503 replies to this topic

[ClarkKent]

The new 'Start backglass in server EXE' option is great. I didn't have stuttering problem on most tables, but if there was any slight stutter, this always got rid of it for me.

I was wondering: what does this really do and what is the disadvantage (if any) of using this versus the regular server mode backglass?

 

This is technically pretty near to 'Rosve style' backglasses. The 'B2S.Server' is just writing all the incoming data into the registry. The backglass is running in an own EXE and is polling for this data. I know, registry is not very elegant but Roger's backglasses are working this way and are running very smooth.

 

Disadvantage: A time lag between incoming data and visibility on the backglass.

 

Advantage: First of all performance. And maybe the ability to tweak this process in the OS as the EXE is running in an own process.

But where are the prefs where the data is stored which table uses the exe and which not? The backglass of Elvira is not starting anymore because after switching to exe it does not find the backglass anymore....

[Herweh]

The new 'Start backglass in server EXE' option is great. I didn't have stuttering problem on most tables, but if there was any slight stutter, this always got rid of it for me.

I was wondering: what does this really do and what is the disadvantage (if any) of using this versus the regular server mode backglass?

 

This is technically pretty near to 'Rosve style' backglasses. The 'B2S.Server' is just writing all the incoming data into the registry. The backglass is running in an own EXE and is polling for this data. I know, registry is not very elegant but Roger's backglasses are working this way and are running very smooth.

 

Disadvantage: A time lag between incoming data and visibility on the backglass.

 

Advantage: First of all performance. And maybe the ability to tweak this process in the OS as the EXE is running in an own process.

But where are the prefs where the data is stored which table uses the exe and which not? The backglass of Elvira is not starting anymore because after switching to exe it does not find the backglass anymore....

 

Have sent you a PM to get more into detail.

[Pinball999]

Hi there,

 

I'm also experiencing some crashes.

Sorry for the stupid question.. But how exactly can I change a table's registry?

 

Thx.

[marauder]

You need to change it on Windows' registry. Use regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Freeware > VisualPinMAME. You should see there the ROMs (and not the tables!) as the key names. Edit there.

[Pinball999]

Thank you Marauder, I'll try this.

[Pinball999]

Just to confirm that the solution worked on my W7 64.

The DMD size was also reduced as stated before, and I'm curious to see how it will look when I'll connect the PinDMD.

[pinball buzz]

Many thanks for all your hard work on this Herweh - gonna load this up onto my cab today

Cheers Pinball Buzz

[pinball buzz]

So downloaded and followed instructions, one word to describe, AWESOME !! Plays great, takes the load away from the processor, no table stutter, and easy to install. Well done, can't wait for the official release. Cheers PB Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[troyguitarman]

Thank You, This is gonna be awesome. Only babseball and ACDC work for me. Did i have to register all the b2sbackglassserver dll's ? I kept the newest one by date modified and registered it and deleted the old ones. I have Close Encounters, Cosmic Gunfight, Elvira, Evlvis Gorgar, Pinbot, Playboy, Sorcerer, T2, TAF, Taxi, Directb2s with matching file name tables. I will try them on my other computer. Is there a new DLL i can use. Yes backglass set at 32bit, 2 monitors and the TS direct is 1600 x1200. Thank you for your work. Peace Guitarman

[Herweh]

To keep just the newest version of the server DLL and EXE is perfect. Please do not rename anything here.

Do you get any error message when starting the table?

Can you post here what you have changed in the table script?

[troyguitarman]

Thanks so much Herweh. Well I tried it on my cab and all worked awesomely. I think i registered the dll from my download directory instead of my tables directory.
I recopied over the files and reregistered and now they work from laptop also. Just as williams took pinball to the next level in their day so are you with VP. Awesome Mwauh thanks means alot to a pinball freak like me! Thanks to all involved and all the work involved!

[Dozer316]

Hi friends, I've put together a quick preview video of some of the results of Herweh's new designer and some of the things it's capable of.

I was by myself when I filmed these so excuse some of the shaky camera work as it was hard to hold the camera while trying to trigger some of the animations

 

The animations and lamp\solenoid triggers you see in the video are not based on the original machines but rather an attempt to push the designer and server as hard as possible during the test phase.

On my cabinet, 4 ghz Core i5 with GTX 480, Windows 7 64, these all run with virtually 0 ball stutter

 

Enjoy.

 

Edited by Dozer316, 05 February 2013 - 11:11 PM.

[luvthatapex]

Very cool! Yes, this is a great tool for sure. Thanks for the cool video and Herweh for the AWESOME BACKGLASS DESIGNER!

[thewool]

Amazing preview for sure!!!!! 

[ArcadiusMaximus]

Oh wow this is amazing !!!! I noticed that your b2s back glasses designed for a 2 monitor setup. Can the same b2s file be used in a 3 and 2 monitor setup or do separate back glasses have to be created for each instance? If the same one is used for both how does the editor handle this? Is there an area in the designer designated as say, the DMD area? Then when you check or uncheck the box it enables or disables this area and scales lights accordingly?

 

Also, does this version of the designer support animated back glass elements yet such as spider in scared stiff and the moving puck in Ice Fever? I didn't think this release did, but I haven't seen anything regarding this lately. AWESOME WORK HERWEH ! Sh*ts about to get real.....

Edited by ArcadiusMaximus, 06 February 2013 - 01:38 AM.

[Dozer316]

Hey there, yes it's just a matter of setting a grill height variable in the editor and the grill will appear on the appropriate monitor should you have a 2 or 3 screen setup

 

The current version of the editor supports animation snippets which allow you to assign images to solenoids / lamps etc. but I believe Herweh is still enhancing this area with other features.

 

He would be a better person to answer the latter part of this question though.

[bent98]

Damn that looks good. I Can't wait for this to come out.

I'd love to see Stargate get animated.

[Dozer316]

: )

 

 Stargate_dev.jpg   160.36KB   50 downloads

[Aurich]

The animations and lamp\solenoid triggers you see in the video are not based on the original machines but rather an attempt to push the designer and server as hard as possible during the test phase.

Okay, I'm officially not a purist about these backglasses and sticking with only what was actually there, your animations look great. They keep the spirit of the backglass, you can still see it as "bulbs" but they really add life. I guarantee anyone who owned these physical tables would consider a mod that duplicated those animations in real life with LEDs.

[Dozer316]

Many thanks everyone for your kind comments.

To be honest, I prefer the more detailed animations on the newer backglasses ('91 on DMD style) but prefer the more realistic look for the older games. (3 or 4 sequential slow flashes etc.).

 

At any rate, it's been a lot of fun doing this and I can't wait to see what others come up with.

 

Dozer.