I was advised a few weeks ago that something was going on with Heighway...that they were in trouble. Was kind of shocked frankly, as up until then I hadn't had the first clue that anything odd was going on. Maybe the buyers have been in a different position but I hadn't seen anything about it on here, so it was news to me. Come in after my days off today and see....this... wow..just wow.
How many times do we have to see this scenario play out guys? The only smart ones on either side of the aisle are the ones that are leaving the building with their money intact, or that have already recieved games (I guess this is debateable given the number of HP-specific parts that might be left in the lurch if it goes belly-up). The dream of "new pinball era of prosperity" is dead, dead DEAD. It's dead? IT'S DEAD! We've seen amateurs and professionals alike fail miserably for YEARS to get these companies off the grounds, and the pinball community, not them, are the ones repeatedly left holding the bag, aside from the first 10 guys to order. I only know what I'd do in this situation...get whatever money back ASAP and run for the hills...but I understand all too well the desire to own a game.
I really hope my friends that have a game on order get it. I really hope that this turns around. History, and recent history in particular, has shown that neither of these are at all likely to actually happen, and I'm a realist. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee on this one.....even if they get all current orders shipped and built what is the support life of these things going to be? How long will viable replacement parts be around? There won't be enough games in the wild to make reproducing anything a worthwhile venture financially.
Really sad to see this keep repeating ad infinitium.