Zidware was a failed pinball startup founded by John Popadiuk that collapsed after leaving customers without delivered machines. The company is significant in pinball history as the origin point of intellectual property and design assets that would eventually become the game RAZA, passing through multiple owners (Melvin Williams, Deep Root Pinball, and others) in a complex chain of title. Robert Mueller's intervention to bail out Zidware customers became a precondition for Popadiuk's subsequent employment at Deep Root Pinball.
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The original Alice foam core game existed at Zidware 11 years ago and was designed by John Papaduke
Zidware took preorders for three games (Magic Girl, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland, Alice in Wonderland) but only Magic Girl had significant layout conceptualization before company collapse
Zidware customers will not be made whole from the lawsuit settlement
First entity to hold Popadiuk-originated designs; part of the troubled IP lineage
Entity associated with Deep Root Pinball customers/pre-orders; mentioned in context of potential refund/payout situation
Failed pinball company by John Papaduke; collected preorders for Magic Girl, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland, and Alice in Wonderland; described as 'alleged pyramid scheme'; caused significant financial losses to community members; ceased operations years ago
Previous pinball company involving J-Pop; customers were scammed and left with unfulfilled pre-orders; Deep Root and J-Pop became entangled in legal settlement disputes with these customers
Company where John Papadiuk worked on Magic Girl design
Defunct factory/company founded by John Papadiuk; represents an era of pinball design that operated with minimal marketing/presentation; referenced as historical contrast to modern expectations
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25 Magic Girl units were promised for pre-Christmas 2016 delivery
Zidware is not in bankruptcy (unlike Predator)
Zidware customers collectively paid over $20,000 for pre-ordered machines across two games.
Company associated with John Papaduke; housed foam core Alice game 11 years ago; site of multiple failed/unfulfilled pinball projects; represents historical cautionary tale
Failed boutique manufacturer; Kaneda notes it was obvious from the start that it would fail; pre-sold multiple games without delivering
John Papaduke's pinball company; Kaneda notes Alice was never produced in the 'crazy long deep Zidware cabinet' design
Listed as a complete failure boutique manufacturer
Pinball company founded by John Popaduke; promised Magic Girl, Alice in Wonderland, and Zombie Return; collected >$1M in preorders, ceased operations/bankruptcy
Former pinball manufacturer with backlog of unreleased games (Raza, Alice); assets and customer base acquired by Deep Root; claims process established for customers
Defunct company; produced Magic Girl; planned RAZL (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventure Land) and Alice in Wonderland; now subject of Deep Root acquisition and ongoing litigation.
John Papaduke's enterprise; Magic Girl project failure resulted in civil judgment with personal liability; currently under appeal
Pinball manufacturer founded by J-Pop; no longer a valid corporation in Illinois; involved in litigation over Magic Girls, Razzas, and Alice machines
Prior pinball company; created Magic Girl, Raza, and Alice in Wonderland projects; ownership/IP transfer unclear due to 2015 bailout attempt failure; source of legal complications for American Pinball.
J-Pop's failed boutique pinball company that took pre-orders for Magic Girl, a zombie-themed game, and Alice in Wonderland game totaling over $1M; no machines delivered despite years of promises
Failed pinball company owned by John Papaduke; attempted to deliver three games (Magic Girl, Zombies-themed, Alice in Wonderland) via pre-order funding; customers lost $3,000-$20,000+ with ongoing civil litigation.
John Papaduke's failed pre-order company; Deep Root offering claimant compensation with June 28, 2019 deadline
Failed pinball pre-order company owned/operated by J-Pop; customers offered conversion agreements to Deep Root games with June 30 deadline
Failed boutique pinball/arcade project; referenced as one of multiple ventures that burned backers, some of whom were also burned by Dutch Pinball, Highway Pinball, or Predator.
Company associated with John Papaduke's projects (Magic Girl, FIG, Theater of Magic) that became infamous for financial failures and abandoned machines
Failed pinball company associated with John Papaduke; left customers with financial losses; Alice prototype never progressed past foam core stage
John Popadiuk's company that admitted April 2015 it lacked funds to build any of three pinball machines (Magic Girl, others) despite taking pre-orders; offered unfavorable deal with no refunds; litigation ongoing
Original developer/designer of RAZA concept by John Popadiuk
John Popadiuk's publishing company for The Pinball Scrapbook app
Modern boutique/prototype pinball manufacturer
Original designer/developer of Magic Girl; faced legal action and financial difficulties; John Popadiuk is associated with the company
Popadiuk's company founded after Williams closed; created design/multimedia products before announcing Magic Girl in 2011; retained rights to Magic Girl machines built by American Pinball
Failed pinball design company run by John Popadiuk; abandoned three game projects (Magic Girl, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland, Alice in Wonderland); left buyers without completed machines and facing litigation
Failed boutique pinball company associated with John Popadiuk; had three major undelivered projects (Magic Girl, RAZA, Alice in Wonderland); facility in Streamwood, Illinois same estate as American Pinball.
Original company where John Popadiuk designed Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; company collapsed; IP and assets purchased by Melvin Williams
Defunct company run by John Popadiuk; developed Alice in Wonderland, Magic Girl, and Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland before collapse; assets acquired by Melvin Brouwer-Williams from storage units sold in litigation settlement
Defunct pinball game company founded by John Popadiuk; failed to produce games; collectors lost money; assets subsequently acquired by Deeproot
Historical failed pinball venture; Deep Root promised to make Zidware customers whole but failed
J-Pop's previous pinball company that failed; customers lost money; Deep Root compensated affected customers with cash settlements or free games despite no legal obligation
Troubled pinball manufacturer; grouped with Deep Root and Haggis as examples of significant customer losses
Previously failed pinball company; referenced alongside Deeproot as manufacturers that generated long-term community resentment over lost deposits
Failed pinball design/company associated with Papaduke; referenced as cautionary example of unrealized ambitious designs
John Papaduke's company; criticized for inability to ship games despite 8+ years of development; Deep Root also mentioned as example of failed execution despite massive funding ($61M)
Develops social games (mobile) based on licensed IP including Harry Potter and Willy Wonka; Joe Kaminkow serves as employee; holds barrier to Harry Potter pinball licensing
Failed pinball venture that influenced Josh Kugler's decision not to start his own pinball company; represented cautionary tale of Zidware implosions
John Papaduke's prior pinball company; Deep Root agreed to settle claims from defrauded customers in Sept 2017, then retracted offer October 2017
Historical pinball company; assets held in Illinois storage units were auctioned off following settlement between John Popaduick and pre-order customers; Melvin Williams acquired Alice in Wonderland and related design materials.
Company that produced Alice game; ceased operations; assets purchased by Melvin Williams
Failed boutique manufacturer; listed among companies that failed to deliver pre-orders
Early holder of Popadiuk-origin IP; first entity in six-company chain of title ownership
Failed pinball startup by John Papaduke; left customers without machines; Mueller paid to bail out Zidware customers as precondition for hiring Papaduke at Deep Root
John Popadiuk's company; manufactured Magic Girl games at American Pinball facilities under partnership
Original designer of game that became RAZA; John Popadiuk's company; IP and assets purchased by Melvin after Deeproot collapse
Co-designer of RAZA with deeproot Pinball
deeproot Pinball unreleased game; unique cabinet design that Kaneda argues is essential to game's appeal
Entity Deep Root settling with; claimants offered goodwill terms if non-litigious and non-critical