Right above him.

There is a link from blog with more meat http://pinballinventor.org/games/magicgirl/preview/33/index.html

Dissapointed hat the "geometry and toys" link just links back to hand drawn art. I only care about the cool mechs.. Seems a bit light on that or is there a link I'm missing?

Welcome to our world . Enjoy the art.

Can you guys see all of our comments on the blog? Is that all public too?

comments are there.

That's the link to the owners reveal site created in December. Except then only two of the icons were unlocked.

Not sure how I feel about that part. No big deal on the MG blog because it was dead but the RAZA blog is a different story. I guess Pinside loves drama so everyone will be in for a good read September to now.

raza blog is full of tough questions and John ignoring people, but that is not news to pinside.

I'm glad to see the MG blog and the later RAZA blog.

If/when they are built I may buy one, but the pre-order stress is the not for me.

The artwork on MG is amazeballs.

Incredible stuff, really. Hope it sees the light of day!

I'm hoping they both see the light of friggin day!

MG art does look amazing, but those colors! With LEDs, this thing is gonna be a pink/purple nightmare!

Are you serious?

The LCD animations, though, are incredible.

Magna - save on Magic Girl. Very cool!

looking forward to drooling over one someday...

Or look awesome. Nothing wrong with those colors.

He should have done this long ago. The thought to pops to mind is, polished and professional. The LCD animations look great, the sfx sounds professional and not just neighbors lending their voice but real voice talent. I so wish I could believe these will be built in a timely manner. I would for sure want to be in on his games if I knew he could get them to market. I'm still skeptical but a huge thumbs up to what JPop has created thus far.

Correct. I'm only representing John in IP matters (and no, he has never spent or 'wasted' a lot of time or money dealing with patents). But I do want to see these games get finished and be great, so I have been trying to help that process along. John is seeing how important that is--opening up the MG and RAZA blogs is a HUGE step for him. And new info should be coming soon.

Maybe I'm sticking my neck out a bit, but I am just trying to get things moving in a positive direction, and countering much misinformation that is presented here. As for refunds, there IS a waitlist and for the most recent request he received, he processed it in a reasonable time, sending paperwork, then sending papers to the waitlister so he could get the new deposit and refund the original buyer. And then the buyer decided he didn't want to cancel. (Someone here could verify this, but it's ok if you don't! )

I can't make up anybody's mind for them, but I would at least suggest waiting a short while to see where things are and how cool they are. John seems to be shifting gears and is back to addressing the various complaints. And the games will be THAT good imo. Just my perspective, having seen the workshop very recently and having asked lots of questions. I know visiting JPOP is not feasible for all customers--would be a lot simpler if it were!

totally agree on all of this. Completion and manufacturing are being dealt with, as primary tasks. And yeah, he has gotten top-notch professional help with animation, music, voices, etc. (Some familiar names--not sure if they're public so I won't mention them.) And all at really low cost--he's NOT wasting money everywhere, but is also focused on quality and innovation. it's incredible ow much he's done while keeping a frugal budget. (Of course, he's not paying himself for his own countless hours.) Many good, quality people willing to end a bit to help his startup efforts. And he does get that there's a need to push for completing these games. The next few months should be interesting indeed...

MagnaSave? Heck, not sure what's on the blog (haven't gone through it) but he has magnets OVER the inlanes to grab and lock balls! And that is nowhere near the craziest stuff in these games.

Yes. He is just showing up at the workshop, doing what needs to be done. His wife has a good job, so they are not destitute. I also know he has a good accountant and everything is being done by the book.

Apparently he's John's IP attorney.

Yep, that is my only official capacity. (OK, I helped with the lease for his workshop property too.) But we've become friends over the past few years and have discussed many issues and possibilities. So, I've become some sort of 'advisor' although he's not required to take any 'advice' I offer! I'm trying to be transparent here--and I honestly believe most of the red flags raised here are inaccurate and non-issues. There is room for improvement and a need to communicate and get things finished. And significant steps are being taken for that, to put the icing on the incredible games that are being designed. Opening up the blogs is just a start, but definitely in the right direction.

WOW!

IF we consider today's public reveals a starting point, and there is actual PROGRESS shown over the course of the next few weeks / months, I can see there being an active Zidware wait list.

John Popadiuk +1

The RAZA stuff is crazy too. Not sure what's on the blog, but I saw full pf with mix of actual parts and a few mockups, and couldn't figure out what some of the stuff was for. (I was happy to stay in suspense and not demand explanations.) This is not your father's (or even YOUR current) pinball!

Looks fantastic, I would rather see an unlimited production run, people can buy after they see and play them, similar to WoZ. Meaning people are not locked into a game many years in advance unless they want to be, then people that want to wait and see can also buy into the games, I believe they will be limited enough either way.

For example someone might rather have RAZA instead of MG or the other way around after they see how they look or play or the rules etc.. Rather than be locked into one 4-5 years in advance just because there was an artificially low number.

I don't even mind if there is a early buyer discount such as with WoZ where an early supporter who finances the project pays a much lower rate. But an open production run like WoZ could sell more games if they are great and people see them after they are made instead of losing sleep about if they will or won't get done.

A larger production run would help all, with Jpop selling more games, more mods potentially if they need any, and more community support or popular clubs. Let's say 12 guys have MG that can talk on Pinside, is that as good as 200 guys with IM or Tron or WoZ etc..

I think Magic Girl should be limited. Those people are more like patrons than buyers.

Daaaammmnnn! MG looks and sounds sweeeeet!

Here's the reality, as I see it: Pinball people are by nature positive and optimistic. It's why they pre-order these crazy games in the first place.

They only get sour when years of disappointment start to beat them down.

Opening the blogs up and letting the fresh air in is a great way to get some excitement back. And with some work John can keep it going. Hell, he doesn't even have to do all the work, he just needs to let go enough to let some people help him.

I didn't mean to start a fight with Kim (and we've squashed any bad vibes already) but this is what I meant about the Facebook group. I think it's great if you want to have it, but the whole aura of secrecy just fosters bad feelings. Better to use it quietly and let the public places be a place where positive energy can hopefully accumulate.

I'll tell you what, I can't talk about everything I know right now (look at what a hypocrite I am just one paragraph later!), but I'm feeling pretty positive about pinball in general right now, there's some light showing at the end of several tunnels. Hoping it doesn't fade out too soon.

Can you or someone post a video here on it?
I cannot open the video on that blog site, thank you. Would love to see and hear it.

This is messed up. He needs to review his entire business model. Alice is another limited run game, so he's going to spend a decade of his life at his shop, giving up all that goes with that, and not even make any money?

I don't even see how he CAN make any money with this model. I didn't see how investors can see a return, so what is in it for him? It made more sense when he was pulling a salary but if that isn't even part of the equation.... dunno what to say about that.

anyone know how to fix the "no plugin available to display this content" message when trying to view the animations? tried java and shockwave no luck....

I'm having the same issue....I think someone disabled the plugin?

Works on my iPhone...

I continue to agree with this. I'm a RAZA owner, or sucker perhaps. Despite all the hoopla, I still don't know of a production schedule and have yet to see any of the promised reveals. Call me from Missouri, but I'm still pessimistic about this, despite all of the recent chest thumping.

works on my iphone too....wierd. Ive tried multiple plugins with no luck on pc

I think it's fair to be skeptical. But I also think that no matter what happens nothing can/will change overnight, so you have to just see positive steps as hopeful signs of progress.

I would say that you should be vigilant for bullshit or broken promises, but accepting of positive interactions.

Or maybe it's the gin and tonic talking, I dunno.

Direct download links to the files for anyone who needs them:

http://pinballinventor.org/games/magicgirl/preview/33/media/Fire_magicdoor_basic.mov
http://pinballinventor.org/games/magicgirl/preview/33/media/Magic_mirror_reveal.mov
http://pinballinventor.org/games/magicgirl/preview/33/media/Fire_magicdoor_rotate.mov

My sense is that more info will be coming. At least it's in the right direction? I saw a RAZA playfield this week--tons of cool stuff, about 3x as much as on a typical modern game. And John gets that providing info is important--he's working on it. Can't comment on other things in the works. But IMO it's worth hanging in for RAZA. it'll be a next-level pinball game imo.

I walked him through that and made test comments for him.

Aaron
FAST Pinball

Its using Quicktime. That's why the iPhone/Safari stuff works. Apple bundles that stuff still.

Aaron
FAST Pinball

I really want to see John succeed. This art is great and his games always have great flow. If he could finally have a game with great code (easily the weakest point of any of his games, not his fault) the sky's the limit.

In the neverending betting pool of "Zidware Vs Skit-B" I'd give it to Zidware, they've got twice the money to work with on each game and no licensing costs.

Wow I would love to buy a blank playfield. Best art I have ever seen. Translite is amazing too! WOW

My guess, he isn't even remotely there code-wise yet. How long will that take? Who is doing it?
Even more, how is the warranty on part's or labor?
How many duplicates does he have of any parts?

Same. he should sell those to fund progress as well

Wow. Incredible. I can totally understand how everybody who walks in there comes out mesmerized.

OMG, i need the money for this fuckin' game.... ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Talk about John comin' thru in the end and all these douchebags talkin' mad shit over & over & over & over again. DOUBTFUL. That bastard is my boy. John is my boy. He's the one who really gets it...