tiltjlp
PN co-founder
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 3,403
- Reaction score
- 145
- Points
- 65
- Favorite Pinball Machine
- Flying Trapeze 1934
I’m sure to upset some folks, but Future Pinball isn’t what I had expected or hoped it would be. Now, I’m certain that I’m going to hear the usual chorus of “It’s still a work in progress” and “Give Black time, he’s still adding features” and maybe “But what about all the neat features, aren’t all those camera angles cool”. Well, to be honest, all of those frills don’t mean a thing, and I, for one, don’t care at all for cameras that follow the ball around the table. Black’s supposedly interested in Realism, but I’ve never seen any tables that scroll in R/L.
Yes, he has added some models, but a “one size fits all” approach simply doesn’t cut the mustard. Why should folks have to beg for More Variety after each new model has been added? But what disappoints me is that Black had said that a Flipperless Template was coming. So what did we get? A Ballyhoo style cabinet. I might be foolish, but last time I checked, a template isn’t a cabinet.
And so now ramps are on the horizon, and cheers are echoing right and left. But consider something, models can only be used in the Exact Form they were made, which means you will have to use them as they were modeled, period. If you need a ramp that curves this way, but the only ramp available to you curves that way, you’re out of luck. Black and lio are adding different sizes of some of the more basic and easier to make models, but do you really expect them to make an endless number of ramps? And yes, an endless number is what would be needed, since variety is the spice of life.
Now maybe I’m a bit impatient, and a Flipperless Template is still in the works, but I doubt it. And there’s no way Black didn’t know what I was talking about, since we did talk about it. I also asked for dropping walls, which I’m sure Black feels aren’t realistic, so he simply ignored my request, wouldn’t even acknowledge I had asked about them. And yes, I realize that Black isn’t charging for FP, which I guess is supposed to mean that we should be grateful for whatever he gives us, but I don’t completely agree. Black offered FP to us, we never asked for it, so it should be up to Black to listen to what we want, and if possible, give us what we want, if he expects us to continue using FP.
I would expect FP to be at least as flexible, if not more flexible, than VP. Why should I stop using VP if I’m not able to use FP to make the same tables I made in VP, only better? To me, that’s the sticking point. But no, all I can do is use FP to make Black’s vision of what pinball tables should be. So what if Black’s vision ignores any tables not made in the last 15-20 years? So what if I can’t make counter top games or trade stimulators since those aren’t “really” pinball? But if we expand our definition of Pinball to include “any coin-op device” we see exactly what VP offers.
Sure, FP tables might look a bit nicer, and that’s highly subjective, but right now, they play a lot worse. Plus I for one don’t plan to download a new “fixed” version of every FP table every time FP is updated. There are only a few tables I’d continue to download to be able to play as FP evolves. Either the average person using FP has fairly low standards, or they simply are giddy about their newest toy, because most of the tables so far simply aren’t near as perfect as the Glad Handers are saying.
Sure, since FP is new, most of the praise for the tables is a lot more eloquent than the “Looks great” cookie cutter comments you’ll see at vpf, but basically it’s pretty much the same old same old. And based on Black’s track record I don’t see him listening to the FP authors any more than he once listened to VP authors. Ask too often for too much and Black will simply turn a deaf ear to you. So it’s my guess that it’s pretty much a matter of except the crumbs Black tosses our way and be happy, and lavish him with praise, or he’ll pack it all in, just like he did once or twice before in the past.
Me, I’m fine with that, since I still use VP. I’ll wait and see if hopefully I’m wrong about Black this time. I really do hope that I’m way off base with this. 2 flexible pinball programs would be wonderful. A Future Pinball that is user and newbie friendly would be very welcome. I simply don’t see that happening. Partly because models are not flexible but mostly because Black has never been that flexible.
Yes, he has added some models, but a “one size fits all” approach simply doesn’t cut the mustard. Why should folks have to beg for More Variety after each new model has been added? But what disappoints me is that Black had said that a Flipperless Template was coming. So what did we get? A Ballyhoo style cabinet. I might be foolish, but last time I checked, a template isn’t a cabinet.
And so now ramps are on the horizon, and cheers are echoing right and left. But consider something, models can only be used in the Exact Form they were made, which means you will have to use them as they were modeled, period. If you need a ramp that curves this way, but the only ramp available to you curves that way, you’re out of luck. Black and lio are adding different sizes of some of the more basic and easier to make models, but do you really expect them to make an endless number of ramps? And yes, an endless number is what would be needed, since variety is the spice of life.
Now maybe I’m a bit impatient, and a Flipperless Template is still in the works, but I doubt it. And there’s no way Black didn’t know what I was talking about, since we did talk about it. I also asked for dropping walls, which I’m sure Black feels aren’t realistic, so he simply ignored my request, wouldn’t even acknowledge I had asked about them. And yes, I realize that Black isn’t charging for FP, which I guess is supposed to mean that we should be grateful for whatever he gives us, but I don’t completely agree. Black offered FP to us, we never asked for it, so it should be up to Black to listen to what we want, and if possible, give us what we want, if he expects us to continue using FP.
I would expect FP to be at least as flexible, if not more flexible, than VP. Why should I stop using VP if I’m not able to use FP to make the same tables I made in VP, only better? To me, that’s the sticking point. But no, all I can do is use FP to make Black’s vision of what pinball tables should be. So what if Black’s vision ignores any tables not made in the last 15-20 years? So what if I can’t make counter top games or trade stimulators since those aren’t “really” pinball? But if we expand our definition of Pinball to include “any coin-op device” we see exactly what VP offers.
Sure, FP tables might look a bit nicer, and that’s highly subjective, but right now, they play a lot worse. Plus I for one don’t plan to download a new “fixed” version of every FP table every time FP is updated. There are only a few tables I’d continue to download to be able to play as FP evolves. Either the average person using FP has fairly low standards, or they simply are giddy about their newest toy, because most of the tables so far simply aren’t near as perfect as the Glad Handers are saying.
Sure, since FP is new, most of the praise for the tables is a lot more eloquent than the “Looks great” cookie cutter comments you’ll see at vpf, but basically it’s pretty much the same old same old. And based on Black’s track record I don’t see him listening to the FP authors any more than he once listened to VP authors. Ask too often for too much and Black will simply turn a deaf ear to you. So it’s my guess that it’s pretty much a matter of except the crumbs Black tosses our way and be happy, and lavish him with praise, or he’ll pack it all in, just like he did once or twice before in the past.
Me, I’m fine with that, since I still use VP. I’ll wait and see if hopefully I’m wrong about Black this time. I really do hope that I’m way off base with this. 2 flexible pinball programs would be wonderful. A Future Pinball that is user and newbie friendly would be very welcome. I simply don’t see that happening. Partly because models are not flexible but mostly because Black has never been that flexible.