Only a few more left, eh.
(Topic ID: 92436)
Linked Games
Alice in Wonderland
Gottlieb, 1948-
Houdini
American Pinball, 2017
-
Magic Girl
Zidware Pinball USA, 2017
-
Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland
Zidware Pinball USA, 2012
Topic Gallery
Quoted from benheck:I still can't believe John made a ripoff website of my Bible Adventures game.
Well, looks like we have the next theme after you're done with AMH code updates and such!
Rally the investors!
Quoted from benheck:I still can't believe John made a ripoff website of my Bible Adventures game.
Concord, NC
Toronto, ON
Quoted from Rarehero:Hold on now - I didn't say I'd sell out. I said I wouldn't buy any more NEW games. Honestly, I'm sorta there anyway - as I won't buy new Sterns at launch anymore & have no interest in the Hobbit. I'll still be happy with my cheapo games of yesteryear. However, if TBL got boned somehow...I'm just done with new games forever. All companies making new pinball will lose me as a customer....sorry.
I think youll be done with new games forever. Hope im wrong though.
Quoted from slapshot:@yeti-
Can you tell us how much the costs for your artwork is to date for each of these games and what you have been paid so far? Also were you paid for artwork on the KISS machine or any other games?
How about any other stuff like his website and other things?
NOOOOO! I had NOTHING to do with the website!
As for the rest - I can't disclose at the moment - but according to what one person told me I was allegedly making per machine/art/concept I made a fraction of that number. But keep in mind i came in THINKING it was unfunded and a shoestring budget - so i was fine with it.
I did get a bit for KISS - but literally the sketches to ink to color was a rush. I did the playfield, ink & color in about 2 days. So it was minimal (again, thinking I was pitching in to help the cause)
My biggest weakness is I work too fast... followed by being far too trusting 
Quoted from benheck:I still can't believe John made a ripoff website of my Bible Adventures game.
Unbelievable!
Quoted from benheck:I still can't believe John made a ripoff website of my Bible Adventures game.
Wow - had no idea!? I recall a conversation with him asking me if I could draw Biblical characters and him posing the concept. I say 'F!@# YES!!!' And never heard more...
Ice should put John Popadiuk in the thread title (along with the full names of the pinball machines). It will help with getting it indexed by the search engines.
Quoted from zombieyeti:I've talked with a LOT of folks since this bomb dropped on me over the last few weeks. (months?)
I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for all i've talked to and would not blink twice if an opportunity arose.
Obviously I'm waiting for the dust to settle on this situation first. But everyone who's approached me have been amazingly supportive and I never close doors
So I guess what i'm trying to say is that it's too soon to announce I'll be working Spooky on a magic themed pin called 'Prestidigitation Gal : BELIEVE!' * coming Late 2045!! Stay tuned!!
*... that is a joke, btw
Hahahahahahaha!
Well good! I think if there's something phoenix-esque to come out of this smoldering pile of Zidware, it would definitely be seeing the art (or the artist) on a machine that may actually make it to production!
Honestly, I think so many people were just sold on the art alone (it definitely wasn't the code or the backbox hinges).
Quoted from StevenP:He does have a lot to show for it. I'm not being an apologist for how everything was handled, but just trying to clarify some misperceptions. There are 2 virtually complete games designed, production-quality parts and all. One should be revealed very soon, if what I've been told is correct. Just because he hasn't shown it (for whatever reason!) doesn't mean there's nothing to show. Anybody who has visited his workshop knows this. And I can't imagine somebody would try to step in to get the games done if they were just in early stages of development.
We've been told this many times, but then his own letter yesterday said TWO YEARS was needed to finish the first "virtually complete" game with "production-quality parts and all".
and of course FOUR YEARS for the other "virtually complete" game.
Something doesn't add up.
Quoted from zombieyeti:Wow - had no idea!? I recall a conversation with him asking me if I could draw Biblical characters and him posing the concept. I say 'F!@# YES!!!' And never heard more...
Benheck & zombieyeti need to do a Bible Adventures collaboration. 
Thank you to the late and great Frank Zappa. It just seemed to fit... I hope Frank can forgive me.
(My apology if this song is not "family friendly")
"The Illinois Enema Bandit"
"this is a true story
About a famous criminal
From right around Chicago
This is the story of John Popadiuk
A man who's serving time at this very moment
For the crime of pinball deposit robbery
It so happened, that at the time of the robbery
John, decided to give his pinball victims
A little enema
Apparently, there was no law against that
But his name lives on
John Popadiuk
The Illinois enema bandit!"
The Illinois enema bandit
I heard he's on the loose
I heard he's on the loose
Lord, the pitiful screams
Of all them college-educated pinball players...
Boy, he'd just be tyin' 'em up
(they'd be all bound down!)
Just be pumpin' every one of 'em up with all the bag fulla
The Illinois enema bandit juice
He just be pumpin' every one of 'em up with all the bag
Fulla' the Illinois enema bandit juice
He just be pumpin' every one of 'em up with all the bag
Fulla' the Illinois enema bandit juice
He just be pumpin' every one of 'em up with all the bag
Fulla' the Illinois enema bandit juice
The Illinois enema bandit
I heard it on the news
I heard it on the news
Bloomington Illinois...he has caused some alarm
Just sneakin' around there
From farm to farm
Got a rubberized bag
And a hose on his arm
Lookin' for some rustic co-ed rump
That he just might wanna pump
Lookin' for some rustic co-ed rump
That he just might wanna pump
Lookin' for some rustic co-ed rump
That he just might wanna pump
The Illinois enema bandit
One day he'll have to pay
One day he'll have to pay
The police will say, "you're under arrest!"
And the judge would have him for a special guest
The D.A. will order a secret test
And stuff his pudgy little thumbs in the side of his vest
Then they'll put out a call for the jury folks
And the judge would say, "no poo-poo jokes!"
Then they'll drag in the bandit for all to see,
Sayin' "don't nobody have no sympathy...
Hot soap water in the first degree!"
And then the bandit might say, "why is everybody looking' at me? "
Well did you cause this misery?
Well did you cause this kinda misery?
Well did you cause this misery?
Now, one girl shout: "let the bandit be!"
Bandit are you guilty?
Bandit are you guilty? tell me now, what's
Your plea?
Another girl shout: "let the fiend go free!"
Are you guilty? bandit, did you do these deeds?
The bandit say, "it must be just what they all needs..."
"it must be just what they all needs..."
"it must be just what they all needs..."
"it must be just what they all needs..."
"it must be just what they all needs..."
"it must be just what they all needs..."
Etc. repeat
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna enema
Enema
Repeat...
Thank you Frank.
Frank Zappa - "The Illinois Enema Bandit"
Quoted from frolic:We've been told this many times, but then his own letter yesterday said TWO YEARS was needed to finish the first "virtually complete" game with "production-quality parts and all".
and of course FOUR YEARS for the other "virtually complete" game.
Something doesn't add up.
This thread has been a growing list of vendors that have not been paid or been paid very little. Some folks have been donating their time and effort as well. Where did all the money go? Seriously.
Quoted from slapshot:This thread has been a growing list of vendors that have not been paid or been paid very little. Some folks have been donating their time and effort as well. Where did all the money go? Seriously.
I bet the bulk of it went into expensive machinery. You can spend a lot on those kinds of toys. CNC etc.
Let the
Quoted from slapshot:This thread has been a growing list of vendors that have not been paid or been paid very little. Some folks have been donating their time and effort as well. Where did all the money go? Seriously.
I wish I could drain the garbage of all of it
What a disgusting display all the way around
It's the absolute worst part of pinball
Makes me sick
Quoted from slapshot:This thread has been a growing list of vendors that have not been paid or been paid very little. Some folks have been donating their time and effort as well. Where did all the money go? Seriously.
It went down the F ing tubes unfortunately
John is garbage
Quoted from benheck:I don't think you could sell 200 units of "Elvira and the Muppets Fight Jaws" with Iron Maiden soundtrack at 16k, let alone this tainted mess.
In for the LE!
Haha...I had forgotten about that odd JPop link! 
NOTE: I'm not bashing on anyone's religion or even lack thereof. FWIW, I'm a Christian, but come on! A Bible/Creation Pinball is a terrible idea for a pin. That an obviously joke pinball idea by Ben Heck might have been "borrowed" by JPop with what seems like intentions to make it actually happen????? Wow, just WOW!
Quoted from benheck:"Elvira and the Muppets Fight Jaws" with Iron Maiden soundtrack
Quoted from benheck:I don't think you could sell 200 units of "Elvira and the Muppets Fight Jaws" with Iron Maiden soundtrack at 16k, let alone this tainted mess.
I think that is what the underestimation may be here
No better option than who is trying to pull it off
But 16k for any pin? How is that gonna work?
I think it's a great effort to salvage but it might be over. Sorry guys
Quoted from benheck:I don't think you could sell 200 units of "Elvira and the Muppets Fight Jaws" with Iron Maiden soundtrack at 16k, let alone this tainted mess.
Does it have an LCD?!!
Quoted from toyotaboy:Holy jesus that sounds awesome, where do I send my pre-payment?
Zidware
Quoted from iceman44:now we know It's over for John. He's done. This guy is the last resort
This is funny, but it was actually over two years ago and JOHN HAS BEEN LYING TO EVERYONE for the past two years. Most third graders could spearhead this project better than JPop. They would know that if you plan to collect half the money on three projects and also expect it to cost the balance of monies to actually manufacture the pins, then all three pins would need to be fully designed before the deposit money was spent. Instead the money is gone and no pin is anywhere close to being production ready. Are we to believe John woke up one day recently, only to discover there was nothing left in the bank? This is BS, pure and simple. Two years ago John may have had half a million dollars left and he knew almost no progress had been made on any of the three pins. He was in trouble and had no way for this to end satisfactory. But instead of fessing up, he started lying to investors. Note - he had been lying to vendors for the first two years - almost from the start. Contracting for their products and services and then not paying invoices. Remember this is back when he had all the deposits.
Blah. blah, blah ... there were delays, patents had to be filed, games were almost done and would be revealed soon. Sh*t flew out of his mouth fast and furiously every time his lips moved. I am sorry but regardless of the deal being offered, this roast is done. Put a fork in it. Under this plan, John is still involved (because he has to complete design of MG as it is maybe 50% done and will require another few years). The other projects are probably about 10% done. Remember the example above using 3rd graders as the project manager, where all pins needed to be designed before the deposits ran out, well money is gone and pins are nowhere to be found. So you would have to be crazy to stay in a project that John is still involved with and in which you are dependent on John to "design real games now". Sheesh, John, you are a P.O.S..
Not knowing identity of "investor" (I don't care who it is, if pin is not designed, it cannot be built), this person better have a lot of specific pinball manufacturing experience, otherwise they are not qualified. Think about all the recent examples of manufacturing delays from people building first time pins. Furthermore, we have heard from ZombiYeti that he hasn't even been approached about signing onto the project. What the hell? His work is the only part of this sham that needed to be locked in before anyone considers moving forward.
So to anyone saying the choices they are being given now are horrible, you are right. You should have been given some choices two years ago. Instead John lied to you, again, again, again, again, again and again. That is inexcusable.
Quoted from iceman44:I think that is what the underestimation may be here
No better option than who is trying to pull it off
But 16k for any pin? How is that gonna work?
I think it's a great effort to salvage but it might be over. Sorry guys
Sorry, over estimation
Like I told John several times. You better worry about the time that comes and nobody gives a shit
That time is here
He has F ed this thing up beyond belief
Oh JPOP ... I'll never forget the pitch from his expo seminar this year:
"The custom nature of this limited run means I can work directly with the customer. For example, I can draw your dog and put your dog on the game"
Quoted from iceman44:Can we get all the pile on dicks to weigh in now?
Thank you for what we already know
someone call me ?
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