(Topic ID: 363901)

I have no contract with American Pinball

By DennisNordman

5 days ago


12:12 Oct 16th
23:20 Oct 19th
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  • 73 posts
  • 60 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 2 days ago by MrBally
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    170
    #1 5 days ago

    Edit: This firing happened in Janurary. You'll notice I said nothing until I learned Mr Fix decided to misrepresent the truth on a public podcast. That's when I decided to respond publicly with the facts.

    I recently became aware of what David Fix said about me in his interview with PINBALL NEWS from May 2024. This is verbatim. If you want to hear it yourself, it starts at about 2:19:38.
    “You know, Dennis is not a young guy. He kinda came to us and he was like, ya’ know, I could be doin’ better by, you know, bein’ home a little bit more and, you know, being this, that and the other thing and we kicked it around a couple times and then we said, hey this is what we wanna do. We wanna lay you off, we wanna put you on contract basis. We wanna build your game, it’s not the hot priority now, it’s not shelved, it’s, it’s either other little things that can be done. Let’s talk about this and have a contract made up and we’ll contract base this. And you’re, it’s well open you can come and, you know, do what we need to do. And let’s do this. But, you know, I gotta, we gotta kinda lay you off from the day to day.”
    None of this is true. I have no contract with American Pinball. AP was not honoring my original contract, so I told Fix I was going to work from home more days per week.
    I wanted to see my next game go into production. It is an unlicensed theme, but it’s a theme that everyone is familiar with, and it has an amazing playfield. It was way ahead of BBQ in development but Mr. Fix decided to put BBQ in front of it.
    They offered me a contract that was completely unacceptable. They said if I did not accept that contract, I would be terminated. I asked why and they said they didn’t have enough money to pay me. I asked, “Do you mean if I don’t sign this contract I’m terminated?” I was told “Yes.” I walked out.
    That’s where it stands today. I have nothing to do with American Pinball. Mr. Fix told other people at AP that he would bring me back to finish my game #2 in June or July. Of course that didn’t happen.
    I have 6 or 7 games at various companies that will probably never be produced. There are three at deeproot, one flipping whitewood, one full size foamcore (Nordmanite!) and one drawing. One at Chicago Gaming, a flipping whitewood. And three more at American Pinball, one flipping whitewood, and two more drawings. Discouraging but I haven’t given up!
    Currently, I’m working on a new game of my own design, with two other industry professionals, and the goal is selling it to a manufacturer for production. I’m not ready to quit yet!

    10
    #2 5 days ago
    Quoted from DennisNordman:

    I recently became aware of what David Fix said about me in his interview with PINBALL NEWS from May 2024. This is verbatim. If you want to hear it yourself, it starts at about 2:19:38.
    “You know, Dennis is not a young guy. He kinda came to us and he was like, ya’ know, I could be doin’ better by, you know, bein’ home a little bit more and, you know, being this, that and the other thing and we kicked it around a couple times and then we said, hey this is what we wanna do. We wanna lay you off, we wanna put you on contract basis. We wanna build your game, it’s not the hot priority now, it’s not shelved, it’s, it’s either other little things that can be done. Let’s talk about this and have a contract made up and we’ll contract base this. And you’re, it’s well open you can come and, you know, do what we need to do. And let’s do this. But, you know, I gotta, we gotta kinda lay you off from the day to day.”
    None of this is true. I have no contract with American Pinball. AP was not honoring my original contract, so I told Fix I was going to work from home more days per week.
    I wanted to see my next game go into production. It is an unlicensed theme, but it’s a theme that everyone is familiar with, and it has an amazing playfield. It was way ahead of BBQ in development but Mr. Fix decided to put BBQ in front of it.
    They offered me a contract that was completely unacceptable. They said if I did not accept that contract, I would be terminated. I asked why and they said they didn’t have enough money to pay me. I asked, “Do you mean if I don’t sign this contract I’m terminated?” I was told “Yes.” I walked out.
    That’s where it stands today. I have nothing to do with American Pinball. Mr. Fix told other people at AP that he would bring me back to finish my game #2 in June or July. Of course that didn’t happen.
    I have 6 or 7 games at various companies that will probably never be produced. There are three at deeproot, one flipping whitewood, one full size foamcore (Nordmanite!) and one drawing. One at Chicago Gaming, a flipping whitewood. And three more at American Pinball, one flipping whitewood, and two more drawings. Discouraging but I haven’t given up!
    Currently, I’m working on a new game of my own design, with two other industry professionals, and the goal is selling it to a manufacturer for production. I’m not ready to quit yet!

    More

    Thanks Dennis for setting the record straight. Its too bad things are so strange over at AP right now. I was looking forward to seeing your next game, especially if it was the rumored sequel to whitewater. Hopefully theres another company out there willing to do business with you because I greatly enjoy playing most of your games!

    #3 5 days ago

    Thanks for sharing this Dennis. Always love your games and you deserve the right people beside you moving forward.

    I'll support and probably buy anything you design. Still hoping for a White Water 2 one day, it's my favourite WPC.

    #4 5 days ago

    Its good to hear your side of your relationship with AP. Your passion and perseverance in the industry is appreciated by all. Best wishes going forward!

    -13
    #5 5 days ago

    Good luck going forward. If we meet again I will buy you some more drinks. Maybe play the Jon Norris remastered Three Spinners design that I bastardised!

    #6 5 days ago

    Thanks for setting the record straight. Looking forward to your future projects.

    #7 5 days ago

    Thanks for all you've done for pinball.

    *bows*

    And thank you for letting us in on the situation. All of us interested in the future of pinball would like to see more of your designs produced, and the more clarity we have in understanding what is happening the better we can support you.

    Thanks!

    12
    #8 5 days ago
    6CDAA6FE-1685-47EC-9606-B10C2FEE2A86.gif
    12
    #9 5 days ago

    Seems most of what David Fix says has little resemblance to the truth. So sad what has happened to AP.

    Sounds like a lot of Nordman designs gathering dust and eventually could be lost. Hopefully we will get to see another game from him.

    #10 5 days ago

    So if you want a game made it is...
    Stern
    JJP
    Spooky

    The boutique pinball realm isn't kinda to the process of actually producing games...

    #11 5 days ago
    Quoted from HighProtein:

    So if you want a game made it is...
    Stern
    JJP
    Spooky
    The boutique pinball realm isn't kinda to the process of actually producing games...

    More

    You could easily add BoF to that list I think

    #12 5 days ago

    If someone offers a contract and then says they can't pay you more because they don't have the funds... BYE!

    A company walking that fine of a financial line is not poised to succeed.

    #13 5 days ago
    Quoted from DennisNordman:

    I recently became aware of what David Fix said about me in his interview with PINBALL NEWS from May 2024. This is verbatim. If you want to hear it yourself, it starts at about 2:19:38.
    “You know, Dennis is not a young guy. He kinda came to us and he was like, ya’ know, I could be doin’ better by, you know, bein’ home a little bit more and, you know, being this, that and the other thing and we kicked it around a couple times and then we said, hey this is what we wanna do. We wanna lay you off, we wanna put you on contract basis. We wanna build your game, it’s not the hot priority now, it’s not shelved, it’s, it’s either other little things that can be done. Let’s talk about this and have a contract made up and we’ll contract base this. And you’re, it’s well open you can come and, you know, do what we need to do. And let’s do this. But, you know, I gotta, we gotta kinda lay you off from the day to day.”
    None of this is true. I have no contract with American Pinball. AP was not honoring my original contract, so I told Fix I was going to work from home more days per week.
    I wanted to see my next game go into production. It is an unlicensed theme, but it’s a theme that everyone is familiar with, and it has an amazing playfield. It was way ahead of BBQ in development but Mr. Fix decided to put BBQ in front of it.
    They offered me a contract that was completely unacceptable. They said if I did not accept that contract, I would be terminated. I asked why and they said they didn’t have enough money to pay me. I asked, “Do you mean if I don’t sign this contract I’m terminated?” I was told “Yes.” I walked out.
    That’s where it stands today. I have nothing to do with American Pinball. Mr. Fix told other people at AP that he would bring me back to finish my game #2 in June or July. Of course that didn’t happen.
    I have 6 or 7 games at various companies that will probably never be produced. There are three at deeproot, one flipping whitewood, one full size foamcore (Nordmanite!) and one drawing. One at Chicago Gaming, a flipping whitewood. And three more at American Pinball, one flipping whitewood, and two more drawings. Discouraging but I haven’t given up!
    Currently, I’m working on a new game of my own design, with two other industry professionals, and the goal is selling it to a manufacturer for production. I’m not ready to quit yet!

    More

    I myself cannot wait to play your next game. Thank you for everything you’ve done for pinball and I look forward to the next one. Thank you for adding all of this here.

    27
    #14 5 days ago

    I’m most disturbed that they presumably have Whitewater 2 sitting there but they set it aside for… Barry O’s BBQ.

    It’s like intentional self-sabotage. Is AP allergic to money?

    #15 5 days ago
    Quoted from Haymaker:

    You could easily add BoF to that list I think

    I’d love to see a BoF game designed by Dennis!

    13
    #16 5 days ago

    Always nice to wake up to some fresh AP dirt!

    #17 5 days ago

    Not having more Dennis Nordman games would be more INSANITY than Insanity Falls!

    #18 5 days ago

    Hope you land somewhere soon. I have 3 of your pins and you're probably my favorite designer. Fix really crashed and burned AP.

    18
    #19 5 days ago

    Fix lied? Shocker.

    #20 5 days ago

    Thanks for all you do and have done in the pinball realm Dennis. You are my favorite designer and would love to see another one of your designs. Keep moving forward. You have a lot of people in the pinball world that support you.

    #21 5 days ago

    American Pinball seems like a sinking ship. I mean I don't own a pinball company but their choices are very questionable to say the least.

    Good luck with future endeavors.

    #22 5 days ago

    American pinball and David fix are just idiots they haven’t been good since they have brought FIX on I have no idea why he is not FIRED yet ohh yeah let’s make bbq and cuphead before WW2

    #23 5 days ago

    Never good news from American. Sorry to hear it. Hope you land in greener pastures.

    #24 5 days ago
    Quoted from CrazyLevi:

    Always nice to wake up to some fresh AP dirt!

    It's sad. That company had so much potential. Now, it's a complete dumpster fire.

    oooh, I think I may have just come up with a BBQ Challenge re-theme idea.

    #25 5 days ago

    I wonder if Lloyd will block Dennis now, like he blocked me for saying the most mild comment ever about AP. Lloyd unblock me!

    #26 5 days ago

    Thanks for the update, Dennis. If history is any indication, expect a C&D from Fix. Off the top of my head, that litigious buffoon has threatened to sue Zach Meny, Chris Kooloris, Ben Heck, etc.

    #27 5 days ago

    No wonder they won't ship me a new cabinet decal for a GTF LE that arrived damaged. They can't even pay the guy that designed the game!

    44
    #28 5 days ago

    It’s a great layout and I had been looking forward to working on it when I was told I was no longer needed (be nice if they paid me the money I'm owed). I had a bad feeling they would move BBQ ahead of it, as it seems bad decisions are par for the course.

    Hopefully someday it will get finished, but seems unlikely based on the current trajectory of AP.

    #29 5 days ago

    Thanks, Dennis. No game has ever approached the fun factor of WH2O for me. I own it at home and still play them on location as an occasional palate cleanser. It’s the only game I will never sell. Fingers crossed that some of these games see the light of day, especially the White Water sequel. Your contributions to the pinball community are greatly appreciated.

    #30 5 days ago

    Sounds like AP isn't long for this world. too bad.

    #31 5 days ago

    "Man overboard!"

    If a company wanted to make some money, they'd have DennisNordman make them a successor to White Water

    Even a Jungle Cruise game would be acceptable if it was required to be licensed

    #32 5 days ago
    Quoted from MiniPinHead:

    "Man overboard!"
    If a company wanted to make some money, they'd have DennisNordman make them a successor to White Water
    Even a Jungle Cruise game would be acceptable if it was required to be licensed

    More

    Jungle cruise Dennis Norman holy moly.

    I would like to see both that and a whitewater 2.

    I don’t know anything but, JJP. When I say I don’t know anything I mean I don’t know anything about nordmans relationship to JJP.

    #33 5 days ago

    #34 5 days ago
    Quoted from greatwichjohn:

    Good luck going forward. If we meet again I will buy you some more drinks. Maybe play the Jon Norris remastered Three Spinners design that I bastardised!

    Oh, did you hire someone to finish it? You know, one of those famous people in the industry that you know? Maybe David Fix could offer some help? You 2 could sit and stare at it for a while and see if anything happens?

    11
    #35 5 days ago

    Fix needs to go. I question the leadership of Aimtron for keeping this guy around. So much potential with this company.

    #36 5 days ago

    Love your work, don’t stop!

    #37 5 days ago

    Tanks for the update. Looking forward to what you come up with next. Keep at it and don’t give up.

    #38 5 days ago

    American Pinball has shit the bed and they seem to have no interest in doing any laundry to clean it up. Gross, they just keep sleeping in the same shitty bed

    #39 5 days ago

    Thanks Dennis, keep the faith. I own 7 of your designs and will look forward to a new design in the future.

    #40 5 days ago

    Fix is poison for AP

    #41 5 days ago
    Quoted from JakeFAttie:

    Sounds like AP isn't long for this world. too bad.

    You don’t need to be a bookkeeper to realize AP can’t stay in business with their string of bombs and lack of sales. Their continued existence must be solely attributable to creative accounting feats of shuffling money around. Maybe we’ll get a postmortem tell-all one day.

    #42 5 days ago

    The guy seams like a pathilogical liar. How many times has he been caught in saying stupid, not true shit?

    Edit: The guy is David Fix, but I'm sure you knew, and not referencing OP.

    #43 5 days ago
    Quoted from JakeFAttie:

    Sounds like AP isn't long for this world. too bad.

    Keep an eye out for these

    truck-2 (resized).jpg

    #44 5 days ago
    Quoted from OzPaul:

    Keep an eye out for these
    [quoted image]

    You predicting going out like Damien Takes a Piss?

    #45 4 days ago

    The mistake was not firing Fix and making Dennis in charge.
    And what the hell, Pay Rosh what he's owed.

    -1
    #46 4 days ago
    Quoted from Ericpinballfan:

    The mistake was not firing Fix and making Dennis in charge.
    And what the hell, Pay Rosh what he's owed.

    I doubt Dennis would want that job...also, whenever anybody has put a designer in charge of a company, they've gone tits up in spectacular fashion (Deep Root, Capcom)

    I'd also like to announce that I also have no contract with American Pinball.

    #47 4 days ago
    Quoted from CrazyLevi:

    I doubt Dennis would want that job...also, whenever anybody has put a designer in charge of a company, they've gone tits up in spectacular fashion (Deep Root, Capcom)

    Designer Robert Mueller?

    #48 4 days ago

    Really isn't surprising. I bet there are a bunch more situations or the way things have been handled at AP that have not seen the light of day.

    Former buyer of AP titles. No more, much like I presume many others here.

    Very telling what Dennis has related, but no surprise at all. So many good guys left, walked, or tossed at AP. Mismanagement at it finest.

    #49 4 days ago

    This is indeed a strange company. It seems as if sucess and failure has no definition, so things keep moving forward with business as usual. I want to like their games. Even when I do (GTF), the quality and subsequent support is so bad that I couldn't imagine buying one.

    #50 4 days ago

    Is the driveable tank pinball machine available? I know it was a hoax but it was still cool.

    There are 73 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 2.

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