tiltjlp
PN co-founder
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 3,403
- Reaction score
- 145
- Points
- 65
- Favorite Pinball Machine
- Flying Trapeze 1934
I just played the first original table made by someone not a part of the FP team, Orion by Luigi. I can't judge it fairly because at 13fps it's more like snail pinball. Lucily UncleWilly read about my problem at the FP forums, and because he likes my tables, is sending me a spare video card he don't need, so I should be able to run FP at a decent clip before long. Thanks a bunch UncleWilly.
But I don't need to have FP run full tilt to know what I see as the pros and cons of the program. Overblown expectations, as I had predicted, is by far the major cause of disappointment for most folks. Any time you pre-judge anything, you will not be a happy camper. No ramps, no roms, and no VPM, shudders. FP is, and was designed, as a program for recreating EM and early SS tables, and for potentially some nifty originals. The crowd that thinks pinball means only rom-based tables will never have a clue, and this isn't going to make them very happy.
Just like with VP, work-arounds are already being found for some of FP's shortcomings, mostly thanks to MadMax. But the biggest need isn't ramps, or rom support, or more realistic this or that. FP is in it's infancy and can only get better as it takes its first faltering steps. I am anxiously awaiting Black's promised flipperless template, and a counter top template too, I hope. Till then there's not much I can do other than acquaint myself with the ediotr and such.
No, even as the wish list at FPF . . . Future Pinball Forums . . . starts to grow, the greatest need is for flexibility. It's wonderful that FP has pre-made models, and I can even live with what I see as needless glitz and flash. Having grown up in the late 40s through mid-70s as my prime pin playing days, I'm more into flipperless and EMs than SS and beyond, so all the pomp and show is lost on me.
FP as it stands, will be wonderful for newbies and those who think Stern invented pinball. But for experienced authors, there is a need for the freedom that flexibility of design will give us. As it stands now, my flipperless, bagatelle, and counter-top games will take too much effort in FP for me to give it a try. Without being able to use dropping walls or invisible walls, I simply can't make many of my 350 projects in FP. But even if I could it would take a lot more time and effort. The effort isn't a problem, but the time is. If I can make 3 VP tables in the time it'll take me to do 1 FP table, I'll stick with VP. And that isn't even taking into account the learning curve to understand the scripting jargon for FP.
But none of this tops my FP wish list. Tops on my wish list is for authors who take their time to create well designed, innovative layouts and challenging target and bumper placements, and who realize a good solid table is a lot more than 7 ramps, 9 flippers, and a boat load of their favorite crap rap disco metal whatever kind of noise passes for music sounds. I'll promis not to make you ill with tracks of the blues, jazz, classical, and classic rock I enjoy if you promise not to freak me out with your ear-splitting junk either.
So, to sum up my main point, since I took many detours, give Black a chance to improve and tweak FP before you start fussing for your favorite nifty but needless toy to be modeled. And urge Black to let authors have the flexibility and freedom they need to make the best tables they can.
John
But I don't need to have FP run full tilt to know what I see as the pros and cons of the program. Overblown expectations, as I had predicted, is by far the major cause of disappointment for most folks. Any time you pre-judge anything, you will not be a happy camper. No ramps, no roms, and no VPM, shudders. FP is, and was designed, as a program for recreating EM and early SS tables, and for potentially some nifty originals. The crowd that thinks pinball means only rom-based tables will never have a clue, and this isn't going to make them very happy.
Just like with VP, work-arounds are already being found for some of FP's shortcomings, mostly thanks to MadMax. But the biggest need isn't ramps, or rom support, or more realistic this or that. FP is in it's infancy and can only get better as it takes its first faltering steps. I am anxiously awaiting Black's promised flipperless template, and a counter top template too, I hope. Till then there's not much I can do other than acquaint myself with the ediotr and such.
No, even as the wish list at FPF . . . Future Pinball Forums . . . starts to grow, the greatest need is for flexibility. It's wonderful that FP has pre-made models, and I can even live with what I see as needless glitz and flash. Having grown up in the late 40s through mid-70s as my prime pin playing days, I'm more into flipperless and EMs than SS and beyond, so all the pomp and show is lost on me.
FP as it stands, will be wonderful for newbies and those who think Stern invented pinball. But for experienced authors, there is a need for the freedom that flexibility of design will give us. As it stands now, my flipperless, bagatelle, and counter-top games will take too much effort in FP for me to give it a try. Without being able to use dropping walls or invisible walls, I simply can't make many of my 350 projects in FP. But even if I could it would take a lot more time and effort. The effort isn't a problem, but the time is. If I can make 3 VP tables in the time it'll take me to do 1 FP table, I'll stick with VP. And that isn't even taking into account the learning curve to understand the scripting jargon for FP.
But none of this tops my FP wish list. Tops on my wish list is for authors who take their time to create well designed, innovative layouts and challenging target and bumper placements, and who realize a good solid table is a lot more than 7 ramps, 9 flippers, and a boat load of their favorite crap rap disco metal whatever kind of noise passes for music sounds. I'll promis not to make you ill with tracks of the blues, jazz, classical, and classic rock I enjoy if you promise not to freak me out with your ear-splitting junk either.
So, to sum up my main point, since I took many detours, give Black a chance to improve and tweak FP before you start fussing for your favorite nifty but needless toy to be modeled. And urge Black to let authors have the flexibility and freedom they need to make the best tables they can.
John