Digital Pinball Help and Recommendations

[BrianC]

There's a new version of Zen Pinball out on iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. It comes with a free table (Sorcerer's Lair, from Zen Pinball PS3 and Pinball FX2 360) and currently has two Marvel Pinball games (Wolverine and Captain America) available for $1.99 each. Telling from comments, it's optimized for iPad 2 and iPhone S, but it seems to run fine on iPad 1 (though at a lower resloution with less anti-aliasing). There were a couple of other Zen Pinball tables for iPhone, but I heard mixed things and they aren't available on iTunes anymore.

I have been playing the Pro Pinball games lately (aside from The Web, which I don't have yet and isn't available from Good Old Games). Very nice physics. Timeshock is my favorite of the games so far. A ton of goals and very nice table design. Fantastic Journey has my favorite music of the games, though.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The PC CD-Rom boxed release of Time Shock even came with a handy pinball machine instruction manual as well. I've still got it somewhere...it's a very slick full color manual indeed. Only if the ProPinball dev team were to make a real one-off Time Shock pinball machine, that'd be fucking ace.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

The PC CD-Rom boxed release of Time Shock even came with a handy pinball machine instruction manual as well.

It's not quite the same as a physical manual, but the download from Good Old Games has a PDF version of that manual, still in full color.

[DJ Incompetent]

Stern is finally getting competition.

A group called Jersey Jack Pinball will be making and distributing original commercial pinball machines.

First one will be Wizard of Oz.
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/11/til ... s_over.php

preorder. $6500
http://www.pinballsales.com/shop/pc/vie ... category=2

[Zeether]

The PC CD-Rom boxed release of Time Shock even came with a handy pinball machine instruction manual as well.

It's not quite the same as a physical manual, but the download from Good Old Games has a PDF version of that manual, still in full color.

The version from GOG though is the DOS version, sadly, which doesn't support higher resolutions. Still fun though.

[BrianC]

The PC CD-Rom boxed release of Time Shock even came with a handy pinball machine instruction manual as well.

It's not quite the same as a physical manual, but the download from Good Old Games has a PDF version of that manual, still in full color.

The version from GOG though is the DOS version, sadly, which doesn't support higher resolutions. Still fun though.

It's actually DOSBox that doesn't support the higher resolutions, not the game itself, though there are special SVN bulids that support them. However, my comp can only handle up to 1366x768, so even the other two games offered from GoG, which are the Windows versions, only go up to 1024x768, with the higher modes blacked out. Oddly enough, with the special bulid of DOSBox, Timeshock lets me select the higher resoultions, even though the computer doesn't actually support them. The DOS version of Timeshock actually has an advantage for me. The other two games are stuck in streched mode since they don't support widescreen, but DOSBox allows me to set the game to native resolution and keep the aspect ratio.

One option that confused me at first was screen flipping. I was thinking it was going to be a tate mode, but it turned out to be something completely different. It's an option that loads part of the table into memory to make the game run smoother.

Stern is finally getting competition.

A group called Jersey Jack Pinball will be making and distributing original commercial pinball machines.

First one will be Wizard of Oz.
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/11/til ... s_over.php

preorder. $6500
http://www.pinballsales.com/shop/pc/vie ... category=2

Cool. I hope their machines turn out good. Stern has some classic pinball staff and still makes some good ones (though I wish I could see them more often. Arcades are getting harder to find).

Speaking of Stern, according to a post on the Facebook page of The Pinball Arcade, the Stern pinball license covers Data East and Sega machines.

Edit: Found out how to change the scaling settings on my comp so the other Pro Pinball games now appear in the correct aspect ratio. For some odd reason, I couldn't change the scaling settings in the native resolution. Makes no sense to me.

[BrianC]

I tried different settings for Timeshock in DosBox and found settings that work quite a bit better than the defaults. There's a .conf file in the directory that gog makes, which can be edited with notepad or wordpad. Timeshock doesn't like the max setting for cycles. I edited the .conf file so the cycles are around 35000, the prebuffer on the sound card is 100, and double buffering is on. If you turn the screen flipping on in game more cycles (maybe around 50000) will be needed.

For higher resolutions, I recommend DosBox Megabuild 6. It will let you choose the higher resoultions and use the screen flipping setting for 1024x768. I used D-Fend Reloaded for alternate versions of DosBox, but I found out that replacing the DosBox directory in the directory with Timeshock with a newer version of DosBox (the directory has to keep the same name, though) works too. The DosBox with TimeShock is also outdated, so I recommending going with 0.74 (still doesn't support the higher resolutions, but plays games faster than 0.72) or the Megabuild. I went back to 0.74 since the only thing extra is the screen flipping (the game runs smoother without it) and my comp only goes up to 1366x768.

Edit: I actually found 75000 cycles to work better than 35000, even with screen flipping off.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Went down to my local Toys-R-Us store and managed to buy the very last copy of the 3DS game of "Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection" today. Am stoked to try it out properly. From what I understand, none of my local Gamestops or Target stores have this particular 3DS pinball title in stock whatsoever & really is quite HTF these days store-wise. So TRU is your best bet if you want to score one. Sure, I could've bought it off of Amazon.com site but it's the thrill of the hunt of actually procuring a physical copy of 3DS PHOF:TWC indeed.

Will report back with a full review on it soon.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[PC Engine Fan X!]

When are they gonna make a digital pinball with tate?

That was none other than Tecmo's 1991 arcade PCB of "Super Pinball Action" (with it's soft-core presentation shown in between game sessions) but it doesn't display properly on an Egret II cab (as it's presented upside down format) + there's no handy screen flipping option on the dipswitch settings either. Hmmm...a remedy is definitely needed though.

I recall that fellow shmupper Dragon1952 said that he had a hand in developing this particular pinball PCB release during his stint working for Tecmo back in the day. Interesting use of seperate buttons on both 1P & 2P sides to control the flippers/launch the ball into play. Not a bad way to enjoy digital pinball on a real PCB setup indeed (if space is at a real premium inside the home/apartment-wise).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[professor ganson]

Will report back with a full review on it soon.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Please do! I've read some good things about it, but other gaming priorities have held me back from buying it myself.

And that's right! Our own Dragon1952 (David Siller), best known for leading the Maximo: Ghosts to Glory team, had his hand in the development of Super Pinball Action. I do hope he is slowly recovering from the tragic loss of his wife.

[Austin]

I have read that the 3DS Pinball HOF has framerate issues and even less tables than the PSP version.

[Estebang]

Any opinions on the DS' Metroid Prime Pinball?

[BrianC]

Any opinions on the DS' Metroid Prime Pinball?

I like it quite a bit. Physics are pretty good and the table design combines aspects of video and real pinball. The physics are different and not quite as realistic as Pro Pinball (Fuse is made up of former Pro Pinball developers), though.

I have read that the 3DS Pinball HOF has framerate issues and even less tables than the PSP version.

PSP was one of the earlier versions and I heard it still had all the tables of the Wii version. PS2 is the one missing Jive Time and Sorcerer. 360 and PS3 were the ones that added tables. I don't know what it up with the 3DS version having less tables. I'm getting the 360 one soon and I can't wait to play it.

I was disappointed that the DS game is 30 FPS too (I was told that it supposedly has 60 FPS when the 3D is off, but I having found any sources to confirm). I heard Zen Pinball 3DS is 30 FPS with 3D on or off. I don't know how powerful the 3DS is, but, from how I saw other games running, I would expect Williams Pinball Hall of Fame to at least run as smoothly as the PS2 version.

[silvergunner]

The Vengeance & Virtue Pack (360/PS3)is out now

Includes four well designed Marvel-tables: Thor,Moon Knight,Ghost Rider and X-Men

[professor ganson]

Toys R Us has a buy two get a $25 gift card right now that included both The Williams Collection and Centipede for 3DS, so I snagged them. Really looking forward to checking these out!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If you have signed up for the Playstation Plus program, you can d/l the free Marvel pinball pack (which is priced at $9.99 USD) off of the USA based PSN site this week.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[iconoclast]

Some news for The Pinball Arcade:

Each month, The Pinball Arcade will feature one game as The Table of the Month. At launch, this table will be Tales of the Arabian Nights. The Table of the Month on most platforms will cost 99 cents. [We’d prefer to offer it for 99 cents on all platforms, but there are some console restrictions we may have to abide by that would restrict this pricing model]. After each month is over, the Table of the Month will go back to it's regular price which will typically range between $1.99 and $2.99 (with $3.99 currently planned for tables with expensive ancillary licenses).

The first four tables will be Tales of the Arabian Nights™, Ripley's Believe It or Not™, Theatre of Magic™, and Black Hole™.
Each month we will be updating the game by releasing two tables as DLC and adding new features that will include online tournaments and head-to-head play.
With many of the all-time greatest tables from Williams®, Bally™, Stern Pinball™, and Gottlieb™; The Pinball Arcade™ is set to become the most realistic and comprehensive pinball game ever created!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pinballarcade

I guess that's decent. It would be better if all of the tables just launched at a reduced price for a week or something, instead of releasing 2 a month and putting only 1 on sale. That's probably going to negatively affect how much money they make since a lot of people won't buy anything if it has the chance of being price slashed within a month (like me for example).

[BrianC]

If you have signed up for the Playstation Plus program, you can d/l the free Marvel pinball pack (which is priced at $9.99 USD) off of the USA based PSN site this week.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

There was (is?) a sale on Zen Pinball iOS, as well. I got Captain America and Wolverine for 99 cents each. I also got the Thor table, though it wasn't on sale (it was $1.99, the regular price for the tables). I also got the two Marvel packs for 360, though I missed the sale on those.

[DocHauser]

Been playing the PSP versions of the Gottlieb and Williams classics recently. The Williams one is definitely the stronger package. I've managed to acheive most of the Wizard Table Goals, bar maybe 2 or 3. As for the Gottlieb Table Goals, I've got all of them apart from the (frankly evil) goal for Central Park - win 5 or more credits. I not even sure I've got 1 credit from a game before, let alone 5.

Best scores on the Williams tables (some of these need more work)

Taxi: 10,781,110
Gorgar: 711,780
Space Shuttle: 6,240,440
Funhouse: 49,429,570
Jive Time: 1,063,130
Pin*Bot: 5,164,710
Sorcerer: 3,780,550
Whirlwind: 36,218,520
Firepower: 3,391,350
Black Knight: 4,560,280

Gottlieb scores:

Genie: 768,310
El Dorado: 1,040,810
Black Hole: 298,340
Ace High: 8,880,000
Big Shot: 178,710
Central Park: 1,554
Playboy: 2,300
Tee'd Off: 850,660,400
Goin' Nuts: 1,443,440
Victory: 7,399,610
Strikes n' Spares: 300

[Austin]

I posted this earlier on another forum but haven't received a response yet. I know many of you here are more familiar with the import side of things, so hopefully I can find my answer here!

I have heard about this "1.5" version of Last Gladiators Pinball for the Saturn. Has anyone tried it?

My problem is that I don't know what to look for in terms of tracking down a legitimate copy of it. From what I understand, it is Japan-only. I do already have what I think is a "normal" copy of the Japanese Last Gladiators (case with a normal, solid grey CD tray on the inside). I just ran into a couple of copies of this game though that have a transparent CD tray with a green backdrop on the back insert. Does anyone know if this is the 1.5 version, or is there another way to tell by another part of the packaging? The instruction manuals look the same from the front on both versions I found.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone had experience with this supposed "1.5" version? Is it different at all from the normal game? Just bug fixes perhaps? Or is there more to it?

Lastly, this is probably a shot in the dark, but does anyone know if the US version is a translation of the original Japanese release, or if it is the 1.5 version?

[BrianC]

I posted this earlier on another forum but haven't received a response yet. I know many of you here are more familiar with the import side of things, so hopefully I can find my answer here!

I have heard about this "1.5" version of Last Gladiators Pinball for the Saturn. Has anyone tried it?

My problem is that I don't know what to look for in terms of tracking down a legitimate copy of it. From what I understand, it is Japan-only. I do already have what I think is a "normal" copy of the Japanese Last Gladiators (case with a normal, solid grey CD tray on the inside). I just ran into a couple of copies of this game though that have a transparent CD tray with a green backdrop on the back insert. Does anyone know if this is the 1.5 version, or is there another way to tell by another part of the packaging? The instruction manuals look the same from the front on both versions I found.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone had experience with this supposed "1.5" version? Is it different at all from the normal game? Just bug fixes perhaps? Or is there more to it?

Lastly, this is probably a shot in the dark, but does anyone know if the US version is a translation of the original Japanese release, or if it is the 1.5 version?

The version is 9.7, not 1.5. I'm guessing you got the version number mixed up with Espgaluda II or Mushihimesama Futari? I think there was a topic or something here on the shmups forum that had impressions of 9.7. From what I read, it was definitely better than the original, but still fell short of Necronomicon. From what I remember, the boards were tweaked with some improvements here and there.

I'm not sure if the 1996 US version is the same as the original JP version, but I'm guessing it's probably different from 9.7 since that version came later, in 1997, and the numbering is possibly a play on the year it came out. Not sure, though.

I recently found out that LittleWing, makers of a game I read about called Tristan in an old 90s computer mag, is based out of Japan (odd that a Japanese company started out with Mac Pinball games) and still around. I tried out demos of a few of their games and I like the design and ball physics of what I tried. I have Tristan for the iOS and I love it (70s style, simplistic goals, but very challenging and well designed with well done physics). I noticed their games are usually expensive on their site, http://www.littlewingpinball.com, but they are currently on sale for more reasonable prices, with Crystal Caliburn and Looney Labyrinth at 4 dollars (Unfortunetly, only the old mac version of Tristan is available from the site, though iOS and a new Mac version are available from their App Stores). I was also surprised to find out that Golden Logres was ported to PSX and Dreamcast in Japan.

[Austin]

The version is 9.7, not 1.5. I'm guessing you got the version number mixed up with Espgaluda II or Mushihimesama Futari? I think there was a topic or something here on the shmups forum that had impressions of 9.7. ... From what I remember, the boards were tweaked with some improvements here and there.

Ah, you are right! Thanks for clearing that up. I honestly forgot about the revision until a couple "green" copies of Last Gladiators showed up on eBay (as the Japanese sellers call them). I think it's time to hit Google, now that I know the correct version number. I just don't want to shell out $20 on these "green" copies if they are not the 9.7 revision.

*Edit! A quick search gave me this GameFaqs link with a cover shot. It looks like the 9.7 version has a completely different cover afterall. So that means there's a base release ('95), then a green-insert version (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIGITAL-PINBALL ... 769wt_1163), and then the 9.7 version: http://www.gamefaqs.com/saturn/580923-d ... /box-22255.

Another funny thing I didn't know about--this was apparently released for the iOS as well? Haha! How did I miss this? http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/last-gla ... 20568?mt=8

From what I read, it was definitely better than the original, but still fell short of Necronomicon.

From what I read on the 'net, I have come to the conclusion that I must be the only one that prefers Last Gladiators over Necronomicon. Both games are awesome, but something about Last Gladiators sits with me better than Necro.

I'm not sure if the 1996 US version is the same as the original JP version, but I'm guessing it's probably different from 9.7 since that version came later, in 1997, and the numbering is possibly a play on the year it came out. Not sure, though.

The Japanese version I have right now (the '95 release) doesn't seem any different from the US version, but then again I haven't played the US game in years, nor do I have a copy to verify any changes right now. Maybe I will snag one soon, as they still don't go for much these days.

*edit (again): After checking some info and videos on the US version, I am going to go with it being a translation of the Japanese '95 original.

I was also surprised to find out that Golden Logres was ported to PSX and Dreamcast in Japan.

Indeed it was! Unfortunately, it's not very good. At least the Dreamcast version I have isn't great, anyway..

**EDIT (for the last time, hopefully): Someone else in the thread mentioned the differences in 9.7, albeit years ago: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 74#p198474

[antares]

Afaik the iOS port is from version 9.7. At least that's what a friend told me who owns ver 9.7 for the Saturn.

[BrianC]

I was also surprised to find out that Golden Logres was ported to PSX and Dreamcast in Japan.

Indeed it was! Unfortunately, it's not very good. At least the Dreamcast version I have isn't great, anyway..

What's wrong with it? The only review I could find on the DC version was an IGN review that gave it a 2.0, but said that the physics and table design are good. The one thing that did sound like a legitimate issue in the review was that the display was too hard to see on anything but VGA. There were complaints about the controls, but they didn't mention the exact setup, so I have no idea just how bad they are. The physics look pretty solid in the video I watched of the DC version, but the only video on youtube was of poor quality. A better quality video would give me an idea of just how poor the display is. I also tried the PC Demo of Golden Logres and found that to be solid, from what I tried.

[BulletMagnet]

It's been awhile since I last popped in Last Gladiators, but as an owner of both the "regular" and "9.7" versions, I recall the latter generally being better-balanced, for lack of a better term: while it's not as easy to hit certain ramps and things on Gladiator and Knight of the Rose, it's also less difficult to hit various targets on the other two tables. I do still claim Necronomicon as my personal favorite though, mostly for the "Dreamlands" table.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Zen Pinball 3DS is out for d/l on the U.S. region Nintendo shop portal. Also, you can buy Fuse's pinball game for your 3DS (it was previously available for the DSi & DSi-XL).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

Also, you can buy Fuse's pinball game for your 3DS (it was previously available for the DSi & DSi-XL).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

It looks like Fuse is now Silverball Studios. They have a new Frogger pinball for Konami. I tried the demo on iOS and the Facebook version. It plays a lot like Metroid Prime pinball, but seems to lack any kind of nudge feature.

[Austin]

What's wrong with it? The only review I could find on the DC version was an IGN review that gave it a 2.0, but said that the physics and table design are good. The one thing that did sound like a legitimate issue in the review was that the display was too hard to see on anything but VGA. There were complaints about the controls, but they didn't mention the exact setup, so I have no idea just how bad they are. The physics look pretty solid in the video I watched of the DC version, but the only video on youtube was of poor quality. A better quality video would give me an idea of just how poor the display is. I also tried the PC Demo of Golden Logres and found that to be solid, from what I tried.

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.

[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.

cool. I don't know if I'm picky enough. I like Pinball Hall of Fame and Pinball FX2 on Xbox 360 quite a bit. I also like some NES Pinballs, including Pinbot, High Speed, Family Pinball/Rock 'n Ball, and Pinball. I even like some pre NES pinball games (including the stand alone video pinball console). I like both arcade and realistic style and I love the Pro Pinball games.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

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! ^_~