About Me

Video games have always been a passion of mine. They transport me back in time, bringing back fantastic memories and experiences with amazing people. I still get lost in their worlds and stories. It all started in 1981 when I received my first game, ‘Grandstand Astro Wars,’ for Christmas. The following year, I pleaded with my parents for months until they finally got me a ZX Spectrum. Now, many years later, I find myself convincing my family to turn our dining room into a video gaming room and install an arcade machine at home. Nothing has changed; I still can’t get enough of video games.

In 2023, I made the decision to buy my very first pinball machine. I had a sudden urge to own one, so I went with my son, Luke, to the Blackpool Expo to try out a few machines. After having a great game on Tron, Luke said, “Dad, you need to get a machine for home.”

After doing a lot of research, we finally decided on Stern’s Godzilla and purchased one New in Box (NIB). I preferred to buy new to have the added security of a warranty. However, I enjoyed playing it so much that within a month, I bought a second machine. I also started working on insulating the garage to accommodate more machines.

A few months later, I found that I enjoyed fixing and modding pinball machines almost as much as playing them. I spent a lot of time reading and watching videos to learn more about them..

I regret that I never held onto my old gaming consoles or games, often giving them away when I upgraded to newer ones. However, as I’ve gotten older and started a family, I’ve developed a desire to revisit some of those classic games and share them with my children. Since 2009, I have been collecting games and consoles from my past as a gamer.

I don’t really care about the condition of the items I find; I always try to fix, modify, and improve them. I prefer to play games just as I did when I first experienced them. In fact, I even learned basic electronics to repair a CRT screen—discharging an arcade monitor was a daunting experience the first time!

Whenever possible, I connect my machines to newer media to load the software. This approach allows me to enjoy the games on the original hardware while avoiding the issues associated with deteriorating media and the need for convenient storage. For example, I attach an IDE interface to a ZX Spectrum and use an SD memory card with an Atari 2600.

I dedicate my time to a mix of current-generation, retro, and arcade gaming, as well as the thrill of pinball. I’m inspired by the rich history of both gaming and pinball, the remarkable individuals behind these treasures, and the dynamic industry as a whole. I started this blog to document my collection and share my passion for video gaming and pinball, so that one day my kids will have proof of what I put them through. :-)