Minsc
Gold Member
From the looks of it, it's being included with Windows 8, as part of the Windows (Xbox?) Live games for Windows 8. Said to not be exclusive to Windows 8 though, so good news if you wanted to see the FX2 games on PC.
The Pinball Arcade |OT| play them all from Soho to Brighton
- Thread starter AMUSIX
- Start date
From the looks of it, it's being included with Windows 8, as part of the Windows (Xbox?) Live games for Windows 8. Said to not be exclusive to Windows 8 though, so good news if you wanted to see the FX2 games on PC.
Open Source
Banned
We submitted it last year and it got rejected.
First DLC video has been posted and it looks great. At the end it says "coming soon to iOS, Android, 360, PS3, and Vita". No PC makes me a sad panda 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m3lLjw0WGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m3lLjw0WGg
Minsc
Gold Member
I really doubt it's going to get canned, just delayed a long time at worst.
Minsc
Gold Member
Those holding out for the 3DS version will need to set their expectations back a bit, maybe in line with the PC release:
No eta mentioned, hopefully they optimize it to run well, an all-in-one 3D capable system with 2 display is ideal for pinball!
So that leaves us now with just the XBLA / PSN versions releasing at the end of the month now, I think.
No eta mentioned, hopefully they optimize it to run well, an all-in-one 3D capable system with 2 display is ideal for pinball!
So that leaves us now with just the XBLA / PSN versions releasing at the end of the month now, I think.
I hope they still make that. I'm dying here.
Probably the score counter screen (hah I don't remember what's the official name for it).
I think also for the lights and the moving objects that are on the table.
Oh yes, those too.
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
Does anybody else find the ball physics on iOS to be unrealistic? I played Williams Collection on 3DS and the ball physics were close to perfect. (Maybe it's my crappy iPad 1)
(Haven't kept up with this thread so preemptive apologies if this has been discussed before).
(Haven't kept up with this thread so preemptive apologies if this has been discussed before).
They feel like the most realistic (and also most enjoyable) physics of any video pinball game I've ever played, but I've never played any of Farsight's previous pinball games.
Given the wording, I assume it's their "cheat" for getting all the tables to run on so many platforms all at once. They probably package each table as a configurable, platform agnostic rom and use a virtual machine programed for each system to run it. Such an implementation would save them from having to individually port every table for every platform and allow them to skip straight to QA and optimisation. Mind you that's all speculation so don't quote me on this.
Anyway it's a shame they're having issues but I'm glad they're not rushing it. I tried out the Android demo version earlier today. Seems like a great simulator but after playing Zen Pinball 3D, I don't think I can ever play virtual pinball without the effect again. Having such a clear distinction between mechanisms and art decal is such an incredible boon.
Going from Youtube footage, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection on 3DS doesn't look bad at all. Hopefully Farsight can at least match that level when they're done optimising.
Edit:
Or that. Makes a lot more sense than my crazy theory.
Minsc
Gold Member
Looking at their comments about the cause for slowdown on some systems for Ripley's Believe it or Not:
I think they actually emulate the ROMs used by the table, which control everything the table does. Ripley's table is heavier on the CPU, and as a result it's the only table on my iPhone 4 that doesn't run at 60fps (feels more like 20-30).
Unfortunate as that is, Ripley's still runs better than just about every table from Zen Pinball on my iPhone lol, so at least there's that. Zen's tables seem to really need 4S or iPad 2 level hardware.
So I think they did an incredible job making sure the tables run very smoothly on supported hardware.
Most people feel the exact opposite from what I read, that they can't go back to Williams after this. The level of detail is also said to be higher in TPA than Williams (using the recent Medieval Madness trailer as a comparison).
Unrelated but interesting, a big question about their licenses is concerning the Stern license from what I read, and one of the developers had this to say about it:
Bobby King said:
So their Stern license is really good from the sound of it, people were expecting it to only cover older tables.
Not sure if I'm getting wires crossed or not, but going by that statement and their previous one (unless I'm misremembering... I tend to do that a bit) about ancillary licenses being included for all tables (I think that's what they said, at least) does that mean all other existing licensees like Williams, Bally, Gottlieb etc. have all those licenses included? I don't really care for the licenses Stern have used (do for Sega/DE though. Kinda loved Baywatch!) but if that means open slather on tables like STTNG, Addams Family, Twilight Zone and WMS' Indiana Jones... hoooly shit.
I'm pumped for MM coming soon though. Can't remember the date but I'll be getting it as soon as it comes out. Hopefully they fix the DMD display though, it looks kind of arse, even when compared to something like Pinball Dreams on iOS :/
BTW I wouldn't have thought that ROM emulation of *any* table would be incredibly taxing, though I don't know exactly what's behind the Whitestar chipset. Unless they're really pushing the systems they're publishing on, I wouldn't have thought it'd be an issue... unless they decided to emulate P2K.
Interesting, considering Zen Pinball runs really, really smooth on 3DS, with AA even in 3D and all. I guess TPA is CPU bound (due to the emulator), whereas Zen Pinball is mostly GPU bound.
Well this is what's inside the Ripley table.
Code:
Stern Whitestar II
Main CPU : M6809 (@ 2 MHz)
Sound CPU : Atmel AT91 (@ 40 MHz)
Display CPU : M6809 (@ 4 MHz)
Sound chip : DMA-driven DACGiven that the 3DS's CPU is only 268MHz and of a completely different architecture, I'd imagine there could be some difficulties with emulating that Sound CPU.
Edit: Actually, my bad, the Atmel AT91 is ARM architecture based meaning it doesn't actually need to be emulated. I guess it's those Motoralla CPU's for the logic and display that's giving them trouble given that they need to share the CPU with the physics engine and everything else.
I was thinking more the iPhone, though... the 4 should have less of a struggle than the 3DS. But I hadn't actually contemplated the sound and display CPUs. I would think that the main CPU just passes instructions to them and rather than doing that, it would just pass that info to whatever interpreter they have setup rather than an actual emulation of those specific CPUs.
Actually, I think that's pretty much the definition of emulation. Whoops! I just love nerding out on pinball stuff, don't mind me
Actually, I think that's pretty much the definition of emulation. Whoops! I just love nerding out on pinball stuff, don't mind me
Alexios
Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
Wouldn't it make sense to replicate the behaviour on their own software instead of emulate the original which is bound to be slower then? Blinking lights, score boards, and activating objects here and there doesn't strike me as something that would be processor intensive these days, only the ball physics seem tough to do... But I don't know what I'm talking about >_>
In a way, yes, but realistically, unless they have direct access to the source code of all the machines then emulation is far easier, less time consuming and more accurate than reverse engineering.
Awesome!!!
That is cool. I love this on iOS since I have an iPad and iPhone version for the price of one.
Open Source
Banned
Coding a table's logic from scratch is infinitely more difficult than tossing existing code into an (accurate) emulator.
Hunter-Zero
Member
Wait a second...they are talking about dlc tables only, you need to buy the "core" game in both systems, and then, if you buy a dlc table, it works for both
http://www.facebook.com/pinballarcade
It´s pretty nice anyway
That's pretty cool. Would love to see something similar for 360/PC, but I doubt it'd happen. Depends on PC's core digital distribution model, I guess. If they go with GFWL, maybe?
Minsc
Gold Member
They clarified:
No need to re-buy the core set on Vita/PS3. They should really offer a free base, like Pinball FX2 though, imo.
I wonder why they're "very different" though...
Hunter-Zero
Member
I will not complain if they give me the another version for free lol, but yeah, they should let you download just one limited table or trial for free, and then, you buy whatever table you like
Minsc
Gold Member
I'm not sure if this video was posted yet, of The Addams Family multi-ball, but the lighting is just so great.
I hope eventually they have a dimly-light option for the environments, that shows off lighting effects a bit more like in that video above. I also think that an Addams Family DLC table would sell more than any other pinball DLC or core game to date if it is released.
I hope eventually they have a dimly-light option for the environments, that shows off lighting effects a bit more like in that video above. I also think that an Addams Family DLC table would sell more than any other pinball DLC or core game to date if it is released.
Addams Family is a great table. I'll be curious to see if they can clear all the licenses without it being too expensive. I was talking about this with a friend, and the question came up of, given Addams Family's massive popularity among pinball fans, would you pay a premium above Farsight's stated top tier DL price to get it? I remember Farsight saying DL tables would range in price from $2-$5 or thereabouts; if Addams priced out at, say, $7-$8, would you still get it?
I think they were talking about the different types of input available for the Vita.
Fact: I will buy a well-made Farsight conversion of Addams Family for $20.
That's right. $20 FRICKING DOLLARS.
Please don't make me go higher....please.
sooperkool
Member
I need The Addams Family, Black knight 2000, F-14 Tomcat and Twilight Zone to die happy
Minsc
Gold Member
Portrait mode will be supported on Vita. They say it's possible on 360/PS3, but won't be in for launch. This is their response to a general inquiry on their FB:
Very nice. PS3 version it is then.
Oh yeah, PS3 version, here I come.
I played the hell out of Arabian Nights in Kathmandu on my SGS-II. Too bad the internal downloader couldn't handle the slow, unstable connection, contrary to the market one. So only once I was already back in Dubai transit I got the other tables. And man, Theater of Magic is great, would have loved to have that during the trip.
Can't wait for the PS3 version, should be awesome.
I played the hell out of Arabian Nights in Kathmandu on my SGS-II. Too bad the internal downloader couldn't handle the slow, unstable connection, contrary to the market one. So only once I was already back in Dubai transit I got the other tables. And man, Theater of Magic is great, would have loved to have that during the trip.
Can't wait for the PS3 version, should be awesome.
So with all the info filtering into this thread through different channels, I put the two most direct paths to the developers in the OT. If there's something I missed, let me know.
Figure I'll request a title change to indicate when the console versions are released (they've been sent to MS and Sony for approval). Should I do this for the Mac and PC versions? Seems like the Mac version will hit possibly next week, but the PC version is having a bit of trouble finding a delivery channel.
Figure I'll request a title change to indicate when the console versions are released (they've been sent to MS and Sony for approval). Should I do this for the Mac and PC versions? Seems like the Mac version will hit possibly next week, but the PC version is having a bit of trouble finding a delivery channel.
Dash Kappei
Not actually that important
Yes, I can confirm this and I stated the same a few times before on various threads iirc.
I LOVE Farsight Studios' work but PA on iPAD 1 is a letdown so far, physics are indeed busted and it's unbelievable when you consider how incredibly good they've always been with their engine on a multitude of platforms.
Zen Pinball is awful as well on iPad 1, especially when compared with the 3DS version.
Pinball HD is, for the time being, the best pinball "platform" to hit the appstore so far if you've got an iPad1.
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
Thanks for the heads up. I think I'll wait for the Vita version before I get the other tables. I found Pinball Fantasies to run okay on my iPad, but that's an Amiga game really and most of the tables are bland by today's standards.
I just tried Pinball HD for comparison's sake and you are insane to recommend that over Pinball Arcade. The physics and especially the quality of the tables of PA is much better than PHD. Anyone can try out both games for free to see for themselves. The only thing I can maybe concede is that there might be some horrible slowdown on the iPad 1 when playing PA which I wouldn't know since I play it on the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.
Kinda makes you wonder why it was the highest selling table of all time, eh?I'm not sure if this video was posted yet, of The Addams Family multi-ball, but the lighting is just so great.
I hope eventually they have a dimly-light option for the environments, that shows off lighting effects a bit more like in that video above. I also think that an Addams Family DLC table would sell more than any other pinball DLC or core game to date if it is released.
Minsc
Gold Member
You shouldn't have to request any updates (but feel free anyway), I'll notice any releases pretty fast!
Where did you see the info on the Mac release anyway? That's good news... I just figured both were delayed until June-ish, but if the issue was with Steam and they weren't planning on using Steam for the Mac release (shame since it'd be buy on Steam, run on PC/Mac), it makes sense the delay wouldn't hit Macs.
I agree with you, and I'm on an iPhone 4. Except for Ripley's, the rest of the tables are the best pinball I've seen on iOS so far. There's rumor of the Pro Pinball games being ported, if that happens, Timeshock! might take the throne.