19 replies to this topic

[Newsboy]

Hey all! I'm still relatively new to this hobby, but I am at a point where I've got my playfield, backglass, and separate monitor for DMD all working. I have the PinUp Popper all installed and working and I'm really happy with how my current system is running. You've all done such an amazing job at the tables I've managed to download and get working, and I'm just waiting on the last couple of pieces of hardware before I get started on the cabinet build.

 

Something I did stumble onto a couple of weeks ago was someone's awesome work at colourising the Whitewater ROM. I haven't dealt with loading up one of those and it'd be really appreciated if someone could point me in the direction of some info in regards to that. I would love to pick up the colourised Whitewater ROM. I actually don't know if I have the terminology right here.

 

Also, I know giving creators money for these tables and recreations is in a bit of a grey area legally, but is there any system in place to donate funds to creators? I'd love to be able to support all the hard work I'm seeing.

[wiesshund]

Hey all! I'm still relatively new to this hobby, but I am at a point where I've got my playfield, backglass, and separate monitor for DMD all working. I have the PinUp Popper all installed and working and I'm really happy with how my current system is running. You've all done such an amazing job at the tables I've managed to download and get working, and I'm just waiting on the last couple of pieces of hardware before I get started on the cabinet build.

 

Something I did stumble onto a couple of weeks ago was someone's awesome work at colourising the Whitewater ROM. I haven't dealt with loading up one of those and it'd be really appreciated if someone could point me in the direction of some info in regards to that. I would love to pick up the colourised Whitewater ROM. I actually don't know if I have the terminology right here.

 

Also, I know giving creators money for these tables and recreations is in a bit of a grey area legally, but is there any system in place to donate funds to creators? I'd love to be able to support all the hard work I'm seeing.

 

To display colorized ROMs you need the following

 

1) A color capable display, which you have because an LCD can display anything

 

2) A color enabled version of VPinmame

I suggest grabbing the latest build from here

Actions · vpinball/pinmame (github.com)

You will need to make a github login so you can download, but just click on Actions

Then VPinmame on the left

and then the latest action in the list
and then download the file with a name like

VPinMAME-sc-3.4-277-f7f5b87-win-x86

SC means Sam Color basically

You do not normally want the 64bit build, not at this time anyways, VPX in 64bit has some compatibility issues etc.

 

3) You need colored ROM patches, and these come in 2 flavors

     a) Stern ROM patches, which actually edit the ROM itself, and have an accompanying pallet file

     b) Pin 2 DMD color patches, which are completely external and need no changes made to the ROM itself

 

In both cases, the .pal pallet file goes in the vpinmame\altcolor\romname folder

and in case b) the VNI file goes in the same place

and both files are named pin 2 dmd (without the spaces but the forum wont let me type it that way)

 

In the case of a patched stern ROM, you have to have the table script call that rom
Like instead of acd_170h you would change it to acd_170hc for the color patched ROM

 

For a non patched ROM, which is only Stern roms as far as i know, all you need to do is have the color files in the romnamed folder

in the altcolor folder, like for austin powers

c:\visual pinball\vpinmame\altcolor\austin\

 

4) You need the latest version of freezy's DMD extensions installed, and then in the ROM settings, you want color enable, use external DLL enabled, and show dmd disabled

 

The end result will be something like this

 

 

 

 

Author created, non ROM provided DMD's will simply be in color if the author made them that way
and usually require Freezy's DMD extensions and FlexDMD installed

(See JP's Slimer or Diablo or Serious Same etc.)

[Newsboy]

Now that's the information I was after! Thanks so much weisshund, I'll take a look at this over the weekend.

[wiesshund]

Now that's the information I was after! Thanks so much weisshund, I'll take a look at this over the weekend.

 

Keep in mind, in the grand scheme of things, there are very few color patched ROMs out there.

I think all of them are available on vpuniverse

It's a tedious process to colorize a ROM

one that most people are not super interested in doing

[Mrtr32]

Is someone know if Vpinmame ExtDMD work with Pixelcade Super LCD Marquee for Rec Room Masters Xtension 32" Pro Cabinet?

 

It is a high definition LCD screen and I want to know if I can use it as vPinmame DMD?

 

 

Thanks!

Edited by Mrtr32, 13 July 2021 - 10:10 PM.

[wiesshund]

Is someone know if Vpinmame ExtDMD work with Pixelcade Super LCD Marquee for Rec Room Masters Xtension 32" Pro Cabinet?

 

It is a high definition LCD screen and I want to know if I can use it as vPinmame DMD?

 

 

Thanks!

 VpinMAME could care less what you use, but you would not be using vpinmame to display DMD's anyway most likely, you'd be using freezy's external DLL

and it also could care less what kind of LCD you display it on, it will display to a 4.5" phone screen if you can make the PC send video to it.

[Mrtr32]

Ok thanks wiesshund for the infos!

 

The Pixelcade Super LCD Marquee display is very expensive so it look better for MAME digital Marquees.

 

Really cool to be able to use MAME Marquee display for VPX DMD table on the same Hybrid Cabinet!

[wiesshund]

 

 

The Pixelcade Super LCD Marquee display is very expensive so it look better for MAME digital Marquees.

 

 

 

It is unfortunately a low volume niche product, hence the bizarre pricing.

It isnt technically an expensive product to make, but when you don't have volume production and sales, cost to produce goes up
and of course when options for said product are small, price does it's own version of multiplication, and when you need mame cab width, your options get smaller

 

DMD wise, something like this is the cheapest setup i can think of right now

 

Amazon.com: VSDISPLAY 14.9" 14.9 in 1280X390 LCD Screen LTA149B780F with HD-MI DVI VGA Audio LCD Controller Board M.NT68676, fit for Arcade Machines DIY displays Car Monitor Digital Marquee Gauge Cluster: Computers & Accessories

 

Fine for a DMD, but too small for a cab marquee, and still expensive considering you could get a 20 something inch full sized monitor for less

[Newsboy]

Weisshund, your instructions were perfect. Really appreciate the time you put in to help.

Edited by Newsboy, 14 July 2021 - 09:42 PM.

[Energetics79]

Thank you 4 instructions but I still only see orange DMD colour

 

upgraded to VPinMAME-sc-3.5

downloaded freezy latest v1.10.2

and set DmdDevice and DmxExt at Pin 2 Dmd to true

 

got afm_113b and pac file from vpuniverse  put into new folder  altcolor/afm_113b

 

set mame to use dll

 

and still frustration.....Please help!

Edited by Energetics79, 23 May 2022 - 08:59 AM.

[wiesshund]

Thank you 4 instructions but I still only see orange DMD colour

 

upgraded to VPinMAME-sc-3.5

downloaded freezy latest v1.10.2

and set DmdDevice and DmxExt at Pin 2 Dmd to true

 

got afm_113b and pac file from vpuniverse  put into new folder  altcolor/afm_113b

 

set mame to use dll

 

and still frustration.....Please help!

 

You Cant use PAC files, you need to use VNI and PAL files
PAC is some new crap lucky1 implemented/forced

[daggeg]

Thank you 4 instructions but I still only see orange DMD colour

 

upgraded to VPinMAME-sc-3.5

downloaded freezy latest v1.10.2

and set DmdDevice and DmxExt at Pin 2 Dmd to true

 

got afm_113b and pac file from vpuniverse  put into new folder  altcolor/afm_113b

 

set mame to use dll

 

and still frustration.....Please help!

Did you get it solved? I have the same problem...

[cav01c14]

 

You Cant use PAC files, you need to use VNI and PAL files
PAC is some new crap lucky1 implemented/forced

 

 

where are these vni and pal files its the only ones that i can figure out how to work on my setup and they seem hard to find

 

[Suikazz]

 
You Cant use PAC files, you need to use VNI and PAL files
PAC is some new crap lucky1 implemented/forced
 
 
where are these vni and pal files its the only ones that i can figure out how to work on my setup and they seem hard to find
 

That’s bs, to say at least.


Pac is possible on both lcd and real pin two dmd -hardware.
Head over to vpuniverse and have a read especially at lucky1‘s thread

[wiesshund]

 

 
You Cant use PAC files, you need to use VNI and PAL files
PAC is some new crap lucky1 implemented/forced
 
 
where are these vni and pal files its the only ones that i can figure out how to work on my setup and they seem hard to find
 

That’s bs, to say at least.

 

 

What part is BS

 

If you are saying PAC is not some new crap that Lucky1 invented
then you would be wrong.

And it was done to primarily further monetize something he made from stealing from other people to start with.
 

[DonRobby]

A pac file reduces the filesize to 10 times smaller. It also doesn't require a specific name so comparing files should make your life a lot easier. If you cannot update or are not sure just back up your files. The latest update has 5 files in the folder

Copy all the files direct into the vpinmame folder (except the dmddevice.ini if you have used that in the past). That's all. If you want a good setup in 1 click check out the baller installer from Nailbuster. It installs everything up to date till like end 2021. Also Pinup Player for pup packs will be installed including 1 game to try out. And all the things you need to update after that are usually a bit hairy unless you know what you are doing. But in this case it is soo easy so I think you are acting silly when blaming a developer for making updates. Or are we gonna crap on VPX 10.7.2 or VPinMame as well for introducing new stuff that makes it mandatory to update if you want the latest tables?

[Mike DA Spike]

I thought that the pac file is a new file format that could not be reverse engineered back to a file for real dmd.

It also needs the special lucky implementation of freezy's dll (yeah, its confusing me too).

And to be honest you can better not use the all in 1 installer. Sure, it is easy to use, but installing VP, with pinmame, dmdext, flex dmd etc makes you aware how all is working, and makes it easier to troubleshoot if you have any issue.
Also make it easier to update 1 component if necessary.

But thats just my (old fashion) opinion

Edited by Mike DA Spike, 25 November 2022 - 01:31 PM.

[wiesshund]

A pac file reduces the filesize to 10 times smaller. It also doesn't require a specific name so comparing files should make your life a lot easier. If you cannot update or are not sure just back up your files. The latest update has 5 files in the folder

Copy all the files direct into the vpinmame folder (except the dmddevice.ini if you have used that in the past). That's all. If you want a good setup in 1 click check out the baller installer from Nailbuster. It installs everything up to date till like end 2021. Also Pinup Player for pup packs will be installed including 1 game to try out. And all the things you need to update after that are usually a bit hairy unless you know what you are doing. But in this case it is soo easy so I think you are acting silly when blaming a developer for making updates. Or are we gonna crap on VPX 10.7.2 or VPinMame as well for introducing new stuff that makes it mandatory to update if you want the latest tables?

a VNI does not require a specific name

and i can load up a VNI and further refine and edit it, because it isnt locked and obfuscate.

 

I think it is so silly that you are in denial, and throwing up straw men as a deflection tactic

 

Ya know damned well what Lucky did and is still doing

VPX and VpinMAME dont steal from other people in order to make money
they dont make money period.

 

 

I thought that the pac file is a new file format that could not be reverse engineered back to a file for real dmd.

 

 

Pretty much, it's a monetizing thing mostly.

 

 

 

And to be honest you can better not use the all in 1 installer. 

Unless you want PUP and Popper, which not everyone does, it's probably not a good idea
Plus, like you said, you wont have a damned clue how your stuff works, or what to do if something breaks.

 

I would hope though, that nailbuster isnt putting lucky's Copy of freezy's work into the install?
That would be a big perma delete for me.

[DonRobby]

Look wiesshund I can understand your frustrations as a developer but I'm here as a player helping another player. For me it doesn't hinder the experience when it's a pac or pal+vni. But I did make a compliment about it a few weeks ago on VPU when somebody went through the effort of uploading both. Like a fallback when somebody cannot get it to work. I didn't know about the reverse engineering but I'm not into that at all. As a player my preference goes to the smallest filesize, since I got a pretty big collection of tables running on my SSD C drive (+-100GB + media)

[digitalarts]

@DonRobby
word...
For me it doesn't matter if it's pac or pal+vni.
If a good pac exist, I use this. If not, I use pal+vni.
And freezy and Lucky1 finished their differences already long time ago. So - why again and again warm up old stuff???
Just my 50ct