tiltjlp
PN co-founder
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 3,403
- Reaction score
- 145
- Points
- 65
- Favorite Pinball Machine
- Flying Trapeze 1934
A number of folks have voiced the opinion that the future of VP lies in the hands of authors of original tables. While I’m not sure I completely agree, originals are and will continue to be an important area of VP development. But it seems like a fewer number of authors of any kinds of tables are still on the scene. One reason I think originals authors lose interest, or burn out, is that they basically remake the same table, time and again. I have seen many of our new authors, new meaning the six months to a year after the being working on tables, release several tables which all have exactly the same features, the exact same kind of sounds and music, the only thing that changes may be the layout, and of course the graphics.
A lot of criticism has been aimed at Wrenchien since his first release, and for a while, my voice was as loud as anyone’s. But I enjoyed reading his entertaining table release stories, and I finally tried one of his tables. As unusual as his artwork is, I eventually decided that his tables, which I now equate to those dime store toy pins I used to buy as a boy, are a fun way to let go of tension and stress. And the main reason I do enjoy Wrench tables is because none of them are the same, ever those serial table sets add enough gadgets and feature to be unique. No, I’m not saying he is one of our best designers, but he must have fun making his toys, and that is reflected in his tables. They might be gaudy and even a bit goofy, compared to the “VP Standard†but so what. If you never have, read one of his release stories, and tell me it isn’t entertaining. So why wouldn’t his tables be the same way? And since all authors, I sure did, make their tables first and foremost for themselves, I think jumping on any one person isn’t kosher.
I’ll use my 8 or 9 tables as an example, simply because I know them, to illustrate some points. Except for my two versions of Bronco Buster, all my tables are different from one another. I can tell you that although the Bronco Busters look alike, they don’t play alike, and there are a lot of differences below the surface. While PooshFinal and Reactions are both bagatelles, I dare say Reactions is like any other bagatelle. And with Poosh Final, Nissananimal and I decided to make it kid friendly, and enhanced it with unique sounds and images, and the ball was a large marble. One reason my tables are so unalike is that I was lucky enough to work with a number of partners. So if you are feeling burnt out, try something different, and maybe consider working with a partner for a table or two. Since I’m the world’s lousiest scripter, I need partners who can code. I focused on pin and object placement and refinement, and so much testing I drove my partners crazy.
Which brings up another problem area, IMNSHO, testing. There simply isn’t nearly enough testing done. Being Druadic’s one and only tester, I always drove him up the walls, because he never released a table until I gave the OK, and where he wanted a two or three day test, I insisted on two or three weeks, at the very least. Unless you play a test table hundreds, thousands of times you can’t know it well enough to catch any glitches, or know how you can make it an ever better release. As hard as it may be to believe, I tested Reactions Bagatelle for nearly a year after it was completed, playing well over 5,000 games. And without coding help from both Druadic and BJ, it never would have seen light of day. Thanks again fellows.
So if you do a public beta test, or do your testing with fellow authors on a private basis, test until the cows come home, you will have fewer Fixed re-releases, and you’ll build a much better reputation. I’ll know the folks at IRPinball do tons of testing, and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that all of the leading authors over-test rather than under-test. With them, they’ve been at it so long they have it all down to a science, and reuse elements whenever they can, which cuts down on foul-ups. And as I’ve said before, I’ll test any flipperless table I’m asked to. And as for flippered tables, you can still ask, but I reserve the right to say No Thank You. Now, I won’t be upset if I’m not overwhelmed with requests to test tables, it simply an offer. But no matter who does the testing, test the stuffing’s out of you tables.
Now I’m not trying to act like a Know It All, but I know from various experiences that you always need to test your work, no matter what kind it is. I’m a professional editor, have been for over 30 years. But I’ve also been a professional writer for 50 years. While I’m semi-retired from editing, my client list over the years would indicate that I know editing. But guess what, I still have someone, a fellow writer and editor, do a final edit on everything I write for publication. You simply can not be the best judge of the quality of your own work. So don’t be too shy about asking other authors, or even other members who have said they like your work, to do a little testing for you.
If you read this with an open mind, and not take the attitude that you are better than all this, in the long run, we’ll end up with higher quality original tables, and maybe we’ll have fewer authors going into retirement, or simply burning out. And while I prefer tables with both fewer ramps and flippers, I can and do play and enjoy well designed and well tested tables. Now, what I see as a distraction to many Originals Authors is too much of a focus on music. Sounds and even music can add to a table, but only if the table is already well designed, well laid out, and very well tested. No amount of music will make a poorly made table play well, or be more popular. That’s my take on table making in general, and originals in particular.
tiltjlp
A lot of criticism has been aimed at Wrenchien since his first release, and for a while, my voice was as loud as anyone’s. But I enjoyed reading his entertaining table release stories, and I finally tried one of his tables. As unusual as his artwork is, I eventually decided that his tables, which I now equate to those dime store toy pins I used to buy as a boy, are a fun way to let go of tension and stress. And the main reason I do enjoy Wrench tables is because none of them are the same, ever those serial table sets add enough gadgets and feature to be unique. No, I’m not saying he is one of our best designers, but he must have fun making his toys, and that is reflected in his tables. They might be gaudy and even a bit goofy, compared to the “VP Standard†but so what. If you never have, read one of his release stories, and tell me it isn’t entertaining. So why wouldn’t his tables be the same way? And since all authors, I sure did, make their tables first and foremost for themselves, I think jumping on any one person isn’t kosher.
I’ll use my 8 or 9 tables as an example, simply because I know them, to illustrate some points. Except for my two versions of Bronco Buster, all my tables are different from one another. I can tell you that although the Bronco Busters look alike, they don’t play alike, and there are a lot of differences below the surface. While PooshFinal and Reactions are both bagatelles, I dare say Reactions is like any other bagatelle. And with Poosh Final, Nissananimal and I decided to make it kid friendly, and enhanced it with unique sounds and images, and the ball was a large marble. One reason my tables are so unalike is that I was lucky enough to work with a number of partners. So if you are feeling burnt out, try something different, and maybe consider working with a partner for a table or two. Since I’m the world’s lousiest scripter, I need partners who can code. I focused on pin and object placement and refinement, and so much testing I drove my partners crazy.
Which brings up another problem area, IMNSHO, testing. There simply isn’t nearly enough testing done. Being Druadic’s one and only tester, I always drove him up the walls, because he never released a table until I gave the OK, and where he wanted a two or three day test, I insisted on two or three weeks, at the very least. Unless you play a test table hundreds, thousands of times you can’t know it well enough to catch any glitches, or know how you can make it an ever better release. As hard as it may be to believe, I tested Reactions Bagatelle for nearly a year after it was completed, playing well over 5,000 games. And without coding help from both Druadic and BJ, it never would have seen light of day. Thanks again fellows.
So if you do a public beta test, or do your testing with fellow authors on a private basis, test until the cows come home, you will have fewer Fixed re-releases, and you’ll build a much better reputation. I’ll know the folks at IRPinball do tons of testing, and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that all of the leading authors over-test rather than under-test. With them, they’ve been at it so long they have it all down to a science, and reuse elements whenever they can, which cuts down on foul-ups. And as I’ve said before, I’ll test any flipperless table I’m asked to. And as for flippered tables, you can still ask, but I reserve the right to say No Thank You. Now, I won’t be upset if I’m not overwhelmed with requests to test tables, it simply an offer. But no matter who does the testing, test the stuffing’s out of you tables.
Now I’m not trying to act like a Know It All, but I know from various experiences that you always need to test your work, no matter what kind it is. I’m a professional editor, have been for over 30 years. But I’ve also been a professional writer for 50 years. While I’m semi-retired from editing, my client list over the years would indicate that I know editing. But guess what, I still have someone, a fellow writer and editor, do a final edit on everything I write for publication. You simply can not be the best judge of the quality of your own work. So don’t be too shy about asking other authors, or even other members who have said they like your work, to do a little testing for you.
If you read this with an open mind, and not take the attitude that you are better than all this, in the long run, we’ll end up with higher quality original tables, and maybe we’ll have fewer authors going into retirement, or simply burning out. And while I prefer tables with both fewer ramps and flippers, I can and do play and enjoy well designed and well tested tables. Now, what I see as a distraction to many Originals Authors is too much of a focus on music. Sounds and even music can add to a table, but only if the table is already well designed, well laid out, and very well tested. No amount of music will make a poorly made table play well, or be more popular. That’s my take on table making in general, and originals in particular.
tiltjlp