_________________
-----------------------------
My 3D Sci-Fi and Fantasy Art
Renderosity
MySpace
-----------------------------

Simple answer: it is illegal.

More detail answer: Software authors lend you the right to use their software, but it's not your property (read the license agreement, you know the file no one read). An example (a bit extreme, but you have the idea): you have Windows, right? Do you have the right to remove the license protection? After all it's only a dll hidden somewhere on your harddrive... For FP, if black had decided to put limitations to FP by using an embedded XML file, it is his personnal choice.

I don't want to see GoPinball closed because of such a futile issue... especially when there are other projectSSS surfacing.

EDIT: final thoughts - I'm only giving facts. If FP physics is better that's great

_________________

Ideally these xml settings would be stored inside the table file, so that each table maker can customize them to their wish.

Would it be possible to have a wrapper load up the table in FP while at the same time load a similar named file for the physics settings and patch this in at run time? In this way you keep the original software untouched and have maximum control for the table makers. And maximum enjoyment for the players I might add!

Man, if only Black would come back and see how alive the community is and what people are doing with his baby! Stuff like having the XML settings inside the table file would be relatively easy for him to add, without changing any of the core mechanics.

Thanks for the clear statement .

_________________

YouTubeChannel

Is not this site the only reason FP still exist? I guess so. So far someone improve their free product they would only be happy. Else they don't love Pinball. : )

The point is they won't be happy... but they like pinball

_________________

That is backward thinking. That's like saying if I can improve the a da Vinci painting, i should go ahead and do it. The EXE is not ours to frig aound with. Any mods exe or tables should be approved.

I am not judging the results, i do not doubt it improves fp to some extent and i do not judge people for wanting and using such a patch, but it does not make its existence right.

excellent pinball , excellent work man!!!!

Would it be also a problem if it were only changed at runtime by a wrapper leaving the physical exe untouched? A la game cheats & other mods. We are not distributing any altered exe, only providing an add-on to extend already built-in functionality as long as we don't get a no go from Black. Similar to the way we handle remakes that use graphics, sounds and game logic to which non of us has the actual ownership nor usage approval I would think.

Well, I'm the only one misbehaving here. I take full responsibility for the modified .exe file and if the FP Developers should ever return, then I'll gladly explain myself to them. No harm no foul.