19 replies to this topic

[Bencrest]

Well, except emulating older machines.

I just can't be bothered with new machines, and as such I am selling the machines I currently own.

I've done well in not playing a machine for a good month or so after my last 'lapse', but tonight I decided to play a Jackpot Genie by Red Gaming. £60 through in about 15 mins, and 0% enjoyment - so I've decided not to in any way be connected to modern machines, and if that means getting rid of the ones I own, then so be it. It worked when I quit smoking (another f*****g stupid habit, which I'm glad I stopped in mid August 2005 and haven't looked back since).

I have a Monty Pythons Flying Circus (switchable £5/£25, decals supplied, Barcrest MPU5), and a Crazy Fruits Club (switchable £75/5p, £100/10p £100/£250 dual stake, and probably a couple of bits in between).

I'm looking for as close as possible to £100 for the Monty Python, and as close as possible to £150 for the Crazy Fruits, but will accept sensible offers. Note that these are for collection only, but you can see them working, and I'm more than happy to spend 10 minutes say showing you the basics (quick overview of components, how to refill, change volume, that kind of thing) before you take one away.

I live in Spalding, Lincolnshire. If you want to run a postcode check I live on PE113HY.

[DaemonX]

Good luck Ben, I don't know how many times I've said this......

usually after a losing streak, and todays machines have no gameplay.

However, the addiction is there and it's hard to keep away.... what else is there to play? The only other option is to go somewhere sea side based that have the old classics set at -100% payout 5p play lol

Hope you stick to this mate, emulation is much more fun.

Whats helped me is getting a job out of the city centre, therefore I have to physically travel to the arcade to play the machines, it's not something I could pop into on the way home or at lunch anymore.

[fistandantilus]

Its not as hard as you may think to quit. You just have to have the desire to stop, its not like something such as nicotine or heroin were you develope a chemical dependancy. Just thinking you should stop is not enough, you have to want to stop.

Easiest way I found and I haven't slotted in 8 years is to find a new interest to spend your money on and keep you occupied. Gradually upgrade your computer, mountain bike, car, hi-fi, go to football matches, anything to find a more enjoyable outlet for your money. If this outlet provides you with an asset all the better, as you will have something to show for you money.

I did this and after I while I wondered what I ever saw in fruities and now even when I have a load of spare cash feel no desire to play them. I just play the emulators for nostalgia.

The best of luck to you and anyone else who wants to quit

[bigslope]

Good luck mate, if only i had the willpower.
Usually every trip to my local Twilight Zone arcade costs me between £50 - 100 for about 1 - 2 hours play. I usually feel shit when i come out knowing that all that had happened was i killed time for a few hours and was now skint. Hope you stay off them, i might try as well and sell off my Beaver Las Vegas slot.

[robinhood75]

I had a big problem once but now I have got it under control thanks to GAMCARE. It is hard but you just have to think positive and make ya self goals. I wanted to go on holiday so instead of spending the money on fruit machines I put what I would of spent in a pot and after 10 weeks i had the money for a good holiday in Greece. So it can be done ;-)

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[Bencrest]

It's annoying really. I think it was because I hadn't been to a pub for about 2 weeks, and it was the 'I only intend to put a couple of quid in and walk away thing'. Trust the bastard machine to do that £10 with no holds gameplay, and trust me to assume there must be a light at the end of that tunnel

Surprisingly I still feel the same this morning. I still want nothing at all to do with *modern* machines, which means no playing, and to be honest I'm on the brink of giving up going to the pub.

Went back through the thread where I was considering getting another machine (which wound up being Club Crazy Fruits), and found the following posts :

Correct me if i'm wrong Ben,but if you want to save money,why shell out 300 quid and down the line take a loss?.
If you think buying a fruity will stop you playing for real then you are greatly mistaken.
It will just surpress the feeling you have of playing "for real" and in the end you and me know what will happen.

get yourself to GA mate. This road is only gonna make you gamble more. Think about why you've started gambling again? Sort out those problems before wasting your money on a machine which I GAURANTEE you will get bored with in 2 days.

The rest of you - dont encourage him!

... I guess I can give the posters the 'told ya so!' rights now

[Bencrest]

It's awful weather here. Sunny, and quite warm. I love cold weather, and this is the warmest it's been for ages!!

WHERES MY SNOW??!!!

[fistandantilus]

lucky you we have about 3-4 inch on snow here in scarborough, woke up to find it this morning. Been snowing on an off all day so it might be deeper, not checked in the last couple of hours


edit - just had a better look, hard to tell, probably more like 2 inch of snow, but its white everywhere

[jamesb99_1999]

Bizarrely. It was snowing Yesterday and Today is really bright and warm... It wasn't me I don't use deodarant.. Although I guess my car could be responsible.. But the climate has changed massively throughout history so maybe global warming isn't my fault...

Anyway - I am going to book a holiday abroad for start of April so get some nice weather then hopefully if mr greenhouse effect doesn't scupper it..

[fistandantilus]

funny thing about massive climate changes, we've had how many ice ages and I don't think you can blame the dinosaurs for cfc's, heavy industry and gas guzzling cars

I am all for looking after the enviroment but the media doesn't half dramatise everything

[ady]

It's awful weather here. Sunny, and quite warm. I love cold weather, and this is the warmest it's been for ages!!

WHERES MY SNOW??!!!

lol Ben...........still ditto even as a Postie!



I used to have a severe problem with Fruities....wasn't until it cost me (what was to be a wife) a girlfriend, my whole credit status and a few mates.

Week after week I ended up without a penny, thats after working my nut's off with several hours overtime....a mate would call "we're all going out" and I was skint, I might borrow but then on payday I was skint before I started as I had to pay it back. I found i'd chance a gamble rather than pay the bills...this fed my addiction and also gave me a hope of winning Twice as much--pay bill and still have cash--of course that never ever happened.

A few years (but not too many) down the line I find that I am still very skint....but rather than play machines I actually am paying things back....but of course given interest etc this is 100% more than I enjoyed spending, I can see myself being in this position for at least the next 6 years.

I am really really glad that machines created in the past couple of years have got more and more shit...and that temptation was easily weaned off me because of that....

As I said i'm still skint, but I can actually go to a Pub now with the little I would have gambled, buy a Pint and I know that those 2 Pound coins will either sit in my pocket or go into the Pool table.

FME site's in a way acted as a medicine...ok the buzz wasn't the same of course...but the forums really opened my eye's and I realised I wasn't alone. I was in a position to possibly recover, and I dread to think where i'd be today if I hadn't stopped.

The ONLY time I ever play fruitys now is a couple of Quid at Bingo....I can say a Tenner...and a Tenner is all I spend....

I only wish I could turn the clock back a little, not been such an idiot and read FME forums earlier.

[jamesb99_1999]

I see some real addicts at Bingo when I take my mom (and they are all in their 70s) - I rarely spend more than I can afford on them, but to be fair, I know I never win in the long term but still play them. I spent a while when I was at Uni, working every hour under the sun and wasting it on machines (11 years ago now). However I probably play them once a month, sometimes twice now so got it under control.. I say that but there is always that one day where I waste way more than I should.. But as Adybd says the machines they are making nowadays are pretty crappy which makes it a bit easier!!!

Good luck to you Bencrest! You seem like a sound guy so give them up.. I remember what I did when I was at Uni. I went to all the local arcades that I used to use one day and was obnoxiously rude to the staff so I got banned from them all.. It worked!!! Because I never played when I was out drinking I was too busy chatting up women!! he he..

[Gazeyre1966]

I think I've posted before but here goes. Good luck Ben in your attempt. It isn't as hard as you think. Personally I went to counselling. Normally there is an "underlying" reason why people gamble. Mine was to be noticed, to be the "big man" with lots of money. Other reasons include boredom, greed, impressing mates or other people or simply just the buzz you get if you win.

Nowadays I get a better buzz realising how far £100 will go. Think about it. Friday comes, you go out, spend £20 on drink and blow £80 on fruities. That's another 4 nights in the pub.

I do sometimes watch other people play (but am never tempted to play myself). I see their faces as they troop up to the bar to change tenner after tenner only to leave with nothing and the anger is written all over their face...and believe me, other people notice you too.

Go to the pub with mates, play pool, darts or simply chat with them. Hey, it leaves more money in your pouch if you meet that bird of your dreams doesn't it? Give it a try and good luck to all you fruitie addicts. I've been there.

[Wozza]

Ben,

I really hope you can stick it out, we have all been there, yes even I had a fruity addiction.

Well you know your in the best of hands here as we will be your support group. So any temptations get in your way, you better start posting!

And yes I am still alive! I am always snooping around in the background, but you can't get rid of me that easily.

[kingkallum82]

Good on you ben,

There is a cr@ppy jackpot genie near me £25 jp, i put £210 in for one big money board (which was given from a full red board) which only game me £25. I took my £25 and walked out and havent gone back in since.
I seen the land-lady in the tescos near me and she asked why i havent been in for a while, i sed why do you think i havent been in for a while... you changed £210 over the bar without me changing any back before i went.

So that proves that some moddern machines are bent as $%^£.

Stay away from these Red Gaming machines especially.

Kallum

[DildoDez]

Stay away from these Red Gaming machines especially.

The problem with reds is that when they streak, they streak big.

[jeremy6586]

I totally agree that new machines are a total waste of time & money. They have now got too greedy and can guzzle pounds and not 10p's!!!
In my youth, I spent all the time I could playing in the arcades and games room in our local. There used to be 3 machines and people used to queue to play them. Now there's not one!!! doesn't that figure???
Also the arcade near by used to be packed and now on the few occasions I go in there is not more than 5 people in!
To be honest I have lost interest in the new machines and has made me give up my addiction - to greedy, no game play and boreing & expensive.
One thing I am thankful for with my past addiction was that I never drunk or smoked as most of my friends did as I neded all my money to play the machines. So no regrets there.
I think the best machines made were: Strike it rich, Linx (Skillshot), Cash explosion, Hi Lo Silver, Chain Reaction etc BFM. Action Pack, Action Bank & Tik Tak Cash Barcrest & many more in that time. Also more recent Open the Box, Payrise, Pound 4 Pound, Play it Again & Twlight Zone Ace.
If these machines were around I would play them far more than the crap that is around now.

[jay2]

It's annoying really. I think it was because I hadn't been to a pub for about 2 weeks, and it was the 'I only intend to put a couple of quid in and walk away thing'. Trust the bastard machine to do that £10 with no holds gameplay, and trust me to assume there must be a light at the end of that tunnel

Surprisingly I still feel the same this morning. I still want nothing at all to do with *modern* machines, which means no playing, and to be honest I'm on the brink of giving up going to the pub.

Went back through the thread where I was considering getting another machine (which wound up being Club Crazy Fruits), and found the following posts :





... I guess I can give the posters the 'told ya so!' rights now

I hope so Ben.
Some things happen in life that put other things into perspective..
I lost my dad last friday(24th).
Although it was sudden he had been ill for a while,but he was a stubborn sod,all the family tried and tried to get him to see a doctor but to no avail.
He was comfortable where he was,at home with mum and the rest of the family,and i guess that's where he wanted to go.
I wont go into detail the way his life was going in the last few years.
Things happen in our lives that you or me cannot control,BUT other things are.
You are your own destiny,it's up to you as a person if certain moments in your life happen or not,if you want things to change then change em,if not then leave em be.
It's a simple statement yet can be so hard to achieve,so try your best and stick to it.

All the best

Jason