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LOL…. it always comes down to “make it easier” for new guys…. if someone cant use the “all-in-one” installer…. they need to move on to TPA because he or she isnt meant for this hobby…. short version of my story, when i first “tried” to install VP years ago… I tried over and over… and gave up… so I used future pinball for a while… and was talked into trying one more time by pinball shawn somehow I got it to work, I couldnt tell you what i did different…. anyway…. i know how hard it used to be, it isn’t like that anymore and now with so many tutorials even if you install everything one piece it still not that hard ok so that takes care of the programs so what about tables/b2s/wheels, blah blah blah again this isn’t rocket science…. but lets say it is…. now with the spreadsheet of every table possible… there is NO reason people can get and find what they want…
I really must challenge this. Yes it really does come down to make it easier for the new guys, but that also makes it easier for all of us and I don’t understand why people in this hobby think that’s a bad thing. Why should people that struggle to get VP working or struggle to find the time to set things up correctly have to make do with TPA? If it was easy no one would need to pay idiots trying to sell other peoples work. Everyone would have more time actually playing and enjoying all the effort put into VP and the tables. We absolutely need to make this hobby easier, but we need to break the mentality that says because it wasn’t easy for me why should other people get it easy! I feel like I have wasted months of my life getting my VP set-up right and would want people to benefit from my experience so it’s easy and quicker for those that follow, not have them have to go thought it all again. I could give lots of examples of thing that could be improved or help. Some improvements have already be made (PBXrecorder, Wheel Logo Packs, All in one installer) but we have a long way to go. Why is it ok for sites to offer rom downloads, but not verified rom sets that match the current version of Vpinmame? I have a two screen setup so DMD position is different for each table depending on the backglass. First time I reinstalled Visual Pinball after upgrading my pc and doing a fresh install I wasted hours setting up all the DMD positions again. Why? Now I know to back up the registry files for Vpinmame etc and can restore them in seconds, but this should be an easier process for people not wanting to mess with registry files. Why can’t the backglass provide the correct position for the DMD? Why are backglass not packaged with the tables? Monsterbash made progress putting all the files for each table together. Why do some authors deliberately leave their tables with really poor full screen settings? i.e. not even correctly rotated? No consistent version control of tables or backglasses. Do I have the latest version of this table? I don’t know as table info is rarely updated by authors. We all want table authors to get the credit they deserve, but I have some tables with no table info completed so I have no idea who to thank for their efforts! The tables are amazing
but lots can be down to improve how it all pulls together. As a member of this community, I’d like to formally apologize to @Andypc for providing an amazing experience for free but in so doing force him to waste months of precious and fleeting lifetime that can never be recovered. I’m sorry that among VPU and Stern, every rom that you could possibly need as a player is publicly available and verified for the latest VPM beta, but that they are posted as single sets. We should have posted a link to Google where there is likely a link to torrents that get you at least 95% of the way there. I’m sorry that you did not back up your registry prior to your system reset causing you to have to configure your DMD positions again. Those were hours that could have been spent in the loving embrace of family and friends. Time lost! I apologize that you have to choose among several quality backglasses from different talented authors instead of there just being one that can be packaged with the table. Same with the choice of wheel logos, topper images, audio files, etc. I apologize for the VP development team for not solving the problem and having already gotten multi-monitor support going for you before you made your arrival on the scene. I’m not an author, but stepping in their stead as a member of the community, I humbly and abjectly apologize for not knowing the table, lighting, and physics settings that best fit YOUR setup and how YOU like them and how YOU say they should be. They agree that what they have published for free is not up to your standards. They will try harder and include proper documentation in the table info setting so that a sincere and frank discussion can be had concerning these inadequacies. I think I speak for the larger community in saying that we will all endeavor to do better by you in the future. Please forgive me.
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What in the hell is that?
EDIT! oh!!! yeah LOL such people like andy are better off not being a part VP
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did I say it should be harder?…. my point was now with the installer, I don’t know how much easier it could be… you know yourself, how many programs it takes to make it run, and now with the all in one installer its done for you…
see to me this is a hobby, not a video game… itsa toy, but a toy like a model airplane hobby…. to build your first model airplane its not just buying the kit and just fly…. there is a learning curve… its just the nature of the beast…. this is the same thing there is work that needs to be done, a learning curve to how all this works…
I love the new all in one installer,… but it has taken some of the “knowledge base” that when building these systems up away… so when having to trouble shoot they will be lost , right off the bat….. I will say it again,…. I love the new all in one installer…. so you have to see the point i’m talking about…
I’ll also point again… table/b2s/rom finding is now as easy as looking at the spreadsheet… bam you have all you could ever need
all that was fact stuff…. lots of other stuff I say is my own opinion… like there are hobbyist in the word and there are NOT hobbyist…. a hobbyists researches what he or she is getting themselves into and thinks before they pull the trigger… not a hobbyist is better off with TPA on an xboxYou need to login in order to like this post: click here
What in the hell is that? EDIT! oh!!! yeah LOL such people like andy are better off not being a part VP
Ha! Ha! Randr!
I did layer it on pretty thick. It’s true. I have zero fucks to give when it comes to community members ease of use and hours spent with this hobby. I can’t make myself be sorry for feeling that way. Here is a sincere response for AndyPC: I am very confident that the reward and satisfaction you receive from this hobby is equal to the time you put into it. I say that having put in years. And I still feel like I have a long way to go.
As for you, Randr, I’ll save it for PM.
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I think a better job can be done with the keeping some information easier to find, but all the points Andy talked about the info is out there if you look for it.
What I like is visual pinball gives you all these options, want to rotate your screen for portrait monitors… done. Want to change your pov on the fly? No problem. Want to move you dmd to anywhere across 3 screens? Yep does that. Goes to show visual pinball is adaptable and maybe is not meant to be an out of box and play item.
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CarnyPriest, that post was really unnecessary and really sarcastic and also why lots of people will just walk away from this hobby or worse pay someone who offers an easier route! That was my topic “Why would people pay when it’s free”. I have spent about six month setting up my table and I have enjoyed it, learned a lot and contributed with backglasses and improvements to tables. I was just being honest when I say that it just takes far more time and effort than it really should. I’m not complaining, I’m just wanting to make it easier / better for the people that follow. It wasn’t about me, but about people new to the hobby, but in turn improvements could help everyone in the hobby. I am massively grateful for all the effort that goes into developing Visual Pinball and to all the authors. Time is a precious thing and if improvements could help save everybody time how can that be a bad thing. It’s also about learning the lessons of thing that did not go so well. I like many of us that has spent time setting up Visual Pinball make sure I back everything up. Well I did myself a backup that I can install on a fresh version of windows in about 10 minutes and have everything up and running perfectly with 630+ tables. It just made me realise just how much easier we could make it for people if we wanted to. Clearly if you point out things in this hobby that could/should be improved you are vilified, but some things in this hobby just make no sense. DMD position being one of them. Vpinmame’s are stored in the registry, UltraDMD’s need to be in script, Pin2DMD for coloured DMD’s need to be stored in an .ini file. That’s just how it is now, not how it needs to be in the future. What is really sad is how some in this hobby seem determined to keep it to an elite band of hobbyists. People like me and my five year old son shouldn’t be playing and enjoying visual pinball.
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What in the hell is that? EDIT! oh!!! yeah LOL such people like andy are better off not being a part VP
I know it has been a couple of tough days around here but I’m a little surprised by this response. You are always so helpful and patient with everyone this is the first time I recall reading a response like this from you. The BEST thing about your site over VPU and VPF was the lack of drama I suspect it will get back to that but man… crazy couple of days.
I just plugged my VP back in for the first time since March. Time to load up the latest and greatest efforts from everyone and enjoy some pinball!
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I think it’s safe to say some are venting some long-standing frustration. I say vent on.
Then we can get back to VP.
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Yeah crazy couple days. Nothing good is easy! I’ve always said that. Vp is not easy never will be! Learn how to install stuff! You need to know everything about installing if your going to enjoy your cab! If you know nothing you will break it just by thinking about adding a table!
@roar I’ve had so many threats aimed at me in messages you wouldn’t believe it! But I don’t share private messeges to the public.Sorry guys things will simmer down I’m sure soon
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I’m sorry for piling on @randr, I’ll go back to the sidelines :)
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No please don’t. I’ve been called many things and I will say a liar is the wrong thing to call me! I’ve also been called a lot less and taken much more action but seems I’m the bad guy in this so I hope that people understand nothing but facts are posted here by me.
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Man, what do you do with 630+ tables. I slimmed down to about 7 now. Nothing wrong with being a collector though, how many GB?
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randr has like 3400 tables and counting
Punch it!
Punch it!
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I have nearly all vp9-vp10 tables in my cab. Only theater of magic from mbpc I haven’t been able to log in to that site for almost a year. Some members provided a couple in links. I have like 1500 I think vp tables maybe a bit more?
I like every table build even the older ones what can I say
if I want to play a certain pinball table or a friend remembers table “x” from years ago I want to let them play it! Is best part of the cab I think
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Pulling up any table is cool. I can’t stand to play anything but VPX10 these days, the way the old tables play and the older ball physics drive me nuts now.
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Agreed! im a vpx snob now too. LMAO but still have all the old tables in cab for historical documentation :)
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I think a lot of people would love to get in to virtual pinbal but are only savy enough to switch on the machine. I speant the best part of a month building and setting up my cabinet and much as i am glad i did it myself alot of my friends have told me they love the cabinet but would never atemp building one themselves. The cabinet is the problem for most as it has to be built around the tv and monitors. I broke a tv trying to put it in mine. Friends have offered me money for me to build one but i have said sorry as it takes too much time and effort. The answer i think is to let people build and sell cabinets but under the rule that no software for virtual pinball is installed with maybe a link to this and some of the other sites for start up guides. That way it will be just like a new starter installing on a desktop. Maybe a small budget 2 screen cab costing around £350 that just sits on a dining table would hook in a whole wave of people into the comunity. Leading them to building there own cabinets the way that suits them later on. I am in my fourties and used to play pinball in the pubs with my mates growing up in the 80s and 90s there is a whole generation out there who would get a machine if they could afford it but look at 5k as the same price as buying a car or a family holiday and put the idea to bed. Gotta hook people in and allowing someone a small profit from making a cabinet is the answer. Remember they will have to deal with a few new starters who havent got a clue and will probably moan that nothing is the way they want or expect plus if the software breaks expect full refunds etc. A lot of hastle for a small profit. Not for me.But it can only be good to get others into the comunity as if a only a small amount of them are clever unlike me and are computer savy enough to go on to write tables then it is worth it for everyone and helps keep pinball alive. The guys out there that make the tables software should i think be able to make a small token download fee aswell maybe £1 per download wouldnt hurt to give out an unlock code. A lot would bypass the payment by using cracks etc as they are to tight. But most wouldbe happy to give a little back especially if they are like me not likely to be able to write there own tables. I know that the mear sugestion of money is Evil to some but i am talking about a gesture like have a beer on me thanks for your great table.
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My cabinet is 2x4s, a 32″ t.v., a computer monitor and some double back tape, I know what you mean about cost though and welcome to the 40’s club, like a lot of us here. I’ve been playing pins since ’78.
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Andy. Visual Pinball consists of separate components that all kind of live their own lives. It is up to the end user to pick what they need and put it together the way they need or like. I understand where you’re coming from and what you feel could have been improved, but, then again, if you just look back a half year or so you would notice that the are a shitload of changes that would make “stupid” owners break their platforms. This is also the point Randr is trying to make – though I must say, in a bit more harsh way than I expected from him ( but, we all know and understand the reason for that – don’t we )
Yes, VP can be a challenge to get up and running the first time. We could probably have written a better newbie guide. GtxJoe did that for the “older” method and we still are suffering a bit when newbies reads that one without going the easy route of one-in-all installer. They loose track because of lack of understanding what each component actually fit in the chain.
But, instead of complaining. There is a wiki here now. Why don’t you write a new newbie guide ? I bet if you do, you soon realize that there are people out there that don’t have a cab and want to play with desktop settings, others that have lousy hardware and can’t play vpx etc. etc.
Good luck ;)
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Yeah sorry about all the drama guys!
Vp is not easy to keep up with its always changing and getting better! That is why vp is so great! Took me 3 evenings to catch up after 6 months and I know I’m missing some great builds even still!
If vp was mainstream plug-n-play honestly I’d find a new hobby as it would no longer be fun for me as I like the changes and I like trying the new tables that push the versions we have today!
This stuff is not for everyone look up the story about Mount Everest and everyone is now attempting to climb boy talk about a mess! There was even a dj at base camp I hope vp never turns into that just as an example of more is not better
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