Author Topic: Pinball Buttons (how to???) (Read 7060 times)

Fozzy The Bear · « **on:** November 06, 2006, 10:43:39 pm »

Hi guys....
I'm just about to fit some extra pinball buttons to the sides of my panel (two each side) and a ball launch button to the front. I'm just curious as to which default keys I should have these connected to. I can re-program them afterwards, but I wondered what the best default keys were for them. For example Player1 Fire1 etc etc.... ??

Also... Apart from Virtual Pinball and PinMame, does anybody use other commercial or shareware/freeware pinball games or emulators?? I'm looking to see what else is out there and worth playing??

Thanks in advance....

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Donkey_Kong · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2006, 11:10:52 pm »

DEFINATELY check out Future Pinball...

www.futurepinball.com

specfire · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:40:28 am »

Well, VP and VPM are cool as an example of what can be done, but I just don't find them fun.

Future Pinball (FP) is ok, but at this point, I still prefer some VPM tables over what has been made for FP. As for potential, FP in a few years is going to be amazing!

The only pinball simulators I use are Pro-Pinball by Cunning Development. There are 4 tables in total, the first of which was released 10 years ago. Timeshock was their second table (1997) and is my favorite. You can pick these up on EBay very cheap. Get the "Interplay" release which contains all 4 tables in a CD sized purple box.

Check out this thread from the VPM forums which answers your question better than I could. Also, follow the links at the bottom of his post to his other threads on how to troubleshoot Pro-Pinball for WinXP:

http://vpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39122

Lilwolf · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:28:41 pm »

VPM I like a lot. An easy hour waster... Great way to learn a table. Too bad future pinball will not allow pinmame to connect to it so we can have them converted also.

As for other pinball ones. The microsoft pinball games are good. I've played a few others a while ago, but I never put them on my cabinet. I can't think of their names. But there arent all that many out there... and most of the commercial ones are pretty -> real good.

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:53:46 pm »

OK Guys.... Thanks for the suggestions on the software front. I'm investigating all of those right now. They look great!

Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best default button use and combinations now please?? I'm just about to wire up the extra buttons on my panel.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

ahofle · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2006, 03:11:08 pm »

Not sure if this is what you're asking, but I believe left and right shift are the defaults in VP for left and right flipper, and 'enter' is the default plunger key.

ChadTower · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2006, 04:51:53 pm »

And the Z and / keys are nudge in either direction.

torez · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2006, 06:01:47 pm »

That's correct and Space button is used to nudge up. Coin is usually same as in Mame, but there are some games that require S button to start. Also, many games you have to press reset button (think it was F5) first time you load them. Some you can adjust 3 or 5-ball play, etc. Basically, access to keyboard once in a while could be necessary.

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2006, 06:22:46 pm »

That's great!! Thanks guys.

I'm using a Keywiz so I can create a keyset for pinball games anyway, but it's usefull to have them more or less on the correct default keys because it means less programing afterwards. I do have a keyboard in the keyboard draw at the front of the cabinet so that makes things a bit easier.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

whatisk · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2006, 08:00:36 pm »

F3 resets the table

ChadTower · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2006, 08:56:01 am »

Of course, he could have found all of that out in the documentation for the app.

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:01:41 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on November 08, 2006, 08:56:01 am

Of course, he could have found all of that out in the documentation for the app.

What a helpful person you are Chad.....

It depends on the App doesn't it?. As part of my question was what apps there are available, commercial or otherwise, and I was trying to find out which ones people like or don't, because I value people on here's opinion of good or bad software.

I got some useful and helpful answers, which might also be of value to other people who read them, (unlike your comment above). But I do thank you for the note about the Z and / keys.

So it was a valid question wasn't it.

Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

ChadTower · « **Reply #12 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:16:06 pm »

Quote from: Fozzy The Bear on November 08, 2006, 02:01:41 pm

What a helpful person you are Chad.....

Yes, reading the manual is a bad thing, isn't it?

It doesn't depend on the app when you ask questions about specific apps and get answers pertaining to those specific apps. You determined the apps and we have answered based on the apps. What exactly depends here?

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #13 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:24:09 pm »

Get off your high horse Chad, you'll find if you look back through the thread that I didn't specify any particular App at all. I just wanted to know what buttons people, normally, asign their default pinball buttons to.

You obviously have some sort of major attitude problem over this question. Get over it and grow up.

To everybody else: Thankyou for the helpful suggestions in relation to which software I should look at and your help in determining which keys my pinball buttons would be best default assigned to. Your advice and assistance is very much appreciated.

Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

torez · « **Reply #14 on:** November 08, 2006, 05:45:37 pm »

Anyone can say RTFM or you could just say google it ... in that case there would not be a need for this great message board. There are many lurkers/newbies here who never post and I bet they will find this thread useful. Bet some of them didn't even know what these side buttons on a control panel are. Think there more information is posted here, the better ... for all of us.

FrizzleFried · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2006, 07:06:56 pm »

Torez hit the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD. What are the purposes of these forums if not to discuss this stuff? Chad obviously wants to be a moderator deep down inside or something.

severdhed · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2006, 12:51:18 pm »

i havent installed nudge buttons on my panel yet, but i did install flipper buttons and a plunger. I use future pinball and visual pinball on my cabinet. my left flipper is N and my right flipper is M. no particular reason for this, that is just what i selected. I remap the software to comply with my choices and it works fine. i also remapped mame to use either N or M as pause, that way each player has a pause button that is out of the way when playing mame. the plunger is homemade and wired to the same input as Down on my player 2 stick...mainly because before i had a plunger control, i pulled back on the player 2 stick to activate the plunger in the pinball games, instead of remapping the controls, i just wired up the plunger i made to act as player 2 joystick down. (this also kept me from using up an input on my encoder)

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2006, 01:58:18 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on November 10, 2006, 12:51:18 pm

i havent installed nudge buttons on my panel yet

Yeah... I don't very often use them but I will probably include them anyway, just to make it a bit more complete.

Quote from: severdhed on November 10, 2006, 12:51:18 pm

i also remapped mame to use either N or M as pause, that way each player has a pause button that is out of the way when playing mame.

Now that really is a great idea!! They're well out of the way not to be hitting them by accident. Thanks for the suggestion.

Quote from: severdhed on November 10, 2006, 12:51:18 pm

the plunger is homemade and wired to the same input as Down on my player 2 stick...mainly because before i had a plunger control, i pulled back on the player 2 stick to activate the plunger in the pinball games, instead of remapping the controls, i just wired up the plunger i made to act as player 2 joystick down. (this also kept me from using up an input on my encoder)

Another really cool idea! Thanks! I may give that a try. I've got a few plunger parts at work that may no longer be required. I might just fit one to the front of the panel, with a spring, so that it hits a microswitch when it's pulled and let go of.

Thanks!!

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

specfire · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2006, 07:23:17 pm »

Well, it doesn't look like anyone here plays Pro-Pinball, however, if you want to play it well, nudge buttons are essential.

These tables really are the top of the simulator heap IMO.

torez · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2006, 09:38:50 pm »

Site to get you started with some tables:

http://irpinball.ztnet.com/

ahofle · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2006, 09:44:37 pm »

Does anyone know if there are any torrents out there for these table collections?

torez · « **Reply #21 on:** November 10, 2006, 09:59:02 pm »

You can always try here:
http://www.vpforums.com/vptables/tables.php

Select by letter to go to the collection. I would recommend that you select what you need first, as you can download just few tables a day (unless you change your ip and go back there for more, but I didn't tell you that

).

specfire · « **Reply #22 on:** November 10, 2006, 10:25:41 pm »

Does no-one try/use Pro-Pinball?

message edited to remove reference to URL because it is a rom site and I think linking to a pirate rom site is against BYOAC policy.

Chris · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2006, 10:43:09 pm »

I installed a plunger in my cab recently. It's really a bizzare mecanism, which is why I didn't write it up. I happened to have an in-ground lawn sprinkler head that was exactly the length of the plunger, and when I took it apart, it had a hole in one end that just fit the plunger rod and the hole in the cap perfectly fit a Happ button. So I installed a vertical button (a horizontal one would probably cream the microswitch with the plunger hits) in the cap, ran the plunger rod through the sprinkler body, and screwed on the cap with the top of the button on the inside; the plunger rod holds down the button firmly. I wired to the NC (Normally Closed) terminal instead of the usual Normally Open, so the button triggers when it's released, not pressed. The whole assembly isn't affixed to anything, just held on by the force of the plunger spring, so when the plunger hits the button the whole assembly pulls away from the plunger and the shock of the impact is absorbed by the spring. Physics then resets the whole thing. It's truly truly bizzare.

lloydcom · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2006, 08:11:29 am »

I don't know if this is the best arena to ask this question, but its related to the thread.

I have an X arcade two player box, and the wrapper for VPM. I like playing Funhouse and its real fun to play on the cab, but I had to remap the buttons for L-Shift and R-Shift in VPM to some of the top buttons on the box, because of MAME defaults of coin which is on the side buttons of the X arcade.

So everytime I press the side buttons I get the flipper and the sound of a credit. Now if you like the sound of the credit chirping through the session, then great, but is there another way for this to work with the side buttons without activating the credits? And not using the programmable settings switch on the xarcade?

I'm using Howards wrapper with VPM, and it works great but would like to have realistic play instead of hand cramping top panel button pressing for flippers.

Hope that makes sense.

lhallmark · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2006, 04:17:59 am »

Quote from: torez on November 10, 2006, 09:59:02 pm

You can always try here:
http://www.vpforums.com/vptables/tables.php

Select by letter to go to the collection. I would recommend that you select what you need first, as you can download just few tables a day (unless you change your ip and go back there for more, but I didn't tell you that ).

....or you can just make a donation to help his hosting fees and have unlimited dl's.

ChadTower · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2006, 08:52:23 am »

Quote from: FrizzleFried on November 08, 2006, 07:06:56 pm

Torez hit the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD. What are the purposes of these forums if not to discuss this stuff? Chad obviously wants to be a moderator deep down inside or something.

Not in an engineering environment. When building something/designing something, proper etiquette is to read the documentation first, ask people to spend their time helping you second. In this case, something as simple as "what are the keystroke mappings", that is laid out clearly in the documentation. Expected questions would be things like "I have a conflict on the / key between Visual Pinball and MAME, what's the best way to solve that". Expecting people to donate their time to answer questions that are already answered in the place where the answers belong is presumptuous and getting pissy when they mention that fact is even worse.

BTW, donating a quick $5-10 is the best way to get your tables. It is easily worth it and again is showing gratuity for the hard work of others that you are using.

Donkey_Kong · « **Reply #27 on:** November 15, 2006, 10:01:41 pm »

Also try the pin table "Cyclone" any chance you get...whether it is Future Pinball, VisualPinball or the actual table. Ride the cyclone 3 times for the jackpot for up to 4 million, or the comet 5 times for 1,000,000! Hit the ferris wheel for BIG bonuses and try the spook house dead center to spin the mystery wheel "Round and Round she goes" "WINNER!!"

Personal best is 7+ Mil on VP, and 4+ mil on the actual when I was 14 years old. This pinball is awesome!

PS: When playing this or any other table in 'future pinball' hit f11 for manual camera view. Zoom in and out with arrow keys and mouse, then inspect every single square milimeter of the designers artwork...AMAZING! Better than the actual table, you can't get this close even in person...TRY IT!

torez · « **Reply #28 on:** November 16, 2006, 02:20:05 am »

Quote from: lhallmark on November 15, 2006, 04:17:59 am

Quote from: torez on November 10, 2006, 09:59:02 pm
You can always try here:
http://www.vpforums.com/vptables/tables.php

Select by letter to go to the collection. I would recommend that you select what you need first, as you can download just few tables a day (unless you change your ip and go back there for more, but I didn't tell you that ).

....or you can just make a donation to help his hosting fees and have unlimited dl's.

Yes, I forgot about this option, as I don't frequent that forum much anymore like I used to. Donation is preferred, as changing an ip or similar is just checking out some tables that you want to play asap. Never got into mass download from a website thing, as I get most of my stuff from newsgroups. These websites are great to see what's new and what other people think about particular table recreation (http://www.vpforums.com/).

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #29 on:** November 16, 2006, 02:22:15 pm »

Thanks guys... Lots of great information and sources to look at there.... You guys have been able to point me at some very interesting material that I simply hadn't found before. Thanks for the URL's

I think I've got it all sorted out now as far as the best button asignments. It's a tricky one because of there being more than one possible solution. Very much dependant on which particular pinball software is being run.

Some great ideas on fitting sprung pullback plungers! Love it!! I'll try a few of these ideas out to see which I like in the real world.

Thanks for all your help, and again, let me say that it's very much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

jjd · « **Reply #30 on:** November 16, 2006, 02:39:46 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on November 15, 2006, 08:52:23 am

Quote from: FrizzleFried on November 08, 2006, 07:06:56 pm
Torez hit the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD. What are the purposes of these forums if not to discuss this stuff? Chad obviously wants to be a moderator deep down inside or something.

Not in an engineering environment. When building something/designing something, proper etiquette is to read the documentation first, ask people to spend their time helping you second. In this case, something as simple as "what are the keystroke mappings", that is laid out clearly in the documentation. Expected questions would be things like "I have a conflict on the / key between Visual Pinball and MAME, what's the best way to solve that". Expecting people to donate their time to answer questions that are already answered in the place where the answers belong is presumptuous and getting pissy when they mention that fact is even worse.

BTW, donating a quick $5-10 is the best way to get your tables. It is easily worth it and again is showing gratuity for the hard work of others that you are using.

I've met some tools in my day, but you are like the whole Craftsman catalog rolled into one neat little package.

ChadTower · « **Reply #31 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:10:56 pm »

Really. What do you do for a living, may I ask?

miles2912 · « **Reply #32 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:25:12 pm »

I went with a 3 button layout on each side. I use them for plunger - nudge left/right and then a common nudge center. To launch the ball I just use one of the top buttons. Seems to be working out ok. All of the buttons share a Player 1 or 2 key and I just re-map for whatever pinball game I am playing.

D-

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #33 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:26:48 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on November 16, 2006, 03:10:56 pm

Really. What do you do for a living, may I ask?

Chad... Go hijack somebody else's thread will ya (ideally on another forum elsewhere) where you can make yourself equally as unpopular, and where we don't have to listen to your moaning drivel.

Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Fozzy The Bear · « **Reply #34 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:32:31 pm »

Quote from: miles2912 on November 16, 2006, 03:25:12 pm

I went with a 3 button layout on each side. I use them for plunger - nudge left/right and then a common nudge center. To launch the ball I just use one of the top buttons. Seems to be working out ok. All of the buttons share a Player 1 or 2 key and I just re-map for whatever pinball game I am playing.

Good solution... I'd go for three buttons, but the edge of my panel probably wouldn't be deep enough to use a comfortable looking layout like yours.

Just out of curiosity, which keyboard encoder are you using?? I only ask because I'm on a keywiz and remapping in that works very differently to remapping other encoders.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

miles2912 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 16, 2006, 04:53:38 pm »

Quote from: Fozzy The Bear on November 16, 2006, 03:32:31 pm

Quote from: miles2912 on November 16, 2006, 03:25:12 pm
I went with a 3 button layout on each side. I use them for plunger - nudge left/right and then a common nudge center. To launch the ball I just use one of the top buttons. Seems to be working out ok. All of the buttons share a Player 1 or 2 key and I just re-map for whatever pinball game I am playing.

Good solution... I'd go for three buttons, but the edge of my panel probably wouldn't be deep enough to use a comfortable looking layout like yours.

Just out of curiosity, which keyboard encoder are you using?? I only ask because I'm on a keywiz and remapping in that works very differently to remapping other encoders.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Mini Pac.

JackTucky · « **Reply #36 on:** November 16, 2006, 04:54:56 pm »

Quote from: jjd on November 16, 2006, 02:39:46 pm

I've met some tools in my day, but you are like the whole Craftsman catalog rolled into one neat little package.

Jacktucky


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Author Topic: Pinball Buttons (how to???) (Read 7060 times)

lloydcom