Quoting: GroganI would guess that you feel similarly about it :-)

What I don't like about is that you have to scroll over all the unowned tables. Also the sequel with the re-buying tables situation (they claim that that they are forced to do it that way), the name reboot and the Epic deal. On the other hand even the two free tables are good. The sequel probably has one free table at the moment. I haven't gotten around to trying that since I've read that you have one day to try other tables as previews after starting the game – don't know if that's correct.

The alternatives don't look too good:

Pinball Arcade is basically dead since 2018 when they couldn't renew the license for most of the tables. Game seems abandoned.

Zaccaria Pinball is mostly abandoned at the moment (but there is promise of news in two months) since they are only making AtGames exclusive tables that they are not allowed to release on Steam. The game is still classified as EA, but no update is announced as has not been for some time. I've read about unfixed bugs, but don't know anything about the specifics.

Edit: Forgot to mention that the Zaccaria situation is made worse by the “will leave EA in 2019 Q1” statement.

Last edited by Klaas on 21 June 2023 at 9:57 pm UTC

Quoting: KlaasThe alternatives don't look so good... Zaccaria Pinball

It's a shame about that, then. I tested the free Zaccaria Pinball base game (one table, Time Machine) but could not get far enough to load a table.

My first try was the Linux version of course. It looked promising, the game loaded and I selected the free table and got a load screen, then it crashed out or otherwise aborted. Same spot, every time, so I'll assume that's b0rked at least for me.

I then switched it over to Proton and let it switch out the game and got further, it let me select the table but as I was poking around on the menu reading "Rules" it crashed and aborted.

The second try I didn't fool around, I went right to Play and the game froze as I chose the game mode (Simulator)

There was no third try, I'm not about to throw more good recreational time at this until or unless it gets a modern rebuild or something.

The simulated mode sounds just like what I want, in a pinball game. I was only testing the free, I'd have bought tables on the spot if it would have worked.

P.S. I should also say that I'm a bit past "bleeding edge" on my system, it's more like on the bloody edge. So it could be something like Mesa du jour for me.

Last edited by Grogan on 22 June 2023 at 2:05 am UTC

Quoting: GroganTHAT is what I like in pinball games, when they try to simulate real pinball tables. I had one in DOS that used VESA graphics and simulated a Bally "Mata Hari" machine. I used to play that, it was one of the early ones with electronic LED digits and they were everywhere. That wasn't my favourite table by any stretch, but I appreciated the authenticity of the game. The electronic table sucked just as much as the real one lol

Honestly I like both approaches (I started off with 3D Pinball: Pinball Power for the Commodore 64), but it's always extra-special to see real tables faithfully replicated - so great to have them in your own home or on the road, but in a much more compact way*!

*I owned a JAMMA arcade cabinet once, and they're big, noisy, maintenance nightmares. After that, I never wanted to deal with the even greater hassle of having a real pinball machine around - though I certainly looked into it.

Quoting: GroganI have this stupid "Pinball FX3" that kind of goes off table, with 3D effects and stuff. I don't really like it. I bought a lot of tables for it too, but they are all variations of the same thing with different movie themes and stuff. It was a royal burn, presented as a "free to play" game, but they only gave you one trial table with a 2 minute time limit before it ended your match. Each table pack was about $10 and I ended up spending over 100 bucks on that "free to play" game because I kept chasing the tables, hoping for one I liked better. I've always been a spaz that way. I haven't even had it installed for years.

I like Pinball FX3 for what it is (or was, apparently, since it's being superseded now), but I went in knowing that it was never aiming for realism, which probably helped.

Quoting: GroganAs for computer names, I always use the hostname "getstuffed" for my main rig. It's a throw back from IRC days, when they could get your hostname through identd. Some servers I connected to required identd, so instead of using a client with a fake identd server, I just set it up and used no information I didn't want it sharing. So if they queried me, they could go and get stuffed :-)

HAHAHAHAHA!

Quoting: GroganOh yeah, and I took the name Grogan from this newsgroup I used to frequent around 1994, alt.tasteless and it's been my pseudonym ever since. I'm not sure of the origins (Australia I think?) but a grogan is a pet name for a turd, usually a big one. Just thought we should clear that up, it's not really my name or emulating anyone. I take delight in explaining that heheh

Oh, that is brilliant. My username comes from actor Benedict Cumberbatch's inability to say "penguin".

Quoting: GroganI had (well, still have) an Acer Aspire One, which is the same Atom processor and chipset as the EE PC. Mine had a larger capacity battery though (6 cell).

I got an Acer Aspire One for a knockdown price in a supermarket at one point (it ended up going to a relative, but I did set it up). Nice hardware, those.

I've said this in many news-threads, but I really do miss netbooks. Unfortunately, the idea of getting a Chromebook and then installing something else (which is very much workable and a good idea) just isn't quite as appealing to me as being able to just buy an affordable and capable little pre-installed x86 Linux box off-the-shelf.

Quoting: GroganFinally, Smart Phones. I do have one, but it annoys. I have it for making emergency calls mostly, occasional SMS texts, and for a convenient device for quickly looking things up. (I use mobile Vivaldi for a browser since they ruined mobile Firefox, taking away everything I liked about it vs. other mobile browsers. Google OWNS their asses now). I keep a smart phone for 4 to 5 years, newer Android loads are NEVER better.

I've got the silly thing sitting right beside me, it's convenient for looking at walkthroughs if I get stuck in some silly Amnesia-like game or something.

That's how it is with me, as well, though my previous smartphone (an LG one) lasted me a whopping NINE years, and I only moved on from it because the battery could no longer last even one day.

My current one is a Motorola and it's dreadful - very badly-built and designed from the ground up for forced obsolescence (first thing to go is the power-switch, which is clearly made out of Play-Doh; Got it fixed at a good local place who used a better replacement part, but I just don't see it lasting as long as my previous phone because the build-quality is clearly so much worse), and, alongside my findings that I just don't use any smart features anymore, has put me off of bothering in the future.

Quoting: KlaasZaccaria Pinball is mostly abandoned at the moment

Quoting: Groganso I'll assume that's b0rked at least for me.

Gragh, damnit - I didn't realise it had effectively been abandoned! Last time I used it, it was really rather good. Really sorry for the duff info there, guys!

Quoting: KlaasAlso the sequel with the re-buying tables situation (they claim that that they are forced to do it that way), the name reboot and the Epic deal.

Thanks SO much for the heads-up on this, by the way, Klaas! You saved me from re-buying the few tables I had for Pinball FX3 back before I moved on from the Nintendo Switch, and from picking up new ones. I'll cautiously wait and see what happens with the rebooted Pinball FX, now.

Quoting: PenglingThanks SO much for the heads-up on this, by the way, Klaas!

I did mention that last week, btw.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/forum/topic/5699/post_id=38629

Edit: What I forgot to mention is that Zaccaria Pinball works out of the box on the SD. I would not write it off before the announcement in two months.

Last edited by Klaas on 22 June 2023 at 7:02 am UTC

Quoting: KlaasI did mention that last week, btw.

Aye, I know; I just managed to forget to make a note of it - oops!

Quoting: KlaasEdit: What I forgot to mention is that Zaccaria Pinball works out of the box on the SD. I would not write it off before the announcement in two months.

Ooh, it's still not out of the running yet? Interesting! Really hoping this turns out alright - I really like their tables.

Last edited by Pengling on 22 June 2023 at 8:47 am UTC