[SPA] The iOS Version Looks Terrible

[HotHamBoy]

UPDATE:
I bought Star Trek because I love that table and this looks much better. The action button is still squished and too high

There *is* some new lighting effects I've never seen on TPA!

When the ball passes over the mode lights they reflect off the surface of the ball! Looks really good.

UPDATE 2:
Well, there's no way to enter you initials when you get a high score on Star Trek. No buttons, flippers don't scroll, no way to exit the screen. You have to exit the app. Happened both times I got a high score. Don't know about the other tables. This is actually unacceptable, I can tolerate everything else.

First thing I noticed: Man, this is kinda dull/dim looking.

Second: wow, this playfield is prety low res and fuzzy compared to recent TPA releases

3rd: man, this UI is messed up. Elements haphazardly placed, words running off borders, the action button is *squished* and placed in an awkward postion (iPad) that can't be adjusted (a pain for Star Trek/SST)

4th: Man, there's hardly any options in settings

5th: So much for the improved lighting over TPA on mobile devices. I also noticed that the rotating car is not lit.

This seems like a super rushed release to make Christmas.

On the plus side, Mustang is temporarily free. That's a better situation to try the game then what Gear VR and console owners got. Despite all the problems with each release (the Gear VR version still unplayable for me) I now own SPA on 3 platforms. I must really love pinball.

 

[Heretic]

better than a lump of coal

 

[EldarOfSuburbia]

[MENTION=3799]FlippyFloppy[/MENTION] already said it was either get it out before Christmas with bugs, or wait until afterwards.

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

 

[StrakaC]

Purchased Table Pack 1 on my iPad Air2. I don't see low rez....actually pretty sharp IMO. Star Trek is 100x better lit on the iPad versus the PS4 version. I'm liking it and so happy it's here finally!

 

[HotHamBoy]

That seems very anticonsumer.

"We'll take you $10/table now and you can wait fretfully for us to fix the glaring problems."

I think the right thing to do is wait to release it rather than knowingly charge for a broken product.

 

[Heretic]

some of you guys are so miserable makes me look like a happy go lucky hippy!

think of it as early access, this isnt only directed at hot ham but someof you guys needa slap and delisted from the xmas cheer

 

[HotHamBoy]

Okay, bought Star Trek and it looks way better.

Now I know why Mustang is free.

 

[Lord Boron]

Ugh....requires iOS 10. Well, guess I'm out.

 

[CycOd3liC]

Looks and plays great on my iPad Mini 4.

 

[codinghorror]

The DX11 engine looks WAY better than anything else. I can barely look at the iOS / Android versions any more.. so bad in comparison.

They did mention on a podcast recently that newer portables have better graphics they plan to adopt to get them closer to DX11 PC, eventually.

 

[Kolchak357]

Okay, bought Star Trek and it looks way better.

Now I know why Mustang is free.

The lighting on Star Trek really adds a lot imo. Mustang isn't very pretty in real life either. But I do find it a good player.

 

[Extork]

Well, there's no way to enter you initials when you get a high score on Star Trek. No buttons, flippers don't scroll, no way to exit the screen. You have to exit the app.[/COLOR] Happened both times I got a high score. Don't know about the other tables. This is actually unacceptable, I can tolerate everything else.

There is actually a way around this problem. I had it happen with MSF, so out of curiosity I just waited. It entered me in as A after about 3 minutes.

 

[nstraz]

I'm very happy to have any release of SPA on iOS. I've been waiting to have full instructions on these tables for a long time.
Here is my wish list:
1. Fix the high score entry. I will delay purchasing tables until this is fixed.
2. Instruction text should be larger. Projecting it onto the back glass was a poor decision.
3. A table pack for TPA owners with Star Trek, AC/DC, and Mustang for $25. I already own the rest on TPA.
4. Fix ball collision physics near the flippers. Too many times I've hit one ball into another right above the flipper and the first ball teleports below the flipper.

 

[Slam23]

Good find [MENTION=2241]Extork[/MENTION] ! I forgot about this, but I seem to remember that this also worked in an earlier similar TPA bug. I have been playing some Star Trek, and got to third place with a better than average game. Would have been nice to save it.

In regard to SPA: it's a work in progress for sure on iOS. But I like having the chance of playing around it with right now instead of later, and it is in a playable state. I think that it's also a brave choice because Farsight had to know they would catch some flak for this.

These are points for improvement:
- lighting (overall it's on the dark side, no SW-pun intended)
- camera: all angles are quite far off the table in my opinion, this could use some tweaks. I do think placing menu items on the glass plate are a nice touch, but I would like to get the table more up and close for that.
- UI: placement of a lot of elements are off. Also I don't find the table selection menu intuitive.
- Nudging: is it me or does the touch nudging not work properly, and/or is the usual F scheme I use different in positioning? I have trouble nudging in SPA, while not having that problem at all in TPA
- Physics: I like how all tables feel slightly different, but they all are a bit like High Roller Casino on the whole. So the ball is difficult to cradle on the flippers, and shot angles feel slightly off, definitely geared toward the lateral and not central side (i.e. it feels that I have to shoot really early to hit something in the center of the table).
- Sound/Music: definitely an improvement in quality inside tables in comparison to TPA, very crisp. Although I think that the ambient sounds in the main menu are a nice idea to emulate the feel of a real live arcade, I rather have (the choice of) music instead.

I haven't had much experience with the featured new tables, but as far as I remember especially Star Trek does play like it's IRL counterpart, even with the physics of ball control slightly off. I played on a real one that invariably sent balls that were locked behind the Vengeance target SDTM, so it's nice to have the SPA one not do that! I did find the side ramp easier on the real table though, especially looping it a few times. A specific problem with Mustang is that you either have a high camera and see the rollovers, or have a shallow one, and not see the rollovers.

 

[Extork]

Nudging: is it me or does the touch nudging not work properly, and/or is the usual F scheme I use different in positioning? I have trouble nudging in SPA, while not having that problem at all in TPA

Touch scheme E has been working perfect for me on my iPad Air 2. Don't forget that you can look at the zones. Just takes a little tinkering . And can I just say that Star Trek is friggin amazing. Just bought the pack not too long ago, and I've been giggling like a little school girl. Not impressed with the tables we already have with TPA. I thought they'd be better, but they are the same exact thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. The UI isn't a huge deal to me because it's not about that, it's about playing the tables.

Edit: hmmm, after playing ac/dc, the nudging doesn't seem to work. Depends on the table I guess

 

[Naildriver74]

FlippyFloppy has the nudge on his list

 

[JJHLH]

I'm very happy to have any release of SPA on iOS. I've been waiting to have full instructions on these tables for a long time.
Here is my wish list:
1. Fix the high score entry. I will delay purchasing tables until this is fixed.
2. Instruction text should be larger. Projecting it onto the back glass was a poor decision.
3. A table pack for TPA owners with Star Trek, AC/DC, and Mustang for $25. I already own the rest on TPA.
4. Fix ball collision physics near the flippers. Too many times I've hit one ball into another right above the flipper and the first ball teleports below the flipper.

The instruction text absolutely needs to be much larger. It's extremely difficult to read the way it is now. That is my major constructive critisism for the game.

Thank you Farsight for releasing it before Christmas. I'm having a lot of fun with it, especially Star Trek!

 

[Flipperdeflip]

[MENTION=3799]FlippyFloppy[/MENTION] already said it was either get it out before Christmas with bugs, or wait until afterwards.

I guess they didn't want to wait several years.

And why does this game require minimum iOS 10 but only Android 4.4?
Farsight realizes that iPad 2 owners can't update to iOS 10?

 

[Kolchak357]

I guess they didn't want to wait several years.

And why does this game require minimum iOS 10 but only Android 4.4?
Farsight realizes that iPad 2 owners can't update to iOS 10?

It's just what it needs to run it. I even get some jitteriness on an iPad 4. I don't know if it's the emulation, the sound, the lighting, or a combination of these things. Need 1gb ram and iOS 10.
I went from an iPad 1 to an iPad 4 when that got all jittery. And this is making me go from an iPad 4 to and iPad air2. An expensive solution though.

 

[Lord Boron]

I guess they didn't want to wait several years.

And why does this game require minimum iOS 10 but only Android 4.4?
Farsight realizes that iPad 2 owners can't update to iOS 10?

I'm in the same boat with an iPad 3. Kind of leaving out a large segment of the market who would like to buy the game but can't.