Okay guys, pay very attention to this quote because it's the most revealing. Ben Heck was very important at Zidware, so for him to even state that to someone is quite astonishing.

You guys are literally on Mr. Bones Wild Ride... I am so sorry

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Pinball Gremlins will be released before one of JPOP's title..

Whoah Hunchback slow down. You're way off.

If anything I was a "license", a name attached to a game. We hashed out some ideas, but it was 99% John and now he's going in a different direction which is fine by me. So I'm the dark as much as anyone else.

It has been a while and people are understandably curious as to what's going on. I have the same concerns about Predator and the industry in general. Money is tied up for years, instead of buying a game, growing tired of it, flipping it and uses the funds for something else.

Problem is you tinker too long and something like TBL might arrive and blow you out of the water.

And really, TBL was not announced a year ago at 2013 Expo... it was only hinted at with the mystery countdown... the actual announcement came at the end of December 2013. So it's only been 9.5 months since official announcement of TBL.

Unfortunately it's starting to look like vaporware with every passing day.

This is the first I heard this and JPOP sounds pathetic. I don't give a damn how skilled he is, if it was my cash he'd be makin with the explanation, whether he's butt hurt or not.

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You "owners" had better hope he's not suffering depression. This is the kind of thing that can really send someone over the cliff. For all we know, he's drawing and throwing away a hundred sketches a day:

All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.

@ Ben

It's good you're here to clear things up a bit. But what about the following quote?

We can all agree that things have slowed down, so that quote got me thinking that you were helping John with the technical aspects. Not in a million years would I have thought that you were the kind of celebrity that gets his image licensed.

Super helpful thanks guys

Yea, it is challenging to avoid flame fanning. Everyone wants to comment and provide advice and say what they would do in y'all's situation, which is not really addressing the issue.

Obviously, those suggesting legal recourse of some kind may not have fully evaluated the likelihood that JPop enjoys limited liability through his entity he formed (at least I assume he formed an LLC if he took the time to have NDAs crafted). You guys are in a delicate spot, you want answers and to see progress but your concerned he may walk on the project if pressed on points. I get it and I hope JPop addresses the concerns for everyone and handles the questions in a professional manner.

Huh?

What does the above have to do with anything in terms of a lawsuit? Just because it's a LLC means what? The LLC (Zidware) would be liable. Not JPop personally. So?

What am I missing here?

your missing nothing as long as Zidware has the assets left in the company to pay out the creditors. I'm not sure with US law but up here it would be on a pro rata basis.

If John hides everything, we try to fill the blanks ourselves. There's just no clarity here.

And this is a public forum, and we should all voice an opinion about this scandal. If you feel I'm being hyperbolic, just wait and see. You haven't seen anything yet. I've witnessed many companies going under over the years, the victims (the employees) would work without pay and give excuses. Some would voice concerns only to be met with "just wait and see", naively believing that the brick wall will show itself gradually. It might start that way, but it doesn't even ramp up, it hits you instantly with a bankruptcy statement.

Zidware is showing all the signs. The more people ask for answers, the more silent the boss is when he should instead do the opposite. This is a man who has been badgered by many clients for months and he still had the temerity to bring empty cabs.

Whatever answer you're all waiting for from John, it won't be satisfying. He'll be kicking the can down the road for as long as he can because he himself is in denial. Then reality sets in with that brick wall: no more money

I really hope I'm wrong here. But my cynicism comes from experience in the entertainment industry, where artistic leaning people sometimes call the shots, with the same predictable results.

For the lawyers:

What is the statute of limitations on a personal or class action lawsuit?

It's past three and going on four years now.

_{Post edited by Magic_Mike: Homonyms}

You mean "statute", not "statue".

I am truly ashamed to be a member of Pinside when I see what is happening here.

This is Pinside at its worst!

This is a lynch mob and all you naysayers are just fanning the flames and stroking your own egos. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I thought Pinside's mission was too help Pinball. Since when does a lynch mob or a court order do anything positive in order to get pinball machines made?

There are many of us that still believe in Jpop. We all knew the risks when we signed up Jpop pins but we believed that the potential rewards outweigh the risks. Some of us are willing to take those risks. If that has changed, then sell your position at what the market will bear.

If you are not a risk taker, then crawl back under that rock you crawled out from and leave Jpop alone. Stop fanning the flames.

I am not the only one who believes in Jpop and feels disgust with Pinside and the members in this thread.

Sincerely,

Tom

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome

"Stockholm syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with them."

I'm not saying that some people havnt taken it a little too far here, but there's people who want out of the project and can't sell there spots cause of the situation jpop has put them in. If anything this is the problem that's been brought to others attention. I don't think saying things like he has depression, or stuff is appropriate cause its not. He has a nada, the buyers can't talk about there games, they can't get refunds, and its been three years where they still haven't seen a fully working game. I'm sure it is a mostly working game, he's got 3-6 populated mg. they should just be not be afraid to get info from him. Hope it works out for them all I'm looking forward to playing them when they ship.

Reposted from JPOP on the blogs

Morning, Up early today getting ready for a busy one at that. This email just came in and amazingly I think I got out a good response to Jim one of my owners at 3am. Reposted here, for no other reason as to repost, as he asked for some status and confidence. The photo above is using the Olloclip to grab Magic Girl as we complete the proto build. We will put in RGBs next week and I have many updates also.

Hi Jim,
The month before expo has been hectic and we have been working very
hard to get as much complete and then do a nice update reveal for owners.
The workshop was laid out nicely in all the areas, as I gave a tour, and people
who could not make it asked for a photo “tour” of sorts in the blogs. I will do this
during the week. Days fly by unfortunately.
People forget that i am doing this only for the community and to make a type of
narrow body pinball that is not being made today. Do I know everything or have
all the answers, absolutely not. Bit I know how to make pinball and that is what
we are all paying for. I had many people who visited, later call to say they will
cancel their Hobbit order (or did cancel) if I can get them a MG.
We did have a much more completed RAZA whitewood for expo, but we did not
take anything as I do not do a booth and I do not show whitewoods other than to
the owners. The MG protos are almost done. That is how I work as I like to show
my best. Taking 2 of the complete Raza cabinets, for my talk, was fine as they are
simply fantastic and spare no expense in detail or quality. These cabinets are far
better than anything we ever made at WMS. This same level of pinball is in the rest
of the design, artwork and play fields.
Obviously I hold my owners in the highest regard, and yes sometimes my words
come out not with the intent I have on the blog. That’s why I work hard and stay quiet, as I am focused on pinball making and not too chatty. I have learned the process is not as important as the final product, which must be solid. Also I can not make “all” owners happy in all what I do or share. It’s impossible as i remind people I am not curing cancer but making a game.
Also any owner can come anytime to visit me and see what are are doing. Our studio
is simply unlike anything else and we are organized and have plenty of room for
building games. As we are now. I have many owners who just “show up” and bang
at the door. No one is ever refused and I hide nothing as I love the feedback.
But I will say we are at a critical part of the journey and I have to work even harder
than I do now and get some hard dates inline. The games I have created are simply
my best work, and I am almost over the hump of blank sheet to complete pinball
platform in the Jpop style. It makes me happy, but unfortunately not everyone. So I
have a lot to prove still.
To make great pinball it takes a lot of hours. 7 days a week. I am always at the shop
as details abound. And actually the more I get “put to the fire” from owners the harder I want to work and not let anyone down. This is my 33rd year in pinball after starting at Bally in 1981, and creating Zidware, named after my kids, and making these custom games have been the hardest thing I have done and most rewarding. Both games MG and RAZA are stunning and full of innovation.
Also (sorry to ramble) this has definitely taken a lot longer then I ever planned, but
i did not know what I did not know, and can’t go back. The first year of starting
actually was planning and not really accomplishing much. So most of the work now
was done in the last 1.5-2 years which I am amazed at.
But there is much to do in the months ahead as I have to keep people onboard and
still wanting to support my work. The “Labowski” effect worked and I have to do the
same level of reveal. My team is simply great as a mix of new young artists and
designers, along with many industry vets like Rob Berry and Dave Zabriskie who
are doing music and sounds. I purposely keep that part quiet so they are not lured
away as I have spent the last 2 years directing them for my new pinball style. Pinball
unfortunately is a “cut-throat” business for those behind the curtain. I have been
threatened, stolen from and otherwise been hindered at many junctures from others
in the business. My lawyer and I are amazed. We have 4 beautiful patents to cover
new pinball lighting, cabinet design and interactive lcd play.
Magic Girl art (Raza too) is just not like anything ever. Very beautiful and detailed. I
went around expo and looked at my “competition” in boutique and was not impressed at all at any of it. Labowski was the only great game there.
I am pretty beat so this week was catch up week, do some nice updates, and we did
have 45 or so visitors to the studio which I was at much more than expo. The Big
Labowski showed us all a lot as people like to see this level of “reveal” as early as
possible, even though the game was basically functioning and has minimal code. And
yes I always ask folks to call anytime to talk about these projects.
It is early here 3am, I have a busy day ahead and much planning and photography to
do. Will call you today at some time and i always ask people if they want to get more
involved in helping me grow and sustain the business to get involved. You are more than welcome to repost to Pinside as this is where we are.
Jpop

Nice, maybe that will help the guys selling there spots to move them easier

He explained himself very well. I hope the best for everyone involved.

The following quote was very honest of him:

"Also (sorry to ramble) this has definitely taken a lot longer then I ever planned, but i did not know what I did not know, and can’t go back. The first year of starting actually was planning and not really accomplishing much. So most of the work now was done in the last 1.5-2 years which I am amazed at."

What took so long for him to write this? I guess his competitors are such sharks that they got him all paranoid.

Pinball unfortunately is a “cut-throat” business for those behind the curtain. I have been threatened, stolen from and otherwise been hindered at many junctures from others in the business. My lawyer and I are amazed.

Stern.

I just posted this to his blog:

Thanks for the updates, John. I do want to keep insisting for some answers to questions asked including an updated time line for the project. I appreciate your heart felt post, but I still have no idea what YEAR i might expect the game.

I’m sure I can speak for all of us when I say we all know you have the best of intentions, the quality of the work is beyond debate, but the transparency has been poor and questions have gone unanswered, and still are.

Not trying to be a ball buster. Just want some straight answers to some straight questions. Thanks.

Magic girl looks great!

Bingo!

Yes, it's going to be beautiful. People will be lining up for the extra games if he showed it. I'm sure

On a different related note:
You know the worst experience I had with my WOZ order from JJP?

It was him telling me you’ll have your game by the end of the summer 2012, summer goes by, winter goes too. In the spring time 2013 I ask Jack, in person again, when is the game shipping? He answers end of summer. Summer comes and goes, winter as well. Spring time 2014 comes again I ask Jen this time she tells me next couple of months. I sell my game and Im leary of JJP. Im a patient person but I don’t like being brushed off with deadlines that are made up.

I’m glad JPOP respects us not to BS us.

Dates are nice but if they can’t realistically be meet why make them?

Ok, so you want to return to the status quo and wait patiently till he tells us it's done. Got it.

I believe you predicted 2016 or even 2017, and that was after you visited his shop this week. If that is the situation, then we should be told that.

To keep you in, obviously.

Why couldnt they show magic girl at expo?

Those dates weren't set by him, just my guess from what I saw.

I'm not trying to challenge you but merely saying what i didn't like about missed deadlines.

ironically thats why i sold WOZ pre-delivery

Likewise, Jan 2012.

Thanks PDX! seeing that shot of MG and knowing now that it is near completion puts me at ease.
When MG is revealed to the pin world John won't have to say anything, the game will do the talking!
Good chatting with you yesterday thanks very much for bringing info back from JPOP, MG and RAZA owners owe you a big thanks for being our eyes and ears.

The 'look' of it has never been in question. John makes pretty stuff, sure. But one might ask why is it this goofy fisheye shot instead of a clear view of the entire thing?

I am nothing if not patient, I have quite sufficient number of games to tide me over. So it's not really that I am mad that it may take 5-6 years (if you count from announcement to delivery if you figure it may take several months after it's done to build all the games).

My issue has been that John had said something like this is our timetable delivery of games 2013-14 ish. Now it's getting on to 2015 and we are still in the artsy fartsy semi reveal stage. It's as if we are in the starting blocks when I see TBL or AMH going from zero to finished in 18-20 months. (I understand TBL may have been started a while before announcement). But the fact remains that it's entirely possible to design and build a prototype in less than 20 months. And John has been at it for going on 40 months for MG.

I understand more than people on the outside, that John is not simply trying to build a playable pinball game, he could have made a typical game like AMH (I don't mean any disrespect) but I've played AMH and it's very nice, but to me it's similar to other games with typical cabinet and parts.

John seems to want to make the nee plus ultra of pins, like Rolls Royce makes other cars seem ordinary. John is looking at the PF supports and making them works of art, he's looking at every little detail and saying how can we improve on this?

But as time piles on time, someone has to say enough already no one really cares what the PF supports look like or the back of the cabinet or a hundred other things, when we see TBL or AMH or MMR and say ask do I want to wait for another 1-3 years or do I want to play some pinball?

Hopefully, John will see the light (I mean TBL and AMH and Wooly) and gets moving as he likes to say he's working 7 days a week, but with all that time after 30-40 months of 7 days a week, I expect to see something sooner rather than later.

Believe me, I don't expect this to happen in a short time, we have seen with WoZ and Predator and Nemo that things take longer than we expect, maybe take a time you expect and double it. But time has past and we'd like to see more progress than art scetches and bumper caps and hinges.

Cause that's John still controlling and hiding his work from the masses. Is what it is not going to change

Or the ramps still aren't done.

U can see the ends of the ramps in the picture.. He's just controlling hiding the main new designed toys and what not.

Insolvency and collectibility. A judgment would only be as strong as the financial feasibility of the company. Not having JPop personally on the line means he could walk away easier.

I'm certainly not saying the above is applicable or giving anyone legal advice, just observing what the concerns of the interested people may be here.

You can see the glued together ends of the pieced together test ramp, sure.

MG looks great. Too bad he doesn't finish the game and offer it for sale like TBL ( no limits except the number of people who can afford it) and he'd still have a very exclusive (low number) but at least it would have to sell based on merit not based on being ultra rare. Plus people wouldn't have had money tied up forever.

I know that's not what he's doing, but that's the selling method I'd prefer. If it really is beyond all pins as the price suggests than people will pay for it. But making it rare like Kingpin just so that it can sell for a high price seems backwards to me.

So because Jersey Jack blew his deadline on your WOZ, Jpop shouldn't have to take any responsibility for a deadline, so you can have the satisfaction that he has not BS'd you?
Maybe, just maybe I am wrong.. but a timeline and schedule with appropriate communication concerning delays are essential for any project.
Just because Jersey Jack blew a deadline in the past for you, I really don't think your poor experience should set a new standard to how the rest of business in the world should work moving forward.

Better then no ramps I guess... Hopefully he shows the buyers more privately

Looks like he respects what dutch pinball could pull off... Maybe he should think about getting their help.. They're pretty busy though and would require him to give up some control which doesn't seem like he's ready to do.

I'm just saying that's the main reason behind selling my order.
If John told me games done on x day after x day I would probably cancel too.
I've rationalize that and still am comfortable with Zidware...just relying my PERSONAL experience.
I also don't drink alcohol much at all, I'm not advocating that anyone do as I do or think like I think.

Well, to be fair, there was a deadline. It was in the owner's package when I signed up. Q4 2013 for RAZA. Actually John re-affirmed that deadline when my wife visited his studio spring 2013.

So we've been "Jersey Jacked" already, but with never having an update again.