So I just downloaded the App Store Version of TPA 7.2.0 this morning, and wanted to share some first impressions.
For the record, I had also just recently acquired 7.1.0, but since it had been delayed, and 7.2.0 had recently just been announced, I thought I'd wait until 7.2.0 to start this thread...
• Customizable controls! It's been a long time coming, and it's finally here! This is significant not only due to the ability to map controls to user-definable keys, but also because is now presents a clearer definition as to what those controls can be! I don't yet have any real opinions as to how (if at all) this will enhance the overall user experience (time will tell, after all), but the simple fact that this is now a valid option is a welcome change indeed! Thank you to all involved!
(one question, though - Is there any real difference between nudge up/nudge down, and nudge left/nudge right?)
• Improved frame-rate (?) Is it just my perception, or is the overall animation somehow smoother? Has the overall physics engine been tweaked?
• Score displays - I'm very happy to see that the Doctor Who - Masters of Time score display issues have been addressed (although some issues still persist). Also, the HUD for Gorgar appears... Incomplete... Still hoping for an overhaul to the older EM score displays (rolling numbers, rolling reset at startup, that sort of thing)... Also; weren't the scores supposed to be reflected in the backglass?
• Sound issues - Again, maybe it's just on my system, but there appears to be a 'crackling' in the low-end sounds for many of the tables (Xenon is a good example)
• Table tweaks - Several of the tables that were sources of frustration in the past now seem to play much better (Gorgar, for example, although see the above comment about the score display)
• Plunger Problems - I imagine that this may be due to the fact that the mouse can now be used to activate the 'mechanical' plunger, but it appears to me that the keyboard plunger function no longer responds as well as it used to (the plunger animation shows the plunger pulled all the way back, but the ball launch force is diminished unless the plunger key is held for longer than the animation would have you believe, making certain 'skill shots' more difficult than necessary... If I might be so bold as to suggest, a separate graphic element showing the plunger position, with the option to adjust the force prior to release via the arrow keys would be a good solution to this particular dilemma...
• New Ball Packs - As a concept, I like the new ball pack options, especially the Glow-Ball options (ball visibility is very important, after all). Granted, it's only been a day, but the ball selection appears to be a bit off in this release... Has anyone else noticed this? Speaking of custom ball options, I've not yet attempted any of the challenges on this release, but it appears that the ball selection reverts back to the standard silver ball during the challenges, with no way to change them. is this still the case, and if so, might it be addressed in a future release?
Overall, I'm very happy with the work that's been put into TPA in general, and the Mac version in particular, and look forward to further improvements in the future!
What are the impressions of others here in the community? Any issues you've noticed? Improvements worth mentioning?
For the record, I had also just recently acquired 7.1.0, but since it had been delayed, and 7.2.0 had recently just been announced, I thought I'd wait until 7.2.0 to start this thread...
• Customizable controls! It's been a long time coming, and it's finally here! This is significant not only due to the ability to map controls to user-definable keys, but also because is now presents a clearer definition as to what those controls can be! I don't yet have any real opinions as to how (if at all) this will enhance the overall user experience (time will tell, after all), but the simple fact that this is now a valid option is a welcome change indeed! Thank you to all involved!
(one question, though - Is there any real difference between nudge up/nudge down, and nudge left/nudge right?)• Improved frame-rate (?) Is it just my perception, or is the overall animation somehow smoother? Has the overall physics engine been tweaked?
• Score displays - I'm very happy to see that the Doctor Who - Masters of Time score display issues have been addressed (although some issues still persist). Also, the HUD for Gorgar appears... Incomplete...
Still hoping for an overhaul to the older EM score displays (rolling numbers, rolling reset at startup, that sort of thing)... Also; weren't the scores supposed to be reflected in the backglass?• Sound issues - Again, maybe it's just on my system, but there appears to be a 'crackling' in the low-end sounds for many of the tables (Xenon is a good example)
• Table tweaks - Several of the tables that were sources of frustration in the past now seem to play much better (Gorgar, for example, although see the above comment about the score display)
• Plunger Problems - I imagine that this may be due to the fact that the mouse can now be used to activate the 'mechanical' plunger, but it appears to me that the keyboard plunger function no longer responds as well as it used to (the plunger animation shows the plunger pulled all the way back, but the ball launch force is diminished unless the plunger key is held for longer than the animation would have you believe, making certain 'skill shots' more difficult than necessary... If I might be so bold as to suggest, a separate graphic element showing the plunger position, with the option to adjust the force prior to release via the arrow keys would be a good solution to this particular dilemma...
• New Ball Packs - As a concept, I like the new ball pack options, especially the Glow-Ball options (ball visibility is very important, after all). Granted, it's only been a day, but the ball selection appears to be a bit off in this release... Has anyone else noticed this? Speaking of custom ball options, I've not yet attempted any of the challenges on this release, but it appears that the ball selection reverts back to the standard silver ball during the challenges, with no way to change them. is this still the case, and if so, might it be addressed in a future release?
Overall, I'm very happy with the work that's been put into TPA in general, and the Mac version in particular, and look forward to further improvements in the future!
What are the impressions of others here in the community? Any issues you've noticed? Improvements worth mentioning?
