318 replies to this topic

[wiesshund]

Is it possible to rotate the DMD?

 

if you add the line to the table init to rotate the DMD, yes

 

.Games(cGameName).Settings.Value("Rot")=1

i believe it is

[mrjcrane]

Valzi, I am curious to hear the reason you want to rotate the DMD.  Specifically, are you changing the orientation of your tables from a Desktop to FS mode or are you choosing to present or reorient your play filed from FS 270 degrees to FS 0 degress?

 

The reason I am interested is because I am advocate for a feature that does not yet exist in VPX. I'll call it "Custom Table Mode". It adds a 4th video orientation mode that let's a user decide how they want to display the playfield without needing to alter the original table dimensions and rotational orientations for the Desktop, FS & FSS tables based on how a table developer originally released the table.

 

In my case I rotate all FS tables back to 0 degrees orientation (then reshape the remaining table dimensions), set my OS Screen orientation to Portrait mode. This way I can face a table head on in my PinCab in a Portrait oriented cabinet and make table adjustments directly as I see it.

Edited by mrjcrane, 18 November 2020 - 07:26 AM.

[wiesshund]

The reason I am interested is because I am advocate for a feature that does not yet exist in VPX. I'll call it "Custom Table Mode". It adds a 4th video orientation mode that let's a user decide how they want to display the playfield without needing to alter the original table dimensions and rotational orientations for the Desktop, FS & FSS tables based on how a table developer originally released the table.

 

In my case I rotate all FS tables back to 0 degrees orientation (then reshape the remaining table dimensions), set my OS Screen orientation to Portrait mode. This way I can face a table head on in my PinCab in a Portrait oriented cabinet and make table adjustments directly as I see it.

For what is it worth, i do not use most authors table settings, not sure if many do or dont.
I'm not particularly fond of having the table be 1.2 scale X and 1.73 scale Y and such, dont like egg ball and skewed graphics, not to mention increasing X and Y kind of ruins the graphics cause it stretches the images, kinda like resizing a picture to a larger resolution and one that is not square to the original to boot.
funky pixel sizes.

Looks better to just bring the camera closer to the table, cause it does not distort the table graphics

Also doesn't make me have to fight with an eggy ball.

I run my laptop with the OS rotated with VPX, easier to edit a table or table graphics that way and playing wise i dont have to do anything i would not already be doing anyway.
And i never harm the original table in the process cause i just export it as table name.pov

 

Slightly exaggerated but, i'm not fond of this
1st thing is all scales get set to 1 and stay that way forever
Otherwise things start looking like this

 

[mrjcrane]

Weis, I like what you showed me about square shapes and eggy balls. In my case (in my pincab), I leave the Desktop table alone as a Landscape table with DMD and backdrop as is so I can play on my desktop. Then when I play on the PinCab, it is the FS version of the table that I modify since I run a portrait oriented OS 1080x1920.

1. I modify the FS version table rotate it from 270 to 0, As the FS version removes the backdrop image.

2. I turn OFF or shrink down the native VPX DMD and send the FlexDMD/Freezy version of the DMD to monitor 2.

3. Change the FS table Y scale to 1.0

4. Change the FS table X scale to 1.25-1.4

5. I remove the X axis offset, change to 0

6. I add some amount of Y offset to get the table in the right place.

7. In the PinCab video setting in VPX i mess with the ball aspect ratio stretch function so it does not look eggy.

 

Yes I also like to be able to edit the table directly in a Portrait Oriented screen at 0 degrees rotation, rather than sideways @ 270 degrees. Thanks for your advice.

[wiesshund]

I dont usually save the POV changes to the table
once i have the POV where i want i click file > export > POV
and i save the POV in the tables folder, with the same name is the table file
like star wars (stern).vpx then star wars (stern).pov

 

then close table and say not to save.

 

now when ever that table is loaded, it will load that POV with out changing the table itself.
i can edit that table for other things, send a copy to another PC, and the POV wont travel with it (unless i wanted to send it)

If it is a table from someone else that i have no intention of editing, when that author updates their table
i just drop their update in the tables folder and done, no need to redo the POV again.

NOTE: I always edit my table names to the most simplest form, if is it "JPs attack from Mars (STERN 1995) v2.3.0.vpx"

It and the backglass file become simply "Attack from Mars" i will paste the original name in the table info, if the version and author etc are not already listed there.

Among other things, it helps the front end pull table info easier, and avoids me winding up with 16 copies of a table later LOL.

 

I am not fond of the X scale 1.4, maybe i am just OCD, but i can see it in what it does to the authors graphics.
I just adjust the Z offset until the X size is where i want it, Y is usually never an issue as tables generally have less Y than a 16.9 screen has pixels
and i will usually nudge it until the chrome side rails (if the table has them) just go off the screen.
I mean if you have a cab, you have your own side rails anyway.

 

Some tables are a bit of a challenge, ones with upper level areas.

basement tables are easy (to me) though it does entail a permanent edit, usually for the PC running in desktop view

View of basement from desktop is not equal to view of basement in cab view, unless you stand the desktop view nearly straight up
otherwise, you are probably viewing the basement from more of an angle.
So i get all the basement parts in their own layer (love VP 10.7 for this)
then select all the parts (and make sure they are unlocked) and nudge them forward, checking with F6 constantly

Have done the reverse for a few tables where it was obvious that the author made the table in desktop view
and pulled the basement parts back to suit a cabinet view.

 

I tried to figure out how to actually just script the table to move the basement based on is table showDT or not
but some components it did not seem you could simply ask the script to move, or i did not know how to do it right.
Closest i got was making 2 identical basements, and simply turning the parts on and off based on ShowDT true or false
but that was a pain in the buttocks
 

 

 

[STAT]

 … Thank you Fleep and Rothbauer … down to the Cab with this …

Edited by STAT, 28 November 2020 - 07:57 PM.

[htamas]

 … Thank you Fleep and Rothbauer … down to the Cab with this …

Surprised you didn't have this one yet

[mrjcrane]

Wies great tip, did not know it worked that way, I'll give it a shot. In general I don't like to really mess with the Desktop or FS dimensions of a table BUT .... if POV file can super-impose itself over the the top of the table, that is the solution I have been looking for now for several months now ... thanks.  I'm in the minority in the community in that I run my OS in Portrait Mode, same is true for my FS tables ... they all have a rotation of 0 degrees. I like the portrait OS because FX3 and Pinball Arcade can handle it and my PinCab doubles as digital jukebox so I like the entire OS to be viewable as I face it head on in my PinCab (I'm hoping others in the community warm up to this approach in the future).

Edited by mrjcrane, 29 November 2020 - 04:15 AM.

[wiesshund]

Wies great tip, did not know it worked that way, I'll give it a shot. In general I don't like to really mess with the Desktop or FS dimensions of a table BUT .... if POV file can super-impose itself over the the top of the table, that is the solution I have been looking for now for several months now ... thanks.  I'm in the minority in the community in that I run my OS in Portrait Mode, same is true for my FS tables ... they all have a rotation of 0 degrees. I like the portrait OS because FX3 and Pinball Arcade can handle it and my PinCab doubles as digital jukebox so I like the entire OS to be viewable as I face it head on in my PinCab (I'm hoping others in the community warm up to this approach in the future).

 

I run my laptop with the OS rotated all the time
for the laptop it is easy because mine folds totally flat
so i just rotate the OS and spin the laptop around on it's little cooler stand (that doesnt cool jack)
plug in a gamepad, and Poof mini cab, plus it is a lot easier to edit a table when it is rotated

 

If i had a VESA mount, i would do it more often on my desktop, but right now it entails taking the TV i use as a main monitor
Popping the stand off which has 6 screws , flipping the thing around, and finding something to prop it up on that it isnt going to go sliding off of.

Sometimes i just run it in cab mode and lay my head sideways, but its hard to play like that for long
Ive just laid the TV flat on occasion and just stood over the desk, but still a pain in the rear

[falcon950]

So before starting this let me say this table is incredible and has quickly become a house favorite with all the new upgrades.  Congrats to all who contributed.  This is just a helpful hint for those who want the lighting to be less atmospheric and more what I would call vibrant.  The only thing I was not fond of was the new orangish tint of the lighting.  Was able to change this easily in the options under lighting. If you change the second color from orange to white the table appears more crisp and vibrant in my opinion.  Makes a big difference on my screen at least.  Just though I'd share for anyone with similar taste.  Thanks again to all invovled.  Incredible Achievement!

[wiesshund]

So before starting this let me say this table is incredible and has quickly become a house favorite with all the new upgrades.  Congrats to all who contributed.  This is just a helpful hint for those who want the lighting to be less atmospheric and more what I would call vibrant.  The only thing I was not fond of was the new orangish tint of the lighting.  Was able to change this easily in the options under lighting. If you change the second color from orange to white the table appears more crisp and vibrant in my opinion.  Makes a big difference on my screen at least.  Just though I'd share for anyone with similar taste.  Thanks again to all invovled.  Incredible Achievement!

Hard for the author to do to suit everyone
We all see the lighting differently due to different screens and video cards.
Tables look much different on my laptop as opposed to my desktop

If i adjust lighting on my laptop and then send table to my desktop, it looks like a nuclear holocaust in progress

For only 25 cents

[Dutchpinball]

Thank you for this fantastic table. I have a problem with the DMD, normal I never have problems with DMD! I use Pinmame 3.3 could that be the problem?

I have tried everything,but nothing works!!!!????

[STAT]

... you have the correct ROM in /roms Folder ?

[Dutchpinball]

Yes I have the right rom I think!  Has been download here and also tried the rom on vpuniverse which is much smaller in size!  Also the tom_13 I have in the rom folder! I can start the table , play the ball and the sounds are set up to higher volume! Still no DMD, did all the things I normal do DDraw to 0 clean register etc!

Thanks STAT for the nice B2S, looks very nice!

[wiesshund]

well dumb question time but

 

1) if you launch ROM in pinmame32, do you see any DMD at all?

 

2) if 1 is Yes then
Have you checked Alt Tab to see if it shows a DMD running off in no mans land where no one can see it?
Have you checked that F1 menu says show DMD
Have you checked that B2S backglass is not configured as Hide DMD
And do you possibly have the table view configured in a way that the script might chose to hide the DMD? which you could over ride by modifying script so
.Hidden line reads .Hidden = False

All i can think of at the moment

If 1 is no, then you have an issue that does not involve VPX or the table itself.

[justag]

 

Theatre of Magic 2.4

 

What's New in Version 2.4

- Slightly improvement on physics for better flick control (Rothbauerw)

- Improvement on physics live catches (Rothbauerw)

- Cleaned up trajectory correction to fix an occasional odd angle (Rothbauerw)

- Reduced the diameter and the elasticity of loop post and vanish post to prevent a possibility of ball rejection by the posts (Rothbauerw)

- Commented out a debug statement in the flasher code (Rothbauerw)

- Easy tweak (FlipperCoilRampupMode) for Coil-Ramp up behaviour in script (Fleep/Rothbauerw)

- Catwalk ramp sound sometimes would not trigger sound; Fixed now (Rothbauerw)

 

Hey, thanks for the hard work and effort that's gone into this build!

It looks and plays fantastic. I own an original and it's very close indeed! It's better than the FX3 version, so much more true to the original.

 

My only issue is the ball not dropping into the plunger very regularly.  Some games it won't spit a ball out on the first ball, some games it will but then won't spit out the 3rd ball.

Frustrating for such a good rendition.

I've got the latest cab from retro play so hardware wise it's kicking it, I don't have the same issue with other games either.

Reading through the thread, I've made sure I have the correct ROMs.  I get the U22 error but don't care as the game plays apart from the ball issue.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Cheers

J

[wiesshund]

Is it kicking the ball, but then ball rolling back down the trough into the drain again?

 

you could go in the script and look for where the ball is kicked to the plunger lane, and turn up the kicker power a bit
 

[Thalamus]

@justag : Since you are mentioning several tables, I believe your issue is that you have some kind of controller attached and it is not calibrated properly. Get DiView, it will show you what unit and what data is sent to VP.

[rothbauerw]

There probably is something else going on, but:

The ball does dribble out of the trough on 2.4. You can probably fix the issue by changing the following line:



sw32.kick 65, 8



to



sw32.kick 65, 12

[djlunchbox]

Hey guys just wanted to thank this team once again for this amazing table. I’ve names it my personal Table of the Year for 2020 on my channel. It might not mean much since my channel isn’t that big but i felt that it’s well deserved. Thank you again and happy new year all.

Link to the video.

There’s a playlist for the top 10 countdown i did

https://youtu.be/t1hBJ2mb-O4