Ya it may be to gimmicky for an actual table, but I like it ![]()
Here is the update:
Posted 28 September 2019 - 04:59 AM
Ya it may be to gimmicky for an actual table, but I like it ![]()
Here is the update:
Posted 28 September 2019 - 10:13 PM




Posted 04 November 2019 - 11:47 AM
Another subscriber (as have just discovered the beauty of future pinball).
Before now people were saying not to bother with it - so I never did.
Thanks to TerryRed and his promotion of Star Wars DSA Ultimate Pro, I find myself here and ultimately subscribing to the VirtuaPinball channel.
Edited by blietzkrieg, 04 November 2019 - 11:48 AM.
Posted 20 November 2019 - 09:52 AM
One question to quench my curiosity, as I recently investigated FP further, could you please confirm/infirm my understanding below ? :
- Adding DOF support requires table script modification
- Everytime SLAM1LT releases a new version (Pro version for ex), it lacks DOF support until someones modifies it (so for example Tron Legacy Ultimate Pro - not available yet though - would have to be modified by TerryRed to match his currently non-Pro release), unlike VPX which uses a ROM based approach for DOF, hence all modded tables get the same DOF effects provided they use the same rom.
- Likewise, SSF support has to be added for each table, through the release of a PuP Pack. And to date, the only one available is precisely on the Tron Legacy Ultimate, non-Pro version (with floaty physics)
And so, at this point, unless I'm mistaken, none of the recently released SLAM1LT FP tables have DOF nor SSF support, am I correct ?
I can't really test my assumptions, since for the life of me I can't get DOF nor SSF to work on the Tron Legacy FP release from TerryRed, so all of my testing is biaised anyway
Now if the above is correct, this does raise the following questions:
- any specific reason for SLAM1LT to not use TerryRed modified FP tables with DOF support as the baseline for his "upgraded" Pro releases ?
- there are some threads about a BAM mod which in combination with development from TerryRed (PinEvent) would allow to support DOF and SSF "a la VPX" (ie ROM based for DOF): will this require table modification (my understanding is yes) ?
In all honesty, I discovered the virtual pinball world a few months ago, through the work of TerryRed (hats off), and my first table to run ever was Tron on FP. But that was before I had my cabinet with ledstrip and SSF (no other toys), and the ease of use of VPX in that regards is unmatched. As a result 99% of my tables are VPX. I do have a few PBFX3 tables, but for kids mostly as SSF PuP pack implementation is not as accurate as SSF on VPX (ball movement especially !).
On the other hand, there are a few very good tables on FP, and VR support is unmatched on FP side (there is a VR port of VPX, but it's complicated to use and not really synced with VPX builds). With the release of Oculus Link, an Oculus Quest would be a really good fit (78% higher resolution than a first gen Oculus). I could easily add it to my cab, so if I want to get full immersion I could use the cabinet physical body and DOF feedbacks, but with the headseat for rendering. And for "social" gaming (ie family, friends), I can use my regular cabinet.
But missing SSF/DOF is really a bummer, without it it's like playing a video game to me.
I really hope that moving forward the development done by TerryRed/Nailbuster/Ravarcade will be used in all FP tables moving forward, so that FP gets better exposure.
Just my two cents
Edited by Ashram56, 20 November 2019 - 10:41 AM.
Posted 20 November 2019 - 05:59 PM
Although I don't have a pincab but I believe what you said is correct. TerryRed used to wait until he thought Slam was finished changing the table before he would add DofLinx. I do remember reading somewhere that Terry said there is a new way of adding a pup pack which is easier but I don't remember what he said. You might do some searches for it or ask Terry.
Slam does not have a pincab so he can't test tables with DOF support. I would be hesitant myself to mod a DOF table without being able to test it because I might change something that would affect how it plays. That said, Slam has his own way of doing things. I sent him a version of the Addams Family where I changed some things that he could use if he wanted. I fixed the left ramp so it operates more smoothly, added what I thought were much needed dynamic flippers for the two upper flippers and a few other things. The version he released only had the ramp fix and nothing else. Slam does make some great tables however. He does say we can mod them except change them to VP.
There are a number of great tables on FP that Slam didn't mod. I listed quite a few here:
http://gopinball.com...php?f=15&t=6176
I think Gimli's and my version of "Creature from the Black Lagoon" is the best one.
George
Confused about FP? Read "George's Installation and Setup Guide for Future Pinball and BAM"
Posted 27 November 2019 - 11:35 PM
One question to quench my curiosity, as I recently investigated FP further, could you please confirm/infirm my understanding below ? :
- Adding DOF support requires table script modification
- Everytime SLAM1LT releases a new version (Pro version for ex), it lacks DOF support until someones modifies it (so for example Tron Legacy Ultimate Pro - not available yet though - would have to be modified by TerryRed to match his currently non-Pro release), unlike VPX which uses a ROM based approach for DOF, hence all modded tables get the same DOF effects provided they use the same rom.
- Likewise, SSF support has to be added for each table, through the release of a PuP Pack. And to date, the only one available is precisely on the Tron Legacy Ultimate, non-Pro version (with floaty physics)
And so, at this point, unless I'm mistaken, none of the recently released SLAM1LT FP tables have DOF nor SSF support, am I correct ?
I can't really test my assumptions, since for the life of me I can't get DOF nor SSF to work on the Tron Legacy FP release from TerryRed, so all of my testing is biaised anyway
Now if the above is correct, this does raise the following questions:
- any specific reason for SLAM1LT to not use TerryRed modified FP tables with DOF support as the baseline for his "upgraded" Pro releases ?
- there are some threads about a BAM mod which in combination with development from TerryRed (PinEvent) would allow to support DOF and SSF "a la VPX" (ie ROM based for DOF): will this require table modification (my understanding is yes) ?
In all honesty, I discovered the virtual pinball world a few months ago, through the work of TerryRed (hats off), and my first table to run ever was Tron on FP. But that was before I had my cabinet with ledstrip and SSF (no other toys), and the ease of use of VPX in that regards is unmatched. As a result 99% of my tables are VPX. I do have a few PBFX3 tables, but for kids mostly as SSF PuP pack implementation is not as accurate as SSF on VPX (ball movement especially !).
On the other hand, there are a few very good tables on FP, and VR support is unmatched on FP side (there is a VR port of VPX, but it's complicated to use and not really synced with VPX builds). With the release of Oculus Link, an Oculus Quest would be a really good fit (78% higher resolution than a first gen Oculus). I could easily add it to my cab, so if I want to get full immersion I could use the cabinet physical body and DOF feedbacks, but with the headseat for rendering. And for "social" gaming (ie family, friends), I can use my regular cabinet.
But missing SSF/DOF is really a bummer, without it it's like playing a video game to me.
I really hope that moving forward the development done by TerryRed/Nailbuster/Ravarcade will be used in all FP tables moving forward, so that FP gets better exposure.
Just my two cents
Hey a reminder, VPX is a video game too
Add all the toys and feedback and light show you want, you're still looking down on LCD screen which is no different than playing street fighter or pacman on an arcade.
For the TRON FP table Pup/SSF table you need to follow Terry's suggestions. You need to make sure DOF is setup and working. Also there's a waiting period Ive noticed. I don't run DOF in my cab, so i just got a plain DOF ini with the launch parameters to make the pack works. It works but i've had to manually launch DOF before i load the table then, as per Terry's instructions you have to wait about 10-20 seconds for DOF to "wake up" in FP to then get the pup pack to launch.
In regards to "floaty" ball you need to have newer physics added in the script via BAM or have the XML file.
100% of FP tables are non-ROM based, this is why DOF has to be manually added into the script. All the rules and gameplay is 100% recreated by the table authors with no ROM. This allows for more creative freedoms.
As stated, Slam does not have a pincab so he only plays desktop and as such develops his tables with desktop use in mind, with pincab an after thought.
If your sound system is set up properly, without SSF FP will still sounds good. I have a mucked together temporary 4.1 setup in my mini pin and games sound great.
Incorporating ROM support via pinmame may be useful but VERY doubtful it will be utilized by Slam. He's always been a big advocate of doing his own thing outside of the box ROM use encompasses. All things considered you'll probably never see it used by him directly as in fact he feels it'll just be a copy of VPX which he's never really been a fan of. You want a boring ROM copy of a table, play VPX. Future pinball are for enhanced tables
Edited by djlunchbox, 27 November 2019 - 11:35 PM.
Posted 29 November 2019 - 05:38 AM
To put it simply.... NOTHING regarding DOF, or SSF is automatic on VPX, FP, or FX3.
VPX originals are the same as FP tables. None of them have DOF or SSF support added. That has to be manually added to each of those tables. So tables like Stranger Things SE had all of its DOF, MX Leds, and SSF added by someone like me.
VPX rom based tables also aren't automatically supported for DOF or SSF. The only reason you see DOF on most rom based tables, is because of the tireless work from Argrim for most tables, and some other guys including myself. Arngrim doesn't have SSF... so that is usually done by guys like DJRobX, Rusty, Thalamus, etc. Again, not all tables have SSF support, and even then not all of them have "complete" SSF support. You've been lucky to have a great selection of tables that have good SSF support already... but its by far an automatic process.
The "basic" MX Led support for VPX tables is just that...basic. Nothing specific to the table...just emulating the 5 RGB flashers. That is nowhere near the same as my own custom MX Leds that you see in FP tables and the VPX tables I update. Its a lot of work.
FP tables are basically all "original" tables because...up until recently... FP didn't have the option to use VPinMAME. (I don't forsee that option becoming used for tables though, but you never know).
So all FP tables...just like VPX original tables, need to have DOF SSF PUP PUPDMD added throughout the table script.
Until very recently, we needed DOFLinx to have ANY kind of DOF or PUP support for FP tables thanks to the excellent work by DDH69 (as FP couldn't use com objects like DOF or PUP). This solution was a brilliant effort, and in many ways is still easier for "me" to add basic DOF to a FP table. That said, it has limitations with supporting PUP directly and all its features (such as PUPDMD support). To do so would be a crazy amount of work for DDH69, and would be more difficult to support.
For me to add PUP SSF DOF MX to FP tables with DOFLinx works great (as videos of my WIP Jaws U-Pro PuP-Pasck showed...all running using DOFLinx)... but the amount of work it took for me to make that happen while also allowing the updated FP to be used by non Doflinx / pup users was much more than it needed to be.
Luckily... the new iCOM (Com Extensions) plug-in for BAM allows DOF and pup com object servers to be directly used by FP (this was the limitation DOFLinx had to work around). So I now can use all features of DOF and PuP directly similar to how I would for VPX.
After my experience with Jaws U-Pro pup-pack, I decided to try to come up with a standard (PinEvent) that would allow for Desktop / cab / dof / pup / ssf users to be able to use a FP table with all those features while still allowing the table to work without any of that software installed... while at the same time cutting down the amount of work needed by me significantly.
So now with recent pup updates by NailBuster, and my own PinEvent wip updates... I'm almost at the point of having a good standard that will work as a basic "standard" to add DOF, MX, SSF (including 3d positional ball rolling) and PUPDMD, so I can add most of that much more quickly to a FP table. (Adding in "my" own DOF MX, etc custom effects per table takes much longer)
As for SLAM's tables.... yes SLAM doesn't have a cabinet... and with the extensive updates he regularly does to his tables (unlike rom based tables which NEVER change their gameplay or code)... it would be hard for him to understand the PinEvent support I add.
SSF in particular is the biggest PITA because I have to disable playsound / playmusic commands throughout the script and also disable and mechanical sounds assigned in the editor for each table. So anytime a table is updated, I need to do that over again. Script isn't too bad...but Jaws U-Pro for example has almost 100 SSF sounds / triggers alone! Not all tables are created equal...and SLAM's tables are much more advanced in dealing with code and sound use than most of the VPX tables out there.
There are LOTs of excellent FP tables... they simply need to be updated to modern BAM standards... and especially the updates for VR that myself, Gimli and GeorgeH have been adding. Any older table I update will have modern BAM support for physics and lighting, etc added as well as DOF / PUP / SSF via PinEvent. It simply takes time.
With the exception of SLAM's tables....most other tables I would update wouldn't need extensive "re-updating" for DOF / pup / ssf, as I would already have PinEvent support added in which allows for anyone to use the table one way or another.
Posted 29 November 2019 - 10:57 AM
Well yes VPX is a video game, but anyone with a cabinet can attest that the physical feedback adds a lot to the game.
Well I fully understand that DOF on VPX also requires extensive work from the DOF Community.
It is just that once DOF is added to a ROM, then all tables mods that use the same ROM should benefit from DOF, right ? Which is not the case for FP, as you pointed out, every time SLAM does a change, you need to go back and re-update everything.
Also, SSF support on VPX seems much more widespread, I have yet to find a table that I play that lacks SSF support (as this is the physical toy setup I have).
To me the lack of physical feedback on most FP tables (not to mention that I can't even get DOFLinx to work in my setup with FP whereas it works with PBFX3) makes them really not fun to play, so… I don't play them. I fully understand others might not have the same opinion on this, and I'm not trying to blame anyone here, it's just a shame that things are like this. The PinEvent implementation is brilliant (I tested Retroflair), as it just works, and in terms of SW architecture it's the way forward.
It is just a shame that one of the valuable contributors of FP tables does not see the value of DOF or a Cabinet, and actually forces the community for a ton of work to bring more value to his tables. Truth be told, this actually achieves the contrary of what he would like to see (ie more visibilty to FP), since the more difficult you make it for someone to improve and use your content, the less people will actually care. Simple marketing truth...
Just my two cents
Regards
Posted 29 November 2019 - 02:50 PM
I can clearly see the gulf, given that the developer (as in main core code development) community on FP can be counted with one hand (BAM, DOFLinx, PuP in some respect, and TerryRed for all modding - that would be pretty much it, right ?)
However I don't quite understand why you would state I'm implying anything ?
I'm simply stating facts:
- SLAM1LT is a hard core FP developer with valuable interesting tables
- other FP contributors try to add value to his tables by adding DOF, SSF
- everytime SLAM makes a change, these contributors have to redo the work (point in case TerryRed message), because he does not have a cabinet and therefore cannot test.
and yet: SLAM wants more visibility to FP (which is why he requested to get suscribers to his channel).
That's a contradictory position. If you want to advocate something, you make it easy for people to use it, not the reverse.
I understand that he does not have a cabinet, that he does not care, and I'm not implying that he should develop support in his current mindset.
I'm simply stating that i's a shame he does have this mindset, nothing more..
I do think that the whole FP Community would benefit from a SW infrastructure that would allow 1/ SLAM to develop his tables as he sees fit 2/ not having everyone to redo tables over and over and over to add capabilities which are viewed by a vast number of vpinball enthusiasts as mandatory.
Fundamentally to achieve 2/ above, you only have two options:
1/ A ROM-type architecture for DOF (not SSF), which has the merits of achieving the above, at the expense of flexibility
2/ A table-based architecture, which has the benefit of flexibility at the expense of needing implementation at the table level (very similar to SSF in that respect), in which case all table developers need to adopt that paradigm, which does not seem to be a given (unlike the VPX world, where SSF for example is pretty much a given now).
Don't take my comment as a stab against FP, I honestly do not want to enter into a battle on that subject, I was just trying to understand the whole situation, and there's not much I can do to help in any case, so I won't certainly blame anyone for the current situation.
It's just that it's too bad, that's it.
Edited by Ashram56, 29 November 2019 - 02:51 PM.
Posted 29 November 2019 - 09:12 PM
SSF...isn't "complete" on all VPX tables.... however some "basic" SSF works for many tables. That is no where near the same as proper and complete SSF which needs to be manually implemented. Again, VPX has a head start on cabinet support for years... so don't expect FP, which has had huge updates recently, to all of a sudden catch up instantly.
A good comparison would be any FX3 table using basic SSF(all done by me) and FP Jaws Ultimate Pro which has complete SSF for EVERYTHING mechanical on the table... and it sounds awesome!
Or basic RGB flashers emulation for MX Leds with a few effects I did for VPX for Avatar... or the way cooler effects I did for FP Avatar.
You can't compare rom based tables to original tables. Rom based tables are VERY limiting when it comes to DOF and MX Leds as well as PUP. Whereas original tables you are free to do as you please. I personally LOVE doing DOF / MX Leds / PUP for originals tables, hence I'm the one who has done them for most of Scotty Wic's tables in VPX... and I'm the only one doing them for FP. The stuff I do for FP destroys anything I can do with VPX (except on originals).
I absolutely would HATE to see FP table limited by roms in the case of table's like SLAMT1LT's. Yes the DOF would be easier to implement... but I would rather have a better table first before DOF / SSF capability. Lucky me... I took the time to learn how to do all this stuff for myself. The community luckily benefits from it.
Yes, I wait for SLAM to be done updating his tables for a while to update them...I also do the same for VPX originals, hence why Harry Potter still has no DOF. Once I have more time to finalize PinEvent... I can jump on the newer FP U-Pro tables for DOF / SSF / PuP,etc now. It takes time.
Play the 100's of other amazing tables with DOF / SSF while you wait.
Posted 30 November 2019 - 06:55 AM
Edited by djlunchbox, 30 November 2019 - 06:56 AM.
Posted 30 November 2019 - 01:52 PM
Good morning,
All valid and fair points.
In retrospect, I agree with several of the statements made, such as:
- I incorrectly assumed all of the FP community would value DOF and SSF more than the rest of FP capabilities, applying my own bias/perception to the whole community
- If community value more flexibility and as a consequence creativity that FP brings over DOF/SSF implementation, then Indeed my statement about "it's a shame for the Community" is incorrect.
With that said, I should then rephrase my statement to "It's a shame for the vpinball Community who values physical (tactical/visual) feedback above other considerations"
And yes, there are some really great and fun tables to play under FP (just love Star Wars DSA). I just seldom play them, because my own bias is in favor of physical feedback. But I fully understand others might not feel the same.
I hope this concludes this debate, which was never my intention to spark anyway
Regards
Posted 30 November 2019 - 07:44 PM
With that said, I should then rephrase my statement to "It's a shame for the vpinball Community who values physical (tactical/visual) feedback above other considerations"
Edited by gimli246, 01 December 2019 - 04:38 AM.
Posted 02 December 2019 - 03:41 PM
Believe it or not, I had already looked into some tables scripts ![]()
I will wait however for the PinEvent structure to be stabilized (should be by now), and more important for some guideline on how to use it.
That said, your statement about the time it would take is probably a trifle optimistic…
Regards
Posted 03 December 2019 - 01:04 AM
PinEvent is mostly done. So far no one has reported any real problems... but I'm at the North Pole right now.... so I can't do any test anything right now.
I spent the last couple of night adding PinEvent support to SLAM's Halloween. (DOF, MX Leds, PUPSSF, and my own mods for Lighting, etc.). This was many hours of work, and this is with me knowing what I am doing. I still need to make the SSF pup-pack... which for SLAM's tables has a lot of triggers / sounds on the table.
So ideally it should be mostly done...but I need to customize it still for my own MX effects and flashers, etc. I can do generic DOF much easier... but I don't do anything plain and standard.
The real question is if I add PUPDMD support.... as that is MUCH more work than people realize.... but damn it looks so much better than 128x32 pixels of a DMD.
Don't expect some amazing step by step guide for PinEvent... as I already have numerous DOF and PUP-pack tutorial videos. When PinEvent is ready for a FULL release, then I will detail what the commands do,etc... but the rest is in the table script.... and I'm MUCH nicer about labelling my code than most people are.
Edited by TerryRed, 03 December 2019 - 01:08 AM.
Posted 20 December 2019 - 05:14 AM

Edited by TerryRed, 20 December 2019 - 05:42 AM.
Posted 24 December 2019 - 05:32 PM

Edited by TerryRed, 24 December 2019 - 05:32 PM.
Posted 24 December 2019 - 09:33 PM





Edited by TerryRed, 24 December 2019 - 09:58 PM.