Opinions on Sun-Fly reputation... (3 Viewers)

[Mental Nomad]

I have a project that I was planning to do with GOCC. The project in question is based on special permission to use the given copyrighted or trademarked artwork, so it would be important that there be no risk of the chip design being duplicated for others, either locally or internationally.

GOCC is a very reputable vendor with multiple casino customers, so they're a natural fit, on that front.

However, the fabulous results of the recent Boardwalk Group Buy - produced by Sun-Fly - is leading me to consider them. The higher quality print on the center label, and the sound of the chips, are a draw, and may work well with this design.

Chinese manufacturers have a general reputation as being rather lax about protecting artwork and preventing knock-offs, but I don't want to paint with too broad a brush. Does anyone have input to provide about Sun-Fly?

I know Sun-Fly has production facilities in China and Germany, and also work as Sun-Fly Sublimation; they do dye-sub printing on things other than chips.

I know they market their products as "casino chips," and provide optional security features, such as UV printing, but does anyone know if Sun-Fly has any major casino customers using them as cash checks? Or were they just used as a producer for limited-use tournament sets?

 

[Jason G]

Certainly not a "major casino", but the newest (and maybe largest?) charity poker room in New Hampshire is using Sun-Fly for their cash chips.

 

[jbutler]

Was the project originally conceived as a hybrid design or are you thinking of redesigning for the hybrid chips?

IMO if looking at pure ceramics, GOCC is head and shoulders above Sunfly, but there's really no alternative to Sunfly if you're looking for a hybrid design. Maybe eventually @GameOnChipCompany will allow consumer designs on its Signature Series chips. The face would still be printed ceramic rather than a glossy label, but I think I would prefer it to the Sunfly hybrid overall.

 

[upNdown]

Certainly not a "major casino", but the newest (and maybe largest?) charity poker room in New Hampshire is using Sun-Fly for their cash chips.

Which one is that?

 

[manamongkids]

Which one is that?

i believe Boston Billiard Club. Def not the largest though, Largest is probably Manchester or Hampton in terms of daily action

 

[Tommy]

Was the project originally conceived as a hybrid design or are you thinking of redesigning for the hybrid chips?

IMO if looking at pure ceramics, GOCC is head and shoulders above Sunfly, but there's really no alternative to Sunfly if you're looking for a hybrid design. Maybe eventually @GameOnChipCompany will allow consumer designs on its Signature Series chips. The face would still be printed ceramic rather than a glossy label, but I think I would prefer it to the Sunfly hybrid overall.

Once Sun-Fly is able to perfect a thermal laminated matte finish label (glitter ring or not), I may be sending some more orders their way.

 

[Forty4]

^^^^ @Tommy are they still working on it?

 

[Jason G]

i believe Boston Billiard Club. Def not the largest though, Largest is probably Manchester or Hampton in terms of daily action

Yes, I meant BBC. You're certainly right that they are not the largest, I had forgotten that they don't have a separate tournament area like Hampton.

 

[Mental Nomad]

Was the project originally conceived as a hybrid design or are you thinking of redesigning for the hybrid chips?

The project was conceived as a ceramic version of true clays, so they'll be clay mimics. Hybrid can do this with no substantial changes in the art - possibly refining the inset size of the inlay art to match the label/recess, and producing the rim art in a design that allows for bleed into the recess for the ceramic dye-sub.

The original plan was GOCC, but Sun-Fly hybrid's labels allow for more detail than a ceramic print, as do the inlays on true clays. I'm going for the best overall effect, but need to respect copyright/trademark permissions and therefore security is important.

 

[BGinGA]

Personally, I think the Sun-Fly hybrid chips are far superior to any other full-face printed ceramic chip in terms of sound, feel, and handling, regardless of size (39mm or 43mm). YMMV.

If I were mimicking a clay chip design, it would be a no-brainer decision for me.

 

[Mental Nomad]

Personally, I think the Sun-Fly hybrid chips are far superior to any other full-face printed ceramic chip in terms of sound, feel, and handling,

I agree, though I don't feel quite as strongly as you do... which is why I started this thread. I'm trying to get a feel for how safe the design is against being copied or re-used if I ran the project through them, because I think their hybrid may be a better chip for this project than GOCC's full ceramic.

 

[RowdyRawhide]

I understand your concern and I would guess if someone in China wants to steal your idea they aren't gonna care if you ran it through Sun Fly or GOCC, they're gonna copy it.....Just look at all of the fake Paulsons on Alibabba. I would get the chips you like best. I think the only way you can get the protection you seek is to go with real clay chips......of course then there may be CC knockoffs too, but not real clay. Ceramic chip production is cheaper, more prolific, and more in lines of something that would be up the Chinese knock off line, which is why I think if the desire to copy your product is there it would be more likely to happen.

I'm with Dave on the feel of the new Sun Fly Hybrids, VS Ceramics....and if the sub dye is not going to capture your end image then I think it is a no brainier out of your two options in the OP

 

[Mental Nomad]

I would guess if someone in China wants to steal your idea they aren't gonna care if you ran it through Sun Fly or GOCC...

If they see the chip and choose to duplicate it, you're right, of course, and it won't matter who produced the origianl - even if I do CPC, and people post pr0n, the art can get copied. But that takes time, work, and it will usually be possible to tell that it's not a perfect replica off the original files - which affords some defense if I'm accused of doing it, or even of allowing it to happen by being careless.

I've worked in companies doing business with Chinese manufacturers, and I've seen instances of original art files getting copied out, which makes it very difficult to differentiate. I've also seen a rejected print run of a box (with bad color match) come onto the market with counterfeit product inside. (We recognized the box as the print run which we rejected on seeing the proofs... counterfeit product was being sent to us for warranty replacement because our address was under a sticker on the box.)

Being careful when choosing a vendor reduces the risk of unauthorized use / copies. It doesn't eliminate the risk - nothing does - but it reduces it. Just doing my do diligence.

 

[pltrgyst]

i believe Boston Billiard Club....

Huh. Any relation to the old Boston Billiard Club that used to be a few blocks below Fenway Park?

I still have one of their shirts from a tournament there, once upon a time...