I didn't know it works this way. ...So it used to copy the files to disc and then load to memory? It seems to be a waste. The tables don't seem to load faster but my PC is pretty fast anyway. Should we add FPM models to the list?

I have noticed that textures and not loaded to memory unless they are used (which I think is the reason you have to add swapable texture to a table object). Do audio files (like OGG and WAV) work the same way? I have noticed that unused textures and models can be automatically deleted from FP but audio files cannot.

I have noticed that Visual Pinball tables have script similar to FP. How possible would it be to be able to write a program that converts tables from one to the other?

George

Thery are removed from disk operations in BAM v.222.
Now all temporary files created by FP are keeped in memory, not on disk.
... and load time is improved even for fast computer. By load time i mean time when you load table to editor (before you press F5).


FP knows if texture is used, because it is assigned to object in editor.
FP can't know if sound (wav/ogg) is used, becasue it can be played from script. FP don't have any logic/AI needed to interprete script and detect if sound is used or not.


I think, that people are not interested in converting FP table to VP.
LvR created full doc about FP file formats and data structures 5 (or more) years ago.
So, it is possible. As proof, you can look at unity 3d pinball... but there is no point in doing this.
I guess it would be very complicated. You need to understand both FP & VP to create this.

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http://www.ravarcade.pl
Better Arcade Mode
current BAM version: v1.4-249, released: Feb 5, 2019

Thanks Rav.

George

Unit3DPinball should have been open source. That + Bam maybe were the holy cow. The great physics on VP + the real 3D on FP would be fantastic.

We can only dream, but never happen. Unit3D sure left a bad taste in peoples mouths, and though vpx is fantastic with what they have done, it's just way to complex and hard for the average person to use now. Just too many things to have to learn now, most people just don't have the time. Shame the way things have turned out now.

At least we have this, though I'm sure Rav will one of these days get fed up with trying to bypass FP and combat all it's various flaws. If I was at that level of programming like Rav, I wouldn't even bother with FP, just do my own editor and give it the ability to convert fpt files while using vpx physics (as VP is open source)

The other alternative is Unity, there are a couple tables done by shaderbytes that use unity based physics with VPM, Elvis and tommy I believe, and they are both excellent, better than vpx. If he ever released the assets, then that would be a good start to a new editor, but then unity is a very complex game engine and that would require a team effort.

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https://forum.unity.com/threads/shaderb ... ad.514429/

Wow, never heard about this. I have to check these tables soon. It looks like this guy an Rav could be an incredible force.

Thanks Rafal,for your hard job.and especially that's free, good luck with Bam.

Again thank you. FP just runs so much better now. I do have a request, and it's with shadow maps. Is it possible for BAM to create a tga image file of the shadows generated in the proper playfield dimensions that is transparent, that we can load back in and use for say shadows to overlay on plastics? This way we can match the shadows on higher surfaces that the bulbs and flashers do not handle very well, or still have shadows even when all the bulbs/flashers are off.

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beta v224:
https://www.ravarcade.pl/beta/BAM.dll
You have command to save selected shadow map as transparent TGA.
Also you can set "offset". If you have top surface = 29.0 you can set offset = 29.0 and shadow will be calculated for that surface.
Note:
- you will have to change Ammount or Passes to make "upadate" button active.
- "offset" is not saved.

_________________
http://www.ravarcade.pl
Better Arcade Mode
current BAM version: v1.4-249, released: Feb 5, 2019

Thanks. Didn't work the way I wanted though. What I was going to do was attach it to a hologram, and layer over the plastics in my game with multiple opacity. I need to be able to modify the image in photoshop as well, so I can't do it with the tga file BAM generates as it's solid black, and doesn't appear to work as a hologram (at least I can't get it to view as straight shadows and nothing else).

Maybe I can do a workaround using the png files, or just draw the shadows like I have done before.

Will "offset" be saveable down the road?

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