61 replies to this topic

[moogster66]

What is the benefit of this pinserver over UVP?

What I mean is, why could someone just take the BG above, open it in UVP Server, add lights(if wanted), and then save it? Would this work as a BG? How did people get the score to go up to the BG??

Thanx.

UVP uses the rom for light data and scoring. Pinserver is used for tables, like originals, that don't use roms.

And as for what you are saying about the backglass is exactly what I did. I made a UVP using a rom table, added lights, and saved the image. The image I posted is from a UVP. Pinserver will put the score on the backglass if you change the script.

I may try to write a tutorial how to get Pinserver working. It can be tricky. The main thing is where your VP is installed. I installed mine in the default folder (C:/Program Files/Visual Pinball). The installation works easier if you use the default. I have tried to get others to use Pinserver, but no one seemed interested.

Edited by moogster66, 18 May 2011 - 07:30 PM.

[maceman]

I am not sure why others didn't use pinserver before. It is the first I've heard of it myself.
However, If I had to guess, it could be the overwhelming learning curve of the whole digital pinball thing.... at least for me....within a couple months, I had to learn both FP and VP (setting up i mean), building my own cab (almost done), then Hyperpin.... the constant upgrading Hyperpin(new videos, adding wheels, BG,table images etc...)...{{takes a breath}}.... learning how to customize an ahk and fplaunch file....

... it never seems to end, and by some strange and unbelievable miracle, I actually accomplished all this, and am up to 159 tables now!!

Could be 160 if Bob would make his own UVP's for us all Just kidding....

No Moog(and Bob), to be honest, it is not that I wouldn't want to learn pinserver. Au Contraire... but rather that I wish it could be accomplished with something I already somewhat know.

So, what you are telling me is that if I found a good BG picture(or use one of yours), and then learn how to change the script to somehow move a DMD to the BG,then I can make my own, right?? Where do i learn how to do this in the script. I think i can get an image.

Because I am already somewhat accustomed with UVP, I think i'd like to try that route first...but I am equally intrigued by pinserver!!

Maceman

ps. Bob, I had one comment as well to add but was going to just fly it past you in chat, but here is fine..... So, I noticed my chrome ball in GB has a bit of a rough edge, but the green ball is beautiful- almost like a bubblegum ball,worth eating!! What could be the problem. I don't want to publically ask if your balls are nickelled at all, but if you can let us all know that would be great- ha ha!! I don't see this issue with any of the balls in FP...something is weird.

pss. Bob, I forgot to mention how great this table really is once you get into it. Il ove the curve at the top right when you launch out, and your bumper placement is perfect.Very fun table. I was thinking to myself that if a table was made that incorporated your top right curve area with Mark1's Top-Left "The Wall" target knockdown area... it would be one of the most fun games made!! Just my opinion. I wish I could make tables.

Edited by maceman, 18 May 2011 - 07:55 PM.

[hassanchop]

nice work!

[billyrjse]

Great job, Bob! As always. Very nice! I like the sounds. I just think that gameplay is a little bit faster...

Thank you very much!!

[Liteuser]

Thanks to Bob for another cool original table.

[Bob5453]

Maceman, I have an older pc, when I tried UVP, there was too much resources being used by it and the table stuttered, I can't play pinball when the ball skips around the machine. I don't much about UVP, it uses lights and transfers the score from the ROM to the second monitor, that's all I know.

This BS2 system requires you to have .NET Framework 4 installed on your computer, you may already have it, it's just a free M$ download. BS2 works with HyperPIn (I don't use HyperPIn) or it works by just starting the table. I start the table and the table loads and the backglass loads and I start playing. I checked the VP Framerate (press F11) and my WS Ghostbuster one monitor table runs between 600 and 700 frames. I checked the FS table running the BS2 system with working backglass and it also ran between 600 and 700 frames, so I noticed no difference, no slowdown at all for me.

The BS2 system allows me to create a backglass and then I can add Images to it and turn them On and Off. Doing this would allow an author to recreate more realistic looking backglasses, the only drawback is one's lack of skill, in other words, JP could make some kickass non rom 2 screen tables.

I will release this table in FS using the BS2 system, but I wanted Rosve to check it out first as I won't be able to answer any questions from people about the system. I only used his backglass and changed the pics and positions of the pics to fit my backglass. I'm not really pc savvy and I'm certainly not a programmer.

The silver ball image in Ghostbusters isn't the greatest. You can use any ball image you want, reimport your image over my image or import your image and find the one line in the script that tells the table to use my shiny ball image and change the name to your image. You can export any ball from any table and use it in this table.

As I mentioned somewhere above, I borrowed heavily from the Stearn 9 ball table layout to make this table.

Thanks to every one for the comments!

[faralos]

hey maceman, ANYONE can make a table it depends on how good it is though, try one, you'd be mildly surprised to know that it's not as hard as it looks! tedious sure, time consuming, hell yeah.. but fun all the same! all it takes is a good imagination and a personal streak of masochism and you'll do just fine!

[Bob5453]

Oh yea. I got the backglass working 100% with a brighter, more glasslike backglass image. The Ghostbuster Text is also 12 lights. Thanks to Rosve for his help.

Attached Files

•  GBbackglass2.jpg   1MB   40 downloads

[faralos]

Kudos go out to the masochist who had to make those lit letters for ya' I know how much of a pain it is to make lettering with the lights, a long process for sure, since i copy the pf pic to an empty table then save it then build walls to match the lettering THEN make lights to match the wall shapes (walls can be set to the pf image so you can see under them to form lettering), lights cannot be seen thru so this is the only way I know to make lights to match pf art, then the whole shebang gets copied into the table!

Edited by faralos, 20 May 2011 - 11:46 AM.

[rosve]

Kudos go out to the masochist who had to make those lit letters for ya' I know how much of a pain it is to make lettering with the lights, a long process for sure, since i copy the pf pic to an empty table then save it then build walls to match the lettering THEN make lights to match the wall shapes (walls can be set to the pf image so you can see under them to form lettering), lights cannot be seen thru so this is the only way I know to make lights to match pf art, then the whole shebang gets copied into the table!

Yes! It was a long and difficult process to make those letter lights, took me almost 30 minutes .

[maceman]

Thanx for the tips Bob.... I just had another chance tonight to really get into this game. It is great.

I changed the ball to the sinbad table ball(ball_sinbad) and it looks and plays so great- try it!!

Also, Here are my flipper settings for anyone wanting a really nice feel!
0.755
0.15
0.65
0
0.25
32
2
7.5

Maceman

ps. Does anyone know how to capture a video of a table playing using FRAPS? or this the wrong program to use. Mine doesn't seem to want to record anything...

Edited by maceman, 24 May 2011 - 04:09 AM.

[Bob5453]

Thanx for the tips Bob.... I just had another chance tonight to really get into this game. It is great.

I changed the ball to the sinbad table ball(ball_sinbad) and it looks and plays so great- try it!!

Also, Here are my flipper settings for anyone wanting a really nice feel!
0.755
0.15
0.65
0
0.25
32
2
7.5

Maceman

ps. Does anyone know how to capture a video of a table playing using FRAPS? or this the wrong program to use. Mine doesn't seem to want to record anything...

Mace, for my own version of this table, I use the JP_Cueball2 ball image in this table. I tried your flipper settings, to each their own. I'm always happy when someone actually plays one of my tables long enough to adjust the settings to their own taste. I don't know what you were trying to achieve with them, I don't like super fast upswinging flippers, but if you were trying to make the ball be hit faster or stronger, I better tell you one more thing. Go to the table side of the editor, look for "Dampening Speed" in the options to the right. This controls the fastest speed attainable for the ball on the table. I don't think anyone plays with this number, but I have it set to 35.2 on this table. You won't see that low of a number on any VP table made before this date, most, if not all, tables will have the default setting of 60 there. So, if you wanted a faster ball, start raising that number.

Fraps can capture Video, but I've never used it as it is not compatible with VP, it makes tables stutter if you have it in the taskbar. There use to be lots of posts on this at the old VPForums, I think you might find a couple here if you search for Fraps.

Cheers!

[unclewilly]

hey bob can i use you bumper making technique. it is much easier than dropwalls for showing the lighting of the bumpers

[Bob5453]

hey bob can i use you bumper making technique. it is much easier than dropwalls for showing the lighting of the bumpers

Sure. Do you mean for the bumper base? I first used a lower bumper for the bumper base on the Dragon table I did, that's when I first understood the zooming in with xScale and yScale.

[unclewilly]

yeah thats really nice

[maceman]

Thanx Bob,

I'll try fiddlin' with the dapening speed, another thing I had no idea about

Actually, with the ball, I was just trying to achieve a non-antialiased look, which the sinbad ball got for me. There are other good ones,and maybe some of them are from the same sourcebut named differently,I don't know. The ball for Monster Bash is mint as well,and I use that one on the Royal Flush table.

With the flippers,I just thought it played much better, but maybe you didn't like it? You have to try mysettings with the sinbad ball. I noticed other balls have a different "feel", and I am not sure,but myguess is different diameter balls would react differently with the table physics. The combination of thatballand my settingsjust works so GREAT!!!

Cheers,
Maceman

[Bob5453]

Thanx Bob,

I'll try fiddlin' with the dapening speed, another thing I had no idea about

Actually, with the ball, I was just trying to achieve a non-antialiased look, which the sinbad ball got for me. There are other good ones,and maybe some of them are from the same sourcebut named differently,I don't know. The ball for Monster Bash is mint as well,and I use that one on the Royal Flush table.

With the flippers,I just thought it played much better, but maybe you didn't like it? You have to try mysettings with the sinbad ball. I noticed other balls have a different "feel", and I am not sure,but myguess is different diameter balls would react differently with the table physics. The combination of thatballand my settingsjust works so GREAT!!!

Cheers,
Maceman

The ball graphic doesn't change the physics of the ball, the ball doesn't know what image you are using, but it can change your attitude towards the game, if you like a ball image, the game just feels better than if you don't like the image.

In VP, just like in life, one gets comfortable with certain settings. On your flipper settings, I felt like I was flipping a little early. I bet on my flipper settings, you felt a lag or like you were flipping late. That's about the only differences I noticed. I could use either settings after playing a game or 2, but I think you can control the ball better with slower ball speeds. Freddie has told me it's no fun to just try to keep the ball alive, he says you want to be able to control it. That's why he's The Monk.

Edited by Bob5453, 25 May 2011 - 10:40 PM.

[maceman]

The ball graphic doesn't change the physics of the ball, the ball doesn't know what image you are using, but it can change your attitude towards the game, if you like a ball image, the game just feels better than if you don't like the image.

Hi Bob,

Are you sure?? My tests are showing a definite ball change. For example, if you use a smaller ball, the ball moves much different. To test this, If I load the sinbad ball into the royal flush table (this was what i tried first), my ball gets stuck in a bumper loop for the whole game....if I use the Monster Bash ball, I get smooth play, no loop..... So I was thinking the ball size definitely plays different.

If not, I am crazy!!!!

Maceman

ps. I tried FRAPS because someone on this site suggested it. I cannot take screenshots in FP with my set-up, so i tried fraps, which works....but I want to take videos so i canshow you guys what i mean by awesome game physics.Any suggestions as to what will capture VP?

Edited by maceman, 25 May 2011 - 11:56 PM.

[Bob5453]

The ball graphic doesn't change the physics of the ball, the ball doesn't know what image you are using, but it can change your attitude towards the game, if you like a ball image, the game just feels better than if you don't like the image.

Hi Bob,

Are you sure?? My tests are showing a definite ball change. For example, if you use a smaller ball, the ball moves much different. To test this, If I load the sinbad ball into the royal flush table (this was what i tried first), my ball gets stuck in a bumper loop for the whole game....if I use the Monster Bash ball, I get smooth play, no loop..... So I was thinking the ball size definitely plays different.

If not, I am crazy!!!!

Maceman

ps. I tried FRAPS because someone on this site suggested it. I cannot take screenshots in FP with my set-up, so i tried fraps, which works....but I want to take videos so i canshow you guys what i mean by awesome game physics.Any suggestions as to what will capture VP?

I'm only talking about the ball's physics when you are changing the ball image, you're not really resizing the ball, you are just changing ball images, right? There is a way to create different size balls now, but I'm pretty sure you're not doing that.

Video capture. I think some guys just film the screen with there cameras nowadays.... Are you trying to say you are going to show us some awesome FP physics?

[maceman]

Hee hee- YES!!! but there are only a handfull of FP games that fit the bill!

As for the ball, I am not resizing the ball myself (that is interesting that it can be done as you say), but some images are different sizes. For example, all of JP's latest tables seem to use a smaller ball (to my eyes) than , say, the one you used on the GB table....

So if you have a smaller ball 'image', I would think it would still affect the play, no? I mean, if a ball's curve is different due to it's size... it's trajectory would be different. That is what i mean by physics....I am using the term physics interchangably with the term "ball play". I am exporting the ball from one table and importing to another... Does this change ball size as well?

I have no idea how the VP physics works, but I would think that ball sizes would matter to game play.

Another example is that i find the sinball ball with my flipper settings to be superb...So smooth as silk, it is almostas if the ball has 'weight' to it!!! I cansee that with the coloured balls in the GB table as well- plays awesome!

btw- i never get any other colour than green balls from the ghost's mouth, but in your script, i see blue, yellow,and red as well... I guess i never got far enough???

Maceman

ps. i don't have a webcam unfortunately to make videos with

Edited by maceman, 26 May 2011 - 12:55 AM.