Was starting JJP a good idea?

I thought about the topic title for quite a while realizing it could be construed as defamatory but I wanted to get your attention.

Edit: I do consider this defamatory and a needless insult so I have changed the topic title. - robin

Here is a guy who has been in the industry for nearly 40 years. His passion for pinball is exemplary! He gets a crazy idea that he may be able to do something different than what we have seen for the last 10+ years. Not necessarily better but for sure different. I don't think Jack needs the money or the headaches but he really loves pinball and has a vision to try and provide all of us with something a little different.

He rolls the dice and starts up a manufacturing company in the middle of one of the deepest recessions our country has every experienced selling very expensive toys that nobody needs. The business model for that is insane. He beats the odds and sells all 1000 LE's based pretty much on his passion & reputation (according to many here not based on theme). And if you want your money back because you see something you don't like, call him and the check is in the mail.

We will all be beneficiaries of Jack throwing his hat into the ring (except the company that had a monopoly) as two competitors will push each other to produce better and more imaginative games well into the future.

Would we as the pinball community prefer that no early pictures or video were released until just prior to shipment? I think not and there would be so many less posts on Pinside. Of course it is ok to comment on what you like and don't like but to continuously bash on the items that are still being worked on may lead to a different policy for JJP #2 and any thought of Stern going with a more open policy on their future games. And God forbid he misses a self imposed deadline for 1000 potential reasons........release the hounds!

Here is the part where we have to determine whether Jack is an "Idiot" or not,

The guy has sold all 1000 LE's and has a waiting list if anyone wants to drop off. He does not need to make any videos of unfinished games to try and convince anyone to buy an LE. The standard games are months away and the finished LE's will provide great marketing to sell the standards to those that have an interest.............So why would Jack release these videos of the game that is not yet finished and open himself and his team up to these relentless brutal critiques of items that are not yet finished?

My guess is to keep his buyers informed on his progress providing loyalty to the faith the early buyers showed in Jack. We know it is not to sell more LE'S. Why take the heat Jack? Is it worth it?

I love your passion, I love what you are doing for pinball and I love what the future now holds for all of us! But you my good friend my be an Idiot....

Of course Jack is no idiot and he sure as hell has lot more asbestos in his skin than I ever will.

For the record I enjoy the videos ........ even the sideways ones : ))

So is what you are saying is that Jack fakes a genuine personal relationship with his customers to entice them to buy his hyped product?

You said Jack is "lots of talk but little action".... is what we are seeing now with this new company, built from the ground up "little action"?

Well stated Dmod,

Nuance is not lost on a fellow neighbor (D.P.) Must be something in the air that came out of the reactor.

Tommi_Gunn said: Jack Guarnieri isn't an idiot, he's a salesman. He's passionate about selling games. Jack Guarnieri - The Tony Robbins of Pinball

So is what you are saying is that Jack fakes a genuine personal relationship with his customers to entice them to buy his hyped product?

You said Jack is "lots of talk but little action".... is what we are seeing now with this new company, built from the ground up "little action"?

Tommi Gunn,

Care to comment on the above three questions, did I interpret your remarks correctly?

Robin, no worries for changing my subject title. I thought about a similar title but I really wanted to make a very strong point, we as a pinball community should be thankful to Jack for taking a risk.

While some may not like this particular game, a few years from now we will ALL see better and more imaginative games because of JJP. Not one person can argue with with this fact.

Tommi Gun,

Any response to what Jack wrote?

Responses to my earlier 3 questions?

I wonder if you guys would make these derogatory comments to Jack's face? All the seminars that I have attended where Jack has spoke, all the questions and or comments were positive.

Thanks Jack for taking the time to personally respond.

Tommi Gun you were simi saved by Robin that he took down your words. I wish he would leave them so that the world can see who and what you believe in.

Feel free to respond to my previous post. Lets hear how you really feel...............

Either you are taking a shot at comedy, which is not easy and best left to the professionals or you missed the fact that the post had been edited by Robin. I have nothing bad to say about Tony.

I knew Tony personally about 30 years ago when we lived in Santa Monica.

You can now stop waiting.

Why not ask Nordman why he left?

Welcome to New Jersey! Have a great time and wishing you the best. Hope all goes well with the programing. Looking forward to seeing what you've done at P.P.E.

KA - F-ing - POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trolling is way to politically correct.

Well said....... now back to programing. P.P.E. is only 11days from now.

The dependable voice of sanity.....succinctly stated and well said P.H.

You should send Robin a case of wine as a thank you for deleting most of your post. The way it is edited now you look a lot let less foolish. It's your lucky day go buy some lottery tickets if you win you can start your own pinball company and we'll see what you can produce....

Thank You since we are two different people, sorry Alex he likes me better.

I understand english pretty well, what I have trouble understanding is your motivation for such vicious personal attacks on Jack and his company. To call him a charlatan and that he fakes personal relationships to sell pinball games is so sad and so very far from the truth as evidenced by how many repeat customers / friends bought into this game sight unseen.

FYI --- Shakespeare = Earl of Oxford

Wanna test that theory?

Your move.... you wanna say something about my family?

When I started the thread I wanted to point out that we as community will be better off with a serious 2nd pinball manufacturer. I also wanted to thank Jack for taking a big risk in starting this new business. I wanted to point out that the making of a pinball game is not something most of us have had the opportunity to watch unfold. It is not always pretty how a game comes together but I am thankful for the opportunity to have had this rare insight.

I wanted to say from my own personal experience I have had great dealings with Jack in the past and believe him to be an honest and passionate pinball entrepreneur.

I thought I may be able convince some of the skeptics to be a bit more patient. Jack and Keith both posted post on this thread but the skeptics still remain skeptical. Which is fine, I made the mistake of thinking a skeptic may have posted something like "you know you have point pindome" etc. etc.. Didn't happen.

On the other hand I don't think any of the skeptics got the believers to see their point of view that the game is crap and Jack is con man.

It became personal and that is not good for any of us. Skeptics and believers lets just agree to disagree. When the game is available and FINALIZED we will all have better informed opinions.

Thanks to everyone that passionately participated on this topic.

Robin or any moderator as the O.P. of this thread I respectfully request that you close this thread.