72 replies to this topic

[jpsalas]

For some reason I can't get this table to run. As soon as it loads the table freezes. Doesn't run on 10.7 either.  I'm running  V3.6 929 and 10.8 rev.1975. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, this is driving me crazy!

 

That's a problem with the vpinmame 3.6. I'm not sure which revision started doing that. I have downloaded the latest beta, VPinMAME-sc-3.6.0-1045-6ab6180-win-x86, and the table and the lights work with my desktop computer, but not with my portable. All the  lights simply hang after the Stern Pinball. The game can be played but the lights are frozen. I have tried everything, deleting nvram and cfg, updating everything, VPX, vpinmame, C++ runtimes, but nothing helped. So for now I recommend to do not use vpinmame 3.6 until it is more stable. It is still beta, so there is a reason to use it unless you want to test it and report problems, like this one

 

Edit: Forget all that, I have tried to go back to vpinmame 3.5 and it does the same now. I even tried to go back to the scripts of VPX 7.3 and it still freezes. I was hoping the error was in the new core.vbs. So, I haven't a clue why it works in one computer and not in the other

 

Edit2: More testing, using the latest of everything (VPX8 and vpinmame 3.6): it works with VPX8 64 bits!!!!!! both the DX and the OpenGL versions Maybe the table reaches a memory limit? There are a lot of images in the table, so that can be the problem.

 

Edit3: it also works with VPX74 64 bits. So it is a memory problem. Some computers may handle it better than others.

Edited by jpsalas, 25 August 2024 - 04:02 PM.

[clyde]

I just tried with VPX8 64 bit & no problems at all.

[Pinballman]

Thank you all for your responses.  One of the weirdest things I've encountered.  Redwings13 was kind enough sharing what version of 10.8 and VPinMame he's using as well as sending me his table, same issue.  Despite having a beefy laptop I tried turning everything off in the video/graphic option section, no change. Even trying 10.72 and 10.74 didn't work.  Last month I was in a upgrading mood and upgraded to 10.8 RC4, VPinMame 3.6 929 (had version 998 but some Gottlieb EMs stopped working), libpinmame 3.6 as well as the latest PinMame, PinMame32 and Freezy.  I think I'll try updating everything again, hopefully I'll get the same result as everyone's dear friend JP got.

[Pinballman]

 

Thanks very much for this update, which I just downloaded, and started over with a fresh rom and nvram and b2s and everything. And I'm still having the same issue. As soon as I hit the spin-a-card shot, a superfluous second ball is released, the flippers go dead when the first of those 2 balls now on the playfield drains, and 2 new balls instead of one are released into the plunger lane to start the next ball. Am I really the only person to whom this is happening? I have no idea why or how that could be. I don't have this issue with any of the other 200ish tables I play. I'm really baffled and don't know what to do. By the way, if you are dealing with any financial transactions related to your gaming system, then I recommend https://linkpay.io/ because it is fast, reliable and time-tested.  

It sounds like you're having a unique issue with that particular table, especially since it's not happening with any of the other 200 tables you play. Given that you've tried a fresh ROM and everything, it does seem odd that the problem persists. I wonder if it could be a specific setting or configuration that's causing the issue.?

 

That was my thought too. I tried turning everything on, off and trying a combination of different settings all to no avail. I was starting to wonder if a Windows update of some sort was the problem. I redownloaded the latest of everything again and I'm happy to say that the table now works with 10.74 32 and 64 bit, and on 10.8 32 bit, but not 64 bit. I wish it did, but at least now I can play it!  Most of what I redownloaded was the same that I previously had, maybe something I downloaded was corrupt in some way. 

 

EDIT...I'm sorry, I thought you were referring to my problem - but your reply made sense with my issue!

Edited by Pinballman, 28 August 2024 - 01:39 AM.

[nateynatenate99]

 

Thanks very much for this update, which I just downloaded, and started over with a fresh rom and nvram and b2s and everything. And I'm still having the same issue. As soon as I hit the spin-a-card shot, a superfluous second ball is released, the flippers go dead when the first of those 2 balls now on the playfield drains, and 2 new balls instead of one are released into the plunger lane to start the next ball. Am I really the only person to whom this is happening? I have no idea why or how that could be. I don't have this issue with any of the other 200ish tables I play. I'm really baffled and don't know what to do. By the way, if you are dealing with any financial transactions related to your gaming system, then I recommend https://linkpay.io/ because it is fast, reliable and time-tested.  

It sounds like you're having a unique issue with that particular table, especially since it's not happening with any of the other 200 tables you play. Given that you've tried a fresh ROM and everything, it does seem odd that the problem persists. I wonder if it could be a specific setting or configuration that's causing the issue.?

 

Thanks. As noted somewhere above in this now very long thread, my issue resolved when I got a faster PC. It still remains a mystery to me what was going on before, especially since I used the same table, rom, nvram, etc. with the new PC. My current hypothesis: I've noticed physical table effects (such as the moving crane on Batman or the crossbow on Walking Dead or even some kickers, scoops, VUKS, etc.) that used to go more slowly for me now go much faster. I think my old PC was just too slow to allow that section of the table to swallow the ball or whatever it was supposed to do, leaving a ball on the table that wasn't supposed to be there. But who knows. In any event, all resolved now and I appreciate everyone who took the time to consider my weird idiosyncratic problem!

 

[dws723]

Bigus/JP

I have a weird minor issue going on I didnt know if youd be able to steer me in the right direction. When I play this table the LEDs dont function properly, they are stuck on random lights and dont change. On Bigus table the lights are on advance hold em and the card trick lights, nothing else lights. On another version of the table its different lights that are stationary. Im on VPX8 1099 but even going down to 10.7.4 the same problem persists albeit a different set of lights.

Because it happens on another version of the table I was wondering if it was a VPM issue I have 3.6 1098 of that.

I tried deleted the nvram and installing a clean copy of Bigus table but that didnt change anything.

The only other thing to maybe note is after the first plunge on ball one, after about 5 seconds or so the right flipper flips 4 consecutive times without me actually touching it. Then a little bit after that the left does the same, but then it doesnt happen again.

I used to play this on desktop mode on a slightly older VPX8 build and it worked although I dont have access to the exact specs. Thats why Im guessing its a VPM issue although Im certainly no expert.

Thanks for any assistance!!

[jpsalas]

For me this table works from time to time. Usually the lights stop working when the diodes turn on and the words STERN PINBALL come up. Just now it doesn't work on the versions I have of VPX8 or VPX74 and vpinmame, all are the latest, maybe just a few days old. But it works with VPX72 and VPX73, and it also works with the latest 10.8.1 (?!) But it has worked before with different versions of VPX8. I don't think it is vpinmame nor the scripts. So for now just play this table with VPX72 or VPX73, and the latest vpinmame and the latest scripts.

[dws723]

Yes thats exactly what was happening, all lights stopped when Stern Pinball appeared.

I tried VPX72, same issue. I then tried VPX73 which was a 32 bit copy, I had previously been on all 64 bits, and that worked. So I dont know if other 32 bit versions would work, I didnt bother to try I was just excited it worked with VPX73 32 so thats what Im sticking with.

As always, thank you for your incredible help and assistance.

[bigus1]

The lighting issues I'm experiencing across most of my Stern tables are caused by VPM3.6 which doesn't seem fully cooked with regard to Sterns. Use 3.5 and the serious problems vanish, with mainly just minor reflection and bloom issues coming from VP10.8. The problems with 3.6 and Sterns extend beyond lights, with many solenoid-related issues causing grief too.

[bolt]

Thank you for the last updates.

[Lupin1968]

Does anyone know how to start tournament game using VPX. Different start button switch 15 (Lock bar switch on real game which needs to be installed)?

[bolt]

Oh update day, thank you bigus for the updates.

Edited by bolt, 10 August 2025 - 02:12 PM.

[clyde]

Thanks bigus for ALL of the updates!