Future Pinball

Future Pinball is a freeware 3D pinball editing and gaming application for Microsoft Windows.[1] The software is similar to Visual Pinball ("VP") and other modern pinball simulation applications. As with VP's relationship with "vPinMAME," Future Pinball ("FP") uses partner applications to emulate original pinball ROM code. In FP's case, ROM code is emulated by Better Arcade Mode ("BAM") directly, or via other tools, such as "Pinball Browser."[2] Future Pinball was discontinued in 2010 by the original author Christopher Leathley, but in 2013, development was resumed via BAM, by its author, Rafal Janicki. BAM features many new developments, such as enhanced physics, optics, and virtual reality support.[3]

Future Pinball
Developer(s)Christopher Leathley, Rafal Janicki (via "BAM")
Stable release
1.9.1.20101231 / December 31, 2010 (2010-12-31)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypePinball
LicenseFreeware
Websitewww.futurepinball.com

Design

Future Pinball is a simulator and editor, but does not emulate hardware found in physical pinball machines. Tables are designed using 3D models found within the editor, and rendered using a 3D real-time engine. Pinball table layout, graphic design, and audio are provided by users during the construction and development of table design.

Future Pinball allows users to create original tables based upon a default table which only contains flippers, slingshots, shooter lane, and shooter. Additional playfield components are added from a library containing surface, guide, objects, rubber, targets, lights, triggers, ramps, and displays. User created artwork can be added to the playfield, plastics, and backglass translite. Game coding is required, and is accomplished through Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting (VBS) via an embedded script editor. The program uses Newton Game Dynamics for physics.[4]

Several game magazines published tutorials on how to build own tables, such as PCWorld, PC Format[5] and c't.[6]

Playing

Future Pinball completed tables can be downloaded and played in the same application. Standard computer keyboards are often used, although there are a growing number of custom pinball cabinet designs that interface buttons to the software.

History

Future Pinball 1.0 was first released to the public on October 22, 2005 by creator and programmer Christopher Leathley after 20 months of development.

On July 17, 2008, NanoTech Entertainment entered into an agreement with Future Pinball to incorporate Future Pinball into a commercial product called MultiPin.

No new official updates of Future Pinball were released since December 2010[7] but user modified versions can be found on the internet.[3]

See also

References
  1. Future Pinball — freewaregenius.com
  2. The Future of Pinball from popbumper.com
  4. Future of Pinball on mobygames
  5. Future Pinball tutorials
  6. c't, 12/2012, page 150.
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