70 replies to this topic

[Wizards_Hat]

just a word of advice... do not post any torrents here! they are illegal in the USA

Correction.
Not ALL torrents are illegal - if I create something and share it through torrent it is perfectly legal.
Sharing others work without their permission is illegal, and posting links to anything illegal is not welcome here.

Regards,
Dan.

[faralos]

I am wrong yet again! sorry for the misleading info there here is the correct definition of torrents: I just thought they were all illegal since the only ones I ever saw were all on hack sites, but going by this def. it is akin to file sharing...I used to do that about 5 years ago, using Kazaa lite until it was shut down and we were all busted for file sharing illegal just released commercial theatrical movies! I was one of the unfortunate people who got my tower seized by the NHS (National Homeland Security; or what me and my friends refer to as the New Hitler Society!) hence my hesitation to have anything to do with torrents at all anymore I just cannot take that chance again...

Attached Files

•  torrent_definition.jpg   532.43KB   42 downloads

[Wizards_Hat]

It's ok dude - no need to apologise, was just making the correction is all

Regards,
Dan.

[rob046]

@slam23, even if there is a resolution fix, I believe the DOS version is still inferior in other ways. I remember trying it for some reason, & I just remember the limited resolution as well as the game not playing nearly as smooth. If DOS Timeshock isn't looking & playing just as good as BRUSA & Fantastic Journey at 1600x1200 (windows), then it is definitely inferior. Believe me, for literally a few bucks the windows version is worth it.
Since people might want "The Web" anyhow it might be best to just get the windows 4 pack.

Amazingly, they are still selling the same 4 pack that I bought so many years ago, & for about the same price, under $10! This is by far the best buy, as its the only compilation with all 4 games.
http://www.amazon.co...a...3763&sr=1-4
That is under $2.50 per game!
A windows version free demo of TS for those who still aren't convinced...
http://download.cnet...4-10013835.html

It took me mere seconds to find the Pro Pinball stuff at amazon through google, as well as that demo. With it being that easy & that cheap, nobody should be looking for torrents. Also feel good knowing you are throwing a few bucks toward a product that more than deserves it.

@cristal13

I would like to point out a great advantage of a FP table over a Propinball's.
It's of course that you can edit it to your taste: to change the replay scores, to move the flipers, etc..
In my view, that make the table more playable for everybody.

There is nothing to edit. These Pro Pinball games are masterpiece's. Have you played them? If so, you might know that these games are so detailed, that many things can be adjusted. Especially on BRUSA & FJ. But even Timeshock has its own rom just as if it is any other real 90's table. You can go into the DMD menu & adjust replay scores or anything else you could adjust on a real mid to late 90's pin. As for how to do all that, these games come with manuals just as big & detailed as real pin manuals, if not more so. Pretty amazing stuff. These are the details that continue to make these the best pin sims ever.

I just leave everything default though since they did such an amazing job, the most I do is disable ball blur on BRUSA & FJ, maybe I'll shrink the DMD a bit as well.
I'm sorry but I just don't think any user's are gonna be able to improve on these games by moving stuff around or whatever. Plus an FP version will play nothing like the real game, the physics just don't compare.

[Noah Fentz]

So where do I find the info to play these in a cab?

I'm certain I've seen it posted somewhere.

[rob046]

I've got a great PP setup. All 4 tables, windows versions with the latest patches & no cd patches, all my tables play the background music, I got all the documents, guides & PDF's for these games as well. So if anybody needs anything in regardless to Pro Pinball or any questions, I probably can help.
Even though I have Windows 7 64bit, all the tables work perfectly, don't even need a compatibility mode. Actually XP had more issues running these tables than Vista or Win7, but even for XP there are patches that fix things up for those that need them.

Hello Rob,

I bought all four of the pro pinball tables back as they came out years ago, and have been frustrated that I can't easily have them installed on a computer these days without disc swapping and what not. A couple of years ago, I ran across a CD key-free installation of Time Shock, but was disappointed in the fact that it didn't come with any of the music. It sounds like you have somehow found a great solution to these problems. I'd like to get some information on how I could install these to my pinball computer in a way to enjoy them for years to come. I also have Win7, 64 bit.

Thanks for any info you can give.

The solution is pretty simple. The Web & Timeshock differ from the newer 2 games. They use audio cd tracks that don't install with the game, they can only be played from the cd. So, I decided to make an ISO image of those 2 games. You need to create it as a "mixed cd" so that the audio gets included in the iso, cuz other image making modes won't include the audio. I did this years ago, I think I used alcohol 120 to create the proper iso, but I'm sure other programs can do it. Then once you have the image, stash it on your hdd somewhere, then simply run an image mounting tool to launch the image.
I use Daemon Tools, I set these 2 images as quick access favorites, so when I want to launch The Web or Timeshock, they are only a couple clicks away. No searching for cd's, & you get all the background music. Better yet, you set the music in the game to "instant restart", & since its reading from ISO the music transitions are seamless. Also, by mounting ISO's you don't even need a no cd crack, cuz the game see's the ISO as the CD.

Then for BRUSA & Fantastic Journey, those games are setup differently. Again its been a few years, but I have these games load up with music by just double clicking my shortcut. You do need a no cd crack though for these 2 games, which you can probably google & find, if not let me know. & when you install these games I think you need to do a full install to get all the music on the hdd.
So yeah, its just Web & TS that are tricky with the music

[raza]

Thanks for all the replies guys (girls?)
I'm much wiser about those 4 games only didn't find anything about Brusa.

I have to agree on some replies that recreating those games doesn't work and is illegal too.

So I'm looking forward playing those tables. I understand that they didn't excist in real life and are just created on pc?...

[TheMcD]

Timeshock has another tricky thing coming: The final patch to the game actually broke the music playback. That took me some time to realize, and damn was I annoyed.

The McD

[rob046]

@ raza...
Brusa = Big Race USA

@TheMcD...
Not sure what you are talking about. I know I have Timeshock patched to the very latest, & have for years, I've never not had music. Did you read my last post about The Web & Timeshock use audio cd tracks? Thus you need to play with the CD, or properly create an ISO to mount (which is much easier than dealing with cd swapping).
All that is nothing new, that is how those 2 games were created from day 1 (as mixed mode cd's) & no patch has changed that.

[TheMcD]

I have the Ultimate Pro Pinball collection - which forces me to use CDs to boot - and I didn't get any music, ever. I did have an old Timeshock! disk from a German PC magazine and it had music just fine.

I could swear having read something about patches causing problems with music, and considering the one that didn't work on my end was the newer one, I found myself confirmed.

I also now have the GOG release and it has music just fine.

I guess I really have no clue anymore. There is something that will cause no music, but I don't know what anymore.

The McD

[rob046]

I have the Ultimate Pro Pinball collection - which forces me to use CDs to boot - and I didn't get any music, ever. I did have an old Timeshock! disk from a German PC magazine and it had music just fine.

I could swear having read something about patches causing problems with music, and considering the one that didn't work on my end was the newer one, I found myself confirmed.

I also now have the GOG release and it has music just fine.

I guess I really have no clue anymore. There is something that will cause no music, but I don't know what anymore.

The McD

Bah, that DOS version rears its ugly head again! I'm pissed that GOG sells the DOS version, I don't know why they do that, plus they don't even warn people that their version is DOS & is inferior.
You really should be playing the windows versions of The Web & Timeshock. Having played the DOS versions, I know they don't play as well (they are choppy), plus the resolution problem, & other details that are just better on windows versions.

You don't need CD's to boot, trust me, nor do you even need them for the music. Certainly not for BRUSA & FJ. For The Web & Timeshock, do as I mentioned above, create an ISO (make sure image making software creates it as a mixed mode to include the audio tracks) & mount it with daemon tools or other mounting software. With Daemon tools though, at any time I'm just a couple clicks away from playing Web or Timeshock without the CD, & WITH music. I don't know why that even when using the CD you weren't getting music on Timeshock.

Again it used actual audio cd tracks, so there could have been some issue you had with that. Also go into the menu, make sure you don't have volume disabled or lowered on the music. Also in the menu you can run music/sound tests.
Yeah I'm way into Pro Pinball & never heard about a crack screwing up the audio. Maybe there was some issues on XP or something. But I can confirm I'm running the absolute latest patch & never had a problem. Maybe I'll send you what I have.

Are you on XP? If so that might be the only reason I can think of that you might have audio issues. If you are on XP, are you using the XP patches? There are a set of patches specifically made for XP. So that also means that if you are NOT on XP, then make sure you are NOT using the XP patches. You'll want to use the regular patches.
Latest version for Timeshock is v1.07. The DMD displays your version right when the game starts.

For BRUSA & FJ, you simply need a no cd patch. I'll post those if you need them. Then of course you can use no cd patches for Web or Timeshock, & not have to use the CD or an ISO, but of course you won't get music. So for those 2 I just mount the images, no no-cd crack needed.

[elton]

Managed to dig out my old copies of Pro Pinball.

Installed Timeshock and went through the NoCD hack but it failed to work properly. Tried the game using the CD but it is so fast as to make it unplayable.

Installed Fantastic Journey too and that installed good, is very playable and the NoCD worked a treat.

Just gotta find BRUSA now ......

[raza]

Thanks for pointing out to make an ISO, I'll do that as soon as the Pro Pinball Box arrives. Just ordered the whole box from Ebay UK. It's there for $4,95. I had to pay $12 for shipping, lol.
Still I think it's very cheap for all those hours of fun.

I will come back to you soon about the ISO and stuff, if it's working right.

[elton]

Down loaded another NOCD hack and that was successful - table is uber-fast though

[BibleTalker]

I will come back to you soon about the ISO and stuff, if it's working right.

[/quote]


I downloaded the FutureShock Demo and installed, it told me I need DirectX 3 or better. I have DirectX on my computer because I need it for other programs, but I get an error message....something missing on line such and so and it takes me back to desktop. BT

[rob046]

I downloaded the FutureShock Demo and installed, it told me I need DirectX 3 or better. I have DirectX on my computer because I need it for other programs, but I get an error message....something missing on line such and so and it takes me back to desktop. BT

You mean Timeshock? You already have DirectX3 or better (way better), so when you get the option to install that just ignore it (exit out of it). If you didn't have directX installed you wouldn't even be able to play VP. You guys should mention what OS you are on, because these games on XP do require special patches in some cases for XP only.
That demo is old, & I've never tried it since I've always owned the game. The game is amazing, spend $10 for the 4 pack of games & it will be the best $10 you ever spent. Don't even bother with the demo if its giving you problems. There are things you can try though, compatibility mode being one.
But one problem with the demo might be that it doesn't have all the enhancements & fixes that came in all the later patches for the full game. Some of which are certainly OS fixes. Remember this demo is like 15 years old with no updates.

Down loaded another NOCD hack and that was successful - table is uber-fast though

Have you patched to v1.07? Are you on XP?

Edited by rob046, 12 June 2011 - 07:30 PM.

[raza]

In Timeshock is it true you can only buy-in an extra ball when you've earned a credit by reaching a highscore?
Is it not possible to put credits on it manually?
Maybe in the Timeshock ini file?

Also are there other kind of tables equivalent like these super gameplays. I encountered some other pinball tables like this but never so competitive like these with all those
special plays and a final game in it.

It surprised me these were made in 1999, so nice to play and never run in to it.

Edited by raza, 13 June 2011 - 04:29 PM.

[rob046]

In Timeshock is it true you can only buy-in an extra ball when you've earned a credit by reaching a highscore?
Is it not possible to put credits on it manually?
Maybe in the Timeshock ini file?

Also are there other kind of tables equivalent like these super gameplays. I encountered some other pinball tables like this but never so competitive like these with all those
special plays and a final game in it.

It surprised me these were made in 1999, so nice to play and never run in to it.

Its just like a real pinball. You can buy an extra ball after any game. But then if you reach a high score that way you will only be a "buy in mode" champ. That score won't count as a regular high score since you had 4 balls. Yeah there really are no other pinball sims this in depth that have their own custom roms that rival BLY/WMS roms of that time.

Btw, The Web was from '96 & Timeshock was '97. Only Fantastic Journey was made as late as '99. Holy shit, I was still in high school in '97! I'm 32 now! When I think about what other PC programs were like back then, it is nothing short of mind blowing how I'm still playing these games today, & how amazing they look at 1600x1200. Nobody even had 1600x1200 monitors back then. I swear, the guys who made these games must of had a crystal ball into the future. Imagine a game dev today trying to make a game that will still hold up well to other games 14 years down the road! It just doesn't happen.

[BibleTalker]

Have you patched to v1.07? Are you on XP?

Yes, I meant TimeShock....my OS is XP with Service Pack 3. I know I already have DirectX on my computer. I click to install the .exe for the demo, it goes through the process and I get the message that the Installation Completed. I then go to All Programs and there is the Pro Pinball so I click to start the game, and then the screen goes black like it is about to load the game and then I get this little error message " Unable to wait for vertical blank (8000 4001) "......I click OK and it goes back to desktop. BT

Edited by BibleTalker, 13 June 2011 - 09:02 PM.

[rob046]

Have you patched to v1.07? Are you on XP?

Yes, I meant TimeShock....my OS is XP with Service Pack 3. I know I already have DirectX on my computer. I click to install the .exe for the demo, it goes through the process and I get the message that the Installation Completed. I then go to All Programs and there is the Pro Pinball so I click to start the game, and then the screen goes black like it is about to load the game and then I get this little error message " Unable to wait for vertical blank (8000 4001) "......I click OK and it goes back to desktop. BT

That might be the problem then. When XP came along it gave some troubles to the pro pinball tables. This is why patches were made specifically for XP. However, you can't patch the demo, you can only patch the full version of the game. Plus, as I said, the demo is still v1.0, so it is missing all the enhancements that make it work great for me even on win7 64 bit.
You really just need to buy the game from Amazon, get the 4 pack I linked to above. Definitely avoid the GOG version if you can. Besides, for less than the price of BRUSA & FJ from GOG, you can get proper versions of all 4 games. So it makes sense financially as well.

Seriously, this is one of the few games where I can tell you that you don't need the demo to decide if you want it. You do want it! If you don't believe me, read the other million raving reviews out there. You wouldn't regret paying $40 for this game, let alone $3. Then once you have the full windows versions, you can get the XP patches if you still need them. I'll send them to you.

Edited by rob046, 14 June 2011 - 12:02 AM.