First it was Predator, now it's Alien...

[Nephasth]

As one of the morons that pre-ordered the Predator pinball machine, I've been keeping an eye on what's been going on with this ---uvula---. If you're not familiar with the Predator scandal, it's a pinball equivalent of RAM Controls. Anyway, to preface this document a bit... The scammer (Kevin Kulek) is about neck deep into the legal system with the whole thing. The lawyer going after him, on behalf of the pinheads, is doing a pretty damn good job of following the trail of bread crums. Kevin sold some machines/part to this guy, but couldn't prove the sale (an attempt to hide assets) so the lawyer tracked this guy down to get the assets back. Dude never showed. According to this, the guy has some MAME rigs out on route. And the court is ordering him to hand over his MAME machines to the lawyer.

Anyway, here's the doc: https://images.pinside.com/9/e2/38/9e238e1836f09dd804c136203e76700e8d5a87e4.pdf

This is about the equivalent of a drug dealer suing the theif that took his drugs, and the judge ordering the theif to return them.

See. Nobody cares.

[pbj]

Man, I'm sorry to hear you got caught up in that.  That machine looked really interesting a few years ago.

It's crazy the personalities that got entangled in all these custom pinball flops.  Does Ben Heck even acknowledge it anymore?

The recordings of the Kulek court proceedings are oddly fascinating.  My rule of thumb in this hobby has been "don't do business with anyone in Michigan" for a good 15 years and it's never failed me.  There seems to be a casual attitude about other people's money that runs rampant up there.  (I also won't deal with Europeans or Brazilians as they're all 40, broke, and live with their parents)

[Mike A]

That sucks. I hope you didn't lose too painful an amount of money.

[Nephasth]

Those first two recordings were hysterical! Yeah, sucks I lost the money, but fortunately I wasn't hurting for it at the time. I spoke with the lawyer spearheading this back when he first got involved. I opted not to throw good money after bad. Still want the ---uvula---'s feet held to the fire though and the entertainment value recently has been pretty good.

That sucks. I hope you didn't lose too painful an amount of money.

$4750. Paid in full.

[Mike A]

That is a little painful. I don't pre-order anything. I figure if it is a good product it will become available through normal channels. I hope you get some kind of justice. I hate people like that. Their business model is completely backwards. Collecting money is their primary focus.

[Titchgamer]

(I also won't deal with Europeans or Brazilians as they're all 40, broke, and live with their parents)

Actually ime in my 30's and own my own house
As for broke aint we all!?

As for the whole point of this thread that really sucks mate.
Can you not get some kind of compensation out of it?

[pbj]

Can't get blood from a stone, twitch.

[thomas_surles]

Start a go fund me to get your money back. I will donate a dollar i promise.

[yotsuya]

Start a go fund me to get your money back. I will donate a dollar i promise.

I thought the dollar was going to the roach bag Motel you were going to stay in for zapcon?

Time to go hit that thread. I've been reading it ever since you pointed it out to me, Neph.

[ark_ader]

As one of the morons that pre-ordered the Predator pinball machine, I've been keeping an eye on what's been going on with this ---uvula---. If you're not familiar with the Predator scandal, it's a pinball equivalent of RAM Controls. Anyway, to preface this document a bit... The scammer (Kevin Kulek) is about neck deep into the legal system with the whole thing. The lawyer going after him, on behalf of the pinheads, is doing a pretty damn good job of following the trail of bread crumbs. Kevin sold some machines/part to this guy, but couldn't prove the sale (an attempt to hide assets) so the lawyer tracked this guy down to get the assets back. Dude never showed. According to this, the guy has some MAME rigs out on route. And the court is ordering him to hand over his MAME machines to the lawyer.

Anyway, here's the doc: https://images.pinside.com/9/e2/38/9e238e1836f09dd804c136203e76700e8d5a87e4.pdf

This is about the equivalent of a drug dealer suing the thief that took his drugs, and the judge ordering the thief to return them.

See. Nobody cares.

FTFY


The court probably doesn't understand what a "mame machine" is, except it is an object that has some value in this case.  If you Google "mame court" see what you get in the top 10 sites.  Type in "mame pinball" and you get a different result.     Again if it is a machine that has a game board that is dead and is using the said roms with mame, is perfectly acceptable, which I doubt in this case..

Incidentally I recently visited a client's game room at his place of business which had a proper mame machine installed. I told him it was illegal to have it, and he promptly removed it and took it back to his house (at the dismay of his employees), which I admit I felt rather smug about.  I'm sure if the same guy had financial problems, his mame machine would be up for the chop too. 

So your point is moot really. 

Sorry to hear that you lost money.  That totally sucks.   Maybe if you asked Ben Heck, he could build you one.

https://www.benheck.com/bill-paxton-pinball-making-of/

[pbj]

Nah, Ben Heck got wrapped up in one of the fizzled out games, too.

The cyber police thank you for your rom service.

 

[yotsuya]

So ark is "that guy" in real life, as well?

[ark_ader]

So ark is "that guy" in real life, as well?

Your friendly neighborhood compliance hooligan. Home audits are my specialty.   

[Titchgamer]

Compliance and friendly are 2 words that just dont belong in the same sentence.

[Mike A]

I thought I would butt out, but since others chimed in, Ark is a major ---meecrob---.

[chopperthedog]

I thought I would butt out, but since others chimed in, Ark is a major ---meecrob---.

Strange cat, no doubt. A little part of me thinks it's all troll.



good day.

[Mike A]

It is possible. He only seems to chime in when the opportunity to be a jerk presents itself.

[yotsuya]

Enh, Ark Gotta Ark. It's what he do.

[Le Chuck]

I think this is as good a place as any for this.   

! No longer available

[pbj]

Walking into a business and going, "nice place you got here, sure would be a shame if someone at the FBI found out about that mame cabinet" - what is that?  Blackmail? Extortion?  Racketeering?

Asking for a friend.

[dkersten]

A little part of me thinks it's all troll.

he promptly removed it and took it back to his house (at the dismay of his employees), which I admit I felt rather smug about. 

Some people just have to follow the rules...
https://psychcentral.com/disorders/obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Just sayin...

[pbj]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater_rule

[ark_ader]

You guys are all heart. 

[Mike A]

When everyone thinks you are a jerk and you think it is hilarious, maybe some self examination is in order.

[BadMouth]

maybe some self examination is in order.

https://youtu.be/kBcZsc24rm0?t=1m21s

[ark_ader]

Not really. I know I am in the right, it just rubs you backwards that someone has a higher moral compass than you.  You would naturally think I am trolling you, but I am giving an insight into what I do, and I don't expect you to agree with.  Probably be the same situation if this was a Marijuana forum, and I was discussing a day in a life as a ATF officer.

I totally understand your points of view, and I am not offended in any way, but please remember where you are and observe the rules here, as you can always PM me if you have a particular issue with me.

Saint got rid of my old signature, and it would pretty much explain how I post.  Mike A needs to take a nap, as he sounds like he cannot take this conversation seriously. 

[Mike A]

You mean the conversation where everyone is calling you a jerk or mentally ill or worse? I think I was the nicest about it.

Your self righteousness is nauseating.

[pbj]

I think it's very strange to hang out in a community of copyright violators if one is offended by copyright violations. 

[smass]

I think it's very strange to hang out in a community of copyright violators if one is offended by copyright violations.

It is much less confusing when you take the time to understand how trolls work.  Of course he is going to hang out here.  It gives him ample opportunity to feed his ego. 

[CheffoJeffo]

Ark, why the ---fudgesicle--- do you hang out here ?

[yotsuya]

Ark, why the ---fudgesicle--- do you hang out here ?

I have a man crush on Cheffo.

[CheffoJeffo]

 

You're not alone.

I'm not angry about Jeff's comments.  I just like him the way he is.  You get used to him.  He is a real character.  He knows this hobby pretty well, and again to his credit, is a great asshat asset to this community.

Man, it has been a blast going back through ark's various dustups, watching his reversal of position (he used to call out people for being the MAME and ROM police) and remembering that he was onside with folks like DenverLatino, DriverMan/arababa and TranQShortGreyHairea.

EDIT: Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, I forgot that screed he posted about SOPA being a good thing and that saint should shut down BYOAC!

Good times.

[Le Chuck]

Ark, please stop mixing metaphors. "Higher moral compass" does not compute, dog.

You can have a higher standard of morality, which is to say, your moral compass tracks due north, or truer than someone else's. If your compass is higher it is merely elevated. Probably because of that damn high horse you're always riding around on, ya great donut.

[Nephasth]

This thread delivered.

[CheffoJeffo]

Gotta give pbj his props too.

Ignorant nonsense coupled with no demonstrable interest in the hobby that brings the rest of us together.

[ark_ader]

Ark, why the ---fudgesicle--- do you hang out here ?

I like arcade machines, and how people create and renovate them.  That is pretty obvious.

You're not alone.

I'm not angry about Jeff's comments.  I just like him the way he is.  You get used to him.  He is a real character.  He knows this hobby pretty well, and again to his credit, is a great asshat asset to this community.

Man, it has been a blast going back through ark's various dustups, watching his reversal of position (he used to call out people for being the MAME and ROM police) and remembering that he was onside with folks like DenverLatino, DriverMan/arababa and TranQShortGreyHairea.

EDIT: Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, I forgot that screed he posted about SOPA being a good thing and that saint should shut down BYOAC!

Good times.

I don't know where I sided with Driverman, as that guy was a complete nut job.  I think I said that somewhere he was a nut job. I do not know about those others that Cheffo quoted.  Maybe he is using some poetic license in his arguments.  SOPA...well...this is not my site, but you guys are doing a great job without my help.

I also find it quite amazing that you all here, are defending your position that mame roms are legal.  I know that they are not.  So do you.... so what are you trying to convince of here?  That you are all completely crazy?  I THINK you guys just like trolling ME, and I think that is very boring. 

Just go ahead and make your insults.. It doesn't bother me, what does bother me, is how other people who visit this site think of your comments, especially when I make some valid points to a thread that described the legality of MAME.  I didn't bring this up, I am just commenting on my position here, and how I see this hobby in the wild.

I do not only see the usual suspects posting in here, we get blessed with Cheffo's visit.  What does he bring to the conversation?  Any news articles that support his views?  No he searches for my past posts looking for opportunities to make cry and run away.  Nice moves there mate., and it is not working by the way.

I had a look at Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the American Constitution.  I would have a good read of that.  Very interesting. I am not judging anyone with this, I just think it is a good read.  Naturally it was written before the digital age, but here is another article that supports the digital age: http://www.acc.com/legalresources/quickcounsel/icpituscaeu.cfm

It brings the issue of IP closer to the very rights of who we are as Americans. Incidentally I think someone asked an IP lawyer on this site about mame and the legality of it.  Maybe Cheffo can locate it with his searching prowess, and make light of it. So I look forward to your constructive comments, your eventual insults and Mike's senselessness. 

Poke the bear for all its worth,and if you have any energy left, you can flog this dead [mame rom legality] horse too.   

[Mike A]

 

[CheffoJeffo]

We can just accept that ark is a total idiot and move on from there.

I think Fozzy should make an example to show his point in this debate.  I would like to see Fozzy deleating and destroying all his MAME roms in his collection, and go out and buy the licensed versions from the vendors involved, except Namco, Nintendo , Bally and Taito.

That way he can then understand the meaning  (yet again) of "throwing stones".   

After your exhaustive search, Fozzy, you can then advise us on the legal perspective.     

ark, the point you miss ... again and again ... is that nobody is arguing about the legality.

We're just calling you out for being the --cream-filled twinkie-- that you are.

I know if I just snitch on the guy I will look like the  jerk and the whole team will distance themselves from me as nobody likes a snitch.

But then you've always been a bit slow on the uptake.

Now lets please stop with the Ram Controls winging, as there are other threads just ready for your troll.contribution. 

 

[ark_ader]

We can just accept that ark is a total idiot and move on from there.

I think Fozzy should make an example to show his point in this debate.  I would like to see Fozzy deleating and destroying all his MAME roms in his collection, and go out and buy the licensed versions from the vendors involved, except Namco, Nintendo , Bally and Taito.

That way he can then understand the meaning  (yet again) of "throwing stones".   

After your exhaustive search, Fozzy, you can then advise us on the legal perspective.     

ark, the point you miss ... again and again ... is that nobody is arguing about the legality.

We're just calling you out for being the --cream-filled twinkie-- that you are.

I know if I just snitch on the guy I will look like the  jerk and the whole team will distance themselves from me as nobody likes a snitch.

But then you've always been a bit slow on the uptake.

Now lets please stop with the Ram Controls winging, as there are other threads just ready for your troll.contribution. 

 

Oh so you agree with me that MAME ROMS are illegal.  Why didn't you (all)  say so earlier?

Me being a jerk?  Well you are entitled to your opinions.  I totally defend that right that you are entitled to free speech.  But asking if it is OK to snitch on someone at an earlier job (which was a consensus of introspection) and then calling me an idiot for supporting your opinions of the legality of MAME roms which are now are aligned with my opinions......

I'm confused.   

Thanks for clearing that up.   

[CheffoJeffo]

Its puzzling.