FP So what is your method?

[phéromones]

Hello FB user, I was wondering if anyone had done a tutorial on the steps of programming a future pinball machine. The steps would therefore be, The code, the music, the sounds, the lights, the textures, the dmd, fizX, the 3D animation... the camera.. oof
What would be the best way to create or recreate.

for example, don't import the 3D models too early in the process, otherwise the loading time becomes too long.
Matching the lights with the sound will take a lot of time and reloading. the dmd also takes a lot of time.

So what is your method?

 

[Paolo]

Hello FB user

Sorry if I may,I do not understand well, are you asking FB user only? because then you say if anyone!!!
Anyone.... who?
While I'm at it, I'll suggest something.....
Just a premise: A few years ago, at the time of Gopinball(nice time), and after learning how to build a table, I wanted to start a tutorial like you're asking, but then I took a step back, it's not easy to explain certain things, especially if it's in English (no mother tongue).

Quelle serait la meilleure façon de créer ou de recréer.

Note; better if you always write in English,please.
The best way is.... well it depends on what type of table I would like to create, a fantasy (original) or real one.

As far as I'm concerned, it will seem strange to you but I don't have a specific way, but before talking about ways or methods, it is essential to have all the resources before starting, this is how I act;
0)patience and serenity
1)music and sound
2)art and graphics
3)set material; model 3d,particular ornaments and ramps.

Then we move on to construction....Important note; put each type of object in its own layer.
Now if you make a real one, the construction (I repeat having all the resources)) is easier than an original one, because you already have everything, follow the playfield, you have the image or photo of the real table and you see everything inside,but you'll pull out all your hair as soon as it's time for the script(code).

I start with the table measurements(try to understand what measures the real table has).....if you already have a playfield you already have half the effort left,you follow the playfield and start placing the various objects, in this order...
0)left-right flipper
1)surfaces and guides(wall)
2)holes for drop-target,ect etc
3)peg,rubber,post-rubber,slingshot
4)bumpers,drop-target,target,trigger
5)light,bulb,flash
6)and then everything else, ramps, ornaments, kickers.....I leave the kickers for last objects to insert.about the model 3d I'll tell you later.
7)finally the textures

The steps would therefore be, The code, the music, the sounds, the lights, the textures, the dmd, fizX, the 3D animation... the camera

Not exactly, the order or the steps, are conditioned by the construction, you can't do the code first without having done the construction first, or what do you code?

for example, don't import the 3D models too early in the process, otherwise the loading time becomes too long.
Matching the lights with the sound will take a lot of time and reloading. the dmd also takes a lot of time.

Now, the loading time( or the process as you say it)of a table depends on a few factors, including;
1)what computer do you have?
2)how many textures do you have, and how are they made (pixel size and power of 2)
3)heavy 3d models i.e. with many polygons.....
For the third point I suggest this guide of mine How Creating Custom Model of and with Bam(in TGA way)!!
with this now if you have a 3d model that you don't want to scale the polygons which results in a loss of texture, reduce the loading time of the model, it's basically zero time!! for the other two points if you have any questions you are welcome.

As far as model animation is concerned, this is a topic that needs to be covered in due time!!

I hope everything is clear!!

 

[phéromones]

for what is the translation error I re-edited, I'm curious if some people have a better way of doing things than others...

 

[AnonTet]

The more you code, the better the chance to get the ins and outs of the software and get a grasp on how things flow.
I just know that is always easier to start from scratch than to pick others code because there's no standard to code, though, there are best practices, for us this is just a hobby.

 

[phéromones]

a hobby that I also love, For my next creation I want to optimize my time because it's very long to create a 100% complete fp table I think it took more than a year for my starwars. in the end, often, the theme chosen annoys me quickly. Thank you for having answered

 

[20degree]

You should maybe go see my free pdf guides about fp. There are in the section: tutorial end user guides. Hope it help @Zobou ?

 

[phéromones]

yes good basic guide @20degree, but it quickly becomes a mess in my tables. Yes I'm still trying to achieve my goals, but it takes time for a result which is by far that of Terry for example. I imagine time = energy = result, quite simply. My next painting will have a better method and will look a little more like the one described by Paolo.

 

[20degree]

yes good basic guide @20degree, but it quickly becomes a mess in my tables. Yes I'm still trying to achieve my goals, but it takes time for a result which is by far that of Terry for example. I imagine time = energy = result, quite simply. My next painting will have a better method and will look a little more like the one described by Paolo.

I wonder what you mean by: "My next painting"?? Are you a painting artist? Like paintings frame shown in a museum? Maybe you indicate that you are great at drawing images as characters or/and others? Brief i'm simply curious to know about your talents, if you dont mind to share?

If the fp table that you want to create have lots of things into to do, the "first thing" is to visualize in your head mentally the things you want; then simply write on some paper your different ideas. This is the first step to all things and thats is a fact. Because every things start from an idea. Think the peoples that have created a automobile, our some house building, the airplanes, the space stations outside of earth. Every things had started from what? It started from "an idea"! Once you have put it your ideas on some papers, there are other steps.

A great idea that some find maybe silly is to use the walls of your house. What i mean by that is that the "elements" of your ideas you put it on some papers. Then you simply use some "pin" to put the elements on paper on the wall. When your ideas are pinned on your wall, you can then use some "colored strings" if you want (used to link your pins) of your elements. Doing so it will make you have a greater visualization (global view) of all the elements linked together. It can even help you to find things that you would not like to put into your futurepinball game.

This is what i have done for the pinball quest game: Faxanadu Pinball. A unique type of game, because the player have life points, the boss enemy have life points, there is even some money points that are calculated for the items to buy for the quest. Lots of number of script lines i have coded. I even think one day to make a new pinball quest game but from scratch, but would need some talented peoples that could draw some characters, great at also doing some great table look. This beside some peoples that could create some musics and sounds from scratch also (nothing that is copied from some place). Then maybe send the virtual fp game to companys that create in "real life" pinball for there own fun. Brief having the pleasure that peoples play in real life a game that i have contributed with others and put into the names.

The next thing is that you simply try and experiments the free pdf guides in tutorials end user guides that i have created. You will see there are very simple to learn and to experiments. Just feel comfortable with my guides and take your time to understand; also dont hesitate to do some experiments and some errors. You can try the guides online and even download them if you want. Also i have put the resource "dinput8.dll" a file that help you control the ball in game, to test and experiment your own fp creation. Of course there is other files online "dinput8.dll" but i can say that the file i have put is tested and you can even do an antivirus check if you want. The informations about this file are indicated in the description of this resource.

 

[GeorgeH]

I only edit existing tables so all I have is a check list of items that I usually add. I look at the table also and resolve problems I find also or want to visually improve. Thais is basically it.

 

[phéromones]

@20degree no sorry bad google translation"My next pinball table" ...

 

[20degree]

@Zobou dont worry some times i also do writing errors.
@GeorgeH thats nice that you have theses talents. The pinball quest idea i have (story) a guy live with his grand parents, they are bad guys in the city. Because the grand parents dont give them money for not harassing, the bad guy decide to put an end to them. They also make fall a wall furniture of books on the kid. The arms of him is stuck because of the furniture over and he cant get out and the house in on fire. He cut his arms, to free him self; decide to revenge his old folks.

For this type of game that is a quest game, i would need some person that is good at drawing things as characters. Its some game style as "visual novel". Because in the background they would be the story at some moments (like a ball temporary in the kicker). They would be weapons to buy with some money points for the next boss. When the weapon is buy there is things to do first, after entering some kicker (scene shown in the background after) then the fight with the next boss arrive (player life points and boss life points). So some things hit make the player loose some life points, and some things hit make the boss loose some life points. If the player has lost all his life points, he must do things in the pinball game to fight back the boss. So multiple weapons to buy, multiple boss with higher life points, multiple visual novel scenes in the background for the story.

Its as i say a quest pinball game, not just making some points and bonus points. Peoples that have played the game Faxanadu X pinball game, its the first pinball quest made. But im not good in creating some characters, and many images. I have not done it, for now i try to imagine this type of game first. Its first a dream in the clouds. When the elements are together, then this game can start to be build brick by brick.