PinUP Player Dynamic Backglass and more (WIP)

[NailBuster]

alrighty... so here is where I'm at with a new idea that could/should take PuP displays to a whole new LEVEL...

We're talking about a fully dynamic environment for backglasses and more  (dmd, gamelogic....etc)

on the technical side:  I've written a very small HTTP Server with an embedded WebSocket Server (designed to run local access only during gameplay)

ok... so what does that allow someone to do?  Well so many things that I haven't thought about it all yet

But in its basic form.   A PuP display can actually setup to be a 'chrome' embedded browser (to the user it doesn't look like a browser, its bordless/toolbarless).

So now,  this local embedded browser connects to the PuPServer via http and websockets.  Http to grab any HTML5/GameEngine/Javascipt/Files/Images...you name it... 

and it will also connect via websockets to get instant (server pushed) websockets messages.  (realtime VPINMAME messages like lights, solenoids...switches)

So we could create the most 'awesom-ness' dynamic backglass....and more.  

so with html5/javascript we're using current 'tech' and can use/reuse all sorts of different libraries for game engines and more....  this I think is important and moving to new stuff, you don't want to be stuck with a certain way.

anything you learn about using this method is helping you in the 'real-world' of html5/javascript/web design!

Here are just some examples of free htm5 games engines and such...browse some sample projects and code...

https://phaser.io/examples/v2/category/bitmapdata

http://pixijs.io/examples/#/demos/blendmodes.js

http://greweb.me/illuminated.js/#{"lights":[],"objects":[],"globals":{"maskcolor":"rgba(0,0,0,0.9)"}}

 

 

this is all 'WIP' ideas/thoughts.... but I have a working prototype.  I'm NOT a web-designer, so it'd be great to get some feedback/testers/devs who are 'stronger' in web-dev/html5/javascripting/game engines.

Backglasses are just the start... you could run 'anything' in a browser, and interfaced to VPX then all sorts of ideas are possible like original game-logic,  interactive html-sub-games during play.... etc.

whew.....  hopefully that makes sense.....btw:  I know this will required MORE system resources, but its 2018.... need to look ahead, and people always need an excuse to 'upgrade' their hardware

 

looking for any opinions... good or bad... and ideas that I maybe haven't thought about....  

 

[TerryRed]

This is definitely a step in the right direction. This would hopefully allow for a Backglass or Topper,etc that would have almost anything you wanted...but utilizing today's hardware and looking slick and smooth.

Imagine much better looking T3, Scared Stiff, Circus Voltaire,Fast Break backglass with real-time moving elements for rom based tables.

For original tables, you could do some really neat little games mixed in, movies, anything really.

You should also be able to use "proper" LAYERS for a backglass with videos and scoring,etc...much more in line with what you would see in a JJP backglass.

This may also pave the way for a B2S Server replacement that was eventually needed at some point...while hopefully keeping B2S Server separate for legacy stuff.

 

While daunting at first... this could lead to some amazing stuff.

 

[DJRobX]

44 minutes ago, TerryRed said:

Imagine much better looking T3,

LOL, when NailBuster and I were discussing this, I mentioned that the T3 backglass was an example of why this might be a good idea.

There's an endless number of HTML libraries for doing anything you can think of.   Sky's the limit.

And yeah you're also thinking the same way we are about it being a B2S server replacement.    Thing is that the B2S server does a pretty good job of serving as a plugin host that can monitor VPM traffic, even when the .directb2s file is not available.  The alternative is to add a plugin architecture to VPM, but that still leaves a need for some direct method for non-VPM tables.

 

 

[DOCPINBALL]

Can you say eureka? other wise you'd better learn,awesome stuff,and great idea man!

 

[HorsePin]

Instead of chrome browser I would consider what it'd be like hosting it in a https://electronjs.org/ application.

I haven't got around to making anything yet, so I don't know what it's really like. VS Code, slack & signal are made in this which I use to name a few. I know I can take KnockoutJs (mvvm) skills into this, which perked my interest, but I like my WPF too much to start dicking around just yet.