(VPX) Am I doing something wrong?

[alfonic]

Hi. My name is Alfonic and this is my first post to this site.

 

My only way to access pinball is through video pinball. My primary video-game(s) of choice have been the Gottlieb and Williams Collection on PSP. They're super fun and offer some great tables to play.

 

However, I've been flirting with the idea to broaden my horizons. I wanted to dabble in Visual Pinball but had previously felt like a daunting undertaking and had been put off from the things I read about it online. A few years ago I did try to set it up but I think I lost focus too quickly and gave up promptly.

 

Fast forward until today, I looked up a guide on YouTube and followed it. Expecting a headache and another "give up", I was surprised to find that I was actually playing a table on VPX. Goodness me.

 

This leads me to the point of this post. Am I doing something wrong? Was it really that easy to set up?

 

All I did was download VPX (albeit an outdated version, which I'll need to update) and a table (El Dorado, 1975). Opened the .vpx file with the program and I was playing in a matter of seconds. What. On Earth.

 

How come there's all this chatter about how much you have to tinker and faff around with it? I even decided to push my luck and try a more technologically advanced table.

 

Funhouse. I thought yeah there's no way that will work, the machine is basically its own computer. Nope. All I had to do was download the table, a ROM set, and bosh, I was in - taunting Rudy just like in the William's Collection PSP game.

 

I didn't try much with Funhouse yet to build up a score, but I managed to get a high score entry in El Dorado, which is a proof of concept that the program recognises and records high score entries.

 

I think I've found my new favourite way to enjoy pinball. Any tips from fellow Visual Pinball players would be most welcome. I still have a nagging doubt that I've been able to set this all up too easily and I'm missing something crucial.

 

Thank you.

[makmak]

Yes, you definitely missed at least ONE nervous breakdown, you obviously enjoyed only half the fun. For an easy start, get a Cab. 😜

[Cliffy]

On 5/2/2026 at 1:41 PM, alfonic said:

I think I've found my new favourite way to enjoy pinball. Any tips from fellow Visual Pinball players would be most welcome. I still have a nagging doubt that I've been able to set this all up too easily and I'm missing something crucial.

You're actually doing it the right way! Starting simple and moving along into more advanced and feature rich tables. Wait until you discover colorized dmd's, pup packs, directb2s, alt sounds, flexdmd's... and if you do get into building a cabinet there's a whole slew of things to contend with like DOF which controls solenoids and lighting. 

Do it the way you are now. One step at a time. Fortunately you have a wealth of information and help right here on VP Universe. Nailbuster's Baller Installer is a great way to get everything you need for your particular setup in one shot. Have fun with it because that's what it's all about!

[alfonic]

On 5/18/2026 at 5:24 AM, makmak said:

Yes, you definitely missed at least ONE nervous breakdown, you obviously enjoyed only half the fun. For an easy start, get a Cab. 😜

Haha, I'm sure there'll be plenty more to come. I've found that the tinkering to get the settings just right is often half the time shared with playing the actual table, probably more neglecting the latter!

 

Thank you!

[Tikimaster]

On 5/2/2026 at 10:41 PM, alfonic said:

A few years ago I did try to set it up but I think I lost focus too quickly and gave up promptly.

My first try ended like the same. VPX is NOT plug and play.

[alfonic]

On 5/18/2026 at 3:15 PM, Cliffy said:

You're actually doing it the right way! Starting simple and moving along into more advanced and feature rich tables. Wait until you discover colorized dmd's, pup packs, directb2s, alt sounds, flexdmd's... and if you do get into building a cabinet there's a whole slew of things to contend with like DOF which controls solenoids and lighting. 

Do it the way you are now. One step at a time. Fortunately you have a wealth of information and help right here on VP Universe. Nailbuster's Baller Installer is a great way to get everything you need for your particular setup in one shot. Have fun with it because that's what it's all about!

Thank you very much for the kind words.

 

Since I posted this originally I've found so many cool projects around here, seeing those prove to be an inspiration for something in the future for sure.

 

Thanks for the tip on that Baller Installer, I will absolutely check this out!

[alfonic]

3 minutes ago, Tikimaster said:

My first try ended like the same. VPX is NOT plug and play.

Yep, I hear you on that.

 

There is that moment which I have recently discovered when you finally have everything dialled in for a particular table then it's a great feeling.