3 replies to this topic

[Greynurse]

I have 35 VP8 recreations and 289 VP9 recreations that, so far, have never been upgraded to be released in VPX. Now admittedly, probably 25% of these tables have been lost to time or have become so rare that the much needed artwork no longer exists to photograph and get measurements on, so they would need a very clever graphic artist to recreate the imagery for those. Even so, a little "fudging" and educational guessing probably could be forgiven, what with all the mods of well known tables out there.

Equally, I'm surprised that some of the originals in the same categories have never made the grade to VPX. One good example is Bubblegum Crisis MegaTokyo 2035. There are some others that are equally worth bringing to VPX for their looks and playability.

Or am I just wishfully thinking? When people ask me why I still use VP8 and VP9, the fact that there are these tables waiting to make the upgrade is the only reason.

 

Cheers,

 

Nursie

[wiesshund]

I have never tried a VP8 conversion

 

I can do VP9 conversions, i will not claim to be the best or fastest at them
Most i have done are straight conversions, not mods, so no change of original art
and i put them up for others to take and mod from there, to update the graphics, but i dont know if anyone has?

 

With a good digital artist, the artwork is a nonissue aside from the time consumed
but i dont know that you find too many people wanting to sit there and draw highly detailed vector art
over the top of the original fuzzy low rez work

Tis tedious and time consuming
I dont have the art talent for it

That is not to say that the mechanical conversion is not time consuming because it is
many table pieces must be thrown away and recreated with VPX parts
and then real physics must be put in place
and scripting changes must be gone through etc

I usually have to throw away 60 to 80 percent of the objects on the table and replace them
due to the way these things had to be built with VP9, 20,000 ramp segments for rubber bands
10,000 little parts to make a post or peg instead of a prim etc

Lights usually all need changed out and so on.

You would really need a group, dedicated to doing this
with enough members to as to rotate people in and out of projects so no one gets burned out
from conversion overdose

 

And probably a bitbucket (with sourcetree i would hope)
to store and track the projects in various states

[Greynurse]

I know this sounds like a lot of work, and as you have explained it, Wiesshund, it is. Still, it would be nice to see some newcomer tables to VP10.7 to add to the many mods of our old favourites, both SS and EM. I'm wondering if the new format/platform that is being considered for VP might make it any easier, script and physics-wise. And then there's always the chance that someone may recreate the artwork for a Gottlieb table like Dodge City, then have the Gottlieb family come down on them like a ton of bricks. No one needs that grief.

[wiesshund]

I know this sounds like a lot of work, and as you have explained it, Wiesshund, it is. Still, it would be nice to see some newcomer tables to VP10.7 to add to the many mods of our old favourites, both SS and EM. I'm wondering if the new format/platform that is being considered for VP might make it any easier, script and physics-wise. And then there's always the chance that someone may recreate the artwork for a Gottlieb table like Dodge City, then have the Gottlieb family come down on them like a ton of bricks. No one needs that grief.

 Even in VPE, i think if you begin with the original VP9 table, you are still in for a lot of work
VPE doesnt need 20,000 little ramp wedges to make a rubberband or post just like VPX does not.

VP8 tables might be harder due to the 4.3 aspect ratio
and extremely simpler parts used

 

I am not sure how hard Gottlieb can swing the doom hammer
if the artist is drawing by hand
I am sure they can grumble, but now sure it is a good value for their legal dollar?