Perhaps Aimtrom employees will build it?

Its weird that their "tech support" guy doesn't actually do much other than shill AP stuff, block people with even the lightest criticism, and conveniently avoids anything to do with the bad things they've done to people.

The Studio MDHR guys aren't just creating a original story, helping with animations, they are also building the machines and doing janitorial work.

Actually it explains that he isn‘t and never was. He is not the one to make final decisions but has to (positively) sell to the outside what the decisions are.
He more then once said that he wasn‘t given the funds for an IP directly after Hot Wheels. So of course he sells you non licensed games as the best there are.

Yeah, he has become an old fart with thin skin and even less tolerance. I felt bad for him when JJP dumped him until I learned the truth. Now, his role with A.P. is in question as well and he wants nothing to do with anyone or anything that might lay out the truth of hard knocks.

As they say, shit happens. He is not the 1st person to block me and I am sure he will not be the last.

Where did you hear this at? Was it ever taken down?

On Loserkid. No, they did not take it down as it was already too late.

Listen to the latest LoserKid podcast. They talk about it in there.

Was this the video where he tried to shift all the blame for the Dennis Nordman fiasco and lawsuit onto the legal and HR departments? Going public with the company’s dirty laundry and throwing coworkers under the bus—what a stellar way to build trust internally. I’m guessing someone clued him in on how bad that looked, and that’s why he wanted the video pulled and maybe that was the final straw?

It’s clear that AP has a lot of problems, but I think most people are more surprised it took this long to oust David Fix than by the fact that it happened. I doubt it was Aimtron that came up with the idea to do GTF or that tank cabinet or was believing they could sell over 500 of the tanks and deciding to build those before the far more appealing deluxe model, that buyers actually wanted. And the entire rollout was beyond awful. Then choosing to do BBQ over Nordman’s Whitewater sequel—do these decisions make sense to anyone?

I wouldn’t be surprised if they still manage to release Cuphead, though. They’ve got the factory, and the design is presumably done and there is no way it could sell worse than BBQ, could it? I don't know the theme, but hopefully, I’ll get to play one someday at a show, as I can’t imagine many of them showing up on location near me. I don’t know anyone who’d buy any new AP given their recent quality and support issues.

Their support issues aren’t exactly shocking, either. They got rid of Dave Brennan, who was fantastic, along with Barry ?? who was also really helpful, and Josh Kugler, was always around helping people out and I guess he still does on occasion (his interview with the buffalo guys where he talked about AP was pretty interesting). Are there any current AP employees active on Pinside? Guessing not, as it sounds like there might not be any current employees who actually know pinball. Lloyd is doing support for them, but he seems to be more of a cheerleader than someone able to actually help people get parts, etc. Considering how precarious their situation is, I’d be worried about getting parts down the line, especially since they’ve switched to their own board system. I should check if there are any parts available for my Houdini that I should grab while they’re still available, assuming they have the parts and shipping departments staffed.

Only problem is if he is a handcuffed employee, why release all that private information if not to say F you to the guys who are handcuffing you. The fact that he wanted the video taken down, means he still wanted his job. The stuff he said was a bit too private and candid.

LoserKid Youtube Ep 158: D&D, David Fix Let Go at 30 minute mark. No his interview is still on their channel.

I do help with support for them. Like other companies I can't send parts. I would imagine in that part of the company there might be sensitive information like credit card numbers and stuff that there is no reason for me to have access to.

I get emails, phone calls, and people stopping in. First step in getting a game fixed. Majority of the problems don't need parts.

My short skirt and tight sweater are at the cleaners. When they get back I'll resume cheerleading.

LTG : )

I'm here on Pinside. And there are certainly other people there who know pinball.

Spot on. My feelings exactly.

Old fart or not, the dude has been a long time part of the pinball community with much value to the Pinside members.

LTG was helping people with pinball WAY before pinside existed and always for free, he's a legend. People getting butthurt about being blocked by him is cracking me up.

In this thread, when I corrected something, or tried to give a little information without getting myself in trouble. I had some give me thumbs down. Blocking is a two way street. Now they don't have to read my posts. And I'm more prone to posting information when I can. And my Pinside experience is better.

LTG : )

LTG helped me with a coil issue on my AFM very recently. Super nice guy and a total asset to this forum and the community in general.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Maybe.

Maybe he just didn‘t want to get sued.

Maybe he just thought it‘s better not to talk badly about your employer because it makes it harder to find a new one.

When all NDAs and Contract obligations are long gone we‘ll know.

Not sure that AP could do anything to win my business.

They have to have a sustained track record of
A) Great themes
B) Great Quality
C) Great prices
D) Great out of box experience

I don't think they've hit anything but C) decent prices.

Would I take a cup head for free? sure.
Would I play a cup head at TPF'25? yeah; if I could find a short line or they had a bazilion (exaggeration) titles to play with no lines. At TPF they tend to bring two or three behind VIP ropes and only allow people to play when there's a baby sitter near right behind the machines. Instant "no thanks" vibe there.

The problem with AP is none of their themes have been interesting enough to stand in line for. I've played hotwheels at Houston a few years back.
I didn't want to touch BBQ with a ten foot pole. No interest. Not worth the line. GTF... maybe if it were alone without a line.

I'd certainly buy a AP before a JJP... but that isn't saying much.

I've been, as some in this thread would say, a cheerleader for AP for some time now. I want them to succeed and am very excited to get a chance to play Cuphead soon.

That being said, I looked at the Pinball Map app this morning and was quite surprised to see that all five AP games have been removed from the floor at Enterrium. This is the first time I've felt a tad bit nervous about the future of AP.

I'm hoping they have only been removed temporarily, but I'll get a chance to see for myself when I visit on Monday with my kids for half price games.

Come on, AP! We (or at least some of us) are rooting for you!

Nevermind. Just got word from Enterrium that those machines were moved for the Illinois state tournament finals this morning.

They will be moved back once the tournament is over.

explain to me why you would root for a company that has ripped off employees, vendors, and contractors?
(and no it has nothing to do with Fix he never had the ability to pay bills)

Did they rip odd BarryOs family?
Hope not

If this is 100% true, I would assume there is a very long line of people ready to sue them. Right?

not to my knowledge.

Their quality and support was fantastic in the early years when Barry and then Brennan where there. You don't hear about playfiield issues in A.P. games. Sadly the support has all been dismantled, presumably because of poor sales that are mostly the result of poor decisions and execution of their newer games

Sometimes a lawsuit is not worth the effort and you just drop it in the "live and learn" bin. AP ripped off former employees, contractors, etc. One has filed a lawsuit, but at least two others are confirmed directly from the parties involved (Josh, Nordman), so this isn't in the "maybe they did, maybe they didn't" category. Others are widely rumored.

Sorry, but if I do work for someone and they owe me money, then proceed to stiff me.....I'm not dropping it in the live and learn bin.

Then you should learn to take advice from people… like a lawyer that explains spending 20k is not worth a judgment worth 10k

Maybe you've not had this happen before then? There are situations where no matter how much you believe in the principle of the thing it does not make sense to "go after them", sometimes it's wildly upside down for ROI. I absolutely DESPISE shady shit and people taking advantage, people not paying their bills, and all manner of cheating shitbags...TRUE hatred for that kind of behavior and sometimes there is just no point. I hate it, but it's just a fact.

That just means you haven't personally learned firsthand that sometimes the cost of litigation exceeds the return of the moneys stiffed, so not worth the trouble. Depending on the specifics, you *might* be able to file in small claims and avoid paying expensive lawyers, but there are low dollar limits on small claims court, and it *sounds* like some of the claims are not small enough dollar.

Not defending API nor being judge & juror on a pinball forum. Clear issues of owing wages to an employee are typically handled in the employee’s favor by local Departments of Labor. Guessing employment contract issues are not black and white and API is being hard-nosed or maybe unethical in not paying some type of incentive compensation. Vendor and contractor disputes are common with most businesses - especially some big businesses that find every excuse not to pay. I hope API turns it around with new more capable, ethical management. Same as JJP and Dutch who arguably ripped off many customers in the past (known defective playfields, not shipping games) but have largely got their acts together.

Sounds like the disputes/not paying vendors/employees is coming from the owner so doubtful this will change with any new team coming in.

You’re probably right. If they’ve gone public, albeit in India, maybe new, more professional leadership will get involved in running things differently. Hard to see how anyone could objectively want to continue the business without real changes.

I’m rooting for AP, and I will be completely honest. They don’t sound like the best group of people and this is not a moral choice, I just really want a great Cuphead pin. This is realistically my only shot to get a great Cuphead pin. Afterwards I’m totally down to be mad at them again

^^^ this, which is probably what they are counting on, but does not mean I’ve totally let it go.

They told me they were changing direction, and we all know what direction it is has gone since then. Karma’s a bitch.

Oh, btw, biggest holiday bonus I ever got was $200 and a box of chocolates, so while laying people like Steve, Ryan and Zofia off two weeks before the holidays is beyond scummy
they likely lost more in holiday pay then bonus money. I’m surprised it did not happen before thanksgiving.

I just hate the idea of pinball companies going under, we need more options and more choices, MORE, not less.

That sums it up.

Personally I will never buy another AP game again. That is part of Karma

Great. It’s good to have principles.

Now go back and read this thread. People are documenting facts that AP is literally stiffing both employees and vendors. That’s the crux of the negative-everyone-rooting-against-AP of this thread. In fact, few are rooting against AP, they’re simply saying they don’t want to support a company that behaves this way. And as such, it’s probably going to bit them in the ass.

Then enter your non stop cheerleading for AP in the midst of APs behavior.

Do you see yet the hypocrisy of your own posts?

I had Houdini and hot wheels and AP was #1 in customer service under the old guard. I would have bought GTF if they weren’t death spiraling as a company.

Reality is it’s just a different company and I personally do not want to support their leadership. My dollars are going elsewhere.

I’m surprised you’re so pumped up about AP given their MO and your most recent comment. You’re not going to drop it in “the live and learn bin”, but since you weren’t the one wronged by this company you feel great about their direction and supporting them and you’re comfortable that they’re stiffing others?!

We vote with our wallets son. It’s your money. You decide who and what you want to support. And this thread eliminates any ignorance of what and who you’re supporting.