Quoted from iceman44:

That’s the beauty of pinball. You just never know what may or may not happen

Quoted from Txcoastal1:

iceman44
One of these days, we need to grab a bite or a drink. I am the Buc-ee's integrator for the last 20 years for all their low voltage. I expect now that the I-10 construction out your way is finally wrapping that Buc-ee's will likely build that location in 2022.

Quoted from Concretehardt:

Yea I remember 8+ years ago chatting on the threads here about RAZA with Iceman and all the guys who were in on it and many who were not. We had disagreements but things were much less toxic, it was definitely a different time on Pinside, I’m not saying it was perfect, but sometimes I miss those days.

Quoted from TheFamilyArcade:

Goodie Bags have been in pinball machines for decades.

Quoted from Honch:

I agree. It was much easier back then, but that was because JPOP was such an easy person for everyone to despise. He was as arrogant as he was incompetent. He had some enablers on Pinside, but ultimately it was his scam. JPOP was a straight up con artist, who somehow undeservedly gained a reputation for being a great pinball designer. After all these years and all of the stories I've read about him, I'm still not sure how he got top billing for designing, CV, TOM and TOTAN?

Quoted from iceman44:

That pretty much sums it up. The times I talked to him revealed a level of basic business/financial cluelessness.
He knew it was over in early 2015. The Ponzi scheme doesn’t work without product. Can’t keep selling AIW payments without production of games and he knew it.
Robert? His arrogance, which is massive for zero reason, bought into it stupidly.
Regardless, with all the money DR has blown and still has to burn? Jpop is meaningless now

Quoted from iceman44:

Buc-Ees is taking over the world! New Braunfels was the last one we know of.

Luling was the original right?

My area of Boerne IH-10 needs one

Quoted from kklank:

Was Ben and Jpop the first ones to come up with the “goodie bag”. Now Haggis, Stern and Spooky all do it but they call it “swag”. Lol.

Quoted from Txcoastal1:

Buc-ee's now has a several out of state, FL, GA, AL, SC...Luling was the first travel center, it will be knocked down next year and replaced with the new 75K sqft floor plan.
Boerne's property was purchased a few years ago, but TX Dot would not let it open till FWY construction was finished.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Here-s-an-update-on-when-Buc-ee-s-will-open-its-15844735.php

Quoted from TheFamilyArcade:

That poster proves how bat shit crazy Jpop is. And why Ben ran away screaming. And why everyone else should have. “Mystery Mechs”, “super goodie bag”, DIY pinball kit, “play the trailer”, “Two Shooters”. Jesus H. Christ, stop the madness.

Quoted from WolfManCat:

Sounds like you have some real gnarly arcades where you live.

Quoted from iceman44:

2023 for Boerne. The wheels of IH-10 construction turn slowly.
Well, I try and avoid even heading IH-10 east these days towards Houston and that construction fiasco. I did hit the Buc-ees on the way back from Houston last month!

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it. It would have been easy to provide one. By missing another deadline, Robert gets a strike for lying. Granted this is a minuscule one and more of one of poor planning. But Robert has a credibility problem and this didn’t help.
In the one decision, he also made a mistake by linking being able to report meaningful progress with releasing the update. He never told us that was what he was doing but it likely was what he meant. So Robert was unclear with his intent. The problem with waiting to report something until there is significant progress is the unpredictability it causes. So if event doesn’t occur, you rationalize, we’ll it will happen in a few weeks and then I’ll report. Well the thing you are waiting inevitably takes forever to occur and so when you give that update three months have gone by.
Until now our understanding of Robert running the company was he had raised tons of capital and he could continue at will for as long as the funds hold up. That is still unchanged but know that he has investors and a board to answer to. Once one of them sees the money suck going on and puts their foot down. The operation will be shut down. I believe this is already occurring and this is why I selected Aug 31 as important. That is not any official date but would be a reasonable point in Deeproot’s timeline to be shipping games or laying everybody off. Robert M’s background is making profitable investments and were he to look at his own books, he’d have to see it is time to give up. While you may be tempted to look at what was spent to get here, it is better to focus on what the future looks like. Those tea leaves are saying run Forrest, run!

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it. It would have been easy to provide one. By missing another deadline, Robert gets a strike for lying. Granted this is a minuscule one and more of one of poor planning. But Robert has a credibility problem and this didn’t help.
In the one decision, he also made a mistake by linking being able to report meaningful progress with releasing the update. He never told us that was what he was doing but it likely was what he meant. So Robert was unclear with his intent. The problem with waiting to report something until there is significant progress is the unpredictability it causes. So if event doesn’t occur, you rationalize, it will happen in a few weeks and then you’ll report. Well the thing you are waiting for inevitably takes forever to occur, and so when you give that update three months have gone by.
Until now our understanding of Robert running the company was he had raised tons of capital and he could continue at will for as long as the funds hold up. That is still unchanged but know that he has investors and a board to answer to. Once one of them sees the money suck going on and puts their foot down. The operation will be shut down. I believe this is already occurring and this is why I selected Aug 31 as important. That is not any official date but would be a reasonable point in Deeproot’s timeline to be shipping games or laying everybody off. Robert M’s background is making profitable investments and were he to look at his own books, he’d have to see it is time to give up. While you may be tempted to look at what was spent to get here, it is better to focus on what the future looks like. Those tea leaves are saying run Forrest, run!

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it. It would have been easy to provide one. By missing another deadline, Robert gets a strike for lying. Granted this is a minuscule one and more of one of poor planning. But Robert has a credibility problem and this didn’t help.
In the one decision, he also made a mistake by linking being able to report meaningful progress with releasing the update. He never told us that was what he was doing but it likely was what he meant. So Robert was unclear with his intent too. The problem with waiting to report something until there is significant progress is the unpredictability it causes. So if event doesn’t occur, you rationalize, it will happen in a few weeks and then you’ll report. Well the thing you are waiting for inevitably takes forever to occur, and so when you give that update three months have gone by.
Until now our understanding of Robert running the company was he had raised tons of capital and he could continue at will for as long as the funds hold up. That is still unchanged but know that he has investors and a board to answer to. Once one of them sees the money suck going on and puts their foot down. The operation will be shut down. I believe this is already occurring and this is why I selected Aug 31 as important. That is not any official date but would be a reasonable point in Deeproot’s timeline to be shipping games or laying everybody off. Robert M’s background is making profitable investments and were he to look at his own books, he’d have to see it is time to give up. While you may be tempted to look at what was spent to get here, it is better to focus on what the future looks like. Those tea leaves are saying run Forrest, run!

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it. It would have been easy to provide one. By missing another deadline, Robert gets a strike for lying. Granted this is a minuscule one and more of one of poor planning. But Robert has a credibility problem and this didn’t help.
In the one decision, he also made a mistake by linking being able to report meaningful progress with releasing the update. He never told us that was what he was doing but it likely was what he meant. So Robert was unclear with his intent too. The problem with waiting to report something until there is significant progress is the unpredictability it causes. So if event doesn’t occur, you rationalize, it will happen in a few weeks and then you’ll report. Well the thing you are waiting for inevitably takes forever to occur, and so when you give that update three months have gone by.
Until now our understanding of Robert running the company was he had raised tons of capital and he could continue at will for as long as the funds hold up. That is still unchanged but know that he has investors and a board to answer to. Once one of them sees the money suck going on and puts their foot down. The operation will be shut down. I believe this is already occurring and this is why I selected Aug 31 as important. That is not any official date but would be a reasonable point in Deeproot’s timeline to be shipping games or laying everybody off. Robert M’s background is making profitable investments and were he to look at his own books, he’d have to see it is time to give up. While you may be tempted to look at what was spent to get here, it is better to focus on what the future looks like. Those tea leaves are saying run Forrest, run!

Quoted from Yelobird:

You should just ask for a refund. Fair enough if your not interested in waiting. Everyone has there breaking point. Good luck.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Fortunately no money is in and I would have taken a refund the first time it was offered. Way back when people were signing contracts not to sue JPOP. Had I missed that deadline I would taken the money the second time it was offered.
I have no doubt Robert could build the 130 games, making all purchasers happy. But I also believe he wants to do it at a reasonable cost. Therein lies the problem. Example #1 - Games selling for $7k (??) each should cost no more than $4k (??) to build. If they cost 1 cent more than $7k, they are losing money on every game built. Also their production costs are out of wack!
Example #2 - Lots of bad decisions are made by the company president. Lacking competence the company president focuses on insignificant aspects and so is surprised by every issue that comes up.
If Robert were to look at the financials, he’d conclude it was a bad investment. Lots of capital was spent, way more than what should have been. Too many unanswered issues left to solve. No million dollar inventory or fixed asset to draw on for the $20M (??) spent to date. Stay in business and hemorrhage millions a month. He probably still has enough $ to build games for everyone and he may have the desire to proceed at any costs. But what comes after building RAZA?

Quoted from Yelobird:

I’m sure DR appreciates your deep analysis of their business plan. I for one just want one of the 130 games and could honestly care less how they do it or how much they make. Selfish maybe but I have better things to do then evaluate someone else’s business margins or plans. I just buy games my family or friends look like fun!

Quoted from DakotaMike:

You keep saying Yelobird that you only care about eventually getting the game, and that none of the other stuff matters. Except that it's not enough to just get the game, you need to be able to get spare parts when stuff breaks. You need to be able to get technical support, especially with a brand new platform. And so deeproot piball needs to still exist to get that stuff.
Just talk to Heighway Alien owners about what happens when the boutique manufacturer of your bespoke game goes belly up.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Fortunately no money is in...

Those still in in RAZA would be better off if Robert decided to refund 110% to buyers and close the company.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it.

Quoted from Calfdemon:

He bought Cosmic Carnival (game #1 I believe?), so not sure that is something he really cares about.
And just for context, this is not a rip or a jab. Just stating a fact that I remember him getting Cosmic Carnival when Suncoast was about to go belly up and that didn't stop him. So I am thinking he has the ability to keep his games going under his own abilities. He is a mod-maker after all...

Quoted from Mbecker:

But certainly what happened has fueled his anger

Quoted from PinballManiac40:

… if they are working 10 hours a day.

Quoted from Yelobird:

I have absolutely NO concern with this game.

Quoted from DakotaMike:

You keep saying Yelobird that you only care about eventually getting the game, and that none of the other stuff matters. Except that it's not enough to just get the game, you need to be able to get spare parts when stuff breaks. You need to be able to get technical support, especially with a brand new platform. And so deeproot piball needs to still exist to get that stuff.
Just talk to Heighway Alien owners about what happens when the boutique manufacturer of your bespoke game goes belly up.

Quoted from Yelobird:

Very true and appreciated. Yes, I have been around pinball for MANY years and long ago there were NO spares for Anything yet we always managed to get the games going. Cosmic just like the Alien I owned have never really been all that hard to figure out and with the knowledge sharing in forums like this I have yet to come across a bricked forever game. As long as code is playable (which looks very much the case in this title) the rest is simple tinkering if anything goes wrong. I own games from United, Chicago Coin and dozens more long since out of business and they still play like new. I have absolutely NO concern with this game.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

Robert M’s decision to delay an update was a mistake. He promised the community they would get an update and then didn’t provide it.

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

I was reading TWIP this week and they summarized the TPS interview of Spooky where Charlie says, we have all the parts in to begin the first build (of 1250 Halloween and 500 Ultraman’s). I don’t know how many of the total “first build” includes but if I had to take a wag and knowing Charlie is a straight shooter, I’d say enough parts to build 500 games. The number is not important, rather Spooky let us know they are starting production and confirmed they have 100% of the parts on hand to do the builds. That shows competence and it is what we need to hear from Deeproot. In Dec 2021, 130 RAZA orders were placed and games were expected to be built by March. The last update from them was in June, where they announced some proportion of some portion of the parts that were needed to build 130 games were in. That is weak sauce.

Quoted from Yelobird:

Very true and appreciated. Yes, I have been around pinball for MANY years and long ago there were NO spares for Anything yet we always managed to get the games going. Cosmic just like the Alien I owned have never really been all that hard to figure out and with the knowledge sharing in forums like this I have yet to come across a bricked forever game. As long as code is playable (which looks very much the case in this title) the rest is simple tinkering if anything goes wrong. I own games from United, Chicago Coin and dozens more long since out of business and they still play like new. I have absolutely NO concern with this game.

Quoted from transprtr4u:

Hang in there guys your games will come.

Quoted from kklank:

Don’t forget you hired my services to do repairs for you………because of my incredible skill set.

Quoted from Yelobird:

Yeah I do recall that not every time I hit the flippers my toilet flushes. Lol

Quoted from wrb1977:

Wilhelm at deeproot indicated that according to Robert a RAZA update was likely this week. I do not think this will be the “now shipping” update everyone is hoping for, however, I do think this will be a very significant update with specifics as to their progress. Maybe wishful thinking...thoughts anyone???

Quoted from wrb1977:

Wilhelm at deeproot indicated that according to Robert a RAZA update was likely this week. I do not think this will be the “now shipping” update everyone is hoping for, however, I do think this will be a very significant update with specifics as to their progress. Maybe wishful thinking...thoughts anyone???

Quoted from DS_Nadine:

He didn't delay an update and didn't promise one for a specific date, just read again what was written and stop going on rants based on (made up) stuff like that. (There is enough to rant about but this is not it and soley on yourself.)
He was asked. He answered. They hope the week of 19th they have something to tell, that'd be this week. WEEK. We'll see.

Quoted from wrb1977:

Agreed. Deeproot doesn’t owe us pics of their progress or manufacturing area like some believe. However, an update with substance and some particulars would be nice and would give the buyers some confidence and would earn more patience.

Quoted from DakotaMike:

But he DID delay an update DS_Nadine--Robert said after the 4th of July holiday he'd give an update. That was two weeks ago now. I feel like it's disingenuous to pretend that we're still in "after-the-holiday-weekend" territory here. It's obvious this is another missed deadline from Robert (albeit a minor one). Unless we're no longer supposed to take Robert's statements at face value?
I don't know why Robert even bothers to put dates on things, it just gives him another timeline to miss. And sure, the follow-up email did say an update would be coming this week (no specific day), but the email also implied that an update could be even sooner. Which obviously didn't happen.
So while deeproot still has plenty of time to get an announcement out this week, no matter what day they release an update, it will certainly be at least a bit later than we could have expected based on Robert's last communication. Not that it really matters of course, but it is another in a long line of broken promises and missed deadlines from deeproot.

That sounds like quite the pipedream! But if the next update does include those things, then I'll happily make an extra donation to Pinside as a show of penance!

Quoted from DakotaMike:

But he DID delay an update DS_Nadine--Robert said after the 4th of July holiday he'd give an update. That was two weeks ago now. I feel like it's disingenuous to pretend that we're still in "after-the-holiday-weekend" territory here. It's obvious this is another missed deadline from Robert (albeit a minor one). Unless we're no longer supposed to take Robert's statements at face value?
I don't know why Robert even bothers to put dates on things, it just gives him another timeline to miss. And sure, the follow-up email did say an update would be coming this week (no specific day), but the email also implied that an update could be even sooner. Which obviously didn't happen.
So while deeproot still has plenty of time to get an announcement out this week, no matter what day they release an update, it will certainly be at least a bit later than we could have expected based on Robert's last communication. Not that it really matters of course, but it is another in a long line of broken promises and missed deadlines from deeproot.

That sounds like quite the pipedream! But if the next update does include those things, then I'll happily make an extra donation to Pinside as a show of penance!

Quoted from DakotaMike:

But he DID delay an update DS_Nadine--Robert said after the 4th of July holiday he'd give an update. That was two weeks ago now. I feel like it's disingenuous to pretend that we're still in "after-the-holiday-weekend" territory here. It's obvious this is another missed deadline from Robert (albeit a minor one). Unless we're no longer supposed to take Robert's statements at face value?
I don't know why Robert even bothers to put dates on things, it just gives him another timeline to miss. And sure, the follow-up email did say an update would be coming this week (no specific day), but the email also implied that an update could be even sooner. Which obviously didn't happen.
So while deeproot still has plenty of time to get an announcement out this week, no matter what day they release an update, it will certainly be at least a bit later than we could have expected based on Robert's last communication. Not that it really matters of course, but it is another in a long line of broken promises and missed deadlines from deeproot.

That sounds like quite the pipedream! But if the next update does include those things, then I'll happily make an extra donation to Pinside as a show of penance!

Quoted from Yelobird:

The buyers will let you know when there is an update.

Quoted from Rarehero:

he’s just straightforward being honest about what’s up, with a dose of acerbic humor and pot-stiring. Ben has proven himself a creator of things…he of all people is qualified to say “Hey! I made/make/will make stuff. If you can’t see fakes when they’re right in front of you, I’ll help you out.”

Quoted from wrb1977:

Wilhelm at deeproot indicated that according to Robert a RAZA update was likely this week. I do not think this will be the “now shipping” update everyone is hoping for, however, I do think this will be a very significant update with specifics as to their progress. Maybe wishful thinking...thoughts anyone???

Quoted from Makakka:

Would be nice if buyers would keep it confidential to dry out the sewer.