176 replies to this topic

[ClarkKent]

It's nothing I would like to do right at the moment but I always like to know how it works in time. I'm thinking of the older game Pro Pinball or maybe Pinball Arcade and some other smaller games (maybe even other games than Pinball), but there is no portrait mode in these games...

 

How does the script have to be changed to let FPLaunch detect the application has ended?

 

Thanx!

 

Edit: I tried to run a game with the line changes in the script you told me but when I want to start it HP crashes. I hear the start sound in HyperPin but then the screen freezes. Is there something else to change.

Edited by ClarkKent, 18 June 2013 - 03:26 PM.

[Sir Cheddar]

Uh, yeah. Now that you mention it...

Process, wait, Pinball FX2.exe
-The script waits for a process with the name "Pinball FX2.exe" to appear here. Which might take a long time if we don't start it. Change "Pinball FX2.exe" to the "pinball.exe" you're using as your test program.

Process, WaitClose, Pinball FX2.exe
-Here FPlaunch.ahk waits till the game closes, as mentioned earlier. Change this to pinball.exe, too.

If you find a game that could fit on a cab give me a heads up, I might be interested to try to get it to work myself.

And thanks you for making that nice QBert table

[ClarkKent]

That's interesting - I changed the process name to from Pinball FX2.exe to pinball.exe but it still does not start. It's the same as before - I can hear the sound when launching a table but the script does not start the program pinball.exe (I checked the task manager) and HP freezes.

 

Can you try your script with any other game than Pinball FX2? Maybe there is something different you forgot to mention? It almost seems to use still the wrong directory to start it but I can be something different, too. If you try it with another game - and the script should be able to start any other program - you can check it for yourself. Just to be sure for any future program to integrate into HP...

 

Thanx!

[Sir Cheddar]

Can't check much at the moment, I'm wiring my ledwiz stuff on my cab.

But try this as run command:

Run, pinball.exe, c:\games\pinball, UseErrorLevel

[ClarkKent]

OK, I'll try. What if the path contains spaces? Maybe that's the problem as on my computer it's called "Programme (x86)".

[ClarkKent]

The game is starting if I have it e.g. c:/games/ (but crashes for some reason) but does not work if loading from c:/programme (x86)/. Weird.

 

Edit: I installed it into c:/games/ now (before that I simply copied it there). The regular windows message still appears that the application does not work anymore. But at least it starts now! I really wonder why the crash happens. Is there something I can do?

Edited by ClarkKent, 21 June 2013 - 06:03 AM.

[tyweed]

Ever since adding this modded file when I try to exit a game I get an error saying focus.exe was not found.

 

Any ideas?

[ClarkKent]

I tried Pinball FX2 now and the app also crashes right after selecting it in HP. I get the same crash message again that an error occured and the program does not work anymore.

 

I tried to use compatibility setting like launch as admin or similar but the game is still crashing. But only when starting via HP. It works flawlessly when starting by double clicking its icon in explorer...

 

Any ideas?

[Sir Cheddar]

Ever since adding this modded file when I try to exit a game I get an error saying focus.exe was not found.?

Do you have focus.exe from Blur's FPLaunch WIP 10 release in your HyperPin directory? You can find it here.

Any ideas?

Nope
FX2 crashes for me too if I start "Pinball FX2.exe" directly. I understand that it does crash for most people but not for everybody. That's why I use steam.exe to start it in the script.

Edited by Sir Cheddar, 22 June 2013 - 09:59 PM.

[ClarkKent]

I found a solution: simply create a .bat file with

 

cd "c:\Games\Pinball FX2"

"Pinball FX2.exe"

 

And start it in fplaunch with

 

Run, "c:\Games\Pinball\Pinball FX2.bat"

 

Just compile the script again - voila!

 

Works with other crashing games, too.

Edited by ClarkKent, 25 June 2013 - 07:59 PM.

[waynewhitney]

Edit: Updated to v1.2
Changes:
v1.2
- Removed the -silent parameter for steam.exe. It seems to make a few problems if steam thinks it's in offline mode.
- Beautified things a bit. Thanks, Zarquon!
- Added an PinballFX2.fpt file to the attachment.
v1.1
- Remapped 5 key to tab. Please change your key binding for ViewMode in the in-game keyboard settings to tab. This allows you to use your coin button to switch between camera modes and for menu navigation.
- Got rid of display changer. Pinball FX2 now supports screen rotation in the options, so we don't need this workaround anymore.
- Prepared for Backglass on 2nd screen support. For it to work you need appkiller.exe in your steam\images directory. Thanks, BigBoss!
 
Note: Installing 2nd screen support isn't required for this mod to work.
 
 
The following instructions were updated for installing v1.2:
 
-----------
Ok, I got it to work. My first attempts didn't work out that well, I ended up with shamelessly copying Bigboss's Slamit Bigscore support routine.
 
Pinball FX2's keyboard settings are pretty limited at the moment, but I got most of it to work on my pincab. For keyboard bindings I recommend, assuming your Pincab has two flpper buttons and two magnasave buttons:
 
Left flipper button: left arrow key
Right flipper button: right arrow key
Left magnasave button: arrow up
Right magnasave button: arrow down
 
Also, I'm assuming you are using an IPac in your cab. If you are using a Nanotech kit, you may need a program like xpadder to emulate a keyboard.
 
These bindings work flawlessly with FP and VP. SlamIt Pinball works too, but you need to remap a few keys in FPLaunch.afk
If you don't wan't to go with these bindings you can modify FPLaunch.ahk to your liking.
 
For Pinball FX2 I recommend:
Left Flpper - left arrow
Right Flipper - right arrow
ViewMode - Tab
Nudge Up -  arrow up
 
 
 
Now for configuration:
 
1)
Copy the PinballFX2.fpt file from the attachment in your FP Tables directory - or create an empty file with that name there.
 
Import this in your Future Pinball.xml:
 

  <game name="PinballFX2">
    <description>Pinball FX2</description>
    <manufacturer>Zen Pinball</manufacturer>
    <year>2013</year>
    <type>OG</type>
  </game>

 
You can find an media pack here. Thanks, MagicPinball68!
 
2)
Replace FPLaunch.exe and FPLaunch.ahk in your HyperPin directory with the attached version 1.2
 
If everything works correct you should be able to control Pinball FX2 with your flipper buttons (left and right) and your magnasave buttons (up and down)
Both start button and launch ball button should work as Enter for selecting a table and using the plunger.
The Exit key (I'm assuming you set it to "e") is mapped to Escape so you can use it to exit from settings
For exiting Pinball FX2 use the arrow keys to go to "Exit Game" and use your Lauch Button to select it.
 
 
 
Feel free to ignore the rest of this post if you don't plan to do any changes on the code yourself. (Code is also updated to v1.2)
 
 
If you want to edit FPLauch.afk manually, here are my changes
(@Blur: Feel free to rip anything and everything out that is of use for you)
 
 
Line 538

replace

;**********************************FUTURE PINBALL***********************************
if (systemName = "Future Pinball") {
  if (tableName = "BigScore") { ; bigboss slamit bigscore support
    GoSub SlamitBigScore
  } else {

with

;**********************************FUTURE PINBALL***********************************
if (systemName = "Future Pinball") {
  if (tableName = "BigScore") { ; bigboss slamit bigscore support
    GoSub SlamitBigScore
  }
  if (tableName = "PinballFX2") { ; modified bigboss routine for Pinball FX2
    GoSub PinballFX2
  } else {

Search for "bigboss Slamit support remaps"

Paste this between #IfwinActive and "KILL COMMANDS"
 

;same for PinballFX2
;Remap your keys as needed, set your exitkey to Escape if it isn't e 
#IfWinActive ahk_class PxWindowClass
1::Enter
;%exitKey%::Escape   ;I couldn't figure out how to set %exitkey% to Escape - Sir Cheddar
;%exitKey1%::Escape
e::Escape
5::tab
#IfWinActive

 
Search for "CloseSlam:"

replace
 

CloseSlam:
toLog("CloseSlam Called")
WinClose, ahk_class SlamIt Pinball - Big Score
goto ExitScript
return

 
with
 

CloseSlam:
toLog("CloseSlam Called")
WinClose, ahk_class SlamIt Pinball - Big Score
goto ExitScript
return


; modified big boss bigscore routine for PinballFX2 - Sir Cheddar
PinballFX2:
RegRead, SteamDirPath, HKLM, Software\Valve\Steam, InstallPath
toLog("PinballFX2 Called")
;Hotkey, $%exitKey%, CloseFX2
;Hotkey, $%exitKey1%, CloseFX2

;- Modify your ShowBackGlass command line options here
IfExist %steamdirpath%\images\ShowBackglass.exe
  Run, ShowBackglass.exe /left=1916 /top=-4 /width=1928 /height=1088 /picture=gui2.pxp.bmp ,%SteamDirPath%\images

Run, "%SteamDirPath%\Steam.exe" -applaunch 226980,,UseErrorLevel
Process, wait, Pinball FX2.exe
Gui, destroy
Process, WaitClose, Pinball FX2.exe
IfExist %steamdirpath%\images\appkiller.exe
  Run, %SteamDirPath%\Images\appkiller.exe ShowBackglass.exe 0,,UseErrorLevel
goto ExitScript
return

CloseFX2:
toLog("CloseFX2 Called")
Process,Close,Pinball FX2.exe
Process, WaitClose, Pinball FX2.exe
IfExist %steamdirpath%\images\appkiller.exe
  Run, %SteamDirPath%\Images\appkiller.exe ShowBackglass.exe 0,,UseErrorLevel
goto ExitScript
return

 
Note: If you are still running FPLaunch1.295wip9 or earlier and haven't updated to wip10 yet please do that update first. You can find the update here. Thanks, LoadedWeapon!

Is there another place to download these files?

I get an error for each of the files posted here.

[Fulltilt]

Just wanted to say a thank you for this. I followed the instructions in the first post and all is working great. VP/FP and now PB FX2 on my cab setup .. its a happy day

[Sir Cheddar]

Is there another place to download these files?
I get an error for each of the files posted here.

Hmm, I just tried to downloading it, downloading still works for me. Perhaps it was a temporary problem. I've uploaded a copy to sendspace, just in case.

Just wanted to say a thank you for this. I followed the instructions in the first post and all is working great. VP/FP and now PB FX2 on my cab setup .. its a happy day

Thanks! Glad you like it

[Fulltilt]

SC i am using a PB FX2 vid i found as a test as a backglass and it works just fine like all the others for VP/FP .. loading PB FX2 while this is playing is fine and doesn't affect the loading at all and seems to play fine .. I was just wondering if there was a way to loop the video .. or maybe have a logo loop to give a bit of animation on the BG .. I guess I am a little spoiled with all the new FP/VP Bg vids

So far it really is great what has been done so far .. I have been playing these tables for the past few hours now

 

I just tested this vid and simply faded the ending and attached the bg screen shot from the media pack at the end .. so now i have a preview vid for some tables as well as a static pic for the bg during gameplay .. its just the steam trailer i found

 

Edited by Fulltilt, 28 June 2013 - 03:00 AM.

[Sir Cheddar]

Hmm, that vid might be a nice fit. I'll give it a try. Good idea

[Fulltilt]

Thank you

 .. maybe we will see some other video ideas aswell

[rockyrocket]

This seems the best place to post this so sorry for hijacking the thread a bit.

So I have been playing with using LEDBlinky to monotor PBFX2`s sound output to create a LED output and although its not perfect it is better than nothing.

Now I already had LEDBlinky set up to display an attract mode using a how-to I am sure can be found on this site but alas I can not find it!.

Using this how-to you end up with LEDBlinky installed to C:\HyperPin\LEDBlinky\LEDBlinky\

Anyway once you do manage to get LEDBlinky set up if you then create a very simple animation (mine is just two frames) you can then name it pbfx2.lwax and test using your sound output set to "what i hear"  then play any sound file.

If you then have the desired lightshow its then a case of getting it to work with hyperpin, the commandline to use would be....    "LEDBlinky.exe audio.lwax pbfx2.lwax"

Once you quit PinballFX2 you want to kill LEDBlinky with  "taskkill /f /im ledblinky.exe"

Using this method you can still run your attract mode and ledset bats ect.

Personally I am not running steam so my FPLaunch is a bit different but it should look something like this to work.

I could never get backglasses to change either

Run, "%SteamDirPath%\Steam.exe" -applaunch 226980,,UseErrorLevel
Run, C:\HyperPin\LEDBlinky\LEDBlinky\LEDBlinky.exe audio.lwax pbfx2.lwax
Process, wait, Pinball FX2.exe
Gui, destroy
Process, WaitClose, Pinball FX2.exe
Run, taskkill /f /im ledblinky.exe
IfExist %steamdirpath%\images\appkiller.exe
  Run, %SteamDirPath%\Images\appkiller.exe ShowBackglass.exe 0,,UseErrorLevel
goto ExitScript
return

CloseFX2:
toLog("CloseFX2 Called")
Process,Close,Pinball FX2.exe
Process, WaitClose, Pinball FX2.exe
Run, taskkill /f /im ledblinky.exe
IfExist %steamdirpath%\images\appkiller.exe
  Run, %SteamDirPath%\Images\appkiller.exe ShowBackglass.exe 0,,UseErrorLevel
goto ExitScript
return

Anyway hope this works for you and here is a video to demonstrate (made outside of hyperpin) - oh and if anyone has a better way to do this please chime in as this is just what works for me.

 

[Sir Cheddar]

Damn, Why didn't I think of that?

Don't have the time to test it yet, but looking at jukebox.bat they use

@start C:\HyperPin\ledblinky\LEDBlinky.exe 2

to exit LEDBlinky. I don't know for sure, but it might be preferable to kill ledblinky.exe, as it probably causes ledblinky to reset all inputs before exiting.

Just a thought

[rockyrocket]

Damn, Why didn't I think of that?

Don't have the time to test it yet, but looking at jukebox.bat they use

@start C:\HyperPin\ledblinky\LEDBlinky.exe 2

to exit LEDBlinky. I don't know for sure, but it might be preferable to kill ledblinky.exe, as it probably causes ledblinky to reset all inputs before exiting.

Just a thought

You may be right as I just noticed that when I closed the cab down three instances were running.

All outputs seem to be reset as when exiting PBFX2 if I wait then my attract animation runs, then I can go into either VP or FP/BAM and all is well, so maybe its the attract mode thats starting and not being killed?.

I know what you mean about having no time as I have been on this most of the day and really really should of been doing something else!.

Edit so I have found the thread I used to set my attract mode with LEDBlinkie...

http://www.vpforums....ic=16186&page=4

 

One other cool thing I have noticed is that it starts with all the LED`s on then animates once the table loads.
Here is a vid showing my attract sequence followed by PBFX2.

 

Edited by rockyrocket, 22 July 2013 - 08:03 AM.

[Aaron James]

Does steam need an Internet connection to run? I don't have any Internet connection on my cab. When I try to run/install steam on my cab it fails with no Internet connection. Any ideas? I'd love to get this damn thing working with all these wonderful games. I do have the latest FP launch.