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[DDH69]

I thought I’d write up this little guide to explain using DOFFX2 to add flipper force feedback and RGB lighting effects to VP tables.  The flipper force feedback is “fake” that is, not driven by VP and the table triggering the flippers, rather it is “listening” to the flipper keys from the keyboard.  During a game the effect is indistinguishable.
 
This is not a substitute for real DOF, ultimately, join the cause and truly DOF a table of your choosing (of course with permission, credit, etc as required).  This is a way to quickly get some additional things to make your cabinet go BANG!  I use it to quickly add effects for those tables not fortunate enough to have been DOF’ed.
 
First the theory (yes really, it helps) …..

• DOFFX2 is a program designed to run in the background at all times.  It detects when named processes start on your cabinet and “wakes up”.  It was originally designed to add flipper force feedback to Pinball FX2 via the DOF, hence the name DOFFX2, it has evolved somewhat since then.
• All of the VP processes that you want to monitor are added to the DOFFX2 configuration.  I monitor VP 991 and VP Phys Mod.  I don’t monitor VPX as all the tables I’ve got for VPX are already DOF’ed.
• Next setup your favourite front-end (PInballX, Hyperpin, etc) to send the table name of the table being launched to DOFFX2.
• Now when DOFFX2 “sees” your VP process start-up it checks if you’ve got a flag file (.DOFFX2 file) for that table in your VP\Tables folder.
• If you do have a flag file DOFFX2 “wakes up” and runs as per your configuration.  This would be for a table that hasn’t been DOF’ed.
• If you don’t have the flag file (default), then DOFFX2 doesn’t “wake up”.  The assumption here is that you don’t want additional DOF / the table is already properly DOF’ed.

So, how to do this ….
 
Assumptions

• VP is installed and running
• DOF R3 (yes R3) is installed and running
• You have a front-end with ‘Launch Before’ and ‘Launch After’ capability that can send TABLEFILE details.

Instructions

1. Download and install DOFFX2
2. Ideally read the guide (ha!)
3. Ensure your DOFFX2.INI has the following as a minimum

DIRECTOUTPUTCONFIG=c:\DirectOutput\config\directoutputconfig.ini (pointing to your config file)

PROCESSES=VPinball_9_9_1,VP_PhysMod5

L_FLIPPER_OUTPUT=117  (substitute your port here)

R_FLIPPER_OUTPUT=125  (substitute your port here)

L_FLIPPER_KEY=A0  (your flipper key – this is left shift)

R_FLIPPER_KEY=A1  (your flipper key – this is right shift)

• Setup your front-end ‘Launch Before’ to message the TABLEFILE to DOFFX2, ie DOFFX2Msg GAME_FLAG_FILE=”[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]”
• Setup your front-end ‘Launch After’ to clear the GAME_FLAG_FILE to DOFFX2, ie DOFFX2Msg GAME_FLAG_FILE=
• For the tables that you want some flipper force feedback and RGB active on create a file (an empty file is fine) in your VP\Tables folder that is named TABLEFILE.DOFFX2.  So the same name as your VPT, VPX and B2S file but with the DOFFX2 extension.  The DOFFX2 download comes with a sample game flag file that can simply be copied and renamed.
• Enjoy the effect
•  Add some RGB commands to your DOFFX2.INI file …… sorry read the guide for that one!

 

Where to from here …
Well the same theory as above works perfectly for FP as well.  In fact, it can work for any emulator.  This particular method of operation just makes more sense for VP as many tables are DOF’ed
For FP a new method is being worked on that will provide the ability to code commands for DOF force feedback into tables.

[Slydog43]

This is a great improvement to the emulator scene, thanks so much