149 replies to this topic

[DedRok_V]

May be a good idea to add that info into the 1st post ...... seems to be catching people out.

[Aurich]

I think there's a server version for most of Rosve's tables (thanks Rosve!), the only one off the top of my head that I'm still running because it hasn't been redone is the Scared Stiff one, with the spinning spider backglass.

Herweh can your editor even handle 'special' interactions like the SS spinning spider? Or is that kind of thing going to always require some hand coding? I'd love to tackle updating the spider to a higher rez image and fixing the masking on it.

[The Loafer]

On the issue of Rosve's B2S tables, I do think some of these tables also had graphic tweak's in the table, they were not all just script changes with a working backglass.

 

The best thing is to experiment with both and go with the one you like after your own tests.

[maceman]

I agree with Loaf as well...  Iunderstand Herweh's point because we don't want conflicts, but so far i have no issues whatsoever with the Roger tables i have tried the dB2S on.

 

I rem out the Launch B2S line completely and just add in the controller line and voila!!!

 

Cheers,

Maceman

 

This program is FANTASTIC!!!!!

[Herweh]

I think there's a server version for most of Rosve's tables (thanks Rosve!), the only one off the top of my head that I'm still running because it hasn't been redone is the Scared Stiff one, with the spinning spider backglass.

Herweh can your editor even handle 'special' interactions like the SS spinning spider? Or is that kind of thing going to always require some hand coding? I'd love to tackle updating the spider to a higher rez image and fixing the masking on it.

I haven't tried it but I expect the rotating of the spider is no big deal for the designer. But I have to figure out how this rotating and especially the feedback to the table (the location where the spider stops) is handled in the standard table. I have added some type of 'rotating an image' for 'Hurricane' but this rotation is just 'eye candy'. The rotating spider of Scared Stiff has gameplay impact and is different therefor. I will check this.

 

On the issue of Rosve's B2S tables, I do think some of these tables also had graphic tweak's in the table, they were not all just script changes with a working backglass.

 

The best thing is to experiment with both and go with the one you like after your own tests.

I agree with Loaf as well...  Iunderstand Herweh's point because we don't want conflicts, but so far i have no issues whatsoever with the Roger tables i have tried the dB2S on.

 

I rem out the Launch B2S line completely and just add in the controller line and voila!!!

 

Cheers,

Maceman

 

This program is FANTASTIC!!!!!

 

I have relocated all my 'registry communication' for the EXE mode in the next server update (1.02?). So there should be no impact between Rosve and backglass server any longer and you can run Rosve tables with the server. Right now you have some impact with the LEDs when you run the backglass in EXE mode. Means no LEDs (maybe just a VPinMAME DMD) OR no EXE mode then no impact already now with server v1.01.

Edited by Herweh, 19 February 2013 - 09:27 AM.

[maceman]

I have relocated all my 'registry communication' for the EXE mode in the next server update (1.02?). So there should be no impact between Rosve and backglass server any longer and you can run Rosve tables with the server. Right now you have some impact with the LEDs when you run the backglass in EXE mode. Means no LEDs (maybe just a VPinMAME DMD) OR no EXE mode then no impact already now with server v1.01.

 

Ahh! Understood!  It could be that the tables I've tried had little 'bells and whistles' to impact. At any rate, this is great info and we all look forward to the 1.02 possibility

Cheers,

Maceman

 

ps. I set up tons of these last night trying to catch up. My feet are pounding sore

[Aurich]

I haven't tried it but I expect the rotating of the spider is no big deal for the designer. But I have to figure out how this rotating and especially the feedback to the table (the location where the spider stops) is handled in the standard table. I have added some type of 'rotating an image' for 'Hurricane' but this rotation is just 'eye candy'. The rotating spider of Scared Stiff has gameplay impact and is different therefor. I will check this.

If you need any help with the graphics let me know, I spend every day living in Photoshop and I'd love to get the SS Spider looking really nice.

Edit: Here's a decent video of what the spider should look like when spinning (forum seems to strip time code on embed, so jump to about 2:50 in):

Edited by Aurich, 19 February 2013 - 07:54 PM.

[rosve]

I think there's a server version for most of Rosve's tables (thanks Rosve!), the only one off the top of my head that I'm still running because it hasn't been redone is the Scared Stiff one, with the spinning spider backglass.

Herweh can your editor even handle 'special' interactions like the SS spinning spider? Or is that kind of thing going to always require some hand coding? I'd love to tackle updating the spider to a higher rez image and fixing the masking on it.

... and Jokerz, Diner, CirqusVoltaire, T3, BadCats, Spirit, Cyclone ...

[nebrunner]

BIG GUNS!!!

[Herweh]

I've uploaded version 1.1 of the backglass server. I've added two major feature, fixed some bugs and did some minor changes:

• Added mech support for rotating objects like the spinning spider at 'Scared Stiff'
• Added the dual backglass mode: Authentic or Fantasy mode in one backglass
• Added an animation 'slowdown' in the settings to slowdown performance killing animations
• Fixed interference between EXE mode and Rosve's B2S backglass EXE
• Enhanced the backglass settings dialog

Very interesting, the dual backglass mode: You can toggle between an 'Authentic' and 'Fantasy' mode of one backglass file. First dual mode backglass is 'Scared Stiff', already uploaded.

Set the desired mode with the settings dialog (click with the mouse on the backglass and press the 'S' key) or toggle between these two modes with the 'M' key or select 'Authentic' with the 'A' key or 'Fantasy' with the 'F' key.

 Settings.png   41.3KB   35 downloads

 

For 'Fantasy' at 'Scared Stiff' I've added just a few lights behind the eyes of some animals and Elvira. Just to gve you an idea what's possible with this feature and that's it's working.

 

The designer will be released pretty soon today (when I get the manual finished) but not later than tomorrow.

 

Have fun, Herweh.

[Noah Fentz]

I've uploaded version 1.1 of the backglass server. I've added two major feature, fixed some bugs and did some minor changes:

• Added mech support for rotating objects like the spinning spider at 'Scared Stiff'
• Added the dual backglass mode: Authentic or Fantasy mode in one backglass
• Added an animation 'slowdown' in the settings to slowdown performance killing animations
• Fixed interference between EXE mode and Rosve's B2S backglass EXE
• Enhanced the backglass settings dialog

Very interesting, the dual backglass mode: You can toggle between an 'Authentic' and 'Fantasy' mode of one backglass file. First dual mode backglass is 'Scared Stiff', already uploaded.

Set the desired mode with the settings dialog (click with the mouse on the backglass and press the 'S' key) or toggle between these two modes with the 'M' key or select 'Authentic' with the 'A' key or 'Fantasy' with the 'F' key.

Settings.png

 

For 'Fantasy' at 'Scared Stiff' I've added just a few lights behind the eyes of some animals and Elvira. Just to gve you an idea what's possible with this feature and that's it's working.

 

The designer will be released pretty soon today (when I get the manual finished) but not later than tomorrow.

 

Have fun, Herweh.

 

Awesome, Herweh!

 

Regarding the bolded entry ...

 

Does this mean there's now no need for 'Authentic'  and 'Fantasy' dB2S Backglass categories in the Download Section? I'll be performing some maintenance later tonight, and I was going to set that up.

 

Thank you!

[Aurich]

Regarding the bolded entry ...

 

Does this mean there's now no need for 'Authentic'  and 'Fantasy' dB2S Backglass categories in the Download Section? I'll be performing some maintenance later tonight, and I was going to set that up.

 

Thank you!

 

The thing about the new trick is that both modes have to be built into the same backglass. So if someone only makes a fantasy one (like we have a lot of right now) then that's that. Would be great if people got into building in both modes, but no saying how that will work yet. Makes your question a little tricky to answer now I guess.

[Herweh]

Does this mean there's now no need for 'Authentic'  and 'Fantasy' dB2S Backglass categories in the Download Section? I'll be performing some maintenance later tonight, and I was going to set that up.

 

That's my intention. I never was a great fan of splitting into more sub categories and more and more. So I want to enable the community to create two types of backglasses in one file.

But of course we have to see whether this works and we will see what the community wants (and will do what the majority wants). I've got the info from a lot of the uploaders they want to update their backglasses in the next days to 'dual mode'.

[Slydog43]

great news, Thanks for the update.  I've said it before, but its so true, "This software is awesome".  Keeps getting better and better.  Any chance of adding some sort of version control or versioning to the directb2s file so we can tell if we need to update those.  Great job Herweh!

[Herweh]

great news, Thanks for the update.  I've said it before, but its so true, "This software is awesome".  Keeps getting better and better.  Any chance of adding some sort of version control or versioning to the directb2s file so we can tell if we need to update those.  Great job Herweh!

 

Version control is already included. When you start 'Scared Stiff' without the server 1.1 a message box pops up telling you that you have to update the server to the newest version.

On the other hand I will never break the downward compatibility. Server 1.1 is able to run backglasses from 1.0 to 1.1. A server 2.5 in a few years has to run the backglasses from 1.0 to 2.5.

[Zablon]

Nice on the additions. Can't wait to start using this.

[Herweh]

I've uploaded version 1.1.1 because of three bug fixes:

• 'Fantasy' mode wasn't saved in the settings dialog
• 'Object reference error' when starting on a new system
• Hyperpin location improved and added a button to locate Hyperpin when it can't be located automatically

Best regards, Herweh.

Edited by Herweh, 26 February 2013 - 11:44 PM.

[bent98]

Hyperpin location?

What does that mean?

Edited by bent98, 27 February 2013 - 01:00 AM.

[Herweh]

Hyperpin location?

What does that mean?

 

The backglass server needs to know the location of the 'Hyperpin' folder to find the matching 'Visual Pinball.xml' for the description tags of this XML file. And since Hyperpin isn't installed but copied into the file system it's not easy to locate it.

[nebrunner]

Herweh thanks for the new upload and further documentation. I have not yet started the great move to switch all tables over to the new system, I thought I should wait a while for things to "settle down" a little first. I dipped my toe into the waters and tested two tables last night. I do seem to consistently get the appcrash or shutdown error every time I leave the table. I saw your mention of a possible fix for this by regedit rom files, or adjusting the table script. I haven't explored any options yet though, was going to wait and see if others have the same issues.