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.

More specifically I was referencing the line from Congo that you sometimes get when you drain. Gotta keep it relevant, ya know?

I know I'm on here a lot dude, but seriously....I can't keep up with EVERYTHING. I'm trying to have a life outside of work and pinball the last two years. Like I have no freakin' clue what's going on with Nemo right now. You realize that in 2016, I was in Vegas playing Full Throttle right in front of Andrew at the trade show before Nationals? That's not screaming "THIS COMPANY IS SINKING!"...all I knew was that I didn't like the way it felt, so I didn't really keep up with all things HP. I played Aliens at TPF and didn't like the way it shot. So again...with no current product that I'm interested in owning...why would I keep up with them? Hell, the only reason I stay half-up on JJP is because they *SEEM* to be proving that they're able to produce games and get them out the doors, even as others are faceplanting left and right....I don't keep up with all the JJP drama though?

*Edit* Even barring all that, why on earth would I even joke about that? I know at least one guy that is waiting on an Alien LE. I had a lot of hope for some of the things Heighway was doing even if their layouts weren't my bag. You have any idea how much I'd kill for all my games to have removeable flipper mechs? LOL. When I shopped Farfalla before TPF and saw how easily their flippers come off the playfield, leaving only the shaft to drop through, I swear to god I about cried tears of joy.

Two posts, zero worthwhile content. Take your own advice.

Aurich, perhaps? I fail to see how any of this would be his fault, or Hilton's. It's utterly ridiculous that in the post-Predator/MagicGirl era that anyone is...<whatever> enough to give money to new pinball companies before they are shipping games, but fanbois gonna fanboi.... nobody's to blame but themselves for taking a gamble on these companies.. people have now been warned how many times?

Predator
Magic Girl
Alice in Wonderland
BHZA
Lebowski (AFAIK, anyways)
Heighway
Those guys that swore to all of us they were going to make that laughable super premium Cthulu game that you couldn't even back up to a wall because it had crap on the BACK..lol..

I mean...how many more times this have to happen? Pinball is an expensive hobby, and an expensive business. Maybe people should remember that.

Heighway's primary failure was having their first game be a turd. I'm sorry, F-T owners....I've played it several times and it's just a very mediocre game with interesting rules, but a terrible feel to it.

FullT has that huge plastic crossover ramp, for one. Playfield plastics. Anything molded. Anything not off the shelf. LCD screen and computer, along with code.

Flipper assemblies are not standard B/W parts AFAIK (which was one of the most savvy moves Jersey Jack did IMO..unless that's changed?)

Then please, convince someone to make me new Crescendo plastics.

I would thumbs down you, because as has been stated Creech ramps are available, but apparently just found out I'm not allowed to disagree with anyone anymore, even people that trolled me. (Not you, just saying.) So, hooray, you win by default!