ipad, iphone, kindle-compared to PS3, XBOX......

[Sean DonCarlos]

I don't agree with Sean on the scoring either, I think he has ios on which shake nudging is impossible, he probably has to use touchscreen.
My tablet scores after only 2 weeks are starting to go past my console scores now, and I would think if he had an Android tablet he'd see the same.

I have an iPad 3, and you are right, shake nudging is useless. But I don't think my mobile scores are going to pass my console/PC scores anytime soon, even if I had an Android tablet:

Monster Bash: iOS - 809M, XBox - 4.0B
Ripley's Believe It or Not: iOS - 55M, XBox - 328M
Theatre of Magic: iOS - 1.6B, XBox - 8.5B
Twilight Zone: iOS - 1.7B, PC (beta) - 13.2B

I nudge constantly on the 360, not huge shoves of course, but little tiny nudges to keep the ball off a slingshot or to get a nice trap instead of bouncing off the tip of the flipper uncontrollably. But on the iPad shaking doesn't work, touch nudging is fixed-force and not subtle enough, and swipe nudging takes too long.

I'm not saying people couldn't reasonably prefer to play on a tablet, but my own experience is that the mobile offerings lack the fine control I need to play my best.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Tablet actually offers more realistic scores though. It's an inconvenience to nudge, just as it is on a real machine...

 

[gooche77]

I play mostly on the iPad these days due to many factors mentioned above. Landscape view and ease of use are the 2 primary reasons for me.

I have TPA on 360 and PHoF as well. The graphical differences are minor IMO playing on a retina display. Nudging is really the only thing that i miss.

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

Tablet actually offers more realistic scores though. It's an inconvenience to nudge, just as it is on a real machine...

It's an artificial constraint. I see a ball heading to the outlanes; I know an upward nudge will save it, and I can't do that on iOS. Or on CV, I know to use a light nudge to make an outlane save, and instead I get a forceful shove that bounces the ball off the slingshot and back to the outlane.

The problem is not that proper nudging is inconvenient on tablets; the problem is that it's impossible.

 

[Carl Spiby]

PHoF yes, but no way does it look as good as TPA on the Xbox.

I use touch nudging just fine

There is huge room to improve the tilt nudging, the just need to make it quite sensitive so a small tap can trigger a nudge.

 

[Nik Barbour]

I'm not saying people couldn't reasonably prefer to play on a tablet, but my own experience is that the mobile offerings lack the fine control I need to play my best.

Nudging with Sixaxis app & pad is great (I'm constantly nudging too). its not analogue, but TPA's tilt settings are so high, it's not a problem.

I know its not TPA but I played Zen on the xbox last night for the first time in 2 weeks and I was amazed how much more I prefer the tablet to the console. It's probably mostly due to the orientation.
TPA specific I can read pretty much all the table graphics on the tablet, I just can't see the same detail using the console.
Also tables with higher/ish upper flippers (TZ/RBION/STTNG) I don't find timing shots accurate in Landscape or on console, my timings are much improved in Portrait on the tablet.

You need to come over to Android Sean. (We also have the definitive version of 'Space Ace' too now thanks to Shane Monroe (Darkuni) - we wouldn't hold your past choices against you).

 

[Nik Barbour]

There is huge room to improve the tilt nudging, the just need to make it quite sensitive so a small tap can trigger a nudge.

Zen on Android has a sensitivity slider to adjust nudge detection. I'd love this in TPA.
Also, nudge up, and if possible magnitude of force related shake nudge.
I was quite impressed how well shake nudging works with the Nexus, but I do prefer using a controller.

 

[Jutter]

Zen on Android has a sensitivity slider to adjust nudge detection. I'd love this in TPA.

As it would affect gameplay, it would probably also invalidate scores for the leaderboard also, making it an unpopular feature from the getgo. Makes you wonder why F.S. hid the tilt-off feature behind wizzard goals. It'll likely gather dust anyway.

But I agree with the android-tablet being a superb platform for pinball gaming due to their benificial screen proportions, allowing for a portrait mode (cameramode 3) that's delightfully simillar to the PinMAME cabinet tables used in VP-cabinets.

 

[Nik Barbour]

As it would affect gameplay, it would probably also invalidate scores for the leaderboard also, making it an unpopular feature from the getgo. Makes you wonder why F.S. hid the tilt-off feature behind wizzard goals. It'll likely gather dust anyway.

But I agree with the android-tablet being a superb platform for pinball gaming due to their benificial screen proportions, allowing for a portrait mode (cameramode 3) that's delightfully simillar to the PinMAME cabinet tables used in VP-cabinets.

Your misunderstanding me.
The sensitivity slider in Zen affects how hard you move or bang the device before it registers it as a nudge. It's nothing to do with the tables tilt setting.
Eg. If you're rough when nudging turn sensitivity down, or if preferred turn it up, so a tiny tap on the side registers a nudge.

 

[xAzatothx]

TPA on a good Android tablet is infinitely better than the Xbox version in my opinion. It's console only owners I feel sorry for.

Quite surprised at this - but each to their own I suppose.

TPA on the Nexus 7 is good, but I much prefer playing on my Xbox (nudge control, a nice big screen, much better sound, more immersive experience). It's nice to have the Nexus 7 for when I am on the move and for a little casual play. But to be honest any serious playing is done on the XBOX. I've only purchased TZ and STTNG on android and that's only because I grew impatient with the DLC situation. I currently have a stack of MS points accrued which will be getting spanked over the old/new DLC when available.

I guess if I was married with kids, then the mobile platform would be more accessible as monopolising the TV in a relationship is never a good idea

 

[Pinballfan69]

Well in some way I agree with the OP. I have a Galaxy 3 s and it's hard to see what to actually shoot for. Of course I'm playing the demos as I have not bought any tables for my phone. Both the mobile and console version have their issues. I can't wait till there is an update for the Ps3 to fix them.

 

[Richard B]

I have the Android version and the 360. Here's how they compare

Video
360 has better lighting and more detailed textures and models, but no portrait mode, so you're either playing low to the ground, or using only a portion of the screen for the table itself.

Controls - Controllers are better, but my new phone has a pretty precise touch screen. I still get drains, though it is more likely because I didn't see the ball coming down the inlane because my finger was covering the screen, rather from my touches not registering. There is the issue of premature ball launches in STTNG and HD, but that's likely a software error, and will be fixed in the next update (right?).

Portability - The biggest benefit of the portables. Long line? No problem! Picking someone up, and they're not there? Time for some STTNG. Doctor taking his time to get to me? Great time for some TZ! Since I am having fun with one of my favorite games, rather than obsessing about how inconsiderate this person or entity is in wasting my time, I have become much less stressed now. TPA can lead to better health!

Conclusion - Get a console version for home, and a portable for when you are away.

 

[Jutter]

Now that I'm also playing PinMAME tables on my PC, using a Joypad controller, I do notice a difference in style between platforms. On the PC I'm a stop-and-go player, but more of a flowplayer on my Android tablet. The difference is in the effectiveness of nudging. On the tablet a shake-nudge can effectively prevent a drain, but I can't addequately use a corrective nudge or two to halt the ball as it rolls towards the edge of an upheld flipper.

 

[Mark W**a]

My sister and her husband are loving the Xbox version.

They are both rich as hell have always the newest smartphones , 2 desktops, 3 laptops, each of them has a tablet. I told her theres 12 additional tables on her tablet. She doesn't care. Take that for what you will.

Nik, you say you can't see all the detail... Are you running your Xbox in 1080p through an hdmi cord?

 

[Nik Barbour]

Yeah - its getting old I think.
I don't have HD eyes anymore - I can see something a sh1t load better that's closer to me.

Seriously though - I've been playing on the Nexus exclusively since getting it. Switched the Xbox on this weekend, and was amazed at how much more detail you can see on the tablet. It's the portrait view that does it.
It's the natural orientation of a Pinball table. Give you a tablet, hold it both ways, and controls not considered (I use BT gamepad), and you'll choose portrait every time. Consoles can't compete.
Pinball machines themselves are portrait oriented, the console view when something else is available just feels wrong.

I'm not fully decided (I still have 2 kickstarters owed me on Xbox) but with its demise now inevitable, I'm tempted to abandon it and just play TPA on Android.

 

[jaredmorgs]

Quite surprised at this - but each to their own I suppose.

Snip

I guess if I was married with kids, then the mobile platform would be more accessible as monopolising the TV in a relationship is never a good idea

Yep, this is me... ;-)



Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using Tapatalk HD

 

[superballs]

When I have a choice I play on xbox because I like the way it plays with a controller.

Playing on my S3 though is hardly an inferior experience and despite the smallwr screen the graphics are still nice and the play is smooth. Shake nudging is very well implemented on this device. Normally I use portrait unless I'm charging the phone then landscape cause its a pain to hold with the charger in.

 

[xAzatothx]

couple of points I missed which have hit home after playing MM on android (now it's table of the month).

1) the score boards on Xbox are far more reliable. Far less likely to be hacked and you are dealing with a common set of playing variables which are common across all players. Compared to the android score boards which cover a vast array of different devices, sizes, inputs.....etc This bugs the hell out of me as the playing field isn't level and fair.

2) given the small size of the nexus 7 screen - my reaction times are reduced compared to when playing on my Xbox 27" screen.

 

[superballs]

2) given the small size of the nexus 7 screen - my reaction times are reduced compared to when playing on my Xbox 27" screen.

How is the reaction time reduced? The tables are to scale. The ball travels at the same speed regardless of screen size. That's like saying if someone is playong on a 27" monitor on xbox that the ball will travel from top to bottom faster than someone on an xbox and a 50" monitor

 

[xAzatothx]

How is the reaction time reduced? The tables are to scale. The ball travels at the same speed regardless of screen size. That's like saying if someone is playong on a 27" monitor on xbox that the ball will travel from top to bottom faster than someone on an xbox and a 50" monitor

I knew I would get stick for this I questioned myself after posting it. I agree with what your saying but it's just the way I perceive it when playing. It always feels like I have more time on the Xbox when playing on the bigger screen vs my 7inch Nexus. It might be related to the time it takes me to move my fingers to try and nudge on android vs the analog stick on the Xbox controller.