203 replies to this topic

[Pinwizkid]

Just an FYI to anyone wondering... I've been lurking here for a while and haven't posted much. I'm obviously upset by the whole FP situation, but refuse to take sides and don't have an opinion on the whole thing as of yet. I will probably repost a Blue Vs. Pink release thread since I was a tad unhappy with the lack of overall reception it got (though what little reception it did get was pretty positive). If I do design another pinball table (I have plenty of concepts already laid out) I will definitely be releasing them for Future Pinball. Blades of Glory 2 may be resurrected in attempt to revitalize FP at the moment, but I make no promises due to time constraints with real life (what else is new with me?) Thanks,

Brendan

[The Loafer]

There's nothing wrong with not taking sides. This really isn't about "taking sides", it's about having an area where authors/community members can post wip's, release threads, questions, etc on FP and FP tables, in an atmosphere condusive to creativity.

Brendan: Can't wait to see what else you do, that Blue vs Pink is one heck of a great table.

Steve: Sounds like things are off to a good start mon ami.

Edited by The Loafer, 27 December 2009 - 05:31 AM.

[SILVERBALL]

The expiration issue ?? Could someone explain this a bit. I just got hooked on future pinball and was planning on designing my first table, but will that be useless come a year from now? I never saw a mention before of the program expiring. Is there a way to avoid futurepinaball from being useless, e.g. can I set my computer's date back in time? I heard steve mention labeling the tables with the version it was created on. Could someone please explain how that will prevent the future pinball table from being useless in the future (no pun intended) ;-)

This is disheartening news for such a wonderful program. I just showed this to my pop who loves 70's pinball and now I feel that it will be ending too soon. Visual pinball does not work for me (ATI card) so FP is my fix.

Thanks

Jim

[Logicfray]

Just an FYI to anyone wondering... I've been lurking here for a while and haven't posted much. I'm obviously upset by the whole FP situation, but refuse to take sides and don't have an opinion on the whole thing as of yet. I will probably repost a Blue Vs. Pink release thread since I was a tad unhappy with the lack of overall reception it got (though what little reception it did get was pretty positive). If I do design another pinball table (I have plenty of concepts already laid out) I will definitely be releasing them for Future Pinball. Blades of Glory 2 may be resurrected in attempt to revitalize FP at the moment, but I make no promises due to time constraints with real life (what else is new with me?) Thanks,

Brendan

Brendan I am a big fan of your tables. I always look forward to a release by you, even if I don't comment. Metal Slug and Sonic2 are fantastic. Blue vs. Pink I had trouble getting to work (I think it was a corrupt file on the part of who was hosting it) and I am going to wait until my cabinet is built (and upgrade my video card) to play that one. I have been long waiting for the blades of glory table. Cheers

[Gravy]

Silverball:

most if not all of the FP versions over the years have had expiry dates on them, usually they last about 2 years I think (perhaps less sometimes), the current version also has an expiry which if I remember correctly is the end of 2010 (you can check it by setting your date forward). Its not really a huge hassle even if it does expire as you can easily set your system date back and it will still work. Whether this is seen as circumventing "protection" remains to be seen and I've never heard Black's opinion on that.

In other words, don't be too concerned with it expiring.

Don't forget it is remotely possible that Black pulled the forums due to a hack attempt, a lot of forums have gone down recently due to hacks. My gut tells me though that he likely pulled it down himself for his own reasons otherwise he would have posted a message on the front page of the site.

Perhaps he has only pulled it temporarily as a form of protest.

Edited by Gravy, 27 December 2009 - 05:44 AM.

[Joe]

Silverball:

most if not all of the FP versions over the years have had expiry dates on them, usually they last about 2 years I think (perhaps less sometimes), the current version also has an expiry which if I remember correctly is the end of 2010 (you can check it by setting your date forward). Its not really a huge hassle even if it does expire as you can easily set your system date back and it will still work. Whether this is seen as circumventing "protection" remains to be seen and I've never heard Black's opinion on that.

In other words, don't be too concerned with it expiring.

Don't forget it is remotely possible that Black pulled the forums due to a hack attempt, a lot of forums have gone down recently due to hacks. My gut tells me though that he likely pulled it down himself for his own reasons otherwise he would have posted a message on the front page of the site.

Perhaps he has only pulled it temporarily as a form of protest.

may he just did want to pay for the bandwidth to run a forum.

[freakofspeed]

Oh no here we go again.... Drat!

I guess I should create a couple of release threads here for the FP tables I worked on... early Bally SS tables "Evel Knievel (Bally 1978) and The Six Million Dollar Man (Bally 1978) and one for a WIP.... "Nitro Ground Shaker (bally 1980)"


@ Gravy Are you a Dad Yet? saw this and thought of you http://xkcd.com/680/

Edited by freakofspeed, 27 December 2009 - 09:30 AM.

[pinball buzz]

Nice to see all the FP regulars making it over here.
I have not been over at the FP site for a while, as I too noticed how things have been moving, but this is a great community here, and at the end of the day, pinball is what matters.
Good to see Steve accepting the moderators job for the FP section, and thanks Noah for you being on board with your support as ever.
Keep da ball rolling,

Pinball Buzz aka Buzz aka Jon Marshall

[destruk]

I will probably repost a Blue Vs. Pink release thread since I was a tad unhappy with the lack of overall reception it got (though what little reception it did get was pretty positive).

Blue vs Pink runs on 2 out of 3 of my machines. It's not your fault - it's a problem with the video driver and FP rendering engine that just don't get along. There are a handful of tables that don't work - but most work fine. I wanted you to know that even I played it a few times.

[Gravy]

Oh no here we go again.... Drat!

I guess I should create a couple of release threads here for the FP tables I worked on... early Bally SS tables "Evel Knievel (Bally 1978) and The Six Million Dollar Man (Bally 1978) and one for a WIP.... "Nitro Ground Shaker (bally 1980)"


@ Gravy Are you a Dad Yet? saw this and thought of you http://xkcd.com/680/

Haha... great comic and so true. Luckily for our baby it didnt arrive on Christmas day (it was due boxing day) and we are still waiting. Now there are just 3 crap days left when it could arrive, new years eve... crap. New years day... crap as everyone usually has a hangover.... and the 29th Dec... crap as its our wedding anniversary. Fiona had a dream that it would be a girl and arrive 4th January... which would make it quite overcooked but still within the ok range. Lets see if she can really see the future.

Edited by Gravy, 27 December 2009 - 10:23 AM.

[LvR]

Don't forget it is remotely possible that Black pulled the forums due to a hack attempt, a lot of forums have gone down recently due to hacks. My gut tells me though that he likely pulled it down himself for his own reasons otherwise he would have posted a message on the front page of the site.

Perhaps he has only pulled it temporarily as a form of protest.

The main problem with this drama is that we have no news from Black.
I can understand that he looses interest in FP, don't want to pay for the forum anymore etc ... but I think FP have had such success almost thank to table makers and Black should respect us. Some explanation is really needed !

[rehab]

I can't believe what just happened @ FP. Seems ego is an important word here. However, i sure hope this won't disencourage people from creating amazing new tables and if it can be continued here, i'm all for it!

BTW: Well said Steve!

[cogvos]

Personally I hope that this is just a glitch in the forums, it has happened before, and that they will be up and running again soon. If not then well it was nice while it lasted. Fp is closed software, and as far as I can tell the guts have been created by a very clever one man team - if I have got this wrong then appols to those who were involved. Anyone who has designed a table will know that this takes a lot of time, so I can only guess how much time building the engine took.

If this is the end of Fp development, and I sincerely hope that it is not, then perhaps those out there who would like to have a 3d pinball emulator might like to consider putting an open project together. There have been attempts to do so in the past on Linux (Linball and Emilia being the two examples I have managed to find, though neither appear active projects) and there are many very successful open projects out there (Gimp, Scribus, Inkscape etc).

You would need some very good coders, and pinball is rather specialised, but there are folks out there who like this kind of challenge. I have no idea how you would start but looking at ODE (the open dynamics engine) is a thought.

In the meantime. Good luck, hello and lets play pinball.

[bbastyr]

I was reading the forums when it went done, and like I said before, this is what Black posted just before they went done completely, "can't be bothered anymore."

[anthias]

uueeeerrrrghhhh one tires of it all sometimes.

Not that I've been active lately anyway, but sorry I'll be doing nothing pinball for a while. RL is too much for the moment anyway. I had pretty much abandoned VP table development for now, and if FP is on the rocks, I'd rather have all the info before investing much more effort into it.

Wait and see - I think this situation will probably be resolved adequately in time.

I'll still be about, but not working on projects (unless people who I have colaborations with want to send anything for me to go over - I will honor those commitments)

[Gary Quiring]

I would much prefer to see VPForums as the official forum for FP. When Black has control of it, it was too censored at times, things got deleted too easily because of his temper and overall personality. I doubt the forum was hacked, he could have easily posted a message on the main page, I also think it's his way of being 'Black'.

I feel for the table developers, that's a tough nut to swallow when your hard work is at the mercy of someone who is not very level minded. There were several posts on the WIP area with doubts on the future of FP. Clearly some had more details as to what was going on.

[MeatBundle]

I would much prefer to see VPForums as the official forum for FP.

I second that. I like knowing one man's hissy fit isn't going to take down all communications about the game.

Edited by MeatBundle, 27 December 2009 - 06:31 PM.

[vartaxe]

it's a shame to see it go. I heard rumors of this a while back that's why I switched over to vp developement. it'll be nice to see the old gang if they migrate over here.

the real shame is we didn't get the updated physics engine before it shut down.

maybe David folley can help us out with that

i don't think black gave david folley a newer build but who knows...

John Popadiuk is making a pinball construction kit for the iPhone.

something like fp for iphone would we cool

I agree - there is no real reason to stop using Future Pinball.

The current version does expire around the end of next year I believe, although its only a basic system date expiry method.

if black don't release a new build i'm sure someone will reverse engineer it so no worry...

[The Loafer]

I understand the enthusiasm, but FP belongs to Chris (Black) and there’s no way VPF will become the official home of FP, just not possible…

… but that’s ok, you don’t need to attach the word “official” to create a supporting environment for FP. You need people who will come together and support each other via progressive thinking, in an environment that is conducive to fostering a positive and creative mindset. Indeed, this place can be that, and more.

[Greywolf]

Present and accounted for!

I have so much in the works for FP, and I don't intend to stop now...but I'll post those in a different thread.

For those who haven't picked it up, a fully-integrated Pioneer (Gottlieb 1976 EM 2p) is available on IRP. It uses no external resources because I wanted to insure that it didn't blow up trying to link to things that don't exist yet. I intended it as a gesture of good faith that I'm still working on things.

I understand the enthusiasm, but FP belongs to Chris (Black) and there’s no way VPF will become the official home of FP, just not possible…

I disagree. If Black pulls the plug on his site, FP is not going to just vanish. He's pulled the plug on the forums.

I have a question for the FP Refugees here:

If the FP forums come back, who's going back there?

(Not I. I don't have time for unstable sites to hinder my communications. I'm moving my roots.)