Well MM sold out. I had to pay close to $3500 (people thought I was nuts). I did get CV and NGG for $1800 and $2100 however... those were the days. Still have them all also.

MB and then CC never went on closeout. I bought MB at full price and both had such small runs that a closeout was never needed.

I agree CV was pretty painful when it was first released... having to wait through endless animations and constant ball hangups were NOT fun. In fact Williams had to put out an "official" kit of clear plastics to eliminate the PF problems. So JPop didn't quite do his job here...

But then the home roms arrived and it did indeed become a keeper. We all thanked CS profusely after that

lol...! Even MY twisted mind didn't go there.

If you are going to post this potentially eye rolling "good Samaritan" stuff then you need to do it under your real name. This cloak and dagger stuff got old and childish a long time ago. You defend "Pintasia" under the name Pintasia (claiming you are from the entity) but won't say who you are? Ridiculous.

You just spent an inordinately long time disputing these accusations but you do it behind a screen name? This just gives the accusations more weight.

Don't begrudge some of the people for trying to seek *some* kind of monetary solution for this mess... have you seen the kind of money people (apparently foolishly) sent this character?

I wouldn't be TOO snarky to the guy. Don't you wish you were warned before you sent these last multiple thousands to JP?

Plus it looks like he was right with his Sabrina "inquiry"... however that will affect anything.

After Predator I don't think you can begrudge people for at least TRYING to do some "due diligence".

Nobody ever did in Predator and we know what happened with that.

Even Bill who hired her doesn't seem to know who her last few employers were.

The question of her involvement may or may not be important but at least now some are
trying to protect themselves.

I'm sure Bill would understand this and even encourage due diligence after all the money people have apparently lost.

I understand your situation. But I don't see people attacking him personally... he seems known as a good guy. If a question about a business associate "runs him off" then... well I don't know what to say. After Predator people are worried and if clear answers aren't offered some people will keep asking. It's inevitable.

I'm happy to see him take a stab at it and I hope he'll take the questions in stride and answer what he can.

Showing off the thing at a show may be fun but if there is no money to build any more of them I'm not sure what the point is. Either people that have already paid will be asked to pay more or there is hope to find new customers to find some funding. In either case, after JP's performance... people will expect questions to be answered to feel secure in sending cash.

JP's behavior during all this may have poisoned the well to the point that even the Pope stepping in would be viewed with suspicion. Sad it's come to this.

This would be great but do you expect them to build a bunch of machines essentially for almost nothing to satisfy the people that have already given their money to JP? And then hope to make enough money from new sales of the machine to not just offset this cost... but then to even make a profit?

I wonder if they even have to honor the customers here if they buy rights to making the machine?

I would hope so but who knows? But personally I wish Bill and all you guys the best. Should be an exciting show... to say the least

I'm envious of you man... at least have a great time there. There are indeed some things more important than cash... like your health. Especially your mental health after enduring all this.
Frankly I'm impressed with how well everybody here has handled this.
Hang in there and give us the full scoop when you return.

Wow. Now THIS he does with amazing speed and competence.

If so... apply "troll insta-ban". Repeat procedure as necessary.

He's a mucho annoying troll that was banned to the graveyard of 'ole RGP. Over there he has an audience of about 12 people

lol that's him. His first post was to call BH an alcoholic. Still desperate for attention.

Moderators: can you dump him for the sixth time now?

I dunno... it's 1/40th the amount that he has lost (20k).

Even if you never got a penny back... knowing this last outlay helped put the offending party out in the street would be well worth it (for me anyway)

I'm just trying to imagine what it will be like waiting for the ball to return from the wiggle ramps... every time you hit the single ramp entrance it will have to come shimmying back one side or the other. You'd think this would make for slow gameplay. Seems like form won out over function here.

No it's just most are too polite to point out that it's people simply speculating and hoping for a big payout..."wow only 19 made - it'll be worth 40k a month after they are delivered!". Everybody gets it - even if they don't say it.

Personally I admire speculators and risk takers but since the risk usually fails (hence the name) you have to suck it up and go on to the next risk. Whining about it won't get the risk capitol back.

But maybe you're right - maybe some people actually think the pretty but shallow "JPop experience" is worth sixteen thousand dollars for the gameplay alone.

Well it's a good thing those ramps got made in time... really integral to the gameplay

Ha! - kudos for having your sense of humor intact after all this. Always nice to see.

I was under the impression that without magnets, diverter assemblies, etc that the ball would simply always go down the one wiggle ramp. Are both ramps essentially non-functional in this "build"?? I wanted to see the wiggle return dammit

I have simple needs for this video lol... neither of the things you mentioned seem to be happening and it seems surprising considering the "volunteers" obvious emotions towards the project. Maybe it will happen during the actual show.

Yup... has the semi-Arabic lilt to the music from TOTAN plus the "dramatic" (or at least the odd accent) of the woman in TOM.

Maybe not a bad thing but a little off putting if you are used to hearing the older titles I suppose.

Yeah I was going to say the same thing. Go for broke... literally. It will already be underwhelming having just one ramp shot with one return but if nobody can even hit that??? The video didn't exactly amp up the excitement.

What's up with the exposed and PF blocking magnets under the end of each ramp exit? If this is an outlane saver like TOM why wouldn't you put them below the PF again and out of sight?

Sadly... probably nothing. If the money is all gone then a new entity (with actual money) would have to step in to build them from scratch. At a more reasonable price. Plus the first 20 or so would need to be done for almost nothing to make the original "investors" whole. And that's after hiring a programmer to make sure the entire thing works and that there is some actual gameplay hidden in there.

Be a hell of a white knight to step in to this situation.

How's the LED biz going btw? Been a while...

I think everybody will be overwhelmed just seeing actual "pinball art" for the first time in 15 years. It's not the usual Stern photoshop-mashup kinda deal. Reminds me of the late 90's WMS days.

It makes you realize you don't get to see this kind of art anywhere except on pins and at the comic book shop (if there are any anymore)...

Personally I'd like to see it on everything

You gotta love the way the video abruptly cuts out when the ball even approaches the flippers... quit being a TEASE!! lol At least show some footage of the ball being smacked around.

And if those are really rollovers in the center of the PF... man they look like they stick up a hell of a lot. Aren't these gonna disrupt more than a few shots when you actually play the thing? Are these potential impediments seriously needed?

So nobody is actually playing it... just looking at it? You didn't mention any "gameplay" impressions. And I think CV has the same screen placement 19 years earlier.

Thanks James... best looking video yet.

I was drawing a blank after WMS closed their doors. I know there is TSPP and the Melon's as examples but if there are many more they must not have made much of an impression or I missed it.

Ahhh there ya go. Early Alzheimer's and all that..

Yeah I think what I meant was new ORIGINAL fantasy/comic-style art. Not art based on TV cartoons that we are already overly familiar with. Not X-Men where we've seen the characters done to death. Not Melon's as it seems a familiar but bad Hee Haw joke.

I know companies think people MUST be already familiar with a product for it to sell (and they're probably right) but I miss the old days of WMS where we didn't KNOW what little characters and oddities we would find in the artwork UNTIL we actually saw it. You didn't know what little gems were hidden on NGG's PF or MM's (insert example) until you saw it... I liked looking through the busy artwork to find all the detail, inside jokes, etc.

Admittedly if you know JPops other games you'll see a lot of references but it's that "not knowing" exactly what you'll find in the art that I find intriguing and -not usual for current pinball- (maybe that's better than the 15 year remark)

Ok didn't mean to derail the discussion here...

FINALLY - the ramp shot (sorta)! Second time was the charm... I like the first comment "oops the ramp broke!"

Thanks for the vid

Yeah but to be fair this was 16K to "speculate" that a small number of "collectable" machines would get made. Not quite the same thing... apples and oranges and all that.

But with pins barely hanging on I guess every title will have to be a familiar, flavor of the month kind of thing. Oh well...

I'm glad you took it to the show. Kudos for your efforts.

As far as the single ramp shot goes... I'm amazed *anyone* could hit it as it seems to have some awful rotating "impediment"
almost directly in front of the entrance. I know these things are supposed to add a random element to the gameplay but I never liked the lamp either in TOTAN. I assume some people must like smacking the ball into these things but it just seems like a lazy way to put more junk on the PF...

If it had another ramp shot maybe this would be ok but that impediment, magical as it must be, is a turn off (IMHO)

Welcome to the internet... where everyone is a critic AND and expert.

If this was the only thread one went to on PS I agree it looks like RGP's negative days. But it's to be expected as everybody here lost a boatload of money. I say let 'em vent... they earned it.

What bugs me is that people post the EXACT same message each day with slightly different wording... as if repeating it makes it more convincing somehow.

It doesn't.

I think we need an informal pact that everybody says their piece maybe TWICE and then has to come up with a new angle. Changing a few words doesn't count

I agree. I think everybody has their bullet points memorized by now.

Well one guy did write him and say "at that price the damn thing better give me a blowj*b while I play"!

To JPop's credit he then installed the vacuum attachment we've been hearing about. Who says he doesn't listen to critics?

Also only 19 games = worth maybe 40k each in a year? = attracts speculators.

Actually this really IS the only unsubstantiated claim and could be complete BS designed to give you even more drama to rant about...

The guy that wrote it probably hoped a whole bunch of people would then run with it... unfortunately he only got you.

It may or may not be true but this little second-hand note *proves* absolutely nothing.

Has nothing to do with "RotorDave" and you know it. It was just an anonymous letter sent to him. Might have been to just stir things up.
That's what people do btw.

I think with your inherent lack of credibility (sorry dude that's the truth) I will simply ignore your second piece of "evidence".

If a "real" person DID send this message then let them stand up and say it. Who would it hurt if Joe XX says Zidware wanted their money just recently?? Still probably wouldn't prove anything but you guys are the ones screaming about "no secrets".

If "no secrets" is good for the Bill deal then it should also be good for any accusations. Real simple.

I'm not "wrong" at all. Without any actual real people saying this there really no "proof". Personally I think it's quite possible but I get tired of reading these rants with no actual names, evidence, etc...

"No secrets" remember...?

I never said it was "unbelievable" at all. Quite the opposite if you actually read what I wrote.

At least you admit they are allegations... THAT was my only point. Ranters shouldn't say there is "evidence" until real, verifiable people
can prove it. You want proof in the Bill deal - then provide it when it goes the other way. I think what I'm saying is simple to understand and I'm the last guy to support JP.

Besides like you say... he's proven himself to be a bit of scumbag (can I say that here?) and took all your money. Why argue about THIS
point? Seems par for the course.

Well that WOULD clear up whether he's still taking orders Just make sure you stop the check in a couple hours.

Not a personal attack at all. In fact I didn't want to embarrass you any further about your behavior in the Pred thread so I kept it simple but accurate. Shouting people down, repeatedly LOUDLY stating "the license is a done deal people! what's your problem?"... etc... even when they were questioning the web wipe - this stuff might JUST affect your credibility.

So to see you now over here ranting yet again just rubs me the wrong way. I suppose I should have simply put you on "ignore" as you remind me of the RGP-style posters that I wanted to get away from. I've never used the ignore and didn't want to but realize that may have been the way to go.

Live and learn.

I should have hit "ignore" a while back. That's my fault.

I just see him back to ranting as usual and if you describe his recent behavior... it's the "low road". Not sure why accurately describing someone's behavior is a bad thing. I didn't drag up any of the posts... that's what I meant by embarrassing someone.

But then to cry "Mommy" to the mods... lol

OK I hit ignore... sorry to anybody and PS that was bothered.

Well that explains why it seems to be halfway into the ramp entrance lane. I suppose when tweaked it would just spin nicely as the ball makes it's way up the ramp.

Looks like they didn't have time to adjust it before the show as most people had some issues making that ramp... still the toy makes a *little* more sense now Thanks for the in-person explanation.

Man if those things really are an off the shelf part (maybe from a bike shop?) I'm gonna slap some of those on the machines people tend to play when they stop by. It should stop my friends from trying to show me a death save on my beloved toy

I doubt if Bill will post any more info here. He must feel every time he opens his mouth he gets the equivalent of an extended
prostate exam.

He'll probably just talk in the private "owners" group and avoid us rubberneckers and armchair QB's... those guys in the group have actually lost real money so it seems fair to me.

After the mixed (to put it politely) reception to the machine at the show... I think that ship has sailed.

Got bored of the TOTAN I guess?

But yeah - people are looking for somebody to blame now. People imagine the game being moved at night from one "safe house" to the next... nobody wants to see anybody actually profit from this mess and that's understandable.

Plus I think it was your partner's comments about knowing where the game was that set people on edge.

In any case... I need more bulbs so I'll be in touch

Yeah... THAT'S what they should worry about

There's a million exemptions from having to pay... that's what has made the program so contentious. Everyone agrees you need portable health insurance (not tied to your job - in case you lose it) but resent the fact that a lot of people DON'T have to pay. Including members of Congress, people that claim poverty, etc...

But let's not go there. Nobody cared if he was drawing a salary back when they thought he might actually produce something.

Because it's not really below cost... they get all kinds of incentives and kickbacks from the manufacturer. That's why it's almost hopeless to *really* know what a dealership has invested in a car for sale.

And I don't think this applies to a tiny one man operation... at all?

Sooo...nobody knows where the prototype ended up? Back with JP?

That probably means he makes those big cardboard arrows that guys flip on the streetcorners to get your attention. Finally found his calling.
And he might be able to complete some of these also...

You gotta love that. I like on the web page where they say right at the very end... the most IMPORTANT thing... govt clearance to even be able to sell the thing... was somehow overlooked. So even without the theft (or scam) they STILL wouldn't be shipping anything.

Sounds like Predator for sure... we overlooked the license!

Hopefully his new work mantra has to be repeated ad infinitum each day: "do you want fries with that?"

I hear ya. Problem with keeping the wages low is then the worker applies and gets food stamps, housing assistance, etc to make ends meet. So the taxpayers end up paying while the companies maintain their profit margin.

You're right though - robots are the future. Companies love 'em. No downtime, overtime pay, health benefits... the rub is if they take away too many jobs... who'll have $$ to buy the companies stuff?

Oh that's cool - you're one of the last and probably the most famous drive in movie theater. I remember your posts about the drive in a while back ago. Glad you're still in business.
Sadly you're a little far out for me as I'm up near DC. I'd love for my two kids to be able to have the drive in experience. I barely got very many of those myself growing up.

Yup. Part of the package. Who would have thought it would end up being the ENTIRE package though...?

Hope he invested some of it well so he has something to live on... said nobody ever.

Well you know what he MEANS... the "creator" has to have something to pay bills, feed himself, whatever... but it's built into the final price of the product. With no product at all ever being produced the whole equation goes to hell. Speaking of going to hell... hey Popadiuk!

lol

Well I see Kim's name in there.

Also never knew "zilch" could be someone's last name. Learn something new every day...

You got downvoted for stating something that was not true. And stating it confidently as if if it were true.

Don't worry - you're hardly the only one over here that makes an educated guess and then states it as fact. You have plenty of company

Is it though? With all that pink and purple "magic" it looks like it's meant for your pre-teen daughters room. To go right next to her stuffed pink unicorn.

They should have one in each Justice store in the malls across America.

Maybe it's just me but the color choices make me a little queasy... especially the added aqua green in the PF and the oversaturated translite.

Well I do find the animal art kinda boring as somehow I already have examples right here with rabbits, hats and jester's. His earlier stuff ya know?

And pink and purple represents the 70's?... um ok.

Yeah I believe it. And I'm happy for every person that gets one as they PAID for this thing with blood, sweat and anxiety. To go from thinking their money was down the toilet to now this... gotta feel sweet.

Yeah I can find you some girlie pink and purple art from EVERY era if you like it so much

I never liked Warhol but his most valuable pieces weren't pink and purple (to stay on point).

I get the feeling you don't like MY personal reaction to the color scheme of that "game" (if it plays)

My reaction to it was not designed to offend you btw... but it is what it is.

When I bought CV NIB on closeout I didn't love that scheme either. In fact it still looks like an eyesore in my home... but at $1700 new you couldn't pass it up.

You can tell that MG is more meant to be looked at than actually played. Look at the deformed rabbits placed RIGHT next to each flipper at the inlane. Just when you need to see the ball returning to the flipper to judge it's speed, etc... there's a huge rabbit decoration blocking the player's view. There's a reason you don't put a hunk of plastic right before the ball returns to the flipper.

And so MANY delicate unsupported plastics littered all over the PF. Looks kinda neat but lets hope this thing doesn't generate any airballs or you're going to need some backup plastic sets. Maybe it will use the low power coils he used on CV.

That's if it plays at all... I didn't realize out of 4 or 5 "gameplay" videos there was NO gameplay. Vintage Jpop indeed.

For some reason he seems to want us to know his slingshots work though... in fact they KEEP working long after the ball is gone lol

Maybe I missed the point of that?

That's because you apparently don't know the HISTORY of this character and the forum. It has nothing to do with these new videos. There's a reason he's been blocked from every pinball/arcade forum...not just this one.

I know like most people here you just want to POST for posting sake but there is a reason they have this policy towards the guy (or anybody that behaved as he had). The site's founder tried to explain it earlier but hey... let's just keep endlessly posting about the same issue.

Personally it bores me...as it did a year ago.

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.

Hey Jpop did a joke! He has an "inspected by L.Christmas" sticker on it.

Us old WMS guys saw a lot of his stickers back in the day... or maybe he just had the most memorable name

Wonder where he is now?

Apparently only threatening legal action makes this guy do *anything*. Finish anything (if you can call this "finished"), produce anything, politely respond to someone, etc.

Too bad he can't be threatened into manning up and offering an actual apology to those he screwed. Real class act.

Glad you survived the switchover. I know it spelled doom for many others in your position. Has it been four years already?

"Patient" huh? I don't think they had much choice. The congrats probably should go to those that instigated legal action...

Without the legal stick waved over his head I suspect the owners would have had to have "endless" patience.

You scumbag!! How dare you.

Wonder if whoever he got to do the music and callouts also got ripped off and never paid?

No offense but this needs a "full review"? Why not "you bang the ball around but nothing does (or even can) happen"?

Done.

Happy for you that you got your machine though - heck even a couple months ago I was certain all that money had burned up into magic smoke. Color me...gobsmacked. (always wanted to use that word)

That "machine" (and I use the word lightly) has had the shortest 15 minutes of fame I can remember.

So at least there is SOME justice in the world.

You gotta love how he dubs himself "enigmatic"... lol I would have gone with "larcenous".