Rock-ola Rock Ola's World's Series

[davidsss]

Hi

I'm having a go at World's Series by Rock Ola http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2815

Quite frankly, I think I should go back to nice simple EM machines

Anyway this is proving to be quite a challenge. There are a number of mechanical features which move the ball below the playfield - what fun to emulate.

The silver structure in the middle represents strikes and balls. This actually tips to let the ball fall below the playfield when you hit the ball or get out. I have not attempted to animate this, I'm just going to move the ball between kickers to simulate the effect of how the machine works.

The main circle in the middle moves around each time you hit the ball. I will be animating this with drop walls. This will take some time but should look ok. I'm figuring on 36 walls each representing 10 degrees of rotation, with a different image on top. The tricky bit is where the middle rotates to home base and using the momentum of the middle turntable, the ball hits the metal near the first hole pushing it outside that part of the playfield so the ball can go in the runs section. I am planning to use a kicker for this too.

Another problem is ball physics. I have made a smaller ball but it still has the physics of a VP ball which is larger. This has caused some problems with balls hitting each other and limits how many balls fit in certain spots. However, this does seem to be able to be overcome. I just wonder what happens when you score more than 6 runs as that is as many kickers as I can fit in the runs section. I don't know how they fitted 12 balls in the real machine! I figure 12 runs is the maximum score.

The scoring is visual - your score is how many balls end up in the runs section. You get 3 outs or 15 balls whichever happens first.

Anyway here is a first WIP shot. It looks ok, I just wonder how the animations will go.

A big thanks to Jon PurpleHaze who supplied me with some extra pics and film of the machine in action. He had a go at this but didn't finish, his version looked very nice, maybe he will finish it one day In the meantime I will try and finish this version, but it will take some time, lots more work to do.

Here's a screenie of my progress so far. Bear in mind the kickers you can see will be hidden in the final version.

DS

 

[tiltjlp]

Nice looking start David. Good luck with this one, I'm sure you'll do a great job. When you finally finish this one, if you want one that might even be tougher, I would suggest Gottlieb's Flying Trapeze, which is at the bottom of my projects list.

John

 

[davidsss]

I have a bit of a question actually.

I've just changed computers at home and the machine and screenshot look fine there. However, here at work it all looks a bit dark. I have noticed that my home LCD seems pretty bright, but if I change the settings at home to any of the presets it gets even brighter so I don't have it turned up bright or anything there. The work machine also has a 19" LCD.

Does this screenie look a bit dark or ok to people? I might need to calibrate the home monitor.

Flying Trapeze, hey no flippers! Looks easy until you read the flyer and work out the rules - it seems to be sending the balls up the ramps after hitting those holes. And what's with the shallow holes around the edges, does the ball stay in them? I would presume you add up your own score at the end of the game.

DS

 

[tiltjlp]

I have a bit of a question actually.

I've just changed computers at home and the machine and screenshot look fine there. However, here at work it all looks a bit dark. I have noticed that my home LCD seems pretty bright, but if I change the settings at home to any of the presets it gets even brighter so I don't have it turned up bright or anything there. The work machine also has a 19" LCD.

Does this screenie look a bit dark or ok to people? I might need to calibrate the home monitor.

Flying Trapeze, hey no flippers! Looks easy until you read the flyer and work out the rules - it seems to be sending the balls up the ramps after hitting those holes. And what's with the shallow holes around the edges, does the ball stay in them? I would presume you add up your own score at the end of the game.

DS

Looks fine on my monitor, but I might have it set a little brighter than it would be by default. Your table doesn't look washed out, but pretty much like I would prefer it. And yeah, Flying Trapeze looks easier than I think it would actaully end up being to make. And yes, as with nearly all flipperless, you add up your score yourself, either based on where the balls are at the end of the game, or through a totalizer, which raised small numbered tiles for each balls score.

John

 

[davidsss]

Well I have managed to rebuild the playfield to a larger size which seems to solve the ball physics problems.

I've abandoned the raised playfield as it just wasn't worth it.

Here is another screenie, although it probably looks very much like the first one it took a lot of work to make the alterations.

Now it's time to hammer out the script and animate the baseball diamond. There are about 37 walls in that spot at the moment - I just have to make them rise and fall at the correct times!

DS