503 replies to this topic

[Aurich]

That opens the next question. I think it could make sense not to publish only the B2S.exe, but also the B2S project, containing used VB scripts, all used images, and maybe even the Photoshop (or Paint.NET) document with all layers, which would allow others to see how it was done or even to improve it. These additional documents would be large. Would it make sense to publish them?

I'd love to see that personally. But I'm the kind of person who would fire up Photoshop and tweak things that I thought I could fix to fit, say 16x9 better.

[Itchigo]

I would be all for that as well. It would allow you change the backglass image and recycle the b2s calls, making things even easier.

[Herweh]

Hello everybody,

a lot development has happened the last two weeks, time now to tell AND show you some news. If you want to, you can download my first designer generated backglass for "Rolling Stones", a table from the 80s. JPSalas allowed me to mod it and to show it as a preview B2S designer table. I don't know why I have choosen this table, I haven't played it in real but the more I'm playing it the more I like it (maybe because I grow up with KISS, Lost World or Eight Ball).

This is how the designer looks right now.

 B2SBackglassDesigner200901.jpg   131.14KB   167 downloads

I have implemented an image and layer tool window to handle all the involved images (have a look, I have inserted a backglass bulb image from IPDB here). There is a history tool window with Undo functionality and the illumination tool window got some more details like an intensity slider. And there is much much more. Right now the output of the designer is a compilable Microsoft Visual Studio project, but ...

... some PMs from Flying Dutchman and JPSalas showed me that the goal has to be to bring B2S a little bit nearer to UVP. So I wondered about that a lot. I want to promise too much but right now I'm thinking a lot about creating a B2S backglass server like the UVP backglass server (... CreateObject("B2S.Server")) ... ). With this server B2S would be able to handle EM tables and ROM controlled tables. Of course this is programming stuff for some weeks but maybe I will start anytime.

And here we go, here are some infos and the link of my and the B2S Backglass designer's first backglass:

• All bulbs and lights are created by the designer.
• I have added some nice animations of the lights at the top of the backglass. They are not from the real machine as there were no animations but I wanted to show you some blinking lights.
• TILT the table and nearly every light of the backglass is turned off
• The text infos like "GAME OVER", "SHOOT AGAIN" or "TILT" are coming from the designer too, working pretty well and ROM controlled.
• The arrow above "MATCH" is missing. To include such "pieces" has to be implemented in the designer.
• The LEDs are new, they are six angled polygons like they were in real. IMO they look a little bit too "modern" and the "glowing" is missing. But a good friend of mine is trying to pimp them.
• PRETTY IMPORTANT with the LEDs: Get into the ROM menu with F6 and check the both check boxes at the top of the config screen. If you don't do this you are missing some of the LED infos. Reset the ROM with F3.
• Don't wonder about the "90" at player 1. I think this is coming from the 7-digit ROM and is gone when you are starting to play.
• Here is the link: http://www.mediafire...rcu3m83jo0s0jgb

Notice that the download zip includs not a complete B2S starter package. Only the modified table and the B2S backglass exe are included. As always with B2S unzip them in your VP tables folder.

Tell me again, what do you think about the project and how do you like my Rolling Stones backglass. And every B2S backglass idea is welcome to be discussed.

Best regards, Herweh.

[Slydog43]

Wow, sounds really great to me. Can't wait to get home and check it out. Thanks for all your hard work.

[open6l]

looks and plays really good... awesome work

wondering if you will also have support for a 3rd location area (DMD) for either logos or DMD animations.

P.S. - I like the blinking LEDs at the top - makes the backglass come alive.

Edited by open6l, 20 September 2012 - 07:50 PM.

[settingsons]

Congratulations Herweh! - that is an impressive tool you have developed. I am looking forward to try the first backglass (hopefully the first of many ) created with your utility.

[The Loafer]

This looks great looking forward to trying it later this evening. Just a comment but if you bring b2s closer to uvp via a server, won't you run into the same problem with overhead and therefore slowdown?

[Herweh]

looks and plays really good... awesome work

wondering if you will also have support for a 3rd location area (DMD) for either logos or DMD animations.

P.S. - I like the blinking LEDs at the top - makes the backglass come alive.

Yes, DMD area is one of the next things I'll start to implement. In the images tool window it's already included. And the idea is to support all the illumination stuff on the DMD too.

[Herweh]

This looks great looking forward to trying it later this evening. Just a comment but if you bring b2s closer to uvp via a server, won't you run into the same problem with overhead and therefore slowdown?

I believe that the most stressful part for UVP is the creation of bulbs and lights in realtime. In B2S the main idea is that the flashes and lighting is coming from picture boxes laying on top of a static image being visible or not. Right now I'm creating "my" bulbs after the design process of the backglass. When you start the backglass there is no real time creation of lightning.
I know that there are advantages and disadvantages. My goal is now to improve this idea more and more (fading lights and so on) that the backglass seems to be really alive.

[open6l]

I want to add that the table played extremely smooth for me. I know its not resource heavy like some of the more modern ones but considering all the lights and such that were displaying on the backglass it ran super smooth.

This looks great looking forward to trying it later this evening. Just a comment but if you bring b2s closer to uvp via a server, won't you run into the same problem with overhead and therefore slowdown?

I believe that the most stressful part for UVP is the creation of bulbs and lights in realtime. In B2S the main idea is that the flashes and lighting is coming from picture boxes laying on top of a static image being visible or not. Right now I'm creating "my" bulbs after the design process of the backglass. When you start the backglass there is no real time creation of lightning.
I know that there are advantages and disadvantages. My goal is now to improve this idea more and more (fading lights and so on) that the backglass seems to be really alive.

[The Loafer]

Great to hear, makes sense, thanks or the quick reply.

[luvthatapex]

Can't wait to try it! Thanks for all your hard work.

Now about the b2sserver.... if you add this functionality in the future, unfortunately won't you require a SS or DMD game? Thats been the limitation with UVP.
The beauty of B2S now is that it can be used for EMs, originals and SS/DMD games. Just curious.

Edited by luvthatapex, 20 September 2012 - 10:27 PM.

[bmiki75]

Congratulations Herweh fantastic work. I have made a BS2 in the old way for HRC pinball but i want to try to make a new one with your tool.
In the old way there is a problem with overlapping images i have tried to solve it but i have some problem with the code so i stop working on this.
Aa i see from the image of the tool there are overlapping images so i hope this solve my problem.

[djcpe]

Not too sure about B2S tables... I can't get them to work on my 3 screen cabinet. I prefer the UVP with Backglass Server. Sorry.

[ArcadiusMaximus]

Super excited about this tool ! I have been banging my head against the wall for the past week trying to get UVP to work on my system stutter free. B2s seem to run great in conjunction with LEDWiz and windows 7. Its awesome that the community will have access to a tool to make b2s production a lot easier. It will help relive the burden off of a select few and hopefully enable uvp tables to be updated a lot quicker. SHWEET !

[javier1515]

You ROCK man

[luvthatapex]

Excellent work. I just tried your B2S Rolling Stones glass and its terrific! If this is easy to use, I think we will see many more B2S releases.
Do you know when the first version of the designer will be available to test, or is it still under developement?
Great stuff man!

[ynneBBenny]

Amazing work !!!
I'm always blown away at the varied amalgam of skills the members of this group have.
Keep it up, it's highly appreciated.

Benny (nee WWW)

[tttttwii]

Herweh,

I just installed the Rolling Stones table on my cab. It looks awesome and the table plays smooth. This B2S designer is really a great contribution to the community. I am looking forward to a lot of tables converted to B2S.

Great work!

tttttwii

[thewool]

Wow, going to give this a go at the weekend, looks polished!

Just a question, will you be able to add a slanted alphanumeric displays to a B2S using your editor?

Like others I was also wondering about the performance hit for a server based version of B2S. One of the big + points for B2S at the moment is the low draw on pc resources. That's why a lot of people with cabinets who run and an LEDWiz swear by it. UVP causes mad stutter on these setups and is simply not compatible. Please can you bear this in mind as you move forward?

As I said before I think a suitable eay to deliver B2Ss would be in the form of just posting the .exe in a 'do it yourself' mod. That way people could modify the table script themselves and add it to any existing version of a VP table. This would mean new B2S versions of the same table would not have to be uploaded/updated every time a change is made. Here's Rosve's DIY TAF here as an example:

http://www.vpforums....diy#entry177708

Cheers man