Time to retire ? Replies please

[trickyfruit]

Ok some of you know me, some don't, some have prob met me away from the virtual world...yes I mean in real life. Been playing many a year now, have seem some comings and goings that would make your hair stand on end. May a few posts here and there on various boards, some good, some to make others worry about there little bit of knowledge. Have spoken and mailed others and have made some good contacts, not to mention a few friends.

Anyway to the point ( sort of ), those that do know me, know im a player of certain talents, those that don't , take my word for it.

I have now got to the point where i'm barred from vertually every arcade / outlet near to me (no car, except weekends), so my 'circuit' was limited to public transport and time due to other commitments. And the places i'm still allowed to frequent are either all huanted by so many other players / sharks, or % set by owners so low that it's a real nightmare to make a realistic profit.
I have even been forced into playing Lo-Tech's in the bingo hall's, to subsidise the shortfall. Believe me sitting next to old grannies playing Golden Games and BarX 10's, is enough to send a shiver down anyones spine.

So I ask you this, should I quit before I sink any lower?
Or should I invest in some tartan slippers and a blue rinse and grit my teeth!!!!!
Should I invest in a disguise, as a previous thread suggested?
Answers on a post card please....lol.....

[stew]

Im sure your not the only one who's thinking the exact same question Tricky. The days of genuine skill AWP's have just about become obsolete and we now have to face the fact that just about anyone can show a profit from machines that give frequent feature entries for small wins (which of course keeps the "social player" happy). Manu's have targeted these players as they know small profit + small profit = big profit.
Lo-tec's appeal to just about every casual player which is why they are so popular with the blue rinse brigade. Every once in a while they get a £100+ dump which sends them home happy and ensures their return where they put it all back in (plus more) in the search for a repeat. They have of course, inbetween visits, informed all their friends who then join the bandwagon thinking it could be their turn. Just think, how many times have you seen £150-£200 plus go in an Arena with f**k all in return

You dont mention though if you actually still enjoy playing.....'cos if thats gone too, id probably say the end is nigh

Always found the bingo halls quite profitable myself, many players dont visit them because of the stigma attached to bingo


stewart

[trickyfruit]

I know what you mean Stewart, which is why I posed the question.
It was both a half hearted attempt at humour on my part, but with serious undertones, as you so rightly highlighted in your reply, the demise of any good new A.W.P.'S appearing on the market being just one of them.
And yes before the DnP / Wildfire / Iceberger brigade jump on me, think back they are nowhere near as good as some of there predcessors, oh for hidden features boxes, of a 3x7, how quick can you nudge ? Brings a tear to my eye just thinking about them.
And yes to answer your other question, YES I DO still enjoy playing, alough not half as much as I did, and not half as much again in a years time I expect.

[Slotterman]

Probably a good idea to give it a break,if you can.
I know I have.at first gradually(just after the £25'ers came out) and then rapidly,to the point where I hardly play anything at all now(and I was playing 12 hours a day once).I sometime go two weeks without going near a fruit machine.I'll play the odd Red or Barcrest,but that's it.
I hate LoTechs,so they're easy to avoid.
I was also barred from most of my 'easy' local arcades etc.Another good reason.
But the main thing is that 'playability' has virtually disappeared,so unless you willing to hang around for the next emptier,there really is no point.

The main thing is to find an alternative way to fill your time and/or make a living.
It ain't easy(especially if playing was your main source of income),but it's better than being squeezed by the balls by the fruit machine industry.

[stew]

but it's better than being squeezed by the balls by the fruit machine industry

OUCH !!!

[Topthelot]

Tricky - think you're on the right track.

see new thread for my efforts on this topic