Has TPA Killed Off VP

[lettuce]

Has The Pinball Aracde Killed Off Visual Pinball!?

I used to visit the VP Forums on a regular basis, mostly 2 days wouldnt go past without me visiting the forums and seeing what tables were being released or worked on. But since the release of TPA i have found myself visiting the VPF less and less, and now hardly ever go over there or even use the program...i dont think ive been on the forums for well over 3 months now, as now all the well known and loved tables are no on TPA with the exception of maybe Addams Family, Indiana Jones, Simpsons Pinball Party.

So my question is do you think TPA has killed of VP and VP forums, the place just seems to have had a massive turn down in new posts and threads over the last year or so?

 

[vpalmer]

FP is still here and in some cases > TPA

 

[lettuce]

Im referring to Visual Pinball

 

[k88dad]

Visual Pinball still has huge appeal to those who wish to play hundreds of tables. There are many of my favorite tables that have pretty much zero chance of ever being a part of TPA. Some of us have been playing pinball for decades, and the older tables still have appeal.

The downturn at VPF is more likely due to the maturing of the platform. There was a burst of activity as tables were redone (or adapted) for VP9, but now that has leveled off. VP9 is a mature platform, and there is little need for a replacement. Some of the best recreations are available for VP—and nowhere else.

 

[CycOd3liC]

I'm going to say no here. There's too many tables, and some are most likely never going to be made by TPA.

 

[Mark W**a]

Well if it's had a massive drop off like you say then yes pinball arcade had a part.

Is it going to "die" no, hobbyist stuff like that will live on as others say pinball arcade will never have a lot of tables.

 

[Mechanix77]

What exactly is "Visual Pinball"?

 

[Pinballwiz45b]

Basically it's a program that lets you create/recreate pinball games. Not just building them, but playing them out as well. So similar to TPA and the like.

 

[Mechanix77]

Gotcha.

Thanks.

 

[DaPinballWizard]

They are compliments to each other not substitutes. I will keep both.

 

[Kolchak357]

I think VP will always have a place because of the large amount of pins recreated. (Especially EMs that I assume FS will never get around to) Don't forget the original creations too.

 

[CycOd3liC]

I doubt we will ever see Big Bang Bar on TPA, that's one table I will keep VP around for. And until/if SPP/LOTR are created, they are playable via VP for now.

 

[ZenTron]

Im not the piracy police, but isn't VP/PinballMAME & Future Pinball illegal unless you own the pinball? For instance, FS is having a heck of a time getting licensing for Addams Family but I can go and download that table for Future Pinball now. Aren't the license holders getting ripped off by our ability to do that?

Ive downloaded a lot of FP and VP for "testing" and a lot of them are crap in my opinion. I cannot see myself spending a ton of time building a virtual cabinet to play them. With TPA going to be officially supported in a cabinet, I can see spending $4000-$5000 for a cabinet with all the games loaded. The games will be of the best quality, and its all legit.

I doubt we will ever see Big Bang Bar on TPA, that's one table I will keep VP around for. And until/if SPP/LOTR are created, they are playable via VP for now.

 

[lettuce]

I doubt we will ever see Big Bang Bar on TPA, that's one table I will keep VP around for. And until/if SPP/LOTR are created, they are playable via VP for now.

I think i remember hearing in one of the interviews that Big Bang Bar is one table FS are looking at getting and are well into talking with Illinois Pinball over it

 

[DaPinballWizard]

Simpsons, TAF, LOTR, Fish Tales, Red and Ted, Xenon. I can go on and on. I will buy every one of them when/if they are released on TPA. Until then, I will enjoy them on VP and my cabinet. Even when TZ is released. If you want gumballs in the machine, you are not going to get it with TPA.

 

[open6l]

Im not the piracy police, but isn't VP/PinballMAME & Future Pinball illegal unless you own the pinball? For instance, FS is having a heck of a time getting licensing for Addams Family but I can go and download that table for Future Pinball now. Aren't the license holders getting ripped off by our ability to do that?

Ive downloaded a lot of FP and VP for "testing" and a lot of them are crap in my opinion. I cannot see myself spending a ton of time building a virtual cabinet to play them. With TPA going to be officially supported in a cabinet, I can see spending $4000-$5000 for a cabinet with all the games loaded. The games will be of the best quality, and its all legit.

I think you're ignoring one important fact. FS is selling these (and therefore need official licensing) whereas FP and VP are not selling tables.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

 

[ZenTron]

That is a good point. I wonder if FS could make Addams Family if they offer it free..

I think you're ignoring one important fact. FS is selling these (and therefore need official licensing) whereas FP and VP are not selling tables.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

 

[PiN WiZ]

I think you're ignoring one important fact. FS is selling these (and therefore need official licensing) whereas FP and VP are not selling tables.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

It doesn't matter if you are selling someone else's licensed material or not, public distribution of licensed material without written consent from each and every licensor to do so is considered illegal.

 

[Worf]

I see VP as a compliment to TPA - TPA offers licensed tables, VP offers experimental tables. Of course, VP+VPM was also what lead to the current restriction on Gottlieb stuff.

And the community died out a long time ago - it's a mere shadow of its former self - during the heyday things were amazing, then it imploded somewhat and you're seeing a small community of hard core fans.

Now, the thing is that TPA brought back a lot of VP folks and probably helped contribute a lot to reviving VP. For me though, the scars of what happened are still there.

Doesn't mean I don't like VP though - I see PinMAME as a very important project to keep these old systems going, VP as a way to try out new concepts in pinball cheaply and TPA to bring back properly licensed tables to all.

And yes, unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material is illegal. Even if it's for free.

 

[RetroDude]

Im not the piracy police, but isn't VP/PinballMAME & Future Pinball illegal unless you own the pinball? For instance, FS is having a heck of a time getting licensing for Addams Family but I can go and download that table for Future Pinball now. Aren't the license holders getting ripped off by our ability to do that?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yeeeeeeeeeessss.