Alice in Wonderland
Gottlieb, 1948
Houdini
American Pinball, 2017
Magic Girl
Zidware Pinball USA, 2017
Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland
Zidware Pinball USA, 2012There have been 1,697 images uploaded to this topic. (View topic image gallery).
Quoted from CrazyLevi:
"someone" should invite a decent player or two over to his hovel so we can actually see if there's more to this game than there appears to be.
I was gonna squawk about this earlier today.
I thought you were invited to play his Magic Girl. Podcast boy has done a great job of revealing the machine but its your review that I really want to hear. I'd be very disappointed if he reneged on that offer to you.
What we need is a forensic, detailed review of MG by Martin for Pinball News. Martin was in my house today to review Captain Nemo. Ok we talked and played pinball too, but he was here for 5 hours. You just know how good that review will be 
For MG he might need somewhat longer (!), but man it would be cool to see an expert's view on all the stuff we've been speculating or been poorly informed about! K bless him doesn't have the expertise we need in his reviews (in fairness, nor would I have). Basically, we need the A-Team on this IMO, as it's no easy problem.
My MG was picked up by the shipper from Jpop today, and will be air-freighted to London Heathrow Airport at the weekend, so I should have it in my house within a week from now. This is a lovely feeling given it was originally ordered Aug 2011 
In addition to a Pinball News review (if Martin is agreeable, of course), I've also invited Applejuice to my house to give his professional views on MG and what can be done with the Code to update and 'fix' it e.g. to get the magna flippers working, as well as Everything Else. He can stay here if he wishes, and if necessary I'm happy to lend my MG to Jim for as long as it takes. There's no point pissing around- we need to fix this, and after 5.5 years waiting I'd like to do this ASAP
Quoted from Pinballs:
My MG was picked up by the shipper from Jpop today, and will be air-freighted to London Heathrow Airport at the weekend, so I should have it in my house within a week from now. This is a lovely feeling given it was originally ordered Aug 2011
Quoted from metallik:
Is there anything actually *original* in MG and not swiped from a prior JPOP or other game? Magic Girl is the K-TEL of pinball releases it seems...
It would be fun to make a list... I'll get it started...
Ball Launch... WCS
I've also invited Applejuice to my house to give his professional views on MG and what can be done with the Code to update and 'fix' it e.g. to get the magna flippers working, as well as Everything Else. He can stay here if he wishes, and if necessary I'm happy to lend my MG to Jim for as long as it takes. There's no point pissing around- we need to fix this, and after 5.5 years waiting I'd like to do this ASAP
Pinballs, if Jim does agree to do this, it will be one of the best events in pinball this year.
Maybe you also sense a growing feeling that the community (at large) wants to help Jeremy and Jim in some way. I'd kick in a couple hundy to a Go Fund Me account that can at least get those guys paid--even if they didn't want to continue doing anything with MG.
What we don't know, though, is--will JPOP honor his agreements with those two, or is AP set to honor those agreements. Maybe if we knew more about that situation someone here could organize a crowdfund to help those two (if needed). (That still doesn't get JPOP off the hook)
Quoted from chadderack:
or is AP set to honor those agreements.
No they will not. Jpop is "a man without a country".
Quoted from Mr68:
No they are not. Jpop is a man without a country.
So either JPOP is willing and able to pay off Jeremy and Jim or he isn't. Evidence heavily suggests he isn't willing and/or able. At this point I'm willing to send donations (as was suggested by a few people earlier) to a crowd fund for Jeremy/Jim to pay them back for their efforts.
We know Jeremy and Jim both were owed a machine (~$16K) and Jim has mentioned being out $11,777. I don't remember if Jeremy said how much he was owed in backpay by JPOP.
Part of me still says "let JPOP make this right" or "force JPOP to make this right" though.
This doesn't pay back other vendors though (Cointaker and the board mfg whose name I don't remember).
What we need is a forensic, detailed review of MG by Martin for Pinball News. Martin was in my house today to review Captain Nemo. Ok we talked and played pinball too, but he was here for 5 hours. You just know how good that review will be
For MG he might need somewhat longer (!), but man it would be cool to see an expert's view on all the stuff we've been speculating or been poorly informed about! K bless him doesn't have the expertise we need in his reviews (in fairness, nor would I have). Basically, we need the A-Team on this IMO, as it's no easy problem.
My MG was picked up by the shipper from Jpop today, and will be air-freighted to London Heathrow Airport at the weekend, so I should have it in my house within a week from now. This is a lovely feeling given it was originally ordered Aug 2011
In addition to a Pinball News review (if Martin is agreeable, of course), I've also invited Applejuice to my house to give his professional views on MG and what can be done with the Code to update and 'fix' it e.g. to get the magna flippers working, as well as Everything Else. He can stay here if he wishes, and if necessary I'm happy to lend my MG to Jim for as long as it takes. There's no point pissing around- we need to fix this, and after 5.5 years waiting I'd like to do this ASAP
I'd be happy to bring my streaming gear down and do a twitch livestream on it?
I was gonna squawk about this earlier today.
I thought you were invited to play his Magic Girl. Podcast boy has done a great job of revealing the machine but its your review that I really want to hear. I'd be very disappointed if he reneged on that offer to you.
Let's just say he has my number and my phone hasn't been ringing.
Considering that in about a week he's no longer gonna have a monopoly on the "willing to share MG with pinside" industry, he should get a skilled player over there while anybody still cares. Time is running out for him to get any more return on his investment.
Quoted from vdojaq:
Point. Well taken and very true......
Counterpoint. Sure it's perfectly respectable to defend in honor of someone or something. I do it myself. However, it comes to a point where everything cannot be sterilized, sanitized, and plain old vanilla. It just isn't going to happen.
This all came up in this thread because I have been calling Kaneda "Special K". I am being called out as being offensive for this. For god's sake Special K is the name of a cereal! Is that offensive too? It's a damn bowl of corn flakes! You know, if I was calling him Retard K, Mental K, then yes, climb all over my ass. This is light hearted ribbing of good ole Special K, a guy that has earned himself a lifetime ban from Pinside. But no, let's call out a guy because he is using the word "special" in a ridiculously perceived derogatory way. Wow, how harmful can I be? I feel sorry for that anyone would be that sheltered from reality as to consider calling that offensive. Please, get off my back and find something that really is offensive.
It's a shame that too many people like to pick battles where no shots have been fired. This isn't even a spit wad in a straw.
So, let's drop the Gaunlet.......Kaneda.......many times you have said "come on my podcast" in PM's to me". So here it is, let's go , put me on. I want to know if YOU are offended by the name Special K. No holds barred, I will discuss anything you want. Answer anything you want. BUT, I get the same freedom of questions back.
For what it's worth I associate "Special K" with the abuse of cat tranquilizer by high-ons. But, now that we know what you really meant after your rant...
Quoted from 27dnast, somehow the quotes didn't work! so here...
Sure makes me wish that Stern had some wild "outside the box" thinker driving innovation and direction.
How does that song go, don't go changin' to try to please me... well with Pinball that's what we want, yeah I'll take soma dat...
Did all the games ship out? Are there still some waiting shipment? Any chance John has not used RAZA money to build this?
Quoted from hank527:
Did all the games ship out? Are there still some waiting shipment? Any chance John has not used RAZA money to build this?
doubt it, raza money was frittered away years ago on endless art revisions. general consensus was that AP paid for the parts in exchange for Houdini designs.
...Any chance John has not used RAZA money to build this?
Put it to you this way. I last visited JPOP's shop in December 2014. I saw quantities of parts waiting to be integrated into assemblies for MG. MG was pretty far along. BHZA/RAZA was not functional yet, the topside of the playfield was about 50% mocked up components. BhZA customers had been paying installments for years by then. Where do you think the cash to pay for all those parts in bulk came from?
Is there anything actually *original* in MG and not swiped from a prior JPOP or other game? Magic Girl is the K-TEL of pinball releases it seems...
My assessment after gameplay is it combines the "greatest hits" of ToM, CV, and TOTAN. This includes the music, sound, and voice attentuation and styles.
Quoted from solarvalue:
Sorry, but can someone please post the link to the best gameplay video currently available, thanks.
There isnt any "best" yet.
A couple pages back are 4 or 5 vids, thats it.
Its shots, commentary, and exploration.
Considering that in about a week he's no longer gonna have a monopoly on the "willing to share MG with pinside" industry, he should get a skilled player over there while anybody still cares.
Where will he find one?
just playin' 
Most of the gimmicks we've seen in his other games but there IS one innovation... if you can call it that.
By placing that rather cheesy looking plastic "magic lamp" (ala TOTAN) at the base of the ramp it nicely deflects failed ramp shots from coming straight back down and draining between the flippers. At first I though it was just an unwanted impediment to making the ramp shot but after seeing it in action I can understand it's purpose.
I'd say with completed code this might get sold around what his WMS games went for... with inflation that would be under 6k.
Quoted from Manic:
Most of the gimmicks we've seen in his other games but there IS one innovation... if you can call it that.
By placing that rather cheesy looking plastic "magic lamp" (ala TOTAN) at the base of the ramp it nicely deflects failed ramp shots from coming straight back down and draining between the flippers. At first I though it was just an unwanted impediment to making the ramp shot but after seeing it in action I can understand it's purpose.
I'd say with completed code this might get sold around what his WMS games went for... with inflation that would be under 6k.
failed ramp shots deserve to be a drain risk. you have to have risk-reward choices. ideally, you want the player to make long bets on their own accuracy and acuity.
Sorry, but can someone please post the link to the best gameplay video currently available, thanks.
Check out 
Pinballs post above. 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/page/442#post-3614548
Right now the best bet is around 16 minutes of gameplay from this Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHK9MuIlhSb0a3HaCfG0wcQ
What we need is a forensic, detailed review of MG by Martin for Pinball News. Martin was in my house today to review Captain Nemo. Ok we talked and played pinball too, but he was here for 5 hours. You just know how good that review will be
For MG he might need somewhat longer (!), but man it would be cool to see an expert's view on all the stuff we've been speculating or been poorly informed about! K bless him doesn't have the expertise we need in his reviews (in fairness, nor would I have). Basically, we need the A-Team on this IMO, as it's no easy problem.
My MG was picked up by the shipper from Jpop today, and will be air-freighted to London Heathrow Airport at the weekend, so I should have it in my house within a week from now. This is a lovely feeling given it was originally ordered Aug 2011
In addition to a Pinball News review (if Martin is agreeable, of course), I've also invited Applejuice to my house to give his professional views on MG and what can be done with the Code to update and 'fix' it e.g. to get the magna flippers working, as well as Everything Else. He can stay here if he wishes, and if necessary I'm happy to lend my MG to Jim for as long as it takes. There's no point pissing around- we need to fix this, and after 5.5 years waiting I'd like to do this ASAP
pinballs Maybe we should try and combine a date when i can come to assess the game and meet up with Martin and Yourself, and possibly the twitch thing to? I am happy to explain features,concepts etc to all in lew of 'Jpop coming to your house and setting the thing up...'
Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:
My assessment after gameplay is it combines the "greatest hits" of ToM, CV, and TOTAN. This includes the music, sound, and voice attentuation and styles.
I may have missed it but did anyone mention that he appears to have stolen power playfield from Lawlor and TZ? His design history has a lot of these "homages" sprinkled in.
Quoted from InfiniteLives:
Thanks for all the insight Applejuice, I'm sure *someone* will read this and test it out when they have a chance.
Do we know if any buyers have tried out the POWER letters spotting and power playfield/magnet flippers features? Still interested to know if its working ad what's going on with the left ramp to playfield diverter.
Quoted from dmesserly:
I may have missed it but did anyone mention that he appears to have stolen power playfield from Lawlor and TZ? His design history has a lot of these "homages" sprinkled in.
Yep, CV's pop up bumper is another example. It was done years before but he claimed credit for it. (I've forgotten the older game name. Anyone?)
And on the private owners blog he'd have a hissy fit if other games were made with "his ideas". He did a rant when Metallica came out with the Hammer disappearing ball. After reading that I remember thinking to myself "Jesus, who cares? Shouldn't you be building our games instead of stroking your ego?"
Whatever, Jpop.
He did a rant when Metallica came out with the Hammer disappearing ball. After reading that I remember thinking to myself "Jesus, who cares? Shouldn't you be building our games instead of stroking your ego?"
Wow, he is so delusional. Tell me about that spinning lamp John. Was your great idea just to take an idea that has been around since 1970 and just stick a plastic lamp on it?
Yep, CV's pop up bumper is another example. It was done years before but he claimed credit for it. (I've forgotten the older game name. Anyone?)
And on the private owners blog he'd have a hissy fit if other games were made with "his ideas". He did a rant when Metallica came out with the Hammer disappearing ball. After reading that I remember thinking to myself "Jesus, who cares? Shouldn't you be building our games instead of stroking your ego?"
Whatever, Jpop.
Gusher 1957 and Sea Wolf 1958.
If I read a post like that from him I would have jumped ship right away, what a completely delusional guy. I like how he mentions their egos at the "other place" lol, and all he apparently cared about was stroking his ego. I'm guessing there were many more out of control comments by him over the years to the private group.
If I read a post like that from him I would have jumped ship right away, what a completely delusional guy. I like how he mentions their egos at the "other place" lol, and all he apparently cared about was stroking his ego. I'm guessing there were many more out of control comments by him over the years to the private group.
And I'd love to hate-read them!
Quoted from iceman44:
That type of post that Frolic showed is just one of MANY like that.
Amazing and disgusting. Covering up the lie.
Let's dust them off and get the whole collection up somewhere. For history's sake.
Quoted from blueberryjohnson:
Let's dust them off and get the whole collection up somewhere. For history's sake.
Someone post the one about his criticism at expo of other boutique manufacturers. So laughable in light of some of his short cuts... no shooter lane groove???
Who set up johnpopadiuk.com? Put the quotes up there...
This Jpop business of him whining about people stealing his ideas is absolutely ridiculous. The first time I played TOTAN I thought it was cute how he was paying respect to the same crappy Triple Action I had at home with the spinner. And I remember playing Gusher at the same show where I played CV for the first time.
He's certifiably out of his mind.
Quoted from Shapeshifter:
Gusher 1957 and Sea Wolf 1958.
Thank you, Shapeshifter, you've saved me hours of head scratching.
Electro-mechanical, pop up, pop bumber, designed by the great Harry Williams in 1958 for Gusher. Pictures are from Sea Wolf.
I really like the vanishing magnet. If JPop was the first to do that then he probably deserves credit for that; but this coming from the guy that "borrowed" ideas from many other machines and outright stole the work from vendors is absolutely ridiculous.
EDIT: This is an interesting topic, perhaps a new thread could be created to discuss copyright and trademark in pinball.
Serious question - and not meant to be taken as a defense of Jpop or go off topic, but a sincere inquiry: At what point does an "homage" or "inspiration", even a subtle or subconscious one END, and "full credit originality" BEGIN?
The timing of this JPOP tangent is interesting, since last night while trolling the local Craigslist I saw a listing for a project '67 Jolly Roger. I'd never seen or heard of the game, so I took a look...
...and my first thought was "Holy Shit, that's like Firepower's father". I mean look at it: four top lanes with center target, surrounded by orbit shots, buoyed by a cluster of 4 pops, and a center "bonus" grid leading to the drain.
Give it a nip here and a tuck there to add some locks; populate the wasted space in the lower PF by slapping some targets in front of the pops, replace the right rebound rubber with a target bank, convert to an Italian bottom and boom: Firepower.
I always thought (along with most people, it seems) that FP was Steve Ritchie's original work. Obviously the flow revisions and rule set are to Steve's credit. But the basic playfield layout seems heavily inspired if not outright reworked from Jolly Rodger.
So at some point everything "original" is inspired by what preceded it. Being forthright, humble, and acknowledging prior work can get you some goodwill. But then the where do you draw the line for full credit?
Quoted from goingincirclez:
Serious question - and not meant to be taken as a defense of Jpop or go off topic, but a sincere inquiry: At what point does an "homage" or "inspiration", even a subtle or subconscious one END, and "full credit originality" BEGIN?
The timing of this JPOP tangent is interesting, since last night while trolling the local Craigslist I saw a listing for a project '67 Jolly Roger. I'd never seen or heard of the game, so I took a look...
I'm not seeing it dude. There's like a million EMs with that kind of layout and none of them remind me of Firepower. There are so many differences between the FP and Roger layouts that it would be silly to make a list.
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