New guy here - a simple question

[Whiplashhh]

This might be a very common question around here, but I have no time to investigate such a big forum to get the answers.
While seeing how non-intuitive it is to set the VPS, I wonder why is it so hard to make a portable version with some of the essential tables - so that people can play right away?
For me as a newbie it's quite weird that I have to pass all this weird procedure, just to play a simple game.
Or, am I wrong, do such packs already exist?

Edited December 8, 2024 by Whiplashhh

[Tikimaster]

To play  a table you need to install vpx and vpinmame. This is how I started and I had a lot of fun before I was installing the backglass-server. Takes a few minutes. You can play a lot of tables just right away.
There is a "baller installer", which installs most components. You should have a look at this.

Edited December 8, 2024 by Tikimaster

[LoadedWeapon]

On 12/8/2024 at 1:18 PM, Whiplashhh said:

This might be a very common question around here, but I have no time to investigate such a big forum to get the answers.
While seeing how non-intuitive it is to set the VPS, I wonder why is it so hard to make a portable version with some of the essential tables - so that people can play right away?
For me as a newbie it's quite weird that I have to pass all this weird procedure, just to play a simple game.
Or, am I wrong, do such packs already exist?

Because this is a hobby created by many many people. It's not like a rom you can just download and play the game. Everything is hand made from someone.

Takes a lot of different programs working together to create a fully working table.

Programs: VPX, VPinmame, Externaldmd, flexdmd, B2SServer, pinupplayer for puppacks.

The rom is just 1 component 

Someone has to make the table, backglass, colordmd, puppack etc.. 

The least you can do is download the files. 

If you are already saying you don't have time to look at forums or download files this is definitely not the hobby for you as it is never ending setups, updates and adjustments. 

 

You can download and setup maybe your top 10 tables and be happy for awhile but something new or better always comes out.

 

Check out baller_installer for all of the software installs and it includes a few original tables.

Edited December 9, 2024 by LoadedWeapon

[Whiplashhh]

Thanks for the answers. Yeah, I guess  I wanted to see all this as a regular PC game before I get deeper to all the content. I'll see if I have nerves to get trough whole this process.

The thing is: everything about this is so not-new-users-friendly. I see that even that baller_installer has so weirdly organized site. I was looking the description of it everywhere and just accidentally noticed it somewhere on the bottom of one page, while scrolling down a lot (I have no idea why I even did that). They even have YouTube tutorials about how to install it, but nobody says what that thing is and why I should install it.

Edited December 10, 2024 by Whiplashhh

[KiwiBri]

A lot of this hobby is based on the fact that the person should have an understanding of how things are designed and setup because it will help with your issues you have. Everyone's system will be different. 

 

[Tikimaster]

Its totally confusing, I know it.
I can tell you how I did it:
1. Installed vpx and vpinmame - had some days a lot of fun
2. Read the b2s-Server manual and installed and configured backglass-server - had some weeks of more fun.
3. While playing nice tables, I read how to install dmdext. Installed dmdext, - had some more weeks of more fun with it.
4. Next I watched nailbusters video how to install PinupPlayer. Made a backup of everything and installed pinupplayer. Learned how to configure PinupPlayer.
The whole process took about 3 or 4 month. At the end I was able to configure every component I need. (have no cab)
I do not use Popper as Frontend, its complicated for my taste.

The most important thing was: Take time.
Or - you take this all-in-one Installer. You will have something working at once, but you will have no clue how to configure the componentst. For me, it was easier to learn step by step.

Edited December 10, 2024 by Tikimaster

[LoadedWeapon]

15 hours ago, Whiplashhh said:

Thanks for the answers. Yeah, I guess  I wanted to see all this as a regular PC game before I get deeper to all the content. I'll see if I have nerves to get trough whole this process.

The thing is: everything about this is so not-new-users-friendly. I see that even that baller_installer has so weirdly organized site. I was looking the description of it everywhere and just accidentally noticed it somewhere on the bottom of one page, while scrolling down a lot (I have no idea why I even did that). They even have YouTube tutorials about how to install it, but nobody says what that thing is and why I should install it.

It is a lot and requires a lot of learning and patience.

Baller installer installs all of the essential software needed for virtual pinball and includes a front-end program to run all of your different pinball programs.

And as a added bonus it has a built in updater to help keep the programs up to date.

Follow this to install baller but also maybe check out my beginner guide on my YouTube channel it covers a lot of questions. 

https://youtu.be/yIsowrFRoWg?si=2JKmY8gXcMHfiR74

 

[PastorLUL]

I once asked the same thing back in the day and the main response was that not everyone should be able to set this up easily. If so, that will introduce other issues. It is what it is

[RabidUrko]

First off, the real work is by those who make the tables and backglasses, and all the other apps/addons to make VPX great.

Its daunting at first (i found using a cabinet anyway) the installing/updating, but isnt everything, but after a while most of it is straightforward once you know what you are doing, thankfully with help from here and other sites, i generally know what im doing upgrading now overall as regards all the apps/progs.

No pain, no gain.

Its now immense fun updating with the great works/media created, as much fun as actually playing the tables.

Edited December 10, 2024 by RabidUrko
made paragraph.

[Jaxpin]

On 12/10/2024 at 7:22 AM, Tikimaster said:

Its totally confusing, I know it.
I can tell you how I did it:
1. Installed vpx and vpinmame - had some days a lot of fun
2. Read the b2s-Server manual and installed and configured backglass-server - had some weeks of more fun.
3. While playing nice tables, I read how to install dmdext. Installed dmdext, - had some more weeks of more fun with it.
4. Next I watched nailbusters video how to install PinupPlayer. Made a backup of everything and installed pinupplayer. Learned how to configure PinupPlayer.
The whole process took about 3 or 4 month. At the end I was able to configure every component I need. (have no cab)
I do not use Popper as Frontend, its complicated for my taste.

The most important thing was: Take time.
Or - you take this all-in-one Installer. You will have something working at once, but you will have no clue how to configure the componentst. For me, it was easier to learn step by step.

This......

[LazySage]

The easy answer is to just forget the VP path and go with a Zen product, where everything looks great and runs fine, all the time. I played with VP back in the 90s, before YouTube, and I was able to get tables up and running easily. Not possible now. Everything is so convoluted. While their are many folks who provide excellent guidance, their are more that don't. It's assumed that you can edit config files, unzip to the correct folders, and everything in between. If you can't, there's not a lot of patience for you in this community. There are thousands of tables to download on several sites, but the software to run them is on the vapid Facebook or Discord servers. I had computer issues and I needed to start over so I joined Discord for the Installer. The links provided just return you to Nailbuster, which returns you to Discord. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why the Installer is not available to download at the sites that tables are downloaded, but that's probably one reason why this "hobby" has not grown since I dabbled with it in the 90s. I somehow downloaded the file 6 months ago by sheer coincidence, not from any guidance provided here or elsewhere. Maybe it can be duplicated. I've got nothing else to do, we'll see. But until then, if I need a pinball fix it will be Zen.

[Cliffy]

Well yes you need to enjoy the set up part of pinball on a pc as much as the play. It's a great opportunity to learn how it all works. VPX is not a jump in the car, push the button and go affair. You will need to pop the hood and manually update the engine and it's ancillary components from time to time. It can be frustrating to get them all running together but once you do it's a great feeling of learning a new thing and accomplishment. I'm old(er) but never too old to learn and I've gained massive respect for the creators of all the components that make it the BEST virtual pinball available today