place just wasn't ready. Sure we could turn on machines but there was only the ceiling lights we'd put in to do servicing, no music, no mood. So I hope you'll forgive us for delaying the opening.
We're still a little way from completion but all the key elements needed have been done and we can finish the last bits well in time.
Anyway, cut the "Our Tune" music now, you're thinking "but didn't you team up with Andy etc to get things done better and quicker" - yes but we both have other businesses outside the arcade so its still a secondary thing and contrary to the recurring comment "but you're a business now" we're actually not that profit centric so as long as we cover costs we're happy to have a massive play room for our toys. I've been asked a few times how can we possibly make this work by a few bean counter types - very politely i've explained that we can and we will and unless you're an employee that's our business thank you.
And on that subject, there's a number of whispers going around and people getting the wrong ideas etc. So i'll take a few moments to do some housekeeping..
1) There is only myself and Andy involved in this endeavour at the key staff level.
2) A bone-fide business was created to allow us to protect our own assets (the machines) from the complexities of having a business unit and paying business rates etc - we're structured in the right way.
3) No, "XXXXXXX" is not a business partner of ours and is calling the shots etc. We have formed agreements with a few members to house a few of their machines, each deal is unique and between us and them, some involve doing some restoration work, some repairs (which are likely to go out to the known repairers to ensure a top job).
4) There is no internal count, brashness or chest-beating of who owns what or brought what or had how many of what to this, I own about 60 games - some of which are just shells i'd picked up for a rainy day project, Andy had bought a fair few more than that, we've been generously loaned a few that we didn't have and we took in a large number from Replay Events to ease their storage burden and get some of them going again so that they can be used at shows, by ourselves and enjoyed by visitors.
There's a few other things but we'll leave it there for now, that takes care of the main rumours.
I'd like to invite anyone who has any questions about what's going on or who or blah de blah to just simply ask, i've been called a lot of things in my time but unapproachable isn't one of them.
You, the community, we class as our close friends and we want to be as open as possible.
Moving on........
Anyway, if you're still awake by this point then you're obviously following along and so I can get to one of my promises in our announcement video - the community parties.
On Saturday 30th August I invite as many forum members that can make it to come to our opening party.
The location isn't a huge secret but not for public posting so as with all the previous parties, directions will only be sent out to those who are registered as guests in the week just before.
For planning purposes use BB4 as a destination postcode, if you're looking for somewhere to stay over etc and want to find hotels, see our FAQ on the website for a few suggestions, you can use BB2 or BB4 as areas.
The itinerary.....
The main event will run from 7:00pm until either 12:00am or 1:00am depending on numbers, noise leakage etc, you are our crash test dummies for this new building - don't worry its passed construction inspection. What we mean is it'll be the first time it'll have been full of people since building and housing the machines. A lot of people generally leave by about 11:30 anyway so if it does thin out there'll be less "voice leakage" which is the harder to contain and we can stay a bit later on the games.
I've learned from other events that a lot of you like to make a full day of it and arrive quite early so i'm catering for this with a pre-party at my place. I'll have about 15 machines you can play on for the afternoon as well as sit and have a chat and a drink.
The pre-party is for anyone who wants to come a little early and then either help get a few people there and back with some car sharing or we can use a minibus to get over - cost will be shared between the people on the bus.
For those wanting to stay at my place overnight like we've done before as well as those who live nearby or those who just plain want to, there'll be an after party when we get back, this'll likely involve more drinks, more games but its more geared to those who are staying over. The after party doesn't have an end time but the rule as always is keep the noise down - everyone is pretty well behaved and at some point i'll retire to bed and then do the breakfasts - that's unless Bomjac is coming and I might stay up drinking whiskey with him.
I will make floor space available for 8 people - I don't have next door anymore but Ben might be nice and let me use a bit of space for those people he already knows.
Catering will be provided in a buffet style as usual at the venue, its strictly BYO booze but we'll provide a fridge and soft drinks too like before.
So nothings really changed except the location and we've even got a bit more flexible.
Please RSVP via the registration form at this link only, the registration system will also let you indicate if you want to come to the pre/after party.
http://www.retrogamesparty.co.uk/openingparty
You can as always bring a +1/+2 with you but just register them on the form or add them later.
Andy and I look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to the new venue.
Floor space:
John Bud
ColinD
Chuckie Egg
Dave_orton_2000
RGP2014-08-25 14:11:03
