I've been trying to stay positive but these emails worry me big time. Its not even about losing money or having to wait but the possibility of not getting a Predator themed pinball, I love the look of it and the gameplay so its just very disheartening that after all this time and waiting it might not happen.

all of this would have been avoided with COMMUNICATIONS from Skit-B. it's that simple!

no guessing.
no drama.
no accusations.

drugs / alcohol / legal / mental / introvert / fear / other ?

that just doesn't come across as a lucid business communication at all.

I just went to Skit-b's web site. No mention of the predator pinball. Really, no mention that they are even making a machine. Also no mention of the Mythbuster's machine. Now, if you're a startup company and have these licenses you would have it plastered all over your site. You don't need a calculator to do the math on this one IMO.

I've seen the email and this is spot on.

Making pinball machines is hard.

Especially if you don't have the license.

Not sure who sucks more

The person sending the email or the people not sharing it

Super-condensed summary:

Yesterday's note:
"The very existence of the project is threatened"
Today's note:
"Don't worry, be happy"

I'm going to guess that first email received more than a few immediate replies asking for refunds. That prompted a less dire email the next day.

Yeah, it's weird that they've wiped their own site clean of any mention they're actually trying to build and sell pinball machine. That's sad, hate to see this happen to pinball, again.

Is this the same way it's been for months with no mention of Predator (which led to a firestorm months ago and ultimately Kevin's reassurances that he does have to Predator license but follow-up from someone that talked to him suggesting he wasn't allowed to publicize it)? Or is there now no mention of pinball at all on the SkitB website?

The Skit-B website has the same information on its thats been there for months. There's not supposed to be this much drama in pinball. Ill tell you what, if this game never sees the light of day and my money was stolen from me then I'll be done with this hobby.

SkitB should just silently re-theme the game as NBC's "To Catch a Predator" and start shipping.

To-Catch-a-Predator.png

Experts of Dangerous: The SkitB Story

You and me both, brother.

Just more games for the rest of us,

Well heres to hoping we either get a game or our money back eventhough its very slim it would seem. I shoulda just stuck with the used games, a very expensive lesson learned.

Sure is and you can have them. Good luck I truly hope there is a game made cause Id hate to see anyone taken for a ride. I tried to stick it out but one can only take so much drama for years. Predator #77 if anyone wants it.

That's the spirit, for a sec I thought I was on RGP. Glad to have you here :c

glad to see that theres some empathy around here.

Just curious but has anyone spoken with the subcontractors? Back alley, the cabinet makers? Anyone know of any of the outsourcing that has been ordered? How many? or just prototypes ? I was just curious how far along they are as I walked away 6 months ago.

Charlie emery confirmed he was contracted to build 250 pf's. When I asked if he actually built them, no response.

OR...just wait till it's already made....then buy it......hmm............Joey

In fairness you gave your hard earned cash to them.
If you loose money its your own fault and no body elses.
Dont say its skitbs fault either,they didn't put a gun to your head.
start ups go tits up every day of the week and people loose more than 7 or 8K .

Just wanted to say thanks for the entertainment on a slow night at work. Wow!

Given what I've seen/read over this weekend:
I'm now even more confident there's a serious problem with the license.... anonymous stuff has supported it- but after having seen Kevins last 2 emails- it tends to rather confirm it (IMO).

Just a thought:

Could SkitB ship a sanitized game - Predator-ish art but no overt references.

Perhaps a DIY process to finish it.(translite, ROM, maybe even mylar "decals" to add some Predator flavor after-the-fact).

That's not fair. The hobby didn't do this to you it was one person. It'd be like saying you are done with the NFL because Ray Rice hit his GF.

image.jpg

I'm in the same mess with jpop, my money is gone and no game and no idea if or when i'll get it. I won't leave the hobby if I lose my money though, but I am never pre-ordering anything ever again. Cash & carry from now on.

Umm, only if he was Rice's girlfriend.

We use most of the same parts suppliers, have shipped hundreds of machines and have not had any delay issues. They all take very good care of us.

I didn't say this was anyone's fault but my own but losing a large sum of money to something that is supposed to be fun and entertaining may be enough to push me out. It's just how I'm feeling right now.

Well - Looks like Jimbo Jones just stole your lunch money!

How is that even possible? You would think they have been spending some of the preorder on invetory and supplies to build the machines. If everyone asked for a refund, would there be enough money to go around?

That's right! It's *always* the victims fault!

And it's "lose", loser.

As stated here by another pinsider, perhaps the person called fox because of the lack of communication from Skitb. In other words, it is like a stock. You have to conduct due diligence. He/she may have called to determine if this investment indeed did have the license? Or like a bad stock, it could go down the tubes if untruths are uncovered?

Just a thought.

Or maybe all that phone call shit is made up and the real problem is that Kevin never had a competent person (lawyer) look over the license he agreed to? Maybe it is as simple as Skit B thought they signed something they didn't.

I think its disingenuous to pull that ONE quote from the email without sharing the bulk of it.

If folks want to keep playing this game of shrouding the communication- ok- well fine. But if you're going to share ONE positive sentence, I think its only fair to share it all. Otherwise, you've really skewed the message.

Can't Tiger post both emails in the locked Predator thread - assuming he has Kevin's authorization?

I'd like to read the emails to see who is sugar coating it or distorting the message as there are allegations both ways.

Don't worry - we will need a support group, PreOrderDator Anonymous...

It is also possible that the terms of his license had an expiration date.

Absolutely possible. The whole thing could be bullshit....

However, MUCH more telling to ME is not the rumors, but how SkitB has reacted. Innocent people dont stop talking when they are falsely accused. They generally make bold statements with righteous indignation (see Jacks comments after his lawsuit story broke).

SkitB knows EXACTLY what the issues people are having are. Here's the simple message they would have sent (if they could):

"Folks, lots of rumors floating around the internet- no surprises there! We are behind schedule, but we are busting our butts to make this game. While I cant promise a delivery date, here's what I CAN promise:
1. We are making a Predator pinball machine
2. We have a license to do it."

Bam, end of story.

Totally disagree with your post. In everyday life we all enter into contracts. Buying gas for your car, buying groceries, etc. A failed contract with a merchant is always the fault of the side that does not deliver as promised. Any court in the US would agree with me. Placing blame on the party that fulfilled their side of the contract is just wrong!

Since you are so very concerned about this topic you should go back and reread.

I specifically posted that quote as a counter part to the overall negative spin Aurich (yet another person not vested in the project but very concerned with it) put on his previous 'summary' while leaving that important part out.

It sure as shit isn't all rainbows and unicorns since we are getting these emails, but that quote was pretty important. That is Kevin being clear that nobody is getting screwed and he will be sure all 250 preorder people are taken care of. I have no idea anymore what that will actually be, but I still trust him to make it right with either a game or deposits returned.

At this point we have seen enough parts to build the first batch of 10 or so. To me that says there is money in the bank to either push the project forward or refund to all but 10 people. Since these guys are regular working stiffs and REAL pinheads, I have absolutely no worries that it will all work out in one way or another. As always, I am vested in the project and continue to find it sad that people like you are not vested at all but continue to try and make things worse then they already are. I will be clear that I don't owe you a damn thing and have no obligation to provide any information to you or others. I will say it is comical for you of all people to questions anyones fairness or honesty. Do you like anyone in pinball? or are you an equal opportunity hater?

Pinhead on pinhead crime created by this crap is the biggest issue IMO. This is why every pinhead has something on the line with all of these "manufacturers" and their apparent apathy towards those that would make their ideas happen.

I truly do hope everyone gets their game and hope it's worth every cent of fun that you expect it to be.
It's a brave move to back a pinball company and I can't fault anyone for that, wish I had the guts to do it.

Yep. It's really a shame that so many of these pre-order "boutique" companies are being run by incompetent people. Even if they had the best of intentions, they have done more harm to the hobby than good.

Well one thing is for sure, Stern, JJP and I think Heighway will be the only companies I order pinball machines from in the future. This is starting to make sick, Dutch, JPOP, skitB what a shitshow.

Weren't you willing to bet one of your pins that you were going to have your Predator by the first of this year? Not sure if you're in denial or what, but it seems you should be the one screaming for your machine.

I almost put a deposit on one when I played the prototype (it was either at York or Allentown, the first year they showed it). Love the theme, but thank God I decided to just wait and get one when it was released.

I hear you but I still have faith that Dutch Pinball can become the cool pinball company. Not proven but its the last one I have faith in.