Development Updates

[serene02]

Is it possible to bring the lights down, so it's a dingy arcade with neon signs

#don'twantmuch

J

[johnparker007]

8 hours ago, A:E said:

Is it possible to bring the lights down, so it's a dingy arcade with neon signs

#don'twantmuch

J

So this is complete placeholder environment for testing purposes, just to get things functional, and doesn't represent what will be swapped in at the later stages  

The scene currently just has some realtime lighting bodged in to ensure it isn't pitch black in there, and I can see what's going on.

The lighting is generally going to be done a lot nearer the end of the project when the rendering of the machines is finalised, and an actual arcade environment is chosen - probably something more like one of these (cheap purchasable modular assets):





Or this, but with the lighting turned down lower:

These often come modular, so you can 'snap' them together to construct, then light, various custom building interior environments as required, e.g: here's some of the parts for the red nightclub scene above:

I'll perhaps ultimately have an option to select between three different prebaked levels of light, so people can choose to play in a bright/average/dimly lit version of the environment on their local machine (wouldn't affect what other players see). 

Edited November 12, 2020 by johnparker007

[slasher]

10 hours ago, A:E said:

Is it possible to bring the lights down, so it's a dingy arcade with neon signs

#don'twantmuch

J

What next? Cigarette smoke, broken buttons and bulbs out?

Edited November 12, 2020 by slasher

[Amusements]

2 hours ago, slasher said:

What next? Cigarette smoke, broken buttons and bulbs out?

Don't forget the cash desk, change machine and the Chavs in the corner!

[Zippy]

The grotty carpet, ashtrays and tattered chairs is a must too.

[Ginge]

On 10/11/2020 at 15:26, slasher said:

 

I've never played Happy Hour naked before...

 

@slasherDoes this mean you’ve played everything else naked just not happy hour ?

[Zippy]

15 minutes ago, Ginge said:

@slasherDoes this mean you’ve played everything else naked just not happy hour ?

Hahaha perish the thought!

[Ginge]

6 hours ago, Amusements said:

Don't forget the cash desk, change machine and the Chavs in the corner!

 

4 hours ago, Big J said:

The grotty carpet, ashtrays and tattered chairs is a must too.

If you guy’s are having all this could I have a naked lady dancing on a pole in the corner.

 

Joking aside @johnparker007this project is looking awesome  must be taking you hours can’t wait to see the end result and thank you for all the hard work.

[Zippy]

13 minutes ago, Ginge said:

 

If you guy’s are having all this could I have a naked lady dancing on a pole in the corner.

No!

[Zippy]

[slasher]

2 hours ago, Ginge said:

@slasherDoes this mean you’ve played everything else naked just not happy hour ?

I've played a few machines in the buff mate!

[Zippy]

20 minutes ago, slasher said:

I've played a few machines in the buff mate!

[johnparker007]

Done some more bits  
- multiplayer nicknames above heads
- got 3DS Max up and running, edited the cabinet model enabling me to fix a transparency issue that was making the 'lamps off' background glass image not render properly
- added some camera smoothing (though I'm still using a cheap wireless keyboard with built-in trackpad so it's still a bit jerky compared to a proper mouse)

It's pretty confusing trying to switch between the four instances plus I'm hungover lol  but in the later part of the video you can see the avatars moving around with their nicknames.

Still showing the new nicknames across 4 instances:


Video showing the fixed glass transparency and moving avatars:

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by johnparker007

[serene02]

Are we pulling some arcade scam.  We look dodgy but no one will mess with us in that get up

Wow JP, keep drinking bud, if you can still work and produce the goods...  it’s all good

This is going to be amazing.  Exactly what a lot of us have been yearning for since Guitar teaser is with his amazing online arcade.  It is such a shame Chris is no longer with us, I know he wasn’t that interested in this immersive path but I think he would be well impressed with what you are doing here.   What a great addition to the overall mfme experience.  

Thank you my friend x

J

[serene02]

Not putting you on the spot but put me down for some beta testing when you are ready.

J

[serene02]

Also John, how will multiplayer machines work?  Astra Party time machines.  Top reel master and slave units?

J

[vectra666]

I look like robocop lol looking good

have you had two different machines running side by side yet?

[johnparker007]

1 hour ago, A:E said:

Are we pulling some arcade scam.  We look dodgy but no one will mess with us in that get up

Wow JP, keep drinking bud, if you can still work and produce the goods...  it’s all good

This is going to be amazing.  Exactly what a lot of us have been yearning for since Guitar teaser is with his amazing online arcade.  It is such a shame Chris is no longer with us, I know he wasn’t that interested in this immersive path but I think he would be well impressed with what you are doing here.   What a great addition to the overall mfme experience.  

Thank you my friend x

J

It's a real shame about the timing  I'd not thought about FME in years since doing the mfme2mame project, then when you told me about Chris's sudden tragic passing, I read through all the tribute comments on Wizard's Rest, and along with sadness, it got me thinking about FME again.

I know what you mean, he was much more into the low level emulation rather than the visual/multiplayer side of things, but yeah I think he would've liked to have seen this.

 

1 hour ago, A:E said:

Not putting you on the spot but put me down for some beta testing when you are ready.

J

Noted - it'll be 'a while' yet, but hopefully in the realm of a month or two we'll be getting somewhere near an alpha client at least  

 

1 hour ago, A:E said:

Also John, how will multiplayer machines work?  Astra Party time machines.  Top reel master and slave units?

J

I must admit I'd not really thought about those, but I think it would be possible with extensions to how the existing system works.  So I'd launch the MFME instances for the master/slave(s), then capture the pre-generated data layouts from each one, and render the 3d machine from that.  It'll need some more thought on how best to implement, but I can't see it being a problem, it'll just need work.

Will definitely do it, as they do look pretty cool with those massive reels on top!   One slight issue I can see is that all the machines (master+slaves) will currently have to run on the same client, so two different people couldn't be playing a slave unit each side by side.  Yeah, will need some thought... 

1 hour ago, vectra666 said:

I look like robocop lol looking good

have you had two different machines running side by side yet?

These robocop guys are just placeholders until I get the customisable avatar system properly implemented in client/integrated with server etc, fairly big job, so will be saved for later as it's cosmetic - at least we have names above our heads now!

I have had different machines running (Monopoly & Happy Hour with separate MFME instances), though not made a video - as the plan is (with the exception on the master/slave units above), that each client will only run a single MFME instance at a time (for the machine being played by that client, if any).  All the other machines will either be playing back their attract mode loop (like the Happy Hours are in the recent videos)... or, playing back live gameplay if another client is playing.

I have actually switched back to work on the Converter side of things now, as the 3d multiplayer arcade side is working well enough for this stage... so you will be seeing different machines next to each other in the not-too-distant future  

Edited November 14, 2020 by johnparker007

[slasher]

This is looking totally amazing, and I look fit as fuck in that video!

[pilsburydoughman]

Slasher fit? Only with that trumpet up your bum! Again, the new pictures look great. Cant wait to eventually play THE GAMEs on the emu.

[Zippy]

You'll have to excuse @slasherhe is always blowing hot air but this time out his arse!

[Dez]

I've got absolutely no idea what's going on here, but this looks incredible.

Real shame @Wizard isn't around to see what you are achieving with his emulator at the core. I'm sure he'd be suitably impressed.

[Zippy]

58 minutes ago, Dez said:

I've got absolutely no idea what's going on here, but this looks incredible.

Real shame @Wizard isn't around to see what you are achieving with his emulator at the core. I'm sure he'd be suitably impressed.

I'm sure he has his beady eye on us watching, well I would like to think so, besides with people still creating and new things like what is coming alive in this thread his essence is still here even if it is just opening the emulator and playing a few quid through Odds on MPU3 sorry my mistake (one of his favourites).

Edited November 15, 2020 by Big J
I stand corrected

[serene02]

I never knew On-Line was one of Chris’s favourites?  That surprises me, thought he had better taste   What a garbage machine it is really.  Unless I’m missing something on that machine, it was all about the gamble from 4p to £1.50 and nothing besides.

J

[Tommy c]

Been observing this thread for a while,no access to pc yet, but I will check the vids out when I do. Some great work going on here,just a thanks from me. Some great skills here .