Digital Pinball Help and Recommendations

[BrianC]

After giving Zen Pinball 3D a spin on the 3DS, it runs at 30fps (even if 3D mode is turned off). Would've been better if it was possible to play it in 60fps mode but alas, it isn't so. Some tradeoffs are to be expected compared to playing the ZP series on the PS3. Only four tables are at your disposal this time around.

At least the DSi pinball game of "The Ancients Beckon" runs in 60fps mode all the time (as any solid portable pinball game title should).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I think Zen is 30 FPS on iPad 1, as well, but it still plays very well. Telling by recent preview videos, Farsight's The Pinball Arcade looks like it is 60 FPS on all iOS platforms, but with more effects on newer models like iPad 2 (and the console versions will have more graphical effects, as well). The physics already look like an improvement from Pinball Hall of Fame.

[Austin]

To be honest, asides from the very thin tables that are difficult to make out clearly, the rest of my memory regarding it is a bit foggy (I snagged it about six months ago, played it for a night, and said "meh" and never played it again). I'll pop it back in the next few days and give you a better, more recent impression. I'm also pretty picky though when it comes to digital pinball games, so that might be affecting my impression as well.

It sounds like the graphics were ported quick and dirty from Windows. I'm used to pinball displays like that on Windows, but I think they are probably too small for console.

All right, I decided to revisit it a few nights after saying I would.

The positives: While the playfield is cramped, I don't mind it as much now as I did before (I am wearing glasses now--wasn't then--so I am sure that helps). The game runs smoothly, and the controls are responsive. Shots feel good, too. That is, when you actually make them.

The negatives: There is only one singular nudge button, making the feature pretty much useless (it doesn't give you much, if any, extra control whatsoever). The balls also drain like crazy overall. In most digital pinball games I can control the game relatively well. After playing about a dozen times or so here, I still couldn't control my games any better than I could when I began. Lastly, I don't care how the ball physics works in some areas. If the ball comes through an in-lane, the speed that it should roll feels off. When you cradle a ball with a flipper, then drop it, the ball crawls to the bottom of the flipper as if it is glued to it or something (I am guessing this has to do with the meters on both sides of the screen, but I don't care for it). Also, the ball seems to bounce higher than it should, for instance, if you try to do a dead-flipper-bounce from one flipper to the next. I ended up in some out-lane drains because the ball bounced too high, hit a slingshot, then went out completely.

Yeah, I probably sound too overly negative, but those are my current thoughts on Neo Golden Logres. I think I am going to continue to give this one more time still regardless, as, well.. It's the only other pinball game I know of on the Dreamcast besides the Pro Pinball Trilogy (there weren't any others asides from that cancelled Worms Addiction Pinball, is there?).

Funny enough, after playing it I loaded up the Williams Pinball HOF on the 360, and ended up beating my personal best on Pin-Bot immediately despite not having played it in months. Naturally, there's a world of difference in control between the two games, haha!

[BrianC]

To be honest, asides from the very thin tables that are difficult to make out clearly, the rest of my memory regarding it is a bit foggy (I snagged it about six months ago, played it for a night, and said "meh" and never played it again). I'll pop it back in the next few days and give you a better, more recent impression. I'm also pretty picky though when it comes to digital pinball games, so that might be affecting my impression as well.

It sounds like the graphics were ported quick and dirty from Windows. I'm used to pinball displays like that on Windows, but I think they are probably too small for console.

All right, I decided to revisit it a few nights after saying I would.

The positives: While the playfield is cramped, I don't mind it as much now as I did before (I am wearing glasses now--wasn't then--so I am sure that helps). The game runs smoothly, and the controls are responsive. Shots feel good, too. That is, when you actually make them.

The negatives: There is only one singular nudge button, making the feature pretty much useless (it doesn't give you much, if any, extra control whatsoever). The balls also drain like crazy overall. In most digital pinball games I can control the game relatively well. After playing about a dozen times or so here, I still couldn't control my games any better than I could when I began. Lastly, I don't care how the ball physics works in some areas. If the ball comes through an in-lane, the speed that it should roll feels off. When you cradle a ball with a flipper, then drop it, the ball crawls to the bottom of the flipper as if it is glued to it or something (I am guessing this has to do with the meters on both sides of the screen, but I don't care for it). Also, the ball seems to bounce higher than it should, for instance, if you try to do a dead-flipper-bounce from one flipper to the next. I ended up in some out-lane drains because the ball bounced too high, hit a slingshot, then went out completely.

Yeah, I probably sound too overly negative, but those are my current thoughts on Neo Golden Logres. I think I am going to continue to give this one more time still regardless, as, well.. It's the only other pinball game I know of on the Dreamcast besides the Pro Pinball Trilogy (there weren't any others asides from that cancelled Worms Addiction Pinball, is there?).

Funny enough, after playing it I loaded up the Williams Pinball HOF on the 360, and ended up beating my personal best on Pin-Bot immediately despite not having played it in months. Naturally, there's a world of difference in control between the two games, haha!

Thanks for the info. Odd that the DC version of Golden Logres has a single nudge, since, telling from the demo, the PC one has left and right nudge (LittleWing's earlier games only have a single nudge, though). PC one lacks those meters as well (in one review I read it sounds like they are measurements of the player's skill with no direct influnence on gameplay). I wish there were more pinballs on the DC. There's also that mini game in Sonic Adventure.

One thing that disappoints me with most iOS pinball games is that they only have a single nudge via the accelometer. I heard The Pinball Arcade has a different scheme for nudge (it does support the accelometer, but it also allows nudging by touching the top left and right of the screen) and it sounds like it may be the best iOS pinball out there, even running well on stuff like iPad 1, telling from videos.

Edit: I tried the Golden Logres demo again and I agree the physics feel off in areas. The ball moves slowly whenever it's caught by a flipper and the ball always goes fast down the outlane, no matter which speed it was going at before. Ball does seem to favor the middle too much, as well. I tried Crystal Caliburn again. It still has odd sticky motion around the flippers, but the ball speed in the outlanes is much more realistic and the physics overall seem to be much better.

Edit: Tried the Golden Logres demo again. I was wrong about the ball favoring the middle. I didn't lose the ball down there as much. I may have been hasty in saying the physics are better in Crystal Caliburn, since Golden Logres may do some things better (ball speed seems a little less floaty). It seems the sticky flippers is a quirk in a lot of LittleWing games, though, oddly enough, the remake of Tristan for iOS lacks it.

Edit: I checked with the demos to see when or if LittleWing games stopped the sticky flippers and it seems Jinni Zeala was the last game to use it and Monster Fair was the first one not to have sticky flippers. All games after that, including the remake of Tristan (I read the original does have sticky flippers), lack sticky flippers.

[antares]

I just noticed Farsight Studios Pinball Arcade is now out on iOS. It comes with Tales Of The Arabian Nights and 3 more tables as DLC.

Plays great on my iPad2

[BrianC]

I just noticed Farsight Studios Pinball Arcade is now out on iOS. It comes with Tales Of The Arabian Nights and 3 more tables as DLC.

Plays great on my iPad2

I got all four tables. Ripley's Believe it or Not seems to have some framerate issues on iPad1 (and apparantly non S iPhone 4, telling from a post on the FB page), but Theater of Magic, Black Hole, and Tales of the Arabian Nights all play great. Ripley's isn't any more busy than the other tables, so hopefully, it will be fixed soon. I like how the tilting doesn't require the accelometer like other iOS pinballs and the physics are an improvement over previous FarSight collections and some of the more realistic physics I have seen.

It's a WIP video but this video does a very good job of showing how well Tales of the Arabian Nights runs on iPad 1.

[Austin]

I didn't see anything about it in this thread after doing a search, but I just tried out Super Pinball II: Amazing Odyssey for the Super Famicom a few nights ago. I actually stumbled upon it through gathering roms to slap on my newly-acquired Super Everdrive cart. I knew about the first Super Pinball and like it quite a bit, but I was never aware that there was a sequel.

For those that played the original, the sequel has some nice additions. Overall, the visuals are of the same style and about the same quality, and the sound is just as muffled as before. However, there are a LOT more shots to make, and each table has far greater distinctions from one-another than in the first game. The biggest distinction between tables now (and games) is the inclusion of ramps. Actual. RAMPS. Or, as actual as it can be in a 16-bit digital pinball game. For those that played the original game, you know that the playfield was flat. There were loops to make and such, but there wasn't an illusion of the ball going up ramps of any kind. In this one that has been fixed, and it really looks great here. One table has two wire ramps, one veering to the left side of the table, and the other veering to the right. Another table has multiple ramps, with a mini playfield at the top-right extremely reminiscent of the Black Knight pin.

Asides from tables that are much more fleshed out than before, the biggest and best addition to the game is being able to nudge either left OR right (in the first, there was only one kind of nudge). The nudging is even better, too, as you can actually see how far you are pushing the ball, whereas before it didn't seem like nudging made a difference at all. Combine this with being able to post-transfer along with performing other real pinball tricks, you can have some awesome ball control in this.

My only real complaint with the game is that I don't enjoy the soundtrack as much. I sort of liked the chilled out vibe that came with the first game, especially on the Wizard table. Still though, it's a minor qualm and I highly recommend this game if you enjoyed the first Super Pinball.

After trying it, I found that there was one copy of it on eBay. Since today is payday, I decided to go ahead and snag it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/220864641722?ss ... 852wt_1163

[BrianC]

I didn't see anything about it in this thread after doing a search, but I just tried out Super Pinball II: Amazing Odyssey for the Super Famicom a few nights ago. I actually stumbled upon it through gathering roms to slap on my newly-acquired Super Everdrive cart. I knew about the first Super Pinball and like it quite a bit, but I was never aware that there was a sequel.

I knew about the sequel. Like the first Super Pinball, it's also from the same makers as Last Gladiators and Necrononicon on the Saturn. I plan to pick it up. It seems to be rare, but inexpensive, from what I have seen on ebay.

[Austin]

Yeah, it's by Kaze, naturally. I was personally surprised this thing even existed, considering Last Gladiators was released the same year.

I concur that it doesn't seem common, but is not expensive. The one I snagged was the only one on eBay. It was $25 after shipping, yet the seller claims it is new. It's clearly not worth much if that's the case.

[Vamos]

Looking forward to the pinball arcade which is going to be released this year on basically everything !

http://www.pinballarcade.com/

[professor ganson]

Wow, that looks awesome. Definitely will preorder for PS3 when that's an option.

[silvergunner]

A new Table for Zen Pinball/Pinball FX2 out now: Epic Quest

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwoYxbxhSYI

...the rpg-feature seems interesting

[BrianC]

Looking forward to the pinball arcade which is going to be released this year on basically everything !

http://www.pinballarcade.com/

As mentioned earlier in this thread, it's already out on iOS and Android. It's good stuff, though Ripley's Believe it or Not doesn't run well on anything besides iPad 2 or iPhone 4 S. The other three tables run great on older models and have better physics than Pinball Hall of Fame. Black Hole especially is much improved. Tales of Arabian Nights and Theater of Magic are both awesome.

The X360, PC, and PS3 versions are coming in late march, so I'm definitely looking forward to getting tables on the 360 version since the 360, PC, and PS3 versions will have fancier graphics than the iPad versions.

Wow, that looks awesome. Definitely will preorder for PS3 when that's an option.

It's a download game, so preordering isn't an option. It's already out on iOS and Android, though the 360 and PS3 ones will have better graphics. Physics are already better than Williams Pinball Hall of Fame 360/PS3, though.

[Ganelon]

Physics are already better than Williams Pinball Hall of Fame 360/PS3, though.

That's great to hear. Looks like I'll buy the tables again. The Williams Collection was great, but everything seemed easier than in real life.

[professor ganson]

Now that I've finally upgraded my internet access, I'm less turned off by download-only. But I'm still kinda bummed about no packaging for what is sure to be a fine collection.

[DJ Incompetent]

touchscreen tech is being added that now makes video rollover targets similar to video pinball games possible.
http://gameroomblog.com/features/the-fu ... l-machines

[Austin]

Hell yes! That's awesome!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The real question is, will Stern adopt that new technology for use with their upcoming pins?

Or will we see a new upstart pinball company rise from the ashes?

As for Williams, they still see profits/revenue from the gambling machines they manufacture/sell for the American & international market.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Gozer]

So it looks like Valve needs some convincing to bring The Pinball Arcade to steam.

Please call Valve out on their nonsense.

[Ganelon]

It looks like the 360 version of The Pinball Arcade, originally set for release today, will be delayed a week. I'll be waiting for the Apr. 10 PS3 version, which has free Vita support.

[DJ Incompetent]

Today we're gonna play Snowball.

Because Sonic Spinball * Kirby's Pinball Land.

[Austin]

Today we're gonna play Snowball.

Because Sonic Spinball * Kirby's Pinball Land.

That's actually pretty cool!

[Ruldra]

The Avengers table coming to Marvel Pinball. Looks great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZbyHf9ZmHA

[Remembrance]

Speaking of which, the Marvel tables on Zen Pinball iOS and Android are on sale this week.

Still not nearly enough tables on these, but you take what you can get...

[Remembrance]

iOS Pinball Arcade has received the Cirqus Voltaire/Funhouse update. Seems quite buggy still, though - on Cirqus Voltaire I just got the machine dispensing seemingly endless balls at me while the controls refused to work.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Farsight is doing a Kickstarter for Twilight Zone.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/106 ... light-zone

[Klatrymadon]

Microsoft won't let them do a 360 version of it, apparently. Any idea what that's about?

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Microsoft won't let them do a 360 version of it, apparently. Any idea what that's about?

I think they want to give out Twilight Zone table add-on codes to folks who donate $10 and up, but Microsoft won't let them do that on 360.

[Klatrymadon]

Oh, right, of course! Totally misread that.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

That is what it looks like. lol Twilight Zone is a really sweet table though. I remember being amazed by the small playfield with the magnets.

[BrianC]

Farsight added a faq to their kickstarter page that says the table is coming to 360 if the Kickstarter works out, but they couldn't get codes for DLC from Microsoft. I wish they would use more clear wording for some things. I know it's unintentional, but a lot of people were confused by some vague wording by Farsight. One time, people thought Medieval Madness and Bride of Pinbot were skipped over for PS3/360 becuase Farsight mentioned Cirqus Voltaire and Funhouse were planned for May (which only meant when it was first coming out, not for all systems).