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Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => General Pinball Discussion => Topic started by: Pavlov Pinball on September 19, 2014, 03:44:06 AM

Title: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Pavlov Pinball on September 19, 2014, 03:44:06 AM
Hi all,

I've been talking to Jersey Jack and Dutch Pinball about colour displays and how best to get information to players when they are playing complex games. If you're interested the write-up is here:

http://pavlovpinball.com/why-colour-is-vital-to-pinballs-future/

Part 2, which will be up soon, will have George Gomez and Stern's views in the subject.

Cheers,

Paul
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on September 19, 2014, 07:44:34 AM
I have not read your article, but the rules should be simple enough that I can understand them from looking at the playfield
Who has time to look up at a screen?
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Cow Corner on September 19, 2014, 09:50:42 AM
 (((
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: pinnies4me on September 19, 2014, 01:20:05 PM
I have not read your article, but the rules should be simple enough that I can understand them from looking at the playfield
Who has time to look up at a screen?

I agree - if the game cannot be made in a way that allows a player to learn the rules using the lit lamps etc, and **has** to read a display to determine what to do, then I am really not interested in it.

The DMD (or LCD if things end up that way) was just a nifty replacement for alpha numeric displays allowing for a single unit. I do like the little extras it allows, but only as a compliment to good game play, and entertainment for player 2 - if it overwhelms the game, or the game is not good enough game play wise to stand on its own without the display, then unless it goes the whole way like P2K then I don't care less.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: pinsanity on September 19, 2014, 01:25:41 PM
Screen oriented tech is the evolution of pinball to make it appeal to the next generation.

The ball isn't wild anymore, its become boring and predictable.

Good article Pavlov, thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Homepin on September 19, 2014, 02:02:48 PM
Screen oriented tech is the evolution of pinball to make it appeal to the next generation.

The ball isn't wild anymore, its become boring and predictable.



That's your opinion which I respect BUT disagree with.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Greg on September 19, 2014, 05:14:03 PM
is a colour  LCD/ DMD nice to watch?
yes if I'm looking over your shoulder   while you are playing

but when I'm playing  I don't care whats happening on the display nor do I care
if its a colour DMD/LCD or 4 shades on a DMD

which ever way pinball goes,   having a colour display is not whats going to get me to hand over money
it will always be "how good is the game play  and the sound/voice/music ",  colour displays would be the last thing  I'm interested in.





Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: oldskool1969 on September 19, 2014, 08:07:01 PM
You are all old fuddy duddies.  <.>
Ain't nothin wrong with a bit of wank factor! It is what it is and let's face it, LCD is way cheaper than plasma and anything for the onlookers to get interested in is GOOD for pinball, which is GOOD for us all.
Maybe we should go back to bagatelle as well since you don't like looking at the display?
Bring on full stereo sound too, more use of tech the better, remember when pinball was at the forefront of technology?
That is my opinion.

Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Caveoftreasures on September 19, 2014, 10:34:48 PM
Colour screens etc means progress and a better show whilst playing or watching others. Progress for pinball will probably mean a wider base to promote pinball to. Sterns consistent new technologies are a breath of fresh air combined with clever engineering and marketing. Most people love free upgrades and new and improved technologies. Pinball has never been so modern . It's now 2014 stuff with 2015 features. Got to love that cutting edge engineering. Sales are booming for all new machines.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: delarge on September 19, 2014, 11:44:22 PM
I understand the purists, I understand the opinion that we're more worried about the playfield and what the ball is doing....BUT....we're living in 2014. What doesn't have a colour display these days? Same old argument. People will resist until the colour display is the norm.

Otherwise, what oldskool1969 said!
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Pavlov Pinball on September 20, 2014, 05:59:47 AM
Hi peeps.

It's the end of a busy week, and I've finally finished the second part of the colour displays in pinball feature with an exclusive interview George Gomez about Stern's attitude and plans for colour displays in the future, and what the potential problems are.

If you are interested it's up at:

http://pavlovpinball.com/george-gomez-i ... -and-more/

Cheers,

Have a good weekend everyone,

Paul
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on September 20, 2014, 07:47:15 AM
You seem to interviewing towards a predetermined conclusion, rather than asking for his perspective

IE; JJP has an LCD, when is Stern going to catch up?
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: DSB on September 20, 2014, 08:14:41 AM
Quote
younger players actually watch the pinball screen more than older ones.

I think this could be true. Being 37 (maybe not young but...) the first game I played seriously was a DMD machine. I find it natural to make a shot or ramp and instantly look at the display to see the graphic then back to the ball returning to the flipper. Maybe this is not the best way to play but it is how I learnt. I still laugh watching cousin it get smashed in the head while playing. I think if the colour display is cost effective, I can't see any problem with it. If you don't like it, don't watch it. The playfield should still direct your shots as it always has.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Cow Corner on September 20, 2014, 08:15:45 AM
Is it vital to all the people who are colour blind?
 :tumble:
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: solar value on September 20, 2014, 10:25:46 AM
Wow! Great articles - thanks for all the work you are doing to report this stuff.

Great to hear Dutch Pinball's thoughts on the display:
“We will show multiple multiball modes with certain colours – blocks of colours will be used to show which modes are running,”
This sounds awesome, it is great that they are trying to make the display more intuitive.

Also interesting that Gomez refers to Multimorphic.

We are in exciting times. I think what we will see in the very near future (Expo) coming out of Dutch Pinball, Multimorphic, JJP and to some extent Heighway is going to change pinball forever and make the single-colour DMD look very dated indeed.
Title: Re: Why colour is vital to pinball’s future
Post by: Strangeways on September 20, 2014, 10:56:15 AM
Displays were primarily used to inform the player of their score. Woodrails had lit areas on the backglass and then we went to reels and the BIG change to digital displays. I remember when the first SS Evel Knievel was unboxed. The "horror" of a digital display and the fear that it would be problematic. Older technicians dreaded them because they didn;t understand them. But this was the biggest change when the industry was in it's "Golden Years". It eventually took off and then we moved to alphanumeric and then the DMD.

I seldom look at a display unless I'm chasing an opponent's score, or, the high score. I don't like "Video modes". I love the interaction on the playfield. CV is the perfect example of what I like about DMDs.

Having said that, I love the colour DMDs. It completely changes the visual presentation of the game. As other's have mentioned, it is an AWESOME sight when waiting for a player to finish his ball.

The change from EMs to SS did change the industry, and the strongest years quickly followed. So something like a change to a standard DMD has the capacity to be a very positive change, but I don't think it is vital because all manufacturer's realize that the target customer base is mostly collectors.

That's where the full size LCDs (Like JJP) will fail. The fundamental idea of pinball is to follow a ball around a playfield. It I want to watch cutscenes from the movies, I'll watch it on TV, not on the pinball.

ColourDMD has the potential to revitalize existing machines in collections. It is not exactly an innovation, but an enhancement. It is the best enhancement to pinball in the last 10 years.

If "Walking Dead" had a colourDMD, I'd almost consider buying it. I'd never buy a JJP because the screen is a deterrent.