6,589 Members (5,136 with Game Lists) -- 71 Countries
76,092 Machines -- 4,679 Different Games
PHOTO FROM MEMBER OF THE MOMENT: Manea, Gina of Sacramento, California
Visitors can sign-up for free to become a member. If you already have an account on one of our sites (ie: forums.arcade-museum.com), do not create a new one, just log in above after you have read our simple rules below.
First, the acronym: VAPS is the Vintage Arcade Preservation
Society. For the first twenty years of its existance, VAPS stood for the Video Arcade Preservation Society. While we are still referred to by that name, as we have expanded we have realized that a more encompassing 'Vintage' is more accurate.
As an organization, VAPS has been dedicated to serving arcade game collectors since 1990. Traditionally this has meant coin-operated video game collector, though debate is currently underway for
expanding this definition.
The VAPS site strives to reflect that by providing collectors, collectors-to-be and enthusiasts a way to track and save physical pieces of our videogame heritage.
Our member CENSUS is the oldest and leading database of coin-operated machine collector holdings.
Currently, there are VAPS members in more than 70 countries as well as in all 50 U.S. states.
VAPS has moved from its own domain of 14 years to the site of The International Arcade Museum for the mutual benefit of both sites. VAPS members receive extra benefits now, and The International Arcade Museum is able to expand VAPS' offerings to collectors of other amusement machines.
Membership is free -- all we ask is to be loyal to the community and to treat other people as you would want to be treated yourself, and that you keep your membership
profile active and current.
To become a member and remain a member, you must agree
to meet the following requirements:
Use your real name (middle names are unneccesary and not
encouraged - your uniqueness is your electronic mail address) and be honest
and forthright when submitting any membership information.
Maintain a valid electronic mail address, and be regularly reachable
there. Mail will mostly consist of semiannual audit alerts.
Perform self-audits of your collection as requested, semiannually.
Requests may come in the form of multiple mail messages. They are
not spam, and please do not report them as such. If you would like to drop out of VAPS, just contact us and we will remove you.
Own or want (that is easy) at least one working video arcade game that is listed in
The International Arcade Museum or The Killer List of Video Games. (In fact, all games
listed must meet that criterion.) You may list any game that is 100% working, although it is not required to have a cabinet.
You may also list any videogame board sets that can be installed in under 10 minutes, resulting in a 100% working
game. All games and board sets must play just like the original.
Identify where you live. You do not have to enter the city or town that
you live, although this will help other collectors. However, you must list
either your state/province (if in the US or Canada), or your country.
Never initiate an offer to buy another member's games. You are welcome
to respond to another member's offer to sell games, however.
Refrain from contacting any member regarding a visit unless that member
has explictly indicated in their VAPS entry that they are willing to do
so.
Agree that all submitted information will become public knowledge.
So, do you meet the requirements? Are you prepared to abide by them?
Please Keep Your Data Current
Please keep your data current. Even if you have nothing to change, please just hit 'save' on your bio or a game entry at least once every six months.
Please note that if you have not added any games owned or wanted within six months of joining VAPS, we will likely remove you from the VAPS system,
though your email address, password, and username (if applicable) will likely remain in the system for years allowing you to use the rest of the site.
If you are inactive for between between one and three years, we will likely delete all 'want' records associated with your account.
If you are inactive for between three and five years (or more), we will likely eventually delete your entire account.
