683 replies to this topic

[Flying Dutchman]

Some test results (bad quality I know .. through a photo camera) from last night/today on some 'Active Backglasses' I've recreated and played through UltraVPServer
and results as completely ROM controlled Active Backglasses ..

It has to be said .. there's more 'life' to the Backglass when using the 'IrfanView' method .. but this is how it is presented on a real pinball machine and so different scenario's are shown during gameplay by hitting
different targets! What is shown in attached examples is only a really short impression ..

Thanks Studmuff for the clear vid on the real Indiana Jones Pinball machine which helped me placing the lights in the exact position ..

There's more to come ..

Thanks StrangeLeo for the excellent 'Static' Centaur Backglass!
Thanks again Manofwar for developping the UltraVPServer to make this all possible!

Cheers,
FD.

ps. Yes, I know the 'Scared Stiff - Spider' positions of the flashers are not placed correctly yet!


T2


Champion Pub


Indiana Jones


Scared Stiff


Centaur

Edited by Flying Dutchman, 15 September 2009 - 07:21 AM.

[destruk]

From my viewing of Studmuff's video, shouldn't the "AN" and the face flash at the same time? If I have that wrong, let me know so I can adjust my table, but I think they are both powered by the same flasher, and the AN is possibly a reflection from the top of the underside head board gloss? Also it seems a little slow to me - is the rom producing a lot of strain on the cpu to keep up with vpm and ultravp server? Your centaur needs a little more work -- missing the ball in play, tilt, match, game over, warning, high score to date, and shoot again lamps - ipdb can be your friend here with pics like this - http://ipdb.org/show...no=14870&zoom=1 and ones like this aren't all that bad - http://ipdb.org/show...no=14868&zoom=1

Your youtube video of "Elvira and Party Monsters" is of Scared Stiff.

I don't think T2 and Champion Pub actually have all those cpu controlled 555 bulbs in the backbox. Generally the newer machines have a single cold cathode lamp back there that is on when the machine has power. Older games, like Centaur, you notice have a bunch of GI bulbs that will either be ALL ON, or ALL OFF. There is no flasher individual dream sequence animation to them. http://ipdb.org/show...no=30707&zoom=1 I know Monopoly, Grand Prix/Nascar, etc all have a single cold cathode bulb. It takes some time and effort to get them anywhere close to accurate.

[studmuff]

I will be making videos of my pins for FD or anyone who wishes to use them. I will also ask some of my pinball friends to tape their games. They are not into VP but I'm sure they won't mind. SWT is pretty easy as it just has the flourscent buld in the backbox from memory I think LOTR is the same.

[destruk]

Very much appreciated Studmuff! A video eliminates quite a bit of guesswork as to what flashers go where, and most manuals don't specify any backbox effects.

[Flying Dutchman]

Very much appreciated Studmuff! A video eliminates quite a bit of guesswork as to what flashers go where, and most manuals don't specify any backbox effects.

You're absolutely right there destruk! The manual let's a lot of 'guessing where to position them' and so very hard to get perfect.
The IJ vid you send me from Studmuff is a perfect way to fill this gap! Although I must say that IJ is not much 'active' if you want to do it the 'perfect' way!

Thanks again for your comments destruk, and Studmuff, looking forward to those vids!

Cheers,
FD.

[Noah Fentz]

Very impressive progress, FD!

This is exactly the step forward your active backglass project needed.

Great job, man.

[ynneBBenny]

I'm still keeping an eye on this thread Dutchy.
Great work.
It's not long until my workshop is finished, and I'll start making another cabinet.
This thread will be my first stop. I can feel a renewed interest returning.

Good on you for keeping the aniglass torch burning.

[Flying Dutchman]

Today I have recreated the 'Riverboat Gambler' Active Backglass and tested it with the UltraVPServer from Manofwar.
As destruk said earlier, most of the times it's hard to get the correct lamp no.'s involved and positioned right .. but the result is AmAzIng!!

Riverboat Gambler - UtraVPServer



Enjoy it .. at least I do!

Cheers,
FD.

[destruk]

Are you using VP lights for the displays? Because some of the segments are missing. And it looks just about how it would if it were spanned, which is good.

[Flying Dutchman]

Are you using VP lights for the displays? Because some of the segments are missing. And it looks just about how it would if it were spanned, which is good.

You have a 'precise' view on things destruk .. I must say! => meant in a good way
Indeed there's a certain issue at the moment I have with the use of 14 segments for the displays (16 digits) .. will solve it tonight ..

Cheers,
FD.

[Flying Dutchman]

Here's an example on how the 'UltraVP Editor' looks like while trying to get the lamps in the correct position according
the scarce information found in the Manual(s)..


Cheers,
FD.

Attached Files

•  Riverboat_Gambler___Example.png   1.21MB   37 downloads

Edited by Flying Dutchman, 16 September 2009 - 07:58 PM.

[Flying Dutchman]

Latest test with UltraVPServer for an 'Active Backglass' on Lord Of The Rings.
Edit: it's a TEST only and the behaviour/position of the lamps differ from the 'real backglass'.



Cheers,
FD.

[ynneBBenny]

Where abouts do we download UltraVPServer?

[Flying Dutchman]

WWW .. it's not released yet .. still in testing fase ..

Cheers,
FD.

[TAB]

Looks very fine, Lord of the Backglasses

[ynneBBenny]

WWW .. it's not released yet .. still in testing fase ..

Cheers,
FD.

Ahhh, so the point of your posts is to tease us?
Let us know when the beta extends to further testers.
Could you ask your mate to include me as a tester as I might have some input that you giys mightn't have thought about.
Let your mate know that I am also interested and have been participating in this kind of experimentation too. I also have some techniques that havn't yet been publicly shown.

[destruk]

LOTR doesn't look like that - can I suggest again that disclaimer? It looks like the capabilities are all present to make it realistic, and that is really cool.

[Flying Dutchman]

LOTR doesn't look like that - can I suggest again that disclaimer? It looks like the capabilities are all present to make it realistic, and that is really cool.

You're right destruk .. that's why it's a test ..
To recreate 'the real thing' I need vids like Studmuff's IJ to know the exact positions of the lamps. The manuals don't show much ..

Disclaimer added ..

Cheers,
FD.

[destruk]

You mean the exact position of the single bulb in the backbox? The game either has the bulb ON, or OFF. So the backbox is either lit, or unlit. Like all stern games after High Roller Casino. Because this is, as you can agree, quite a dull way to handle backbox lighting, by basically not having any variety whatsoever, some owners have made personal aftermarket modifications to their machines to give some activity to it (albeit quite simplistic) - http://www.bobspinba...s.com/LOTR.html and http://www.bobspinba...TReyeflash.html

About the only thing you could glean from a real machine is an actual photograph of the inside of the backbox. You already have direct access to that image at 4:43 here:
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related You see a single bulb is in the LOTR backbox which can only be turned on or off - nothing else. So you can probably understand where a purist would be a bit annoyed at you putting bubblegum flasher effects extraordinaire into your animated backglass programs which clearly can't be done on the real games. They give you something to look at, sure, but are entirely unrealistic.

In the video there, you see the off state, and the on state. If you see any videos of flasher effects like you are hoping to find, realize those are adjustments made by owners after the machine was purchased and you would most likely need to contact them individually to get any sort of recreated interface to the game code for vpm to replicate their changes.

[destruk]

Just wanted to add, none of this is personal - I hope someday everyone could work together to create exact replicas of the backglasses of all the machines. And I'll be the first to admit mine aren't entirely perfect, but I won't add stuff that I'm unsure about. I'd rather have it missing than add something that wouldn't be in the finished product. If there is something I have wrong, please let me know.