Thank you for that...It is apparent to us that there are people on Pinside who do not want Pintasia to succeed. We understand, there are people in every crowd who find comfort in seeing people fail, as they can't be happy with the success of others due to their own situation. These people wish to see that purchasers of Zidware products lose all their money.

Pintasia is owned 100% by William Brandes, also known as Bill Brandes aka wcbrandes on Pinside. Bill is also a fellow Zidware product purchaser. He has done nothing but put out his own cash, time and effort to help all Zidware purchasers and has accomplished the following:

1) Magic Girl prototype - due to Bill's efforts (and the people he is working with), the Magic Girl prototype is being completed and it will be making its way to the Northwest Pinball and Arcade show. Bill flew out to Chicago at his own expense to see for himself the status of the prototype and to find out what was outstanding to get it completed. Unlike the speculation of the naysayers, he is getting this completed NOT to add to his personal collection, but to find out the reality of getting this machine into production so that Zidware customers can get a game in their hands (should they wish to get a MG).
2) Pintasia business plan - As represented, Bill did not pursue this venture due to profit motivation. Anyone who understands business and knows what it takes to get this off the ground will know that it will cost a lot of investment dollars before dollar one. Not only that, Bill has stated that he wants to take the profits of the games to help make Zidware product purchasers whole. This means not only people who bought MG, but RAZA and AIW as well. Since the games need to be made one at a time, he is offering different ways for RAZA and AIW customers to speed up the process that they can see results whether that be from 1) converting to a MG or 2) taking profits from MG sales and crediting that to RAZA and AIW customers.
3) Information and updates - Bill has spent countless hours on the phone, on Pinside, on Facebook, answering emails to bring information and updates to Zidware customers. This is the information that everyone has been asking for and wanting. No, he is not being paid to do this. He is spending time that he could be doing something else, helping people.
4) Manufacturing - As stated, Pintasia will not be manufacturing the games. Bill has been speaking with potential manufacturers to understand what the BOM will be, what remaining items are needed, timelines etc. to work out a contract that can get games into production, and into the hands of Zidware customers.
5) Vendors - Pintasia has been contacting and working with past vendors to understand what has been done and how parties can work on the project moving forward and get paid.
6) Attorneys - Hired attorneys to help look at the situation as to how to help Zidware customers without wasting further time and preserve the IP.
And the list goes on...

In such a short period of time, he has accomplished so much on behalf of Zidware product purchasers. Yes, there are the people who have stepped up to help and been supportive of the cause. However, there are a large number of people who spend all their time trying to criticize and find fault. Honestly I don't know how you can try to find fault with a person who has not asked for any money, has generously contributed their time, money, effort, personal contacts (asked for favors) in order to help the pinball community.

Bill asked Sabrina to assist him in various aspects of due diligence on Zidware and for operations of Pintasia. As part of that effort, she assisted in the incorporation of the company. That does not mean she owns the company. For those who do not understand who the owners of a corporation are and need a lesson in this...the owners are the shareholders. And Bill is 100% shareholder of Pintasia Design Inc.

The problem with google is that you will find a lot of information, some which is true and some which is false or simply has nothing to do with the topic at hand. How many people have the same name? Has someone really tried to understand who these people are behind Pintasia, or is everyone on a race to try to put up nasty posts and create drama. There are a number of people all with the name Sabrina Wei, and unfortunately some of those people have had a checkered past. You may want to blame Sabrina's parents for giving her the name, however, there are lots of other names that are significantly worse. So before throwing @*!@ against the wall and slinging mud, watch the real actions of the people you are doing that with. Sabrina has several professional designations, is well respected in the business community. She is a very hard working individual who has also contributed her own time and money to help Zidware customers. Anyone who has met her will tell you that she is a very kind hearted person who is genuine and wants to help others. She has taken on the mission to assist Bill and those who have been hurt in the Zidware situation. We invite those on Pinside who have actually met Sabrina in person to tell you what they think of her instead of reading stuff that has been conjured up to hurt Pintasia and Bill's reputation.

So for those people who are the naysayers and can't stand the fact that someone has truly stepped up out of the goodness of their heart to help the pinball community and want to just try to dig up stuff to hurt Bill and Pintasia...stop, just stop. You don't realize how many people have called us as fellow pinheads to say, are you out of your mind to try to take on this project and these responsibilities?!?
Maybe, just maybe they are right. If the pinball community can't appreciate a good samaritan and would rather see Zidware crash and burn with all their customers receiving zero in bankruptcy, maybe that is what should happen, then everyone can look back and understand what Bill was actually trying to save them from. And yes, should Bill and Pintasia drop this, everyone can count on John Popadiuk to control and make the games from that point forward! Right now, Bill is calling the shots and John has been removed from the scene. Take your pick...

Bottom line is this, the only reason Zidware customers are trying to sue or put Zidware in bankruptcy is because they think there is money to be had. Maybe sometimes people just need to find out the hard way...and no, this is not Bill writing this post. It is someone at Pintasia who has seen the hard work that Bill and Sabrina has put into this project and feels that they don't deserve this type of treatment by ignorant people posting on Pinside.

Actually, I believe......

John A. Popadiuk, Jr.

That's really all John does, he tweaks to make great pinball. We should give him a break, we are evil and he is a victim in all of this.

If we only expected nothing in return for our money, we would not be let down and angry.

wtf?

Add pinball to it while you're at it. So it will return anytime someone searches for jpop pinball

You jumped into a boiling cauldron, with a miscalculated announcement sent by John and a crazy legal document, followed by 2 days of mystery about who/what is behind all this. Let's just say that introduction wasn't the best.

People are going to be suspicious and cynical.

I'm not surprised the reception is mixed at best, and you shouldn't be either. The onus is on you now to make something happen and prove the critics wrong. That's all you CAN do.

It's simply not true that critics are people who want to see failure. While it's noble of Bill to so graciously want to help, he better be prepared for some scrutiny. Get some thick skin. Because some people may just view this as delaying the inevitable and hurting people's chances of recouping their down payments NOW. There are real questions that can and should be asked IMO such as:
What is Bill's experience in manufacturing anything?
What is Bill's personal skill set when it comes to the different aspects of building a pinball game?
Where did the 16k number come from? (How was that determined to be the magic number?)
Beyond getting a half-baked prototype game to NGC what is the timeline thereafter?
Will you have to wait for X number of orders at 16k before deciding to move forward?
DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS.

Because, as I said, the best chance for people to recoup money invested is to start legal action NOW and the longer they wait the harder it will get. As others have noted, the money shouldn't have just disappeared and I believe there is a real opportunity to recover money from John personally if he just paid himself some ridiculous amount of money.

big money (for john), big prizes (for nobody), I LOVE IT!

I also agree with Nate's opinion on C2C that Bill would be better served by being more clear that he's starting a pinball business and this is a money making endeavor. There is nothing wrong with that, and would show that there's some real business smarts going on, not some odd philanthropic thing "for the love of pinball".

"for the love of pinball" was jpop's motives as well. For the risk, effort and money this is all going to take, it would put a lot of minds at ease to know that there are real business fundamentals at play and a quest for profit beyond squaring up with everyone harmed by John.

I would encourage any and all to go to the northwest show and meet mr Bill and the Pintasia crew.
Very down to earth no BS kind of people, freindly and easy to talk to. Ask questions and see for yourselves. Plus Ms Pintasia is very good on the eyes and intelligent person to converse with.
They are not in this to loose money, it's more about the long haul for them. I spent a few days with them at pin a go go and had a blast.

Big risk, big reward

I have personally talked with Bill a few times. I truly believe the group is trying to salvage this wreck, & get things done if they can. Same as in the past I offered as a last resort to try & help out the Magic Girl buyers. Still offering to help out, but it looks like Bill has it under way. If I can provide any technical info or my thoughts I'm available.

As for Jpop, who knows if he has blown all money, or is stashing it. From what has happened over the years, there could be any possibility. People (buyers that have money in it) need to know what happened with the money, same with all the vendors owed money. What a disaster! I'm surprised all vendors haven't taken legal or collection action.

Try, like flies to sh*t!

You mean like Jack? Like Kevin? And like JPop? Down to Earth and willing to talk to anyone with a smile on their face means NOTHING. That is a quality of any good con man. Talking. Pointless.

Put forth a highly detailed plan/timeline and the backup plan when something doesn't go according to schedule. Show me why anyone will pay 16K for this game. Tell me why your personal experience is so well suited to being able to manufacture pinball machines when we've watched so many others fail. Tell me what happens when you find no more than 15-20 people who will pay 16k for this game. Show me how you're going to manufacture 199 machines. Show me how you're going to support this expensive machine after it's built.

If Pintasia is so interested in building pinball machines I do not understand why they would start with this half baked and seriously tainted game. Why not just get with Yeti (the artwork on MG is the biggest real wow factor anyway) and create a new game from scratch that you don't have to charge 16k for?

So....who are you again??

And...customers aren't necessarily suing with the intent to put Zidware into bankruptcy. They are suing to get their money back.

What guarantees do you have that they will get their money back if they don't sue which is what you apparently want (to not sue)?

Legally, Pintasia has zero liability to a single Zidware customer who has paid money to Zidware. Zilch. Nada. Nothing!

But you want them to not sue (for obvious reasons...if it does result in Bankruptcy, the sale of the IP/license to Pintasia will be scrutinized by the court and likely rescinded) and give up their rights against Zidware, all based on a promise that Pintasia may give them credit down the road when there is enough profit to do so.

Dang.... deja vu.... (name that Stern machine)

No, we just want you to answer some basic questions, like:

What's the licensing agreement?

Why are you formatting this project in a very convoluted and questionably-legally way?

Why do you keep avoiding the answers to these questions?

Customers will be at the end of the line for what little financial solubility is left in Zidware. And how much is that likely to be? How many of the lawyers have been secured on quid pro quo promise that the Zidware money will come flowing back to the investors after the courts and all settlements are made and their fees will be covered?

Sue if if helps float your boat and give you some kind of peace of mind. Sue to assure return of your investment in Zidware? The more likely scenario is that you will be making a nice payment to your attorney in addition to the loss to "John the Ripper".

Bill Brandes isn't offering any guarantees, but he seems to be trying to put together and offer up to Zidware investors more than John Popadiuk's fantasy land dreams of ever bringing a game to the home of ANYONE.

It's been two friggin' days! And Bill has been working (and spending a lot) to get a prototype at NW.

The third degree from people with zero skin in the game is getting a little old at this point.

Anyone who cares about pinball has skin in the game. Too many bad things happening to the hobby lately.

How can this do anything but implode?

Actually, Popaduik's terrible email went out last week. He's had plenty of time to answer questions, and has posted in this thread a number of times.

The third degree from people with zero skin in the game is getting a little old at this point.

Oh, we're bringing back that old canard are we? I think the people who aren't in are the only ones thinking clearly.

I'm sorry, but the stakes are $16,000 higher for buyers than it is for you. Simple as that.

Actually what is getting old is the fact that so much energy is being put into getting a single game ready for NW (a game that was supposedly flippable 2 years ago!!!) and yet there is no time to answer a few VERY simple questions!

2 hours on pinside and he could answer every single question posed.

An efficient way to do this would be to ask the mods to start an "ask Pintasia" thread and moderate it. 2 dyas of asking questions and then 2hours to answer them all. BAM, done!

The priority to spend all time getting a flippable game to NW is very telling of where the priorities are aligned and to me make the intent less than transparent.

A lot of folks may want to sue Zidware / John just for the pleasure of it.

If the Pintasia plan requires zero lawsuits, it's just like those "Get Traffic Fatalities Down to Zero!" ads - just ain't gonna happen.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jpop-update-thread%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6mg-raza-and-aiw%e2%80%a6?tu=pintasia
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jpop-update-thread%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6mg-raza-and-aiw%e2%80%a6?tu=wcbrandes

34 posts in the last two days isn't enough for you?

Ben Heck loves traffic fatalities. Totally goth.

Too late. The game's already in a truck, per a post yesterday. They're doing final fit-and-finish at FAST's shop on the west coast, I think?

Not when he's not answering the questions people are asking, and is just spinning his story.

I have hard earned cash in the "game" here and you have?? Your coming to the defense of the "hobby"... Kinda late for that now IMHO.
Myself as an "owner" (of JPOP VAPORWARE) would prefer that Bill doesn't get run off by people defending the "hobby" but not actually in on any on these games. Before pintasia/Bill we had a Popsicles chance in hell of getting anything from JPOP in court or otherwise... Now at least there is a sliver of hope, give the man a few days for Christ sakes!

Again, two days! I'm just not feelin' the spin.

Ironic that anyone suggesting something like this on the predator thread a few months ago would of been lit on fire by you.

Really? All he's doing is spinning, talking about how hard he's working. Does that ring any bells? His other account even used the dreaded "for the good of pinball" cliche, and basically said everything but the words "great harm".

Answer the questions I put above and I'll be satisfied.

Yup and I was completely wrong.

I am seeing almost the exact same signs that I missed back then. At least I learn form my mistakes I guess

I respect that!

I'm willing to wait for the show, but this had better be one hell of pinball machine to be worth $16k.

I'm talking this had better be the Kate Upton of pinball machines.

Sorry folks had to happen.

(Picture removed by mod)

You've seen the flipping playfield here multiple times as applejuice had it. Why are you doubting a game exists at all?

3rdperson.jpg

Yes, a "few days" will make a world of difference. I suggest you keep your money invested and if you haven't actually paid in full then please do so now. John could probably use some extra spending cash. You clearly have no need being here as you do not want want to hear about any of the concerns and clearly no answers are coming from Pintasia. So what are you expecting to read here? Hopefully the folks with an IQ above 100 who do have money invested are smart enough to seek legal help now and don't continue to drink the Kool Aid of the next pinball startup who can't answer ANY of the hard questions.

This isn't production by forum thread. Why would anyone disclose all of those things to you.. in any situation? Do you need any of those answers to know if Pintasa would carry through? Or are we still thinking 'we are the screwed ones, so we deserve to know everything!'?

Those are factors Pintasia will have to gauge if they want to press forward.

Correct - which is why people keep saying Pintasia are assuming all the new risks and putting their skin in the game.

If Pintasia doesn't suceed in building the game, or finds it unfeasible.. no game gets made
If Pintasia isn't involved at all and it's just zidware... no game gets made

So how is your world any different besides Pintasia getting it one last go with new people and new cash influx?

The only difference is making a choice of 'do I sign up to not sue, hoping I get SOMETHING from my initial loss' or.. 'I don't sign up, and I still lose all my initial money'.

Really the only difference is vendetta - you're not going to get any money from zidware... at least nothing like your investment.

There is no existing funds - its all up front money from pintasia and future money from buyers (which they aren't asking for until the viability of the game is known). Have you been following along???

There is a certain place in hell for people who make a post quoting 1204 words from a previous post.

Everyone keeps advising don't sue because there is no money or assets worth anything of value. Has anyone actually seen the books to confirm this or is everyone just making assumptions?

The error is your leap here that they didn't pay any invoices. They did.. they just owe MORE. Applejuice for instance said he worked for over 2 years.. but it was the last three months were Jpop stopped paying him. Jpop did spend money on things... he just didn't pay ALL his bills.

It's confusing because people are trying to mash Pintasia's effort to bring the game forward.. with what people interjecting what they THINK Pintasia should do.. which is make Zidware whole and wipe out all their liabilities IN ADDITION to trying to make the game. Pintasia has been very clear here -- confusion is coming from the emotional audience, not the information shared.

Zero'ing out Zidware and building the game are two separate directions... with the hanging issue that Pintasia's effort relies on zidware not imploding and having a court undo Pintasia's deal.

lol! Yes!

I feel the same way about people who insist of 15 line email signatures that are longer than most the messages they send....

So what I got from this was:
1. You have no skin in the game.
2. You called people who do have $16,000 spent, who don't agree with you, stupid?

Edit: It's ALWAYS good to recommend legal counsel, but this post is just nasty.

Who works for three months and doesn't get paid.. c'mon, someone pinch me..

Why is your company so passionate about people not suing John and Zidware? Your company seems awfully concerned about liabilities you claim you're not responsible for.

Then you must be one of the few with an IQ below 100 if that's what you got out of it.

Stop your whining and quit complaining about the people pointing out the obvious concerns that should be discussed now. If you don't care, fine, but you don't represent all pre-order folks (nor do I) and since someone else started this discussion I guess there are some that DO care.

Can some of you Lawyers comment on this?

Piercing the corporate veil:

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/personal-liability-piercing-corporate-veil-33006.html

If a court pierces a company's corporate veil, the owners, shareholders, or members of a corporation or LLC can be held personally liable for corporate debts. This means creditors can go after the owners' home, bank account, investments, and other assets to satisfy the corporate debt. But courts will impose personal liability only on those individuals who are responsible for the corporation or LLC's wrongful or fraudulent actions;

When Courts Will Pierce the Corporate Veil

Courts might pierce the corporate veil and impose personal liability on officers, directors, shareholders, or members when all of the following are true.
•There is no real separation between the company and its owners. If the owners fail to maintain a formal legal separation between their business and their personal financial affairs, a court could find that the corporation or LLC is really just a sham (the owners' alter ego) and that the owners are personally operating the business as if the corporation or LLC didn't exist. For instance, if the owner pays personal bills from the business checking account or ignores the legal formalities that a corporation or LLC must follow (for example, by making important corporate or LLC decisions without recording them in minutes of a meeting), a court could decide that the owner isn't entitled to the limited liability that the corporate business structure would ordinarily provide.
•The company's actions were wrongful or fraudulent. If the owner(s) recklessly borrowed and lost money, made business deals knowing the business couldn't pay the invoices, or otherwise acted recklessly or dishonestly, a court could find financial fraud was perpetrated and that the limited liability protection shouldn't apply.
•The company's creditors suffered an unjust cost. If someone who did business with the company is left with unpaid bills or an unpaid court judgment and the above factors are present, a court will try to correct this unfairness by piercing the veil.
Factors Courts Consider in Piercing the Corporate Veil

The most common factors that courts consider in determining whether to pierce the corporate veil are:
•whether the corporation or LLC engaged in fraudulent behavior
•whether the corporation or LLC failed to follow corporate formalities
•whether the corporation or LLC was inadequately capitalized (if the corporation never had enough funds to operate, it was not really a separate entity that could stand on its own), and
•whether one person or a small group of closely related people were in complete control of the corporation or LLC.

Some corporations and LLCs are especially vulnerable when these factors are considered, simply because of their size and business practices. Closely held companies are more susceptible to losing limited liability status than large, publicly traded corporations. There are several reasons for this.

Failure to follow corporate formalities. Small corporations are less likely than their larger counterparts to observe corporate formalities, which makes them more vulnerable to a piercing of their corporate veil. To avoid trouble, it's best to play it safe. It's important for small corporations and LLCs to comply with the rules governing formation and maintenance of a corporation, including:
•holding annual meetings of directors and shareholders or members
•keeping accurate, detailed records (called "minutes") of important decisions that are made at the meetings.

Suits will put Zidware into bankruptcy, which will mean that Zidware can't license MG or any other machine. They become assets for the trustee to collect and decide how to liquidate and pay off the creditors and convenience creditors.