BAM BAM Update v345

[ravarcade]

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/BAM_v1.5-345.zip

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/bam-setup.exe

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/BAM-OpenVR.zip

Improved xBAM.FindObject command.
This command is used to get control over physics params of object with or without name. Now you can get access to ramps and wires.
Well: to almost all objects passed to newton physics engine.

There is one more important thing:
This is probably last BAM version with code signing certificate.
I don't want to pay for another year.
I hope AV programs don't start fighting BAM.

 

[AnonTet]

Thanks for the continued support.
The control over objects physics is awesome and one instruction only to find all objects is really useful.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

There is one more important thing:
This is probably last BAM version with code signing certificate.
I don't want to pay for another year.
I hope AV programs don't start fighting BAM.

Does this mean that when installing future versions, BAM will look like it's coming from unknown source rather than your name?

What would AV programs have to fight BAM over?
(maybe it is obvious, but I am just a newbie with this stuff)

 

[AnonTet]

Because anything not signed up is seen as PUP (Potential Unwanted Program).
And windows "smart screen" alone (if you use Edge) asks if you want to download, keep and are you sure before you even open the software.

 

[Popotte]

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/BAM_v1.5-345.zip

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/bam-setup.exe

https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/BAM-OpenVR.zip

Improved xBAM.FindObject command.
This command is used to get control over physics params of object with or without name. Now you can get access to ramps and wires.
Well: to almost all objects passed to newton physics engine.

There is one more important thing:
This is probably last BAM version with code signing certificate.
I don't want to pay for another year.
I hope AV programs don't start fighting BAM.

@ravarcade
First, thank for the new version.
Second, as I don't have an AV, no problem for me.
Third, for the case of no code signing certificate will be a problem for guys, we could (no problem for me) open a subsciption in order to pay the rights.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Because anything not signed up is seen as PUP (Potential Unwanted Program).
And windows "smart screen" alone (if you use Edge) asks if you want to download, keep and are you sure before you even open the software.

Thanks! I was trying to figure out which audio-visual programs would possibly have an issue with BAM.

TMA (too many acronyms)

 

[Paolo]

Thanks again for this new version, Rav.

for AV programs I think just create an exception for bam, it could solve!

we could (no problem for me) open a subsciption in order to pay the rights

I don't think Rav would accept, because I believe that he is a serious professional, and being a programmer with a talent like few others, maybe he wouldn't feel like accepting....it is enough to see also in his portal that he has not inserted a space for donations(at least I don't see it I could be wrong).

But I think this could be a solution that would somehow thank him for all the time and work he put into Bam, for our delight in this hobby.
unfortunately I cannot participate (although I would like to contribute to thank Rav), first, I don't have an economic opportunity, and then because I don't have the means to do so (credit cards or other).and I'm very sorry!

 

[TerryRed]

Windows Defender has always caused issues with FP (because of how it monitors vbs).

It also can be a pain for Pinup Player (which we also refer to as PUP, so you can see the issue there :)

I've always had to tell everyone... especially cabinet users that FP and BAM as a whole needs anti-virus / Defender disabled due to newer Windows updates being more strict with older games and programs and may prevent FP and BAM from working correctly. This is kind of the accepted "norm" for FP and VP now, the older they get.

Excellent update rav.... I have seen big performance increase with Sonic and ray cast ball shadows.

 

[AnonTet]

Good to know that the ball shadows performance was increased. And with so much light sources at any given time on your tables, if you noticed I trust.

PS: Using MS Defender (or actually any M$ software, even notepad) with better free choices out there is kind of the definition of insanity :D

 

[TerryRed]

@ravarcade did add some new functions in the beta test version before 345 was released... but I haven't tested these yet on 354.

This command allows you to disable ray cast shadows (for individual flashers, like you could before), but now you can disable them for individual bulbs / lights (that had shadowmaps enabled) as well.

NameofLight.EnableRayCastShadows = False

This is very handy as sometimes you don't want raycast ball shadows for specific lights / flashers, but you still want shadowmaps for those same lights.

Also, there are fixes for how raycast shadows look when in a kicker.... and you'll notice the raycast ball shadows are now darker than before (with the same settings)... so you may need to adjust for that.

Everyone who adds shadowmaps to a table now or in the past (including my PinEvent releases) will need to re-check their tables with ray cast enabled. They may need to make significant changes to shadowmap settings on some lights to properly display ray cast shadows (so they look good). I've seen some tables that display some very wrong looking ray cast ball shadows (due to the author's shadowmap settings, not BAM)

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Windows Defender has always caused issues with FP (because of how it monitors vbs).

I've always had to tell everyone... especially cabinet users that FP and BAM as a whole needs anti-virus / Defender disabled due to newer Windows updates being more strict with older games and programs and may prevent FP and BAM from working correctly. This is kind of the accepted "norm" for FP and VP now, the older they get.

Just for the record, Defender's never caused me any troubles with FP-BAM. But I'll keep that in mind.

Btw, AV / anti-malware software doesn't actually look for "PUP"s by that acronym AFAIK, but via curated, updated lists, like how a search engine works. Then they brand it a "PUP" and ask you want you want to do. Or maybe I didn't understand what you'd said earlier about that aspect of it.

PS: Using MS Defender (or actually any M$ software, even notepad) with better free choices out there is kind of the definition of insanity :D

Hah, I don't know if I'm insane for using Defender, but when I got this PC 3-4yrs ago, the first thing I did was to look around for experts' views on AV software, and Defender seemed to be judged as surprisingly robust. I was used to running 3rd party stuff (the big two from Germany), but decided to take a leap of faith.

Just to help with all that, I run tight script security on my browser, and have had no (known) trouble so far outside of the spamware my dumb ass accidentally installed with uTorrent.

Given that Defender probably has a huge userbase that skews 'non-computer types,' it makes some sense to me that M$ would put a lot of effort in to making sure Defender was a solid product, else there'd be a lot more global squawking. *shrug*

 

[TerryRed]

Defender has a built in system that makes it monitor and block some visual basic scripts and commands in realtime.

Many FP tables use this and it causes those tables that would normally run fine for everyone to stutter horribly (ask @GeorgeH). It's also been known to cause similar issues on some VP tables.

Defender has been known to block BAM's access to FP for some people.... but this is more likely when using DOF and PUP and Pinevent with it... as those are also COM based.... which Defender is also picky about.


Otherwise Defender for most things is actually pretty good.... but for most people who play on cabinets... Defender gets completely disabled... and if they are desperate, they can use something like MalwareBytes which seems to be pretty friendly to FP / PUP / VP... as long as exemptions are added for all of that stuff.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Thanks, Terry. Do you know if they tried adding exclusions in Defender? It seems very straightforward, actually.

Any case, I'll keep an eye out for stuttering and give this a shot if so.

​

 

[TerryRed]

Exclusions in Defender aren't good enough for the FP / VP problems it causes. That doesn't disable the realtime monitoring it does for vbs.

I think some of the problem tables were Steve Paradis tables... some others. @GeorgeH knows, as he removed the problem commands and replaced them on Robots Invasion.


Also... @Gimli and @GeorgeH @ravarcade .... what is the command in BAM to fix the FP score limitation bug that can cause a table to crash if the score goes too high? I wanted to add it to Sonic Pinball Mania to make sure that's never an issue.

 

[Popotte]

Defender doesn't like Execute command for example.

 

[Paolo]

what is the command in BAM to fix the FP score

xBAM.FixScore

I've seen some tables that display some very wrong looking ray cast ball shadows (due to the author's shadowmap settings, not BAM)

just for information .... is there any table of mine where you saw this?
the ray cast in which version of bam is it? I don't remember which version I have, maybe the penultimate, so I don't know if there is the ray cast.....but as usual I don't know what the ray cast is, if it's something related to the rotary effect of lights (flash o bulb) or those reflectors (light beam) , I can't use them

but what does rey cast do on SM anyway? you could show it, to understand, and what needs to be done about SM?

Edit:

TerryRed said:
but I haven't tested these yet on 354.

mmmmmm........I did not understand, there is a version 354?

 

[Paolo]

Defender doesn't like Execute command for example.

Are you referring to "Eval" or "Execute"?

For y = 1 To 4: Execute("xxxx"&y&"=0"): Next
For x = 1 To 2: Eval("xxxx" &x).Set BulbOff: Next

 

[Popotte]

Execute.

 

[AnonTet]

@TerryRed
If you ahave already found nice raycast shadow values please post :)

@Isaac Sauvage
Robust, I sure hope so after so long, but good? right...

@Paolo
version 354 is misspelled. It's 345

 

[TerryRed]

I'm not going to go through a list of tables that have good / bad ray casting, as some I saw were much older... some where more recent, etc. It wasn't a fault of any particular author, as this feature didn't exist when those tables were made (and its still an optional feature).

I describe what affects raycast ball shadows and some guidelines, and my Silent Hill demo at this post here:

BAM - BAM Update v340

https://pinballnirvana.com/forums/resources/bam-better-arcade-mode.5680/ Demo table: https://www.ravarcade.pl/files/shadowmaps-demo-with-shadowmaps.fpt Changes: - ray cast shadows can be enable per table (not global) - if light source is inside ball it will not cast shadow - script...

pinballnirvana.com

The only change now with the new update is you "should" now be able to disable raycast shadows on any specific light or flasher you want, for better control. You may also need to slightly adjust your ray cast settings.

For example... with flashers, you have no control over how they affect ray casting (as they don't need a shadowmap for ray cast to work). So maybe you want to have raycast disabled for any flashers used for GI hidden in slingshot bulbs or other plastics. If you have bulbs in those same areas with shadowmaps, you may need to adjust the shadowmaps for those bulbs as well.


Blue vs Pink BAM Edition and Junkyard Cats BAM Edition (that I recently released) are examples of how ray cast should look.

The ray cast shadows should similar to how the shadowmaps look on your bulbs around plastic,etc. It should be subtle and appear when you are close to the bulbs... and not super dark and cast from the other side of the playfield.

Here is how Sonic Pinball Mania looks right now:

View attachment ray cast example_1.mp4

 

[Paolo]

If you ahave already found nice raycast shadow values please post :)

without obvious doubt, @TerryRed , is the most suitable among us, to use the latest functions of Bam, regarding the lights, I mean the effects.

Rav, when he releases these new functions, he leaves some demos, but sometimes I don't understand well (so should I give up ??? absolutely not?) When I learn a certain function or code of bam, I usually create a thread after, and I think I explain very well step by step, with pictures what needs to be done

with this what I mean??, let me explain better....

I demand it absolutely not ..... but it would be very useful to post (not from terry, but from everyone) some simple explanation with pictures, to help poor ignorant people like mefor example the ray of light that turns, the light that is under the ball, in short, these beautiful things, explaining how to do it step by step

It is also true that perhaps "we" need to have a super pc, but at least I try

 

[AnonTet]

I've found that xBAM.RayCastShadows.Set 0.8, 0 for sharpness/darklevel is usually quite good but I also like 0.6,and -0.1(max)

The sharpness seems to depend on how strong the light source is so lower than 0.8 might be needed. 0.8 gives nice soft shadows without black crush even near the light source.

 

[DanLShane]

Will this latest version be required on FP tables going forward?

 

[TerryRed]

Will this latest version be required on FP tables going forward?

The latest version of BAM will always be required, as some newer tables will make use of newer features. It's more regularly getting new features compared to say... VPX.

 

[DanLShane]

Thanks, Terry. Time to upgrade!