21 replies to this topic

[lkamons]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I am brand new to VP.

 

I have 2 real pins and I bought 5 days ago a VP that was a DIY.  

 

I have been working with computers since the early 1980's and am pretty tech saovy.

 

Why aren't tables packaged up so that the VPX, ROM (if needed), DirectB2S and Media files are all in one ZIP or RAR file?

 

I find nicely packaged tables the exception, not the rule.

 

Can someone explain why this is?

 

I end up downloading a diredb2s file that is named slightly differently than the VPX so I have to rename them.

 

Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

BTW, I have installed about 30 tables in 5 days.  It is a lot of work, but, the more I do it the faster I get.....

[Tesla]

1. Why aren't tables packaged up so that the VPX, ROM (if needed), DirectB2S and Media files are all in one ZIP or RAR file?

 

2. I end up downloading a diredb2s file that is named slightly differently than the VPX so I have to rename them.

 

3. BTW, I have installed about 30 tables in 5 days.  It is a lot of work, but, the more I do it the faster I get.....

 

1. There are different authors (uploaders) for each piece.

 

2. Correct. Just remember they are free my friend.

 

3. Nice. Sounds like you've got the hang of it. I installed VPX v10.7.2 about 2 months ago and I now have about 35 tables installed and configured perfectly. I have all my favorites of the tables I used to play in the arcades. I could stop downloading tomorrow and be happy.

Edited by Tesla, 20 April 2023 - 05:10 PM.

[Redwings13]

When I got my cabinet from Noah, I originally told him I’ll probably only download 10 tables max. Well 3 years later I have 820+ table, several with pup backs and many arcade games too. It’s a very deep rabbit hole I fell into.  Thanks Noah.  

[Gravy]

It's because there are often more than one version of the table/backglass/pup etc with each component being created by individuals or groups. It becomes harder to ask questions about each component or give thanks to a particular person involved if they are all lumped together in the one file. Components are also often updated, which can get difficult to manage if you have them all in the one file download.

Also, if I understand correctly, including the ROM file with the table is a bit of a legal grey area particularly for some manufacturers, so this is why they are usually not included.

Agree that it's a bit inconvenient but you quickly get used to it.


Edit: You can disable the exact match setting in b2s server for the b2s if you don't want to rename it, it will then take a stab at which file is a likely match, but can cause a few issues with tables that start with similar words.

Edited by Gravy, 20 April 2023 - 03:31 AM.

[wiesshund]

 

 

Why aren't tables packaged up so that the VPX, ROM (if needed), DirectB2S and Media files are all in one ZIP or RAR file?

 

Bob made the table

Bill independently made the B2S Backglass 3 weeks later and Bob knows nothing about it

 

Neither Bob nor Bill nor anyone else owns the ROM, and generally has no rights to package it with the table
Not to mention neither Bob nor Bill are probably qualified to certify that it's actually a good ROM dump, and no one likes a bad ROM.

Mr Doo made the media stuff (wheel art and what not) 9 months after the table was released
and 2 other people followed suit, with alternate media packs.

 

Think of it like the hardware store
All the stuff is there, but you gotta go down the aisles and look for it all.

[digitalarts]

...and few months later Ted make a mod of the table. And few weeks later Sam creates an alternative 3-screen b2s.
So what? You always need to open your eyes and put different things together...
(I changed the names to protect the innocent 😇)

[STAT]

... you will love it, to create your own Collection !

[Mike DA Spike]

Hell right !
And if you decide afyer a couple of years (spendings hours and hours with adding and updating) to decide to change wheel images and your dmd videos, it starts all over again !

And after that I decided to add a vr device as well.... still working to update my collection for that.
And as Stefan mentioned :"I'm still loving it "

Edited by Mike DA Spike, 20 April 2023 - 03:10 PM.

[tgx]

Been working on my custom cab for at least 15 years. It's a labor of love I suppose.

Pretty sure very little is the same from when I started, hardware or software.

Every table I have also has custom tweaks. I have customized just about everything,

I share some of my works and also work on porting and new tables. I have a hard time

actually playing the thing because I find something while playing and I'll

exit out and start tweaking it. It takes a lot of willpower to actually play it.

Adding new tables creates a whole new flurry of tweaks so I have to go slow

when adding new tables so speed of acquisition isn't really a concern for me.

[strells]

Agree with all said above.  Wanted to add that I rarely, if ever, use a front end (I have Popper installed but rarely use it) because I'm always tinkering, adding new tables, etc., so I just double-click .vpx files all the time.  It's just another layer of complexity that's not needed if you just want to play.

[Drybonz]

One thing, also partly related to another ongoing thread about missing roms, that would help people in having to track down all the necessary components is if the hardware stores (to stay with the analogy) would be, in fact, better stocked so that you don't have to travel between three and four different hardware stores to get everything you need.  The missing stuff and lack of maintenance becomes more obvious when the best hardware store in town has closed down.

 

I agree with Stat that building your own collection can be fun... but sometimes we like a little less frustration in the search.

[GaryInMotion]

I will say, for myself at least, pulling together the individual parts helped me understand the workings of and relationship to, all of the components needed to get a table to run properly.

If it were just that simple to have a full packaged file set, I may never have learned how to set this up and start coding. Not to mention the enormous efforts of the designers and coders!

"The more you know." 

Edited by GaryInMotion, 20 April 2023 - 10:29 PM.

[lkamons]

Well, apparently VPIN is a sickness of sorts.  It is like giant puzzle solving.  Someday, I will not tweak and just play the freaking games.  I spent the last 2 days figuring out Future Pinball.  I first thought it sucked, but really it isn't bad.  I think the tables are nicer in FP than in VPX.  Who knows.....  I am 2 weeks into having the pin and have well over 100 tables.  It is an addictive sickness

[xenonph]

Well, apparently VPIN is a sickness of sorts.  It is like giant puzzle solving.  Someday, I will not tweak and just play the freaking games.  I spent the last 2 days figuring out Future Pinball.  I first thought it sucked, but really it isn't bad.  I think the tables are nicer in FP than in VPX.  Who knows.....  I am 2 weeks into having the pin and have well over 100 tables.  It is an addictive sickness

And can cause Pinball Euphoria, Nirvana, and in some cases, it can progress into Pinball Dementia.

[stanzarelli]

I very much agree with ikamons post.
 

I feel like I'm missing a vital piece of information or that I'm taking crazy pills.

I understand the legal fuzzy areas that mean that all files can't be linked together but no where have I found anyone that explains the process without skipping crucial parts of the puzzle.

 

I bang away getting different elements to work - backglass -yes!

DMD - yes!

Table -yes!

Controls - yes!

Ball for the field - nooooo

 

I'd love for one game to work one of these days.

 

What am I missing?

[wiesshund]

I very much agree with ikamons post.
 

I feel like I'm missing a vital piece of information or that I'm taking crazy pills.

I understand the legal fuzzy areas that mean that all files can't be linked together but no where have I found anyone that explains the process without skipping crucial parts of the puzzle.

 

I bang away getting different elements to work - backglass -yes!

DMD - yes!

Table -yes!

Controls - yes!

Ball for the field - nooooo

 

I'd love for one game to work one of these days.

 

What am I missing?

 

give an example?
 

It's easier to stick with one table, and help you make that work, as most of the info will them go on to apply to many others

[SmilesLikeJoker]

 

I very much agree with ikamons post.
 

I feel like I'm missing a vital piece of information or that I'm taking crazy pills.

I understand the legal fuzzy areas that mean that all files can't be linked together but no where have I found anyone that explains the process without skipping crucial parts of the puzzle.

 

I bang away getting different elements to work - backglass -yes!

DMD - yes!

Table -yes!

Controls - yes!

Ball for the field - nooooo

 

I'd love for one game to work one of these days.

 

What am I missing?

 

give an example?
 

It's easier to stick with one table, and help you make that work, as most of the info will them go on to apply to many others

 

You said it perfectly.
 

There are so many versions of VPX still out there.  There are also several versions of the external programs such as FlexDMD, b2s, Freezy, etc.. There are a ton of very old tables too that need updating to run in newer VPX versions and newer tables that only run in the latest stuff.  It's always best to get one table working like you like and move on to getting the next table.  

[jpsalas]

Also remember that a table is not only the VPX file, there are also directb2s files, pup files, and many of those files are build of different people, and they all update their files to their preferred sites Anyway, this is a hobby and it is free, so some work will be needed

[Tiki]

You can call it freedom. I can install a very specific version of a table with a specific version of the Rom File, a specific version of the Backglass and a very specific colored DMD in a variation that I like. What other pinball application offers these advantages?

Edited by Tiki, 10 December 2023 - 05:53 PM.

[jestermgee]

You get use to it and honestly it's kind of fun to try and find all the files to make a table work, especially some more custom ones that need a specific ROM version or something, there's a good sense of accomplishment that makes actually playing the table so much worth the effort. Also means in some cases you have tables that look different from others you see in a way you like. 

 

 

Agree with all said above.  Wanted to add that I rarely, if ever, use a front end (I have Popper installed but rarely use it) because I'm always tinkering, adding new tables, etc., so I just double-click .vpx files all the time.  It's just another layer of complexity that's not needed if you just want to play.

 

Unless you have a full cab designed for the rest of the family to play, then it is a must have