31 replies to this topic

[Lee F]

Maceman!
Thanks for the hard work!
I like how you re-did the backglass. More focus on the art, and not the top "border". Nice repositioning of the logo and horses around the table.
The buildings look more "3D" and pop out of the table.
The larger center plug looks better and I think is more accurate.
Plays much faster than the VP8 version. Some parts much smoother: Center Ramp, outer slingshot loop.
I hit some snags.
No music?
I managed to get the ball stuck behind the ladder ramp almost immediately on my first game.
Would like to hear from other people who have played the original... but I have a possible graphic tweak.
One of the cool things about the original table was that there was a rotating drum under the playfield that gave the "fire" lights more of a fire flickering effect.
Given this was a cool factor for the table, and that putting "out" the lights is a key part of the game. Maybe oversiziing slightly or ephasizing the fire lights somehow on the table would be nice?
Right now it seems like there is a solid graphic overlay Black, Yellow, and White (and clear) flame over a solid "flicker" light that is black or orange.
Anyway either: increase the size of the light, decrease some of the "solid" graphic overlay to let more "flicker" light through, and/or enhance the flicker so it is not just Orange or Black? Possibly Red, Orange, Yellow, black?
I realize the color changing lights may not be VP9 standard, but more and more tables that have LEDs will have color changing lights, so maybe there is some wizard out there who can help with this?
One other thing: the "translucent" smoke clouds especially over the skill shot need work. One big plus on this mod, vs the VP8 version is you can at least see the skill shot, but it's still very hard to see what the point values are. Again... I'd like to hear from other members... but for the emulation, i'd prefer to be able to more clearly see what the skill shot values are, over having a more accurate "smoke" cloud.
Awesome job! Hoping for more.
Lee

[maceman]

Thanx Lee! I haven't done really too much with graphics. It comes down to resources. There really isn't much point putting the time in the table since it really needs to be built from scratch, but still using the same script as it is very good....

I have a handful of 'temp' mods, but no time to really build from scratch by myself. If anyone feels up to it and has the resources, they could go for it!

Personally, I have never played the real table so I am at a disadvantage, but hopefully people will have some fun with seeing how it runs in VP9 anyways!
Cheers,
Maceman

[NicToria]

Looks like a nice table.. Never seen one in the wild.... Any updates going on... FS Cab or other.... THX Guys.... 

[troyguitarman]

yes fire is a very fun Williams gotta put it on my list to mod also. I use to play it quite a bit! Aw just saw the link thanks love this game!

Edited by troyguitarman, 04 March 2013 - 05:13 AM.

[tguittar]

resourcesUntlil we can get some good resources we should just wait ... They will come .....

[monicle]

Looking good. I actually was really close to buying a Champagne version of this machine in the early 2000s Its a good table.

[cottonm4]

I forgot about the cow.  It has been 30 years since I played this pinball in a convenience store after the end of my midnight shift. I had a ball with this table.  Your recreation (or borrowed VP8 recreation) reminds me of what a noisy machine this was with all the sirens, and such.  There was a brass bell on top that would start clanging.  I remember one night I hit a hot streak with ramp shots. Left ramp then right ramp. Several times.  Lights were blinking. Sirens were blowing. The bell was clanging. My observer was going nuts at the side of the table. 

 

Your recreation brings it all back. 

 

I downloaded your table to my XP machine.   Like another poster said, I too managed to get the ball locked behind the ladder ramp, twice.  And one time the ball would not leave the chute.  But other than that, the table played fine with no other problems that I could tell for my few minutes of playing. The ball has real good physics and is fast. And I like the way the rubber bumper in the outlane has a lot of bounce to it. 

 

I'm too new around here to know very much, so I doubt that I could be of any help, but if there is a VP for Dummies book out there, I would not mind learning. 

 

Like some others, I too would like to have this table on my cabinet.

 

Anyway, nice work.  

[maceman]

There is a learning curve to VP for sure, but the show stopper normally isn't the curve, but the lack of resources.

 

This is one of a large handful of tables i have 'semi-modded', and anyone is welcome to mod further, but it will come down to finding good resources.  If i had resources, I would try to build it from scratch, and it looks like there are a few spots that need fixin' as well.

 

Hope you enjoy what we have for now and here's hoping for some resources!!!

Cheers,

Maceman

[cottonm4]

When you say "resources" I am assuming you mean a disassembled table to get pictures from and a working table to understand how it plays.  Am I assuming correctly? 

[JayP]

Would be great to see an updated version of the table. A another member here mentioned it to me and I grabbed the VP8 version and had a little look at trying to fix it as the videos on youtube made it look like quite a fast table. I actually used this table to follow the 90s workshop tutorial by WTiger. I got as far as making new lights for it but I am no artist and was more interested in how the lighting was scripted using JP's version of PacDudes script.

 

I haven't had a chance to test your version but from memory of the VP8 version the ball does get stuck in a few places. It definately gets stuck in the building on the left hand side which I think might be due to the diverting wall in the building in the middle - could be wrong though. It always sends 2 balls to left kicker but it should send the second to the right hand side. If you constantly tilt the table when it is stuck the loose ball comes out from the left. It also used to stick alot on the orbital.

 

Jay

[maceman]

Yes, by resources we mean High Definition Playfield image and HD Plastics and Backglass. The rest we can figure out by videos and such...

Cheers,

Maceman

[SmokeU27]

Being a firefighter, I have a soft spot for this machine as well.. Is there a VP9 version around for this machine yet?