Hopefully no one on MAACA is going to get burned, but the language on RGP about Wayne and his MM remake is getting downright violent. Check out the links:

http://groups.google.ca/group/.....=en#9c0e4119cee598f8

http://groups.google.ca/group/.....=en#b2fbf99a905633de

Does not sound like this is going to be another BBB sucess story.

Quoted from HP5P

Does not sound like this is going to be another BBB sucess story.

Did anyone ever realistically think that it would be?

My gut feeling was that it would end up this way, so I am not surprised.

This will get worse before it gets better.
That guy to me was way to fishy.

It was all nothing but a tax write-off for Wayne, guys... nothing more... Nobody should have nor should at this point expect anything.

Does this mean they won't be getting their CC's either?

I am not in the least bit surprised.

Be interesting to see what happens to MM price again once they clue in that Christmas isn't coming.

Nothing could be better than for Wayne Gillard to get his nose out of the pinball business when it comes to the replacement part situation IMHO.

Well not that I thought he would do it (otherwise I would have sent a deposit).  I had hoped that he would be successful.

Its still speculation at this point and most of the info is one sided.  But with stuff floating around like this; it does not bode well for the TPF's future.

http://phoenixarcade.typepad.com/

It was in trouble from Day one.

At least with the BBB there was quite a bit of information around what Gene had what his plans were, pictures of production lines and assembly and stuff like that.

No one has seen anything out of Australia and Wayne isn't helping to build any confidence or support with his daily C&D letters.  

Quoted from Meat Popsicle

Well not that I thought he would do it (otherwise I would have sent a deposit).  I had hoped that he would be successful.

Its still speculation at this point and most of the info is one sided.  But with stuff floating around like this; it does not bode well for the TPF's future.

http://phoenixarcade.typepad.com/

Reading the latest on Darin's blog is kind of interesting. While I suspect that Gene and Darin don't have much interest in dealing with Wayne, if someone with half a brain and some ambition were to buy him out, it could mean great things for the hobby.

Quoted from cooke

if someone with some ambition were to buy him out, it could mean great things for the hobby.

Go sparky go  

Why buy him out? He will probably get his licensing pulled by Williams lawyers sooner or later. If you were a profitable gaming machine manufacturer, how long would you put up with someone misrepresenting your name for? This appears to be what is happening here. The only thing is I don't know  is what sort of delivery date this guy ever really promised. Sounds like the old "fool and his money" story for anyone that actually gave him a deposit on an open ended promise.

This deal never made any sense either. No offence to the Aussies, but WTF is the misplaced centre of the pinball universe doing over there?

Quoted from Meat Popsicle

Go sparky go  

Get me money, and I will do it!!!

I just went through the whole thing on RGP... truly sad. Yes, owning the rights to a company and offering a certain product cannot please everyone. Even if I would buy the rights and associate with Gene Cunningham and the guys at CPR (love your stuff guys!!!), I am sure that we could get some cool stuff out there, but even then I would get flamed... but I don't agree with the certain tactics of people in the business.

The pinball market is a small world. Beat on one potential customer and it could have some consequences. If a dissagreement happens, best to stay civil about it.

But on the other hand, it can't be all that easy to be in an ownership position... there is a lot to consider market-wise. Parts alone is a safer way to go since pinball isn't as popular as in the 70s and 80s, and Stern is a big player already... I feel that producing pins could actually kill the whole market entirely (2 companies selling less pinballs in the long run = shutdown). It is a tough place to be in. Well intentioned or not, Wayne doesn't have it easy.