(Topic ID: 108377)

The Official Pinside Kevin Kulek Skit-B Predator Discussion

By Xerico

9 years ago


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#18151 5 years ago

Oh boy, this is going to be good. I brought extra for everyone...

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#18152 5 years ago
Quoted from Kneissl:

I'd take a swing by that arcade for a spin on it if I was in the area. Better than it sitting in some Michigan basement.

For those unaffected, sure. For those who got screwed in all this, that machine in an arcade may feel like a dick punch.

#18153 5 years ago

Good job galloping ghost.
Although that a Wicked hum on a wired mic... I'd check the connection at the end of the the XLR cable for sure. If that isn't it, make sure to IF you must run audio cables by power cables they only cross as perpendicular as possible.

-2
#18154 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

For those unaffected, sure. For those who got screwed in all this, that machine in an arcade may feel like a dick punch.

I'd be a little concerned about someone potentially vandalizing it out of anger from the whole debacle.

#18155 5 years ago

So whats the story on this game as far as who had it?

John

#18156 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

For those unaffected, sure. For those who got screwed in all this, that machine in an arcade may feel like a dick punch.

Well, I was affected.. And I'd rather have the chance to play it if I choose than it sit in some unknown private collection.

10
#18157 5 years ago
Quoted from ForceFlow:

I'd be a little concered about someone potentially vandalizing it out of anger from the whole debacle.

This would be incredibly disappointing. That box of wood sitting there didn’t rip anyone off, nor did its current owner. If you lost money in this debacle and feel the need to take action, sue Kevin or take a picture of his back at an arcade auction. But don’t resort to damaging a pinball machine.

-10
#18158 5 years ago
Quoted from Dayhuff:

So whats the story on this game as far as who had it?
John

first time I have seen you troll John...

#18159 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

first time I have seen you troll John...

Are you inferring that John knows the story of this machine already? I take that as a genuine question.

#18160 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

For those unaffected, sure. For those who got screwed in all this, that machine in an arcade may feel like a dick punch.

Doc owes nobody anything. The fact that he puts not only this but countless other insanely rare one of a kind arcade machines out there for anyone to play is amazing. Giving free admission to anyone that lost money in this is completely unnecessary but genuinely cool of him to do.

#18161 5 years ago

everytime that I see those skull and spinal columns, all I can think of is this
beetlejuice-shrunken head (resized).jpgbeetlejuice-shrunken head (resized).jpg

the proportions are so off (and even worse with the little baby doll skull and spine that kkk put inside of the game cabinet. apparently, he wasn't one that could figure out the proper size for the individual components

#18162 5 years ago
Quoted from valgalder:

Doc owes nobody anything. The fact that he puts not only this but countless other insanely rare one of a kind arcade machines out there for anyone to play is amazing. Giving free admission to anyone that lost money in this is completely unnecessary but genuinely cool of him to do.

IDGAF that he has rare games. Wonderful. Congrats. I'm not looking at it from that angle. I'm looking more from the outside wondering what the overwhelming consensus of those directly and indirectly involved think of this. It has to leave a sour taste in some people's mouths.

Tokens of past crimes put on display tend not to be universally loved, no matter the intention for displaying it.

#18163 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

IDGAF that he has rare games. Wonderful. Congrats. I'm not looking at it from that angle. I'm looking more from the outside wondering what the overwhelming consensus of those directly and indirectly involved think of this. It has to leave a sour taste in some people's mouths.
Tokens of past crimes put on display tend not to be universally loved, no matter the intention for displaying it.

Overwhelming consensus means nothing. All that matters is that Hilton will once again demand that game be sold and the revenue from the sale be divided amongst those he begged to stay all-in on the con. Minus lawyer fees of course. Is this the one traded for a Ghostbusters or one built from boxes of parts?

And now it's in Law-friendly Illinois. This will be fun....

#18164 5 years ago
Quoted from Luckydogg420:

Are you inferring that John knows the story of this machine already? I take that as a genuine question.

unless he lives completely under a rock, I am not sure how he doesn't know the exact story of this game??? My Bad if you don't really know John. I assumed you did since you typically do.

John is normally very tapped in to all things pinball and MI.

From what I understand this is the game that PinChili bought from Mike Magari(sp?) which was supposedly on 'loan' from Kevin for research purposes so he could decode it to make his breaking bad machine. That is the general convoluted story.

Pinchili recently traded the game for a POTCLE? and that person then sold it to Doc. Based on the video is sounds like they sold it as a 1 of 1 but in reality it is a 1:3 or 1:4.

I am very happy that this game will finally be in public for other to play! When they open I will be sure to swing by and be happy to get free entry to check it out.

#18165 5 years ago
Quoted from ForceFlow:

I'd be a little concered about someone potentially vandalizing it out of anger from the whole debacle.

Hope they have a good disguise then, galloping ghost has more cameras than a casino.

11
#18166 5 years ago
Quoted from toyotaboy:

Hope they have a good disguise then, galloping ghost has more cameras than a casino.

I hope nobody does anything to Docs game. He bought it and is putting it in public for people to beat on. The is the first good thing to come from the shitty adventure!

Finally someone legally has the game and is sharing it with the public. Huge thanks to Doc!

#18167 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

For those unaffected, sure. For those who got screwed in all this, that machine in an arcade may feel like a dick punch.

Well - I can't speak for all buyers but I have my "Screwed_by_Kevin" badge (a $4,750 one...) so I can say how I feel.

I don't mind seeing this game on route... I just wish it were closer! Would love to play a few games one day.

#18168 5 years ago

I should have worded it a little different, but just to be clear, the free admission is only for people who have lost money with deposits on this arcade. I am assuming you have to show some type of proof of payments you have made. Otherwise admission to the pinball arcade is going to be $15 for unlimited play for a day(which in my opinion is a great deal). He also has the Alien machine there, Addams Family, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, Revenge from Mars, and like 15 others.

#18169 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

IDGAF that he has rare games. Wonderful. Congrats. I'm not looking at it from that angle. I'm looking more from the outside wondering what the overwhelming consensus of those directly and indirectly involved think of this. It has to leave a sour taste in some people's mouths.
Tokens of past crimes put on display tend not to be universally loved, no matter the intention for displaying it.

I was in Estonia recently, where I paid to see a museum of torture devices. I'm not going to pretend that I "loved" the devices that were there, but it was fascinating, historical, and gave you perspective on what was happening in the days that stuff was used.

If I was in for a Predator, I would much rather any remaining prototypes be on display with those locations acknowledging the historical perspective to ensure that a future Predator situation didn't happen again, while ensuing that what did come of the situation can be seen and enjoyed by the majority of the people.

The only other option I see is for someone else to hide it away, which I don't think is a positive for anyone except the person doing the hiding.

#18170 5 years ago
Quoted from Yoko2una:

[quoted image]
Also I don’t think a few free plays on a half completed and bogus game is going to take the sting away from someone losing $1000s.

If at $15 they gave me 16 visits free to compensate for my $250 lost thatd be badass!

#18171 5 years ago

Zero chance Kevin only built one of these.

#18172 5 years ago

What has happened to Kevin? Is he still routing arcade devices? Was his divorce finalized? Did he get a job? Pay child support? Create a new crowd funding event? Find the middle truth?

#18173 5 years ago
Quoted from TigerLaw:

What has happened to Kevin? Is he still routing arcade devices? Was his divorce finalized? Did he get a job? Pay child support? Create a new crowd funding event? Find the middle truth?

I assume like always he's just hanging around routing games...doing not much of anything.

#18174 5 years ago
Quoted from benheck:

Zero chance Kevin only built one of these.

He didn't, Tim Fife just traded his for a pirates. Also if you look at the pinside map, it claims 5 private people have this in their collection.

#18175 5 years ago
Quoted from toyotaboy:

Also if you look at the pinside map, it claims 5 private people have this in their collection.

Yeah but isn't that people whom add games to their collection before they have them?

#18176 5 years ago
Quoted from benheck:

Zero chance Kevin only built one of these.

Agreed, there is certainly more than 1. Whatever number of playfields that were made, is likely close to how many exist. Not sure if it was ever posted how many playfields were cut and printed. Not like there were a lot of custom parts on it, basically ball guides, plastics and the ramps. You also have to assume Kevin has one tucked away some place in hiding.

as far as the comment about this machine being 'legal' not sure there can be a truly legal machine given how he made it without the license and was sent a C&D from Fox on it. It may have been determined this machine could not be captured back to the estate for the bankruptcy and for the creditors, but I doubt that makes it legal per se, but I'm certainly no lawyer. I guess there is the argument it was a 'fan project', not sure that applies given the history of it.

It will give the arcade something to help draw folks in, so I guess that is a positive.

#18177 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

first time I have seen you troll John...

Not trolling at all. But here's the deal and to be quite honest I never really kept up too much on what was going on with this nightmare as I watched my money go bye bye. I sent Kevin and Keith both money and hoped for the best but as it turns out it was a mistake and if it ever does change for the better I'll eat my words......
Anyways the same can be said that when it came to who had a game in there possession I never paid much attention to that either because as far as I was concerned it was all "he said, she said" when it came right down to it. Did Clay have one? Maybe he did but maybe not......, personally I thought it was fine if anyone had one as they paid for it. Yes I did too but I wasn't in the right place at the right time I guess and it landed in there hands first....and I was fine with that. I was just wondering where this one came from if it was that same one that was floating around or another one is all. Sounds like the same one from what I'm reading?

John

#18178 5 years ago
Quoted from rosh:

Agreed, there is certainly more than 1. Whatever number of playfields that were made, is likely close to how many exist.

Spooky made him 10 right before the crap hit the fan.

#18179 5 years ago

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression there were at least 3 that were completed.

One just painted black with no cabinet artwork (a prototype), one that was brought to shows, and one for code development. Then there were some parts & pieces for possibly starting assembly of 7 more.

Between me being fuzzy on the facts since it's been so long, and all the speculation, I'm not entirely sure if all this was actually the case or not.

#18180 5 years ago

Forceflow, i think the "three" games you speak of is actually just one machine that evolved (aka the "black" game). The where abouts of that one game is unknown, but i hear it's in a private collection, and will never see the light of day. That same person is supposed to have the majority of the parts too including 4 or 5 or 6 playfields.

The galloping ghost game (shown above) i do belive is Tim Fife's old game (which he publicly traded on Facebook for a new Stern Pirates). This game is in fact the only "production" game made by kevin. The story goes, after the crap hit the fan, he needed a bankruptcy lawyer, but had no money. Then someone mentioned to him, "you should make a game and sell it, that would get you enough to make a deposit on a lawyer." And that's how the Tim Fife game came to be. Don't know if that's true, but it does make some sense. Also it went through a middle man before it got to Tim.

Some interesting things... The tim fife game does not have RGB lighting. The game that Kevin dragged to shows does have RGP lights. So you tell those two apart pretty easily (the rgb lights are kind of pin-stadium type things, and mounted next to the black light tubes on a long aluminum L channel). Also i think both of those games have no attract mode (well the DMD has an attract mode, but there's no CPU controlled lights in the attract mode), to my knowledge (at least tim's has no cpu controlled attract mode lights.) Also tim's machine (and i would assume kevin's old machine) have advertising for Marco and Back Alley and Coin taker in the DMD attract mode, which is kind of weird, since those companies probably don't want their name on the game.

As far as making a game, it would be chore. no wiring harness was ever produced. and ramps would be tough (none were really ever made besides a couple prototypes, aka the "low wall" ramps, where the ball flew off the ramps.) it would be a hell of a lot of work. also you would need the programming code. Tim may have made a copy, but that's the only place (besides kevin) that probably has the code. i heard at one point it was hosted somewhere and could be downloaded?

#18181 5 years ago
Quoted from benheck:

Spooky made him 10 right before the crap hit the fan.

So there’s closer to 15-20 possible?

#18182 5 years ago
Quoted from cfh:

As far as making a game, it would be chore. no wiring harness was ever produced

Didn't Kevin make these for the two that he built? Doesn't seem that far of a stretch that someone else could make them as well.

#18183 5 years ago
Quoted from benheck:

Spooky made him 10 right before the crap hit the fan.

Faded memories now...

Skit-B newsletter #3

27 January 2015

A little off-schedule for this newsletter, but I assure you it was worth the wait!

We had to take a somewhat unexpected trip across the midwest last week to get our next wave of parts from the folks over at Spooky Pinball LLC. Always fun to visit, and we always come back with some pretty cool stuff. In this turn, we got our next batch of playfields all neatly packed into a cool custom box (that I've been informed we have to give back, but still cool, nonetheless).

IMG_2933 (resized).JPGIMG_2933 (resized).JPG
#18184 5 years ago
Quoted from Toads:

Faded memories now...
Skit-B newsletter #3
27 January 2015
A little off-schedule for this newsletter, but I assure you it was worth the wait!
We had to take a somewhat unexpected trip across the midwest last week to get our next wave of parts from the folks over at Spooky Pinball LLC. Always fun to visit, and we always come back with some pretty cool stuff. In this turn, we got our next batch of playfields all neatly packed into a cool custom box (that I've been informed we have to give back, but still cool, nonetheless).[quoted image]

I believe one of those playfields was EoD.

Aaron
FAST Pinball

#18185 5 years ago

I wonder if he gave the box back? I know some here might want it so they can....bury someone in it?

#18186 5 years ago

happened upon this a month ago or so on Facebook... seemed interesting at the time. Naturally the whole thread vanished.

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#18187 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

I hope nobody does anything to Docs game. He bought it and is putting it in public for people to beat on. The is the first good thing to come from the shitty adventure!
Finally someone legally has the game and is sharing it with the public. Huge thanks to Doc!

I’m curious, given I thought I read Tim Fife at one point had the bankruptcy lawyer after him for the game he had, at what point did this particular game become “legal”?

Is it only after it has passed through a number of hands first it suddenly becomes legal?

You noted it was originally on loan to Mike Magari from Kevin so he could decode it, Mike then sold it to Pinchili who eventually traded it to some person for a POTC and that person eventually sold it to Doc.

I’ve got no horse in this race at all and think it’s great that one is available to play. I have simply been following the soap opera from the the sidelines. I was just generally curious given all the hand wringing about a game Tim Fife supposedly had, how does one “legally” own a game short of buying it from the bankruptcy trustee?

#18188 5 years ago

maybe "legally" was not the right word to use. In the eye of the license holder I am sure it is still not legal as this is not merely a fan 1-off but was a produced and sold/traded product.

It is such a convoluted and obviously complete lie by 1 or multiple people involved as stories did not match and changed a few times (I personally believe they are all lying and were likely given the story to tell or stumbled upon the legal loophole), but essentially the courts ruled that since it was originally loaned/traded to one person and then "loaned" or "traded" to a second that it was not a recoverable asset from that second person, pinchili. I am guessing that by now establishing a public value of the game (the value of a POTCLE in trade) it may help the bankruptcy trust to set a value that is recoverable from the original transfer? Just a guess, but the bankruptcy stuff is still going on with both trying to find people that had illegal transfer of assets and then of course the recovery of those assets or the value of the assets.

Post Pinchili trading the game, it apparently then was sold directly to Doc.

This game went Kevin > Mike(traded/purchased/on loan depending on whom you believe in their testimony) > Pinchili(traded/purchased/on loan depending on whom you believe and some changed their story pretty dramatically after getting legal counsel) > Troy (trader for a POTCLE per public posts) > Doc (purchased outright for an undisclosed amount of money per his video, but Troy does this business for a living and with a rare game like this I would assume at least 15k; I know of offers of 20 and 22k from other collectors that want one).

I think we can all take some small amount of solace that the community at large knows the real character of many of those in the original transfer/loan/trade/whatever they want to call it, and also that some of them needed to pay for lawyers and likely well in excess of what the value of the machine was once sold/traded/etc...

It is important for those in this for the long haul that everything Kevin stole will not be forgiven in the bankruptcy (they have already ruled on that), multiple people have been found to have illegal transfer of goods/assets, some have already had that recovered, and some the trustee is still working on recovery. After Bankruptcy is finally over, then people can start working on civil cases again and you never know but you may also be able to get criminal charges filed (time has passed and we are post another election cycle since this all started; plus the criminal side often lets the state bankruptcy and civil side do the dirty work of discovery to make things easier on them). This thing is going to continue to follow many of these characters for a long long time.

#18189 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

maybe "legally" was not the right word to use.

I’d say illicit at best.

#18190 5 years ago

my understanding is that Keith (trustee/lawyer etc) tried to sue Tim Fife over the machine, and lost badly. As part of the loss Keith had to pay Tim Fife's lawyer fees and then some. Which gave Tim the idea of a "legal" machine, since it went through the legal ramblings, and was found to in fact to be Tim's game (in a legal sense). I guess that's how it's a 'legal' machine. And then Tim did the public Facebook sale/trade, knowing there was no harm that could come to him.

#18191 5 years ago
Quoted from cfh:

my understanding is that Keith (trustee/lawyer etc) tried to sue Tim Fife over the machine, and lost badly. As part of the loss Keith had to pay Tim Fife's lawyer fees and then some. Which gave Tim the idea of a "legal" machine, since it went through the legal ramblings, and was found to in fact to be Tim's game (in a legal sense). I guess that's how it's a 'legal' machine. And then Tim did the public Facebook sale/trade, knowing there was no harm that could come to him.

it sounds like your understanding is the pinChili version? You may want to fact check your details on that one...

Did he let you download his Predator code version before selling the game?

#18192 5 years ago

All I know is what is posted here and on Facebook, and some legal documents. There’s a couple things That appear to be correct. Tim won his Court case. And if they couldn’t get Tim’s game, the lowest hanging fruit, I would say that chances of getting anything else are pretty much zero. everybody can be in denial, but it just appears them there is the bottom line.

I’m not friends with Tim fife at all. never met the guy never talked to him. What I know is what I see here and there

And by the way, Kevin’s bankruptcy case is completely over. That is now settled. I’m kind of amazed nobody seems to know that. Or it could be that denial thing again

#18193 5 years ago
Quoted from cfh:

Kevin’s bankruptcy case is completely over. That is now settled. I’m kind of amazed nobody seems to know that. Or it could be that denial thing again

good to know it is closed out. I knew they were trying to finish up a few things at the end of last year.
Looks like the fun can start back up now for civil and recovery

When is your next VFW show Clay? Any chance you will finally put your Predator out on display now that it is safe?
Would be great to have 2 out of the 4 on display for the public to play! Also seems like the right thing to do IMHO.

#18194 5 years ago

Here’s information on the Tim fife versus Keith case. It’s all the gory details without any spin
https://casetext.com/case/frank-v-fife-in-re-kulek

#18195 5 years ago
Quoted from cfh:

Here’s information on the Tim fife versus Keith case. It’s all the gory details without any spin
https://casetext.com/case/frank-v-fife-in-re-kulek

That's not the final disposition...plaintiff had 21 days to respond to defendents claims and defender had 7 days to answer the plaintiff. I'd like to know the final disposition.

#18196 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

Looks like the fun can start back up now for civil and recovery

194b3475e0440b8112afc0ac4ad5bf0ed0e8ec3db63fb4b6748a4f2e06a9865b (resized).jpg194b3475e0440b8112afc0ac4ad5bf0ed0e8ec3db63fb4b6748a4f2e06a9865b (resized).jpg
#18198 5 years ago

I don't think you understand. To some, principles mean much more than money. That and it can be entertaining to make sure you keep squeezing.

#18199 5 years ago

Did the final bankruptcy settlement include any payments to anyone? And did the court maintain its earlier ruling that Kevin wouldn’t be able to scrape off any debts in the bankruptcy?

#18200 5 years ago
Quoted from fosaisu:

Did the final bankruptcy settlement include any payments to anyone? And did the court maintain its earlier ruling that Kevin wouldn’t be able to scrape off any debts in the bankruptcy?

Yes, the lawyers made out well.

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