Martin Smeaton’s guest room might look like a throwback to a ’90s arcade, but it’s actually the 40-year-old’s workshop.
Each glowing screen is a classic game from decades past.
Smeaton’s interest began in 2019, when he bought a broken Golden Tee golf arcade game from Craigslist.
“Everything inside was there; it had just been unplugged by someone, I guess,” he said.
“I went online, found some instruction manuals, and figured out how to put it all back together. It came back to life, and that was super exciting.”
The game became the centerpiece of a family Christmas, and the thrill of seeing it work sparked a passion that has grown ever since.
Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, Smeaton’s exposure to arcade games was limited to his trips on BC Ferries.
“There was always the arcades on there and that’s mostly where I got most of my exposure to these games,” he said.
“Now everyone’s just kind of connected online at home. Back then, it was more about going out and seeing your friends and seeing what’s the newest game.”
He said the contrast between his childhood and today’s gaming culture is stark.
Now, Smeaton owns roughly a dozen machines, often rotating them between his house and garage workshop. Some he repairs and keeps; others he sells to fund the hobby.
Currently, he is working on an Asteroids machine for a customer. Smeaton regularly uses a network of online forums, Reddit groups, and communities like The Killer List of Video Games website to troubleshoot the machines.
“It’s almost therapeutic,” he said.
“Tracking down issues keeps my hands busy and my mind sharp. Sometimes the problem can bug me for days, but taking a break and coming back fresh usually works.”
Smeaton balances his hobby with a physically demanding job in construction for the Township of Langley’s water department.
At home, his wife is supportive, though his three children have mostly moved on to modern games like Roblox and Fortnite.
“My youngest still thinks it’s cool,” he said. “Her friends have never seen anything like it.”
He believes the generational gap only adds to the fun of restoring these machines.
For people in or beyond Aldergrove looking to revive their old arcade machines, Smeaton is happy to help.
“If anyone has an old machine sitting in a garage, I’d love to see it brought back to life,” he said.
People can contact Smeaton through his Instagram at Smeatr0n for repair and restoration services.
<!– GCJzOFmFLtJyFweUdQ jE –>