Hi Devin,
We’re still doing our final stress testing on Monster Pong. As a matter of fact, we’ve gone through stress testing on 7 different custom leg designs so far and none have lived up to our standards. We’re very picky with the quality of the products that we create and want to make sure they’re as perfect as possible. We think we’re finally happy (received photos today from the factory) but won’t know for sure until the samples arrive and we can abuse them like we rented them. We’re getting very close but still have a little way to go. I’ll be sure to let you guys know when we’re ready to play Monster Pong!

I’m in

Matt, sounds cool!

What is Monster Pong? Any pictures?

Checkout Monster Pong vid here…
http://www.edisonnation.com/episodes/12

Thank you…great story…congratulations to Matt…it looks like a fun game!

Just saw it on PBS it’s maybe the coolest thing I’ve seen in the past ten years! Put me coach I’m ready to play today! Awesome

Tell me about it! We all love Monster Pong at the office and play it all the time. We’re going to be starting pre-sales of Monster Pong right here in the Edison Nation store (http://www.edisonnation.com/shop) in the next couple of weeks – stay tuned!

If your itching for some more footage of the soon to be released Monster Pong game…check out our newest video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Bs1mA2n_A&fmt=18

That was a cool Monster Pong Video, thanks Daniel.

AWESOME!!!!!

Great video, Daniel. Thanks for sharing it. Matt and I are SO excited to play the final version soon and see it in the stores!

My son and I discovered the Monster Pong invention on the your web site, and we want to know when and where we can purchase it. It looks like an awesome idea, and we can’t wait to try it.

Kim-Glad you and your son are excited by Monster Pong. My husband, Matt is the inventor. We are anxiously awaiting its premiere in stores. We are eager for an update as well. Last I heard, there had the final version nearing completion and hoped to have it sold here at Edison Nation initially and hopefully at Dicks Sporting Goods soon after.

Hi Erin,
It sounds like they are getting close. I was just in a Dick’s Sporting Goods last week and checked to see if they made it into the stores. But, it looks like we’ll see it offered here before that happens. Take care and we’ll keep our eyes open for Monster Pong!

I’m watchn old episodes, but I thought it was in Dicks in 2008, what happend?

Really ? I must be from another planet….

I’m rarely impressed but I found monster pong very impressive. Just 1 change. I would have put a dome in place of the hole so the rally isn’t over, it just tests quick reaction skill even further. Not too late for a monster pong accessory.

I found your monster pong game very ingenius. Looking forward to seeing it on the market. Hope I will be able to afford it lol.

To everyone who has been in interested and supportive of Monster Pong, here is the latest update from EE themselves (from and email received today):

“we have a very vested interest in you and Monster Pong succeeding and have done everything in our power to-date to do that. We will continue to do so until Monster Pong is a commercial success or we have exhausted all avenues trying.

What does that mean so far from a numbers perspective? We’ve spent $181,651 and thousands of hours developing and marketing Monster Pong. The story of product development doesn’t end with a final, manufacturable product. At that point, the hard work of convincing manufacturers or retailers to carry the product begins. A very healthy portion of those thousands of hours have gone into that end of Monster Pong.

Here’s where we’ve been: First, we developed the product and received a commitment from a buyer at Dicks to carry Monster Pong while it was still in development. We spent significant time and effort in many iterations of the product – most of it in perfecting the legs so that they were extremely sturdy yet manageable and compact. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but we went though iteration after iteration to make sure it was perfect. The last thing we want to do is spend all of this time, effort and money and deliver a less than perfect product. During that time, the buyer who committed to the product left. As the economy began to take it’s turn, Dicks changed their focus from buying new inventory (and innovation) to selling as much existing inventory as possible. All of those products that you used to see stacked up to the rafters at Dicks represented a big risk to them and they wanted to minimize that risk. Ultimately, that resulted in Dicks deciding that they weren’t going to bring the product to market any time soon. It took a long time to get to that but once they finally told us that, we pushed back. They know it’s an awesome product, just like we do. It just represents too much risk for them at this time at the current best price point we can come up with.

Along the way, we have never stopped showing it to anybody who is a good fit for the product.

Most recently, we have shown it to Sportcraft. There isn’t a better fit in the world for Monster Pong than Sportcraft. They dominate the ping pong and indoor sporting goods market. They also have much wider distribution than Dicks because they are a manufacturer who not only sells to Dicks but every other retailer you could possibly imagine Monster Pong to be sold in. They will also likely be able to manufacture it more efficiently – and more cost effectively – than we can because it’s right in the middle of their sweet spot production-wise. Sportcraft is very interested. We’ll find out how interested when they sign on the dotted line. If they don’t pick it up, we’ve already got a back-up plan in place with another manufacturer who is interested. Of course, in this business, there are no guarantees."

So, sounds like good news. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for everyone’s interest.

God Bless you Matt. You’ve got one buyer in me as soon as some one is smart enough to pick it up and start selling it!

I wish you all the luck in the world with it and hope it turns out well in the end. It’s a good product and a fun game that I hope to get to play some day.

I think EN has spent to much time in so called perfecting an item than getting a deal done. From what I have been reading…..Goodbye to 3 deals at Spenser’s and one deal at Dicks cause they are having problems with doing timely development. I think EN is a good company but they will not survive if they can’t produce products and deals faster. Since my product idea went R5 I have already 1 offer and several email and phone call inquiries and I doubt these companies are going to spend 2 or 3 years trying to make it perfect.

Ken,
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. We’re not going to invest the time and money that we’ve invested in a product like Monster Pong and half-ass the development. It’s just not going to happen.

Please re-read the message that Matt posted. You’ll see that we noted that we have spent (and continue to spend) a very significant amount of the thousands of development hours in getting a deal done. Based on your knowledge of this product, I think your comment is reckless and misleading.

The Spencer’s comment is also misleading. They were responsible for development and they dropped the ball. It came to a head last week because their first minimum payment came due in order to maintain the product.

Matt, Monster Pong is an awesome game. I think that out of all the products from Season two, you’re product idea received the most praise and attention. It is a great game and a company will pick it up hopefully very soon. Wishing you the best, so just hang in there, I am doing the same.

Matt, I am not trying to be reckless or misleading but I am just trying to understand how something that doesn’t seem so complicated could take so long. It seems to me if these issues could have been handled at a quicker pace the deals wouldn’t have fallen apart and there would be a happier result for all. I certainly wouldn’t expect anyone to put out a defective product but the time to fix a small table leg stability issue seems to have gone on to a point where I think something funny is going on, I am sorry Matt if I just don’t get it. You lost several deals and I would be reconsidering a new staff for development and design at this point.

I do not know anything about what is happening with Monster Pong and what all the issues were regarding the leg stability but I’ve worked in product development and can say there is a lot more than just making the legs work.

There is costing, sourcing, material quality, transport etc.. What if the factory that can make the legs that work is in Shanghai and the table itself is in Hong Kong? Oh, you can’t paint it here because they aren’t RoHs compliant and there is lead in the paint. etc… etc… For a simple item devoting all your time to it you are guaranteed 18 months to market on average. Monster Pong while it looks simple it isnt. There are a lot of mechanics involved and every aspect from sourcing the parts to packaging it all has to come together at a price that is marketable.

I wish it all went much smoother and worked out perfectly but Product development is a risk and sometimes it doesn’t. It sounds to me like EN is doing everything that can be done to do it right and get it to market. Not as fast as we’d like but I’d rather wait for quality than by garbage.

Ken,
How did you go about getting more interest from other sources (for your R5 mentioned below),
do you have a patent? Seems most I look into require a patent first before the’ll talk to you.
Thanks

Donna, I do have a Patent Pending and after I got the R5 I contacted many companies some called back or e-mailed with more questions and many have not responded and won’t and only one turned his nose up cause I did not have a prototype and could not prove it was more than just a concept, but he did like the idea.. There is no concrete deal but some are curious and will it go into a deal I don’t know, however it is going to go live on Quirky March 30th and unless I do get a better offer I will stick it out with quirky. For over 3 years I been trying to get a deal for my faucet " A different product" and everyone I sent the idea to really gave me positive feedback and some reasons it is not going to happen and I thought when the patent issued it would be easier to patent, but I see a lot of patent pending products make it to market, so I just guess it all depends on what it is and how much they want it as it seems any good patent attorney can write claims in a different way to cover a product they really want.

Phil, I agree and I am not trying to slam EN but as I stated I don’t understand it all and it just seems ridiculous that it takes so long and because of that money is being spent and Inventors have lost deals and it just seems very sad that this is how it is working out. Does it matter who dropped the ball? It is easy to point blame at someone else for the deal to have fallen apart, perhaps the contracts between EN and the retailer should be more concrete and once they agree to take on the responsibility of developing the product the deal is done and no canceling it after two years.

Ken,

Your right EN does share responsibility in the product being dropped or for it taking so long to get to market. You always want to get to market as quickly as possible with as good a product as possible.

Unfortunately where the contracts are concerned Dicks did fulfill their obligation. They reached the point where the product needed to have made the set amount and if they wanted to keep it they needed to pay that amount. They chose not to pay it and pull out, understandable if they changed their selling structure to push what they had and sell standard stuff like tennis balls.

They made the wrong call and they will see that when EN finds a new backer for it. Spencer’s was a victim of the economy. They too scaled back. I don’t know about you but I’m not heading out to buy any black lights anytime soon. I’m sure if their is a way to make the contracts between sponsor and EN more binding that EN is working on it.

I’ve got 2 product with EN if anyone wants these sorts of changes it’s me. I trust EN will adjust and go on and get better and better at what they do along the way. They have the front end, getting inventors and sponsors together running like clockwork. The rest of the process needs some tweaks.

Nobody is gonna buy any monster pongs in this economy! People…where are your heads!!! Teachers, police,firemen all losing their jobs at a pace never seen before in history.

Costruction which is said to be 50% of the economy…completely dead in this country. So many people…we all know some that have not paid their mortgage in a year….and you think they will buy monster pongs?? Are you smoking crack?

People are not buying Handi-Straps because they can’t buy tools when they can’t afford the food or electric bill. Budgets in companies are slashed to necessities. I don’t cry…piss and moan…blame the next guy. I try and better my approach and just wait.

Moster pong is a big item at a typical mark up making it tougher to sell because of shipping and bigger shelf space needed.

Matt….you got on Edison Nation’s TV show…got $2500 bucks…got your face and name put all over promoting you…and now you shit down the throats of Edison Nation!

Listen man…you know better….do this Matt…find a relative that lived through the Great Depression and see what sold. If you don’t have that then do the research like I am doing to find out. You are NOT selling monster pongs with unemployment at 15% (when adjusted for people that have given up)

Again, you have to sell minimums. I can’t make those minimums…I know that…but you do not…get with reality. Furthermore, you need a good economy to sell that thing as kids play everything on the computer. The debut will be tough for you.

If I was Edison Nation I’d give all development back to you because I’d be sick of the crying and how you throw Quirky in their face after they tried so hard for you…how many inventors get on a TV show like you and get a check for $2500??? They should let you see on your own what the pros in this field and the amateurs like on recent threads don’t know….the markets are HORRIBLE out there!!!!!

My manufacturer has a few BLOCKBUSTER products including a few of mine just ready to go but distributors are not adding products…THEY ARE STREAMLINING TO CUT COSTS….yet people here recently keep bashing Edison Nation.

Ya know what Matt…before you single handedly wreck the good name of Edison Nation and destroy a great asset for the near future for inventors…why don’t you get your monster pong back and go sell it on your own so you see how tough it is…and then report that back on here.

Everyday we see Telebrands now selling their products for $10 instead of $20 two years ago. What are people blind and stupid???? Don’t they see that? Yet praise Quirky and bash Edison Nation.

Ya know what…I got some BIG invention ideas sitting. I would not enter with Edison Nation because I don’t want to take some inventors winning spot…but ya know what…according to this forum anyway…50% of people do NOT appreciate the GREAT pioneering help EN offers. I’m going to give them to Edison Nation so they don’t have to deal with a couple less impatient cry babies in this terrible economy.

Ya know…my daughter enters HS next year. For the first time in my life I heard of a school cutting all freshman sports to cut costs. NUTS! And you think you can sell monster pongs out there???? Retailers want SMALL LIGHT OBJECTS WITH HIGHEST PRICES POSSIBLE…especially in this economy. Monster pongs might sell ok (if you say so) in a good economy…

Some nerve…some people bring just an idea and expect EN to do everything and make them rich…a real fairy tale actually in this field.

I live in Somerset County NJ. which was recently the richest county per capita in the country. We have ALL the pharmeceutical and telecommunications headquarters. Things are so bad here for maybe 40% here that they have a hard time buying food and EVERYONE is worried about losing their jobs while we have a 10% (official) unemployment rate. Do you think these people want monster pongs right now? Or some other nice to have invention?

Don’t blast Edison Nation…have patience and some RESPECT. I will tell you one thing…..most of you just don’t get it. I’m in this 25 years…your gonna wanna hang around EN when this economy gets better,,,trust me….they will be the ones to beat one day soon…only a fool would get their name “marked” by bashing them and complaining now.

Use your head…only some very few products are doing well. You go out there with monster pongs today…you will lose your ass…the product be in some closeout store in 3 months…maybe even the dollar store. So why go out there? You should know your only goona “capsize”

Go to a recreational store with pool tables. darts and ping pong tables…they are hurting so bad…I know because a few around here all wanted my product to help them lift…now they are so upset wondering if they will be able to keep the doors open every month.

Ron, you are entitled to your own opinion, and its easy to see what that is. I think there is a place for both Quirky and EN. I for one am still buying products in this economy. I am not huddled down storing money under my matress. In fact we are going on vacation in two weeks to Disney. You have some valid points, but your approach isn’t the right way to go about it in my opinion. You seem angry and bitter. Insulting other inventors, reguardless of your opinion only makes you look bad. I feel Matt has had every right to be discouraged. It took all of this for him to get info from EN. I think more communication would do wonders for EN. I respect them, their site, and the fellow inventors…reguardless of their opinions.

I continue to submit to EN’s LPS’ and am still a fan of Quirky too…I can have both.

Jason

I am not , by any stretch , “piling on” to Ron’s post. I was getting ready to put this post up when Ron’s showed up…but

Did everyone see what I saw in Matthew’s post below in which he shared EE’s update with us? (By the way, thanks Matthew.) That was extremely meaningful (for me anyway and should be for everyone) in that it brings to light for the community the effort, headaches, and money spent ($182000!!!!!!!!) in this process. I am pretty sure that these are the things that we are all here for…avoiding the pitfalls and downsides. I know some of us have been down that road independently, and so far, I haven’t heard anyone reflecting in a very fond way about that journey. I don’t have $182000 to invest in my ideas. I don’t have the connections, or the staff.

I am just an idea guy and a tinkerer. I came here to avoid those headaches, not to second guess the people I’ve entrusted to simply do their job. I can easily see how my anxiety levels would also be through the roof if and when I get to a point where one of my ideas makes it to g7 +, and that’s a problem I’d love to explore someday. BUT, think about it…182 THOUSAND DOLLARS. I am not a bandwagoner, nor am I blindly or exclusively worshiping the ground that EN walks on, but I think for $20 we do OK.

Incidentally, what do we all think would happen when that 350 pound guy would sit on the MP game and end his pro-football career…and a lawyer found that note to file by the development team that the leg tested not quite sturdy enough …then your $20 idea that’s out there REALLY WOULD be gone…I’m just saying…

We should stick to inventing. And team playing. And…

Group hug anyone?

There appears to quite a bit of emotion intertwined into some posts. I hope people realize the amazing education that we as inventors are receiving in all this. From business structures changing because of the economy, key retail personnel interested in our products leaving etc etc.

Just because the green check mark lights, does not mean easy street. This is all very valuable perspective and a crash coarse in product development. This site is a win win. You win when your product makes it to market. And you can also gain knowledge if it does not. There is some real gold here.

Best wishes and happy inventing! God Bless.

You are so right John , And the price of “Tuition” , $25 , is AMAZING !

Matt has every right to share his experience and many appreciate it.
I love hearing from people who have worked with someone I might be considering.

I can give companies understanding that they are just starting out and may make mistakes as they perfect their developing skills along the way, but on the other hand I have never liked being used as a learning tool.

Honesty and transparency is what I respect, not inflated expectations. Too many inventors are unhappy and don’t share their experience with others in fear it may come back on them down the road.

Good luck Matt, I hope the new direction EE is taking works in your favor.
I wish EE the best as well. I’m sure they want a return on their investment.

“So, sounds like good news. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for everyone’s interest.”

Maybe I missed something but it didn’t sound to me like Matt was upset…

If you have never done this before I can tell you it takes a lot of money and a lot of time – I’m sure EN is doing what they can to get the products to market. In this business some days you eat the Bear and some days the Bear eats you.

Mark
http://theinventorsmentors.forumo.biz/forum.htm

Without sayin anything bad, I just don’t get it. I guess I just like regualar ping-pong to much.

Old dog and new tricks sort of thing, but I hope it generates lots of revenue, Good Luck

Hey All,

For those interested, I just got a Monster Pong update from Matt S, and it sounds like great news. I will let his email speak for itself. As far me, I am cautiously optimistic, and grateful they are taking this bold step. As Season 3 is well on its way and EN continues to roll prolifically, I thought Monster Pong would remain in development limbo. This news made my day.

Regardless of how it sells or what money I make, I, for one, will buy one, and to have in my hands an actual product that I had a large part in conceiving – that will be priceless.

My wife ‘s response to Matt Spangard’s email below was: “HOLY SH*T BALLS!” Also priceless.

“Hi Matt,
I wanted to let you know that I’ve got great Monster Pong news!

As I’ve told you in the past, many members of our team put Monster Pong right at the top of our list of favorite Everyday Edisons inventions. We still haven’t been able to secure a deal with a major retailer or manufacturer due to any number of reasons that we’ve talked about in the past.

However, we’re as sick of waiting around for the right partner as you are (possibly more so, since we have invested so heavily financially on it’s success). So, we’re going to bring it to market ourselves. We are still aggressively pursuing (and will continue to pursue) retailer, manufacturer, and some other directions, but we’re just done waiting.

We’ve placed an order for a container of Monster Pongs to start and have the production team ready to ramp up quickly as sales pick up. The container is scheduled to hit the water in August. Let me say that just one more time because it’s such great news: Monster Pong is currently in production and we’ve placed an order for a container of our favorite game!

That’s all the news I have for you at the moment. I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I hear that it has hit the water. You’re welcome to share this information with anybody that you’d like – on the forums or elsewhere.

I hope you have a great weekend!
Matt"

Matt that sure does sound like great news….I wonder if this means Monster pong will be for sale at the EN store only as they continue to shop for a retail partner? If EN is selling it at the EN store only what would the shipping cost be?

Anyway Congrats Matt you have been patient a very long time……

Great news Matt! Monster Pong really caught all of our imaginations as soon as we saw it! So glad it is becoming a reality. And I think once a store sees how sales are going, it will only be a matter of time! Congrats!

Congrats Matt! We finally heard from you! We love the game and will purchase one, so let us know where we can buy it when it hits the US!

Congratulations Matt !!! Congratulations to EN too for believing in Monster Pong!!!

Sounds like a perfect Christmas gift. Just let us know where we can buy them when the time comes ;-)

Hey Matt,

I heard the news earlier in the week and am excited to get back to my daily game play with it in the studio! Looking forward to tailgating with it this season right next to our office at the Carolina Panthers parking lot.

Take Care,
Daniel C.

Thanks, all! Everyone’s support continues to be a great part of this experience.

DC – nice to hear from you! I am looking forward to seeing more of your production/editing skills as soon as I can find out where to watch Season 3.

congrats Matt!!!

Way to go Matt! Can’t wait to order one as soon as they have them. EN you better prepare to order that second container soon! LOL!

I’ve been anxious to hear good news about Monster Pong… it was a shame for such a cool thing to be hanging there in limbo! Can’t wait to get one!!!! Congratulations to all who made this happen!

Hey Matt,

A Monster Pong challenge between you and I has been a long time coming….get ready!

You can check out my production/editing skills on national airing infomercials.

I switched out of the Everyday Edisons dept. during the post production on season 3 and am working solely with the infomercials. The show is in great hands though!

Take Care,
Daniel C.

Congratulations Matt, I bet your thrilled. Your good news gives me some hope for AeroLeash! Best of luck!