So computer is shipped and on the way. Supposedly going to be here next Tuesday but because it's fedex it could get delayed until next Friday because fedex usually sucks. Computer comes with 4gb ram and I was going to wait to see if that's a single ram chip or dual chips but then I said screw it let's see what a pair of 4gb ram chips cost. Found a pair of used 4gb samsung PC3-12800 for only $18 shipped on ebay so bought that. Then I was going to do the "buy a 240gb drive, replace my main computer drive since it's low, put 120gb from my main computer into pinball computer.. then decided to see what was actually sucking up space. Found a free program called wiztree and turns out epic games was sucking up 20gb (I believe I had unreal engine, pinball, and possibly fortnite). So since I don't NEED to replace that drive (I'd actually be dreading re-installing windows and all my software, especially solidworks) so I opted to simply just buy another 120gb drive and call it done (also $18 brand new). So by the end of next week hopefully I can start installing windows from scratch (most likely I'll install tiny7), install mission pinball framework and just start going through the tutorial.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Computer acquired
So for about the past week I've been combing ebay and craigslist. There was one ebay post of 4 computers, all the same specs. Honestly it's a deal at $35+$15 shipping.. Core i5 750 (2.66ghz cpu, 4 cores, 4 threads), 4gb ram, 250gb hard drive, windows 7, geforce 310 (not awesome, but plenty for open GL), and if at some point I decide to add 3d unity graphics or I want to run dual screen it does have an open slot for a nicer video card. Even though it's a 10 year old computer, it's still very decent. I mean even if you were to piece together parts it would add up quick. Probably going to upgrade to 8gb ram and a solid state hard drive since that's what mission pinball recommends as an ideal machine for development. My home computer has a 120gb SSD drive that seems to float between 1-5gb of space left, so my goal is to buy a 240gb SSD, upgrade my home machine (re-install everything), then pop the 120gb drive into the pinball computer. 120gb should be PLENTY for windows plus framework plus yaml.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
P3-roc powered up, skeleton game installed
So I'm still waiting for my 12v power supply, was supposed to be here last thursday but fedex is the worst shipping company so I might see it today. Guess it doesn't really matter, 12v is typically just used for lighting/flashes/switches from what I'm reading. So since I got my 5v 30a power supply (probably overkill for logic, but it was cheap), I wired up the 2-pin IDC connector, and fired it up. Right away the blue LED's lit up, and I got a rotating pattern which I assume means it's functioning normal.
I installed Skeletongame as recommended by Scott Danesi. He says mission framework is a little easier to get going, but it's more limited if you want advanced features. I ran the demo, which is some color faux T2 game where basically your only functions are start game, and hit switches to add scoring. I wondered if I hooked up my switch board and added a switch if it would translate that to the score on the PC.. I started reading through some of the documentation, and apparently by default it's set to be fake, but if you rem out one statement in the config file it becomes live with the board.
So my next plan of action is to read through the 6 pdf documents of getting a whitewood flipping from scratch, which looks like some forum that was saved out. From reading other stuff, it looks like there are two config files. One for the framework (IE all the standard coding like hit switches, lamps, coils firing, ball trough management, basic scoring), and then you have the "machine" config which is specific to your game. This almost seems like it's turning raw python code into more of a basic language, spelling things out like start_button = start game, or left_button = left_flipper_coil. Yet another thing that isn't explained in any documentation (but I have some knowledge of watching Ben heck videos over the years), you don't want to edit code in a standard word program, you want a true python editing program so that you get the color separation, and the suggested code as you begin to type something (which helps speed things up, not to mention avoids spelling errors which can break code).
I installed Skeletongame as recommended by Scott Danesi. He says mission framework is a little easier to get going, but it's more limited if you want advanced features. I ran the demo, which is some color faux T2 game where basically your only functions are start game, and hit switches to add scoring. I wondered if I hooked up my switch board and added a switch if it would translate that to the score on the PC.. I started reading through some of the documentation, and apparently by default it's set to be fake, but if you rem out one statement in the config file it becomes live with the board.
So my next plan of action is to read through the 6 pdf documents of getting a whitewood flipping from scratch, which looks like some forum that was saved out. From reading other stuff, it looks like there are two config files. One for the framework (IE all the standard coding like hit switches, lamps, coils firing, ball trough management, basic scoring), and then you have the "machine" config which is specific to your game. This almost seems like it's turning raw python code into more of a basic language, spelling things out like start_button = start game, or left_button = left_flipper_coil. Yet another thing that isn't explained in any documentation (but I have some knowledge of watching Ben heck videos over the years), you don't want to edit code in a standard word program, you want a true python editing program so that you get the color separation, and the suggested code as you begin to type something (which helps speed things up, not to mention avoids spelling errors which can break code).
Friday, September 6, 2019
preparing
So here's my plan of action moving forward.. I have my 2 power supplies, I have connectors on the way. I need to at least power up the boards to verify they function normal. I don't know how deep I need to go to, if I can just power it up and get some sort of blinky light? Do I need to connect it to a computer and run code?
Beyond testing the boards I bought, I want to start planning how I'm going to re-tackle blue october. I've been sketching some ideas, been testing some of those ideas in virtual pinball (got a great idea for a mini double orbit playfield). I bought a notebook so both me and my wife can start writing down ideas in it (and sketches). yes there are probably more hi-tech ways of doing it, but there's something to be said about a simple notebook for quickly capturing ideas.
The other thing I've been thinking about is redesigning the cabinet. Without going too JPOP (I don't want to reinvent the wheel), but at the same time my end goal is to have a cabinet I'm happy with and can swap playfields in and out easily. My ideal cabinet would be:
* All power supplies mounted to the bottom, power management, P3-roc control board, switch boards, driver boards, LED boards. This is assuming slightly longer cable lengths aren't going to affect voltage drop or cause interference. This way if I ever want to design another layout I'm not re-buying all the hardware. I'm literally plugging in a standardized wiring harness, with standard connections (IE flippers are always the same channel, slings are always the same channel, ball trough is always the same channel). Anything beyond that is simply going to have to get re-assigned in code, but at the very least I can have a blank flipping whitewood waiting to be populated that I can quickly plug in.
* I would like the cabinet to be light, I hate how heavy games are still. One way is to sort of steal Heighway's idea of hollowing out the sides for sliding new artwork in (which I also want for each table). I believe they slotted the cabinet in the center, but I want a nice system.. Maybe something that pops in with built-in lighting. I'd also like to build the cabinet using 1/2" plywood instead of 3/4. Even if that means re-enforcing it with aluminum framework inside, wood is pretty dense and can really add to the weight.
* I want a better way of sliding in a playfield easily, and locking down easily (have an idea that involves a tab that slides in from the coin door). I also want feet under the playfield so I can yank it out and set it on the floor without needing to rest it vertically. Most likely going to go with some 80/20 channels to act as legs
* I don't necessarily want a real coin door, but I DO want the action of a coin drop. I miss the days of hitting the start button, and having the machine insult you for not having any credits.. And then as you add coins having a sound play related to the theme. Also bringing a homebrew (or any pinball to a show), I don't like the idea of freeplay where ignorant people can put 4 credits in and hog the machine. I want the user to physically have to drop some sort of coin through a mechanism to add credits. I also like the idea of making custom tokens that represent the project, have a cup holder mounted to the leg with a giant cup of tokens, and a sign that says "If you really liked my game, please take a token as a souvenir... BUT ONLY ONE!"
Beyond testing the boards I bought, I want to start planning how I'm going to re-tackle blue october. I've been sketching some ideas, been testing some of those ideas in virtual pinball (got a great idea for a mini double orbit playfield). I bought a notebook so both me and my wife can start writing down ideas in it (and sketches). yes there are probably more hi-tech ways of doing it, but there's something to be said about a simple notebook for quickly capturing ideas.
The other thing I've been thinking about is redesigning the cabinet. Without going too JPOP (I don't want to reinvent the wheel), but at the same time my end goal is to have a cabinet I'm happy with and can swap playfields in and out easily. My ideal cabinet would be:
* All power supplies mounted to the bottom, power management, P3-roc control board, switch boards, driver boards, LED boards. This is assuming slightly longer cable lengths aren't going to affect voltage drop or cause interference. This way if I ever want to design another layout I'm not re-buying all the hardware. I'm literally plugging in a standardized wiring harness, with standard connections (IE flippers are always the same channel, slings are always the same channel, ball trough is always the same channel). Anything beyond that is simply going to have to get re-assigned in code, but at the very least I can have a blank flipping whitewood waiting to be populated that I can quickly plug in.
* I would like the cabinet to be light, I hate how heavy games are still. One way is to sort of steal Heighway's idea of hollowing out the sides for sliding new artwork in (which I also want for each table). I believe they slotted the cabinet in the center, but I want a nice system.. Maybe something that pops in with built-in lighting. I'd also like to build the cabinet using 1/2" plywood instead of 3/4. Even if that means re-enforcing it with aluminum framework inside, wood is pretty dense and can really add to the weight.
* I want a better way of sliding in a playfield easily, and locking down easily (have an idea that involves a tab that slides in from the coin door). I also want feet under the playfield so I can yank it out and set it on the floor without needing to rest it vertically. Most likely going to go with some 80/20 channels to act as legs
* I don't necessarily want a real coin door, but I DO want the action of a coin drop. I miss the days of hitting the start button, and having the machine insult you for not having any credits.. And then as you add coins having a sound play related to the theme. Also bringing a homebrew (or any pinball to a show), I don't like the idea of freeplay where ignorant people can put 4 credits in and hog the machine. I want the user to physically have to drop some sort of coin through a mechanism to add credits. I also like the idea of making custom tokens that represent the project, have a cup holder mounted to the leg with a giant cup of tokens, and a sign that says "If you really liked my game, please take a token as a souvenir... BUT ONLY ONE!"
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