How PuP packs are made ?

[Darkflame]

I don't have PinUp Player installed yet (but I plan to try IM LOTB) and ask myself how all of this works.

Are the videos contained inside extracted from the ROM (for example spk files from Stern) ?

 

I suppose there are only PuP packs for the newer pinball machines that use LCDs (like Spike 2 system from Stern), as I don't see how it could work with older SAM ROM that are emulated by PinMAME. I also suppose the only way to make it work is to call the corresponding videos inside VPX script ?

 

Thanks in advance for any clarification 🤔

[Tikimaster]

Not exactly.

Most PuP-Pack videos are not extracted from the ROM. Authors usually create them from external sources such as movie clips, TV footage, trailers, fan edits, animations, artwork, custom graphics, and audio recordings. Some creators may use assets extracted from modern LCD-based games when legally and technically possible, but that's not how most PuP-Packs are built.

Also, PuP-Packs are not limited to newer LCD machines. There are PuP-Packs for many older DMD-era tables (Williams/Bally WPC, Stern SAM, etc.). PinMAME can expose game events (switches, lamps, solenoids, scores, modes, etc.), and the table script can also send custom triggers to PinUP Player.

So yes, the usual mechanism is that VPX script and/or PinMAME events trigger PuP events, which then tell PinUP Player which video, image, sound, or playlist to play. The pack itself contains the media files and a configuration that maps triggers to media actions.

For newer games (SPIKE, SPIKE 2, Jersey Jack, etc.), creators sometimes try to recreate or supplement the original LCD experience, but the principle is the same: gameplay events trigger media playback through PinUP Player.

In short:

PuP-Pack media is usually external content, not ROM-extracted videos.

PuP-Packs exist for both old and new machines.

PinUP Player reacts to triggers from VPX scripts and/or PinMAME events.

The pack contains media files plus configuration files that define what plays and when.
Get a cup of coffee and read that:
https://www.nailbuster.com/wikipinup/doku.php?id=pup_capture

Edited June 7 by Tikimaster

[Darkflame]

Thanks Tikimaster for this precise answer, the link is invaluable for details 👍

I begin to mesure all time passed for example by VPW team to recreate the Legacy of The Beast videos, as they are real similar to what the real machine displays ! 

[Dazz]

3 hours ago, Tikimaster said:

Not exactly.

Most PuP-Pack videos are not extracted from the ROM. Authors usually create them from external sources such as movie clips, TV footage, trailers, fan edits, animations, artwork, custom graphics, and audio recordings. Some creators may use assets extracted from modern LCD-based games when legally and technically possible, but that's not how most PuP-Packs are built.

Also, PuP-Packs are not limited to newer LCD machines. There are PuP-Packs for many older DMD-era tables (Williams/Bally WPC, Stern SAM, etc.). PinMAME can expose game events (switches, lamps, solenoids, scores, modes, etc.), and the table script can also send custom triggers to PinUP Player.

So yes, the usual mechanism is that VPX script and/or PinMAME events trigger PuP events, which then tell PinUP Player which video, image, sound, or playlist to play. The pack itself contains the media files and a configuration that maps triggers to media actions.

For newer games (SPIKE, SPIKE 2, Jersey Jack, etc.), creators sometimes try to recreate or supplement the original LCD experience, but the principle is the same: gameplay events trigger media playback through PinUP Player.

In short:

PuP-Pack media is usually external content, not ROM-extracted videos.

PuP-Packs exist for both old and new machines.

PinUP Player reacts to triggers from VPX scripts and/or PinMAME events.

The pack contains media files plus configuration files that define what plays and when.
Get a cup of coffee and read that:
https://www.nailbuster.com/wikipinup/doku.php?id=pup_capture

I believe that Pinball Browser can export frames from Spike/Spike2 possibly Spike 3 games, but not 100% positive. 

[Darkflame]

I tried with the Iron Maiden game code zip file downloaded from Stern and it doesn't recognize the format... no luck ☹️

The developper has posted a list of compatible machines here : https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images

[Darkflame]

I had today an exchange with Pinball Browser developper : I was using the gamecode downloaded from Stern website (with .spk.zip expansion) but the application only recognizes raw format of SD card images.