Here is the version 2.5 of my tutorial to play VPX in 3D mode
With:
- The launch from Pinup
- Activation/deactivation. Kinect at the same time as launching and exiting a table.
- The ability to launch any table in 3D, from your visual pinballx base folder.
A big thank you to Matthieu Ternon for these scripts! We tested a fiddle with it! and all those who helped on the facebook group Monte ton cab
Software prerequisites:
Hardware requirements:
- A webcam or
- A Kinect V1 or
- A kinect V2 (I chose this one, because it's cheap second-hand and plug&play for me)
Kinect v2 (XBox-One) and its USB3 adapter for windows.
Here I'm going to detail the procedure with a Kinect v2 (XBox-One) and a webcam, because I haven't personally tested the others. But it works, since other people have done it.
Installation:
At this stage you have to make a choice, or not for that matter because you can do the two methods below to end up keeping only the one you prefer. It's up to you
Personally, I have both solutions. This allows us to continue the tests for the evolution of the tutorial.
Update September 2021: I highly recommend method N°2 below. I only use that now and it's much more practical I think.
Method 1:
It consists of creating a new folder that you will call for example "visual pinball 3D" in addition to the visual pinball folder you already have. This new 3D VPX folder will initially be a copy and paste of the VPX folder. I know what you're going to say. "What??? Do I need to duplicate my Tables and Roma folder?!?! It's going to take up a lot of space!! So yes, it's true. But in 3D you don't have to put your 900 tables. But I know it's itching to try... That's why there's the 2 method. In short, with this method you have two separate folders that you manage as you wish.
With this method, you will create a new emulator in PinUP with the same scripts. You can copy/paste "launch and close script". You'll just have to rename vpinballx.exe to vpinballx_gl.exe for it to launch the 3D version. You can also rename your vpinballx_gl.exe to vpinballx.exe but it's less clear later on when you want to fiddle around a bit. So we might as well stay in the logic of real names.
You'll also add the command to start and stop the Kinect.
Launch Script:
START "" /min "[DIREMU]\BAM\BAM-Tracker.exe"
Close script:
taskkill /f /im "BAM-Tracker.exe"
Ici mon émulateur VPX 3D à coté de VPX classique, Here is my 3D VPX emulator next to classic VPX, Pinball FX3 and the JukeBox.
Method 2 (recommended):
This method consists of using the basic visual pinball folder and copying the files you need directly into it. The launch of tables in 3D mode will therefore be done via a new launch script that will allow you to choose the 3D option in PinUP before launching a table, like when you want to display the information of a table or launch a multiplayer under FX3.
Submenu of the selected tale in VPX classic. With just on the right the icon to launch it in 3D. Installation:
Normally at this point you already have VPX installed and functional. You've noticed that we're going to use FP as well. It will be useful just to set up the kinect (it was my case) I'll come back to that later.
1 – Download VPVR and copy all the unzipped files to the visual pinball or visual pinball 3D folder depending on the chosen method.
2 – Download and copy the VpinballX_GL.exe file to the visual pinball or visual pinball 3D folder depending on the method chosen.
3 – If you haven't already, install Future Pinball + Bam
You can keep the original installation path, that's not a problem. C:/games/future pinball/BAM
4 – Install Kinect for windows Runtime
Setting up BAM:
In the BAM folder, there is BAM-Tracker.exe. This file will need to be launched before running VPinballX_GL.exe
BAM Dossier in Future Pinball
Once BAM-Tracker is launched, you will find it at the bottom right of the Windows taskbar.
Right-click on it, click show. The window will then appear and you can choose your sensor.
For my part, I started with a webcam and then a Kinect 2. With a webcam, choose Desktop Cam, with a Kinect v2, Kinect 2 (logical). FYI, with a kinect v1, someone told me that it put desktop kinect in the drop-down menu and that it was the option to choose.
To be sure that the sensor works and detects the player, the values "counter" AND "player position" must move in BAM-Tracker. If it doesn't move when you select your sensor, you need to run a future pinball table via the FPloader.exe file in the BAM folder (not directly from future pinball). Once the table is launched, you press the Q key to bring up the BAM menu. There, with the flip buttons or your keyboard, you move through the menus and go to kinect if you have a kinect or desktop cam if you have a webcam.
Calibrer la Kinect :
Calibrate the Kinect:
At this point, you're still in the Future Pinball BAM menu.
Now it's time to position the kinect. For me, the best solution is on the top of the pediment.
Choose calibration from the menu (or rather "Calibrate")
2 Two checkerboard drawings will follow one another. The first one is for calibration in the case of a kinect placed at the bottom of the pediment and the 2nd one which appears just on the lower part of the playfield is used for calibration in the case of a kinect placed on the pediment (as in my case)
With this information, you should be able to calibrate successfully. A message will appear in green to say that the calibration is OK.
If you're struggling to calibrate, take your Kinect in your hand and orient it on the second checkerboard at the bottom of the playfield. You'll see it will work. Retry the calibration as close as possible to the final place of the kinect (on the fronton). I held it in my hand at a little height in front of the pediment for calibration. If it helps...
After the calibration is successful, go one further down the BAM menu and select "Config »
Then choose save as default.
I also clicked on "copy setting to basic menu" but I don't know if it's useful. When in doubt, do it.
There you can close everything. And when I say everything, it's everything, no more and no less
- Launch BAM-tracker.exe
- Select Kinect
- Values need to move
- Throw VPX_GL without throwing a table!
- Go to the video settings and check the BAM Headtracking box at the bottom left.
Don't pay attention to settings. it is above all to illustrate the BAM Headtracking box to check
- In the 3D stereo output menu, I had to put "Disable"
- Launch a table.
- A blue and black menu should appear (this is the BAM settings)
- It's up to you to find your setting... For my part, I'm writing this tutorial without having finished this setting but here is a picture of what comes close to the desired effect.
The Menu key is used to display this BAM menu. The first time, it says "None" Just click on it and choose a key of your choice to make it our menu key. Remember to save otherwise you will lose your settings.
The "Save as default" button saves the settings for all tables.
The "Save" button saves the settings only for the table in question.
When your first table is set, press save as default. All you have to do is fine-tune your settings on the new tables, only if you need to, of course.
At this point, you can already launch your tables in 3D mode. Just lacks enough to do everything from PinUP.
Controlling BAM and Kinect in PinUP:
- Copy your BAM folder that is in Future Pinball
- Paste it into the visual pinball or visual pinball 3D folder depending on the method you choose. or both if you do both.
Launch and Close Scripts:
- Here are the scripts to put in PinUP / Emulators / Launch script for classic VPX (not 3D. For 3D your scripts are the same as classic VPX with the name of the .exe modified, as explained above. So it has to be done.
START "" "[STARTDIR]Launch\VPXSTARTER.exe" 30 10 60 "Visual Pinball Player" 2
cd /d "[DIREMU]"
if "[RECMODE]"=="1" (
START /min "" vpinballx.exe "[DIREMU]" -DisableTrueFullscreen -minimized -play "[GAMEFULLNAME]"
) else (
if "[ALTMODE]"=="3D" (
START "" /min "[DIREMU]\BAM\BAM-Tracker.exe"
timeout 10
START /min "" vpinballx_gl.exe "[DIREMU]" -minimized -play "[GAMEFULLNAME]"
) else (
START /min "" vpinballx.exe "[DIREMU]" -minimized -play "[GAMEFULLNAME]"
)
)
if "[custom1]"=="pinsound" (START /min "" "C:\PinSoundStudio\PinSoundStudio.exe")taskkill /f /im "BAM-Tracker.exe"
"[STARTDIR]LAUNCH\PUPCLOSER.EXE" WINTIT "Pinsound Studio" 10 1
"[STARTDIR]LAUNCH\PUPCLOSER.EXE" WINTIT "Visual Pinball" 10 1
In the PinupSystem / popmedia / default / system folder, add your 3D wheel with the name 3D.png
Here's the one I made. If she kicks you
Then in the Game Manager, for each table, you have to add this in the Alternate Run Modes box:
There you go.
You can now select your table as usual and run it in 3D mode if you wish.
Your Kinect will turn on and off at the same time as your table.
Note that at the moment (I'm still looking), the output of a 3D table takes a handful of seconds longer than in classic VPX, before returning to the table selection menu.
To be even more precise, it's VPX-GL that closes not as quickly. Because when you leave the table, you can instantly move right or left to change tables, except that VPX is still displayed on the playfield. As a result, the pinup menu is hidden behind it, until VPX is closed. Maybe killing the .exe in the close script is a solution. But maybe that's not the right solution... (more on that later)
There you go. Have a nice trip.
And see you soon for future updates.
Edited by griffindodd, 25 January 2024 - 11:15 PM.