Pinball abstenence

[Judge Dreads]

I am currently having the longest on-going break from playing pinball since I got into the hobby, probably played less than an hour in 6 months, mainly due to other commitments and a general loss of desire....... am I cured ? is this normal? am I the only person to ever manage 6 months whilst being surrounded by a handful of top titles?

To cap it off I still don't have any real urge to spend any time trying to get a decent score, should I be seeking counselling? is it serious?

 

[OrochiLeona]

Nah, didnt we talk about this before? It's just a phase, maybe even an extended one, but we all fall in and out of love with hobbies and interests, sometimes even for years. We all get burnout from time to time, from jobs, friends, pastimes, family etc. There isn't always a science to it either, it just changes like the seasons and depends on things financially, psychologically or just "what's going on in your life"
It's rarely the fault of the actual target of the burnout itself.

Just take a break and concentrate more on other stuff, different hobbies and the like, it'll come when it's ready.

Some people live and breath one particular "thing", that's their prerogative and of course there's nothing wrong with that, whereas others sometimes have to dip in and out from time to time.

Just be wary of snapping and selling all your machines though, who knows what price they'll be when you find your flow again.


In fact, Maybe you should send them to me for safe keeping

 

[Replay]

Depend! Peaks n troughs and that kind of stuff.

Also, some of us get as much buzz chasing down the pins and when we get them, are already looking for the next buzz. Ticked that box a fair few times. One cure is to get into really rare games as you will never find them all

 

[johnwhitfield]

Let's try a scientific experiment. Flog me all your top titles at rock bottom prices and if you don't miss them then you're cured

1 hour in 6th months is pretty serious. Even in my down phases I'd probably play at least once a fortnight.

 

[Judge Dreads]

Yup, it's been on the downward trend for probably a year with regards to actual playtime, I appreciate that it's a little different for me as it's also my occupation so every day is pinball one way or another but it seems like a long rain check, I have no urge to part with my machines so there is little chance of that happening but have no desire to acquire the ones I have been hunting down for so many years either, maybe that is the clincher right there, that is also to do with space issues and other commitments, basically if your heads not in it then it seems mad to add to your collection, it will be interesting to see if it flips some time soon

 

[Sgt GrizZ]

Sometimes you need to approach the hobby from a fresh angle to get things going again .......maybe playing different era games, hanging out with some different pinheads, or sometimes visiting a pin show/event can kickstart things again.

I often find my mojo for pin drops a bit during the summer months - I tend to want to be out and about when possible rather than stuck in the Shack. Good example - 3 weeks ago I started pulling Robocop playfield apart, got as far as most of the plastics off with all the best intentions ...then just downed tools thinking oh I just cant be bothered... and haven't had any urge to continue on it I will tho, just no point forcing it if you aren't feeling the vibe.

 

[Judge Dreads]

Dropping tools mid job is a no no on any project, got a half restored classic bike in storage which suffered the same fate in 2007, I have moved on now so that may never get rebuilt which is a shame, pinballs can easily fall into the same trap as they are so comprehensive esp if you are half way through a playfield swap , I am in the middle of a house renovation, top to bottom, had been empty for 17 years so you can imagine the task as it was gutted back to a shell (bored of plastering, plumbing and the whole renovation process but I can't stop otherwise it will suffer the same fate), this coupled with running my business has left very little time for life itself let alone fun time and finally flipping that silver ball, maybe the moral is "never bite off more than you can chew otherwise all work and no play etc"

Hopefully when I come out the other side I will regain my mojo and be able to post an average score on here

 

[Carl Spiby]

Paging Dr Dude...

 

[replicas]

Sounds like you have more on than you can cope with, the house renovation alone is a full time job.
Put the pinball on the back burner and concentrate on whats important,. Get that out of the way first and get yourself stright.
You will get the pinball flame again, it just need a rest while you get the more important things out of the way.
This doesn't not mean you can ignore us. Keep on posting and letting us know how its hanging, Pinball love and all that stuff.
Take it easy big man and make me up a wolf mod for the BS Dracula number 4 I have just acquired.
D.

 

[RudeDogg1]

If you need to donate any of your unloved machines I can squeeze in one more ;0)

 

[Judge Dreads]

Great call Daz, much appreciated.