Jack wrote this on his forum , it was nice so I thought I'd share it here .
I don't think he would mind .
I'm probably going to write a book about this whole experience at some
point. It's truly been an amazing story.
My experience is unique in that I'm an electronics technician,
operator, pinball player, collector, importer, distributor, creator of
a web site that sells commercial arcade games to the consumer market,
manufacturer and "something" of a game instigator (not creator, LOL)
Because of this uniquely rounded industry experience - from both
sides, hobby and commercial, I can get a really good global view of
what "I" believe the market would like.
Having said all that and not as an egomaniac or in a narcissistic way
but based on success and failure and experience, this was a lot of
fun. Not easy but rewarding and fun.
We took this rich story and pulled it apart in so many ways. We used
it on the cabinet, on TWO LCD monitors, in the unique toys and
mechanisms, in song and speech and in sound, in unique lighting never
done before and in the way the cabinet and playfield are printed. We
dissected every element, every screw, nut and bolt. Every detail was
thought about many times. No bolts go through the cabinet from the
outside through artwork. We minimized wires on the playfield, this is
playable art - that's what a woman at IAAPA called it as she ordered
one!
We are trying to under-promise and over-deliver. You can only imagine
what we will do on our next game.
It was not done for money although we will make money. It was started
out of passion and today I want to say again that I an very Thankful
for all of you who believed first in me and then in more members of
our Team.
You believed without seeing, now you can see and more have come in to
play and buy our games and that's great.
In creating Hoop Jam Stadium, Disco Round, some of the sports video
redemption games, WOZ pusher, Parker Bohn III Pro Bowler ShuffleAlley
game and more, there are always things that work well and things that
don't work so well.
Those don't only involve parts and mechanisms, they always involve
people who get along, who contribute or not and what needs to be done
to create from concept to build. There is a lot going on.
So many of you have not seen or played WOZ. You all will. Once you see
the game you will have that ahhhhh haaaa moment....you will understand
everything at once, I promise. That's what happens with everyone who
sees the game and then gets to play it for the first time.
This company and this product was created for all of you. It was a
special order and we are happy to do this.
It's magic if you love pinball. It is a new direction in what we
believe pinball should be. Will it improve, yes. Remember we had to
create a company, a factory and a game all at once. Draw and tool
parts for the first time, create vendor relationships for the first
time, hire and train people for the first time, on and on and
on.....Next game, it's a lot easier and quicker. Next game we have a
deadline to ship the game so everyone will know when to expect
shipping to start.
There is nothing like creating this product for a person like me or
the people on our Team. This is a dream that I never had but one that
I'm truly blessed every day to have happen to all of us. It may sound
silly, we did not solve world hunger, we created a pinball machine and
a company, created jobs and an experience for many people and brought
a little more fun to the world......that's a beginning.
Lots of people believed, a few said it would never happen. At IAAPA
many longtime industry big shots made their way into booth #837 to see
and play our game. They were all blown away. We took it humbly as we
know we are not "done" yet. Being in the middle of the woods, we don't
see the tree tops....we have lots of heavy lifting to do but in good
fun and with passion!
We won a Brass Ring Award - how cool is that to have beat out hundreds
of games on that show floor? And for us, we looked at the game as not
even complete yet and we won that award....really? What happens in a
few months when the game is really done and coded and shipping? It
sells more, it earns more because it gets played more.
The formula for me is it must work, must be fun and it then makes
money commercially. This game can and will go everywhere. It may not
be the ideal theme for the pinhead who loves "dark" games but it is
the ideal theme to build a company around at the start. When WOZ turns
75 in 2014, we will still proudly have this license. When it turns 100
in 2039, if we have the license, it could never hurt us. That's the
kind of games we want to build.
Was the water cold? When I jumped into the pool there was no water and
I hit my head.....the water is just fine now, thank you.
I want to remind everyone to never let anyone crush your dreams. Never
let anyone tell you that you along with other passionate dedicated
people cannot do something great.
It's much more special because I love Pinball more than a crane or
redemption game. EVERYTHING about Pinball is Special to me!!
I'm thankful to God for allowing us to do this, I know that he(she)
plays pinball too!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and Thank You all again!!
Jack
