20 replies to this topic

[DaemonX]

Hiya people, I've been looking a lot recently at all the downloads trying to cross reference etc, I really want to get into making layouts.

I 'did' make one for the gambler (classic) however, we can't host empire roms

now I'd love to have another go, the only problem is, what to do a layout of?

Literally every game that can be emulated has been done to death, leaving very little for those of us who'd like to havea go.

Admittedly classic is a lot easier than DX etc, however, nearly every rom has a classic. and I belive they all have decent DX's.

apart from resizing one, what is there to do?

I really really want another go (preferably with a layout without as many lamps as the gambler lol)

any idea? or shall I pick one that only has 1 version atm?

Edited(thanks for noticing my stupidity lol)

[ady]

Admittedly classic is a lot easier than DX etc,

Aww DaemonX how wrong is that buddy.........tried to create a classic from scratch?

[DaemonX]

I created the gambler from scratch, but I see what you mean ( I did have a DX to sort the lamping out) even tho I got it wrong lol

I suppose if you've only got the rom and there is no flyer, it would be hard to create a machine as you'd need a lot of trial and error.

Plus, aren't most of the DX's etc taken from the 'hard work' of the classic, then imported onto a 'prettier' layout.

you're absolutly right, classics aren't really easier thinking about it.

so... what machine can I make? can we make our own machine?

take the roms from another and make a totally fresh layout? I know they're usually hybrids, but then 90% of machines nowadays play exactly like any other, just look different on the outside.

[ady]

Johnnyafc, trouty, bugs, spa to name a few...........

I have tried and also said many times, that if it wasn't for these people I wouldn't stand a chance--I have tried loading a ROM and after 2 minutes i'm like 8O

Yes I do make DX's and I like to think I do a good job, even if the end results don't show it sometimes there has been hours of work (but as you know even though you did borrow some lamp numbers)..yet the work that went into sussing those lamps out in the first place..blimey

This pic is in the RAWEST state.

Attached Files

•  untitled_730.jpg   43.65KB   19 downloads

[pash]

well all i can suggest is pick a machine you really like and make your own version and if its IMPACT im more than happy to talk you through it just as the mighty RB did with me (believe it or not the man has the patience of a saint!) and make sure you have a version of adobe photoshop at the ready.

PM me if interested

[Bencrest]

I wouldn't say all machines are DX'd to death, my current layout had one previous DX which I think was of shite quality considering the quality of source materials, and was released with the feature reel not working

You could also do what FM and HA seem to do, which is to make very clear 1024 layouts for those on smaller monitors or laptops. You could also [as I did with Easy Money DX], change stake and prize - how many £5 JP machines are emulated? I challenge you to name more than 5!

[DaemonX]

Sorry, Bencrest mate, when I said 'DX'd to Death' I meant, that most are covered, eg 1024 layout, 1200 etc.

I have considered doing more 1024 layouts as thats all my' old' monitor can take.

(I say mine, it's really my missuses as mine only went to 800x600 and xp didn't like that)

Wouldn't I need the £5 roms to do those or can I 'play' with dip switches?

that does sound like a good idea.

looks like I'll be downloading Photoshop then (I have fireworks atm)

time to free up some hard drive lol

may take you up on the offer pash, I'll have to have a look around.

[flyer]

its nice to see more and more people having ago at making the layouts also if you need any help by all means just ask.i will be starting work on my next layout soon so if you would like to help me just give me a call.if you use msn my user name is alan_fabris@hotmail.com.i will be more than happy to teach you

[Bencrest]

Sorry, Bencrest mate, when I said 'DX'd to Death' I meant, that most are covered, eg 1024 layout, 1200 etc.

I have considered doing more 1024 layouts as thats all my' old' monitor can take.

(I say mine, it's really my missuses as mine only went to 800x600 and xp didn't like that)

Wouldn't I need the £5 roms to do those or can I 'play' with dip switches?

that does sound like a good idea.

looks like I'll be downloading Photoshop then (I have fireworks atm)

time to free up some hard drive lol

may take you up on the offer pash, I'll have to have a look around.

Take my Spiker MPU5 as an example, ROMs are a standard set, with variable switches to change :

Percentage : 70 > 98%
Stake : 5 > 30p
Jackpot : £5 > £25

...with no changes to the ROM necessary. While on some machines, the jackpot and stake are dependant on the ROMs, this hasn't been commonplace since the 90s, what with the amount of Jackpot changes that took place

Don't worry about things like the cash stacks being totally wrong values if you want to do a £5 layout and the photo/flyer is from a £25 version, the remaining graphics will all be authentic and you can do a quick but good looking job on a cash stack anyway

You could always take the RB approach and make 1600x1200 layouts - which are superb if you happen to have a 19" monitor

[Scorpio]

Dont forget my tutorial for MFME on my website, guides you through layout creation from start to finish.

Scorpz

[DaemonX]

Ok, I've spent all day thinking of how I'd like to do a design and I've come up with a great (well in my opinion lol) idea, however, the machine I want to do is JPM.

Scorpios guide is great, as thats what I used to make my first attempt.

is there one for JPM too ?

or is it 'roughly' the same kinda idea, guess I'm gonna have to go experiment

[fruitymad2003]

Ok, I've spent all day thinking of how I'd like to do a design and I've come up with a great (well in my opinion lol) idea, however, the machine I want to do is JPM.

Scorpios guide is great, as thats what I used to make my first attempt.

is there one for JPM too ?

or is it 'roughly' the same kinda idea, guess I'm gonna have to go experiment

It is nearly the same as MFME, There a few diffrences in it like the way that you have to mask the reels and stuff,

Nothing major i wouldnt say,

Feel free to add me to your MSN or Yahoo if you use them

MSN: martyn@fruit-emu.com
Yahoo: fruity_mad2003@yahoo.co.uk

[RB]

FIrst you need a paint package...ie Paintshop pro or adobe photoshop...these tend to be the preferred dx's tools.

Second you need to decide on what type of layout you want to do JPM, Bfm , MFM...

Mpu4 is mfm so you need this emulator.....beware as some or should i say most BWB roms dont work properly in mfme emulator...so you could have problems with these roms.....maybe for your first you should do something that has a classic layout already done, and use this as a basis for your DX.

The first step to any dx is sorting the artwork....
you need 2 versions of the same Picture of exactly the same size..
One called lit ( with all lamps on) the other unlit (all lamps off)
to lit an area of the picture as a lamp we tend to use the lasso tool in freehand mode and go around the "lamp" Nudge 1 for example. Then goto in paintshop effects/lamp/ and light that area or in photoshop it is Filter/lighting/omnilamp and light the area. You do this for each lamp feature...when you have the Picture lit....(it should be an exact replica of the unlit picture but lit). you load up the emulator and enter design mode.

Now say you are dxing andy capp...load up the andy capp classic.
Enter design mode. highlight using click and drag and move all the boxes off to the right hand side. now right mouse click and choose Background. a popup box opens with load etc, search the folder where you have saved your lit image and load the image, click apply. resize the window so you can see you moved buttons etc. On a classic the lamps are standard lamps ie no graphics, you need to make graphic lamps...so you hit ctrl & L to enter Lamp mode, this will draw a small yellow box when you left mouse click and drag. click and drag around the area you want to lamp as close to the "lamp" as possible but covering it. when you release it should stay there.. now goto design on the tsaskbar select lamps/extract on lamp. click
Now right mouse click select background/ load background/apply
click on design /lamps/ extract off lamps/ click
now got design/lamps/convert graphics lamp/ click
a box pops up asking to confirm..click yes.
Viola the yellow box disappears and a graphic lamp is created. now press ctrl & L (exit lamp mode). press and hold ctrl and drag the classic lamp that is the lamp you have just dx'd and pressing left mouse button drag it to the new lamp and release over the lamp. the classic lamp should disappear and the new lamp should start flashing...viola the first lamp is done and you can now dx.
You may have to repeaet this procedure a couple of hundred times for a high tech machine some have 150 lamps to be lit... i tend to draw all me yellow boxes in one go then extract all on /all off/ convert as the final phase..but ive also f***ed a few layouts doing it this way....so save the layout often you can always redo a few lamps rather than trying to redo 100 or so...best of luck and let me know when you need to learn about buttons....RB :twisted:

[RB]

FIrst you need a paint package...ie Paintshop pro or adobe photoshop...these tend to be the preferred dx's tools.

Second you need to decide on what type of layout you want to do JPM, Bfm , MFM...

JPM uses Jpemu design tools...maybe for your first you should do something that has a classic layout already done, and use this as a basis for your DX.

The first step to any dx is sorting the artwork....
you need 2 versions of the same Picture of exactly the same size..
One called lit ( with all lamps on) the other unlit (all lamps off)
to lit an area of the picture as a lamp we tend to use the lasso tool in freehand mode and go around the "lamp" Nudge 1 for example. Then goto in paintshop effects/lamp/ and light that area or in photoshop it is Filter/lighting/omnilamp and light the area. You do this for each lamp feature...when you have the Picture lit....(it should be an exact replica of the unlit picture but lit). you load up the emulator and enter design mode.

Now say you are dxing Red Alert...load up the Red Alert classic.
Enter design mode. highlight using click and drag and move all the boxes off to the right hand side. now right mouse click and choose Background. a popup box opens with load etc, search the folder where you have saved your lit image and load the image, click apply. resize the window so you can see you moved buttons etc. On a classic the lamps are Simple lamps ie no graphics, you need to make graphic lamps...so you right mouse click, choose graphic lamp. A little yellow box should appear, this is the Graphic lamp,you left mouse click and drag to size. Place the Yellow box over the area you want as a lamp and resize using left click and drag the box, to cover the area you want lamped. First lamp placed.

There can be two ways of "lamping" a layout....
Placing all Yellow graphic lamps so the Background is covered in yellow boxes, then extract all on and off lamps from the drop down menu..
Or one lamp at a time...by right clicking on the lamp and choosing extract on or off depending on lit or unlit background.
For each lamp you need the on lamp(lit background) & Off lamp (unlit background) and in some cases two On lamps, (extract both on the lit background).
When both lamps have been extracted Viola the yellow box disappears and a graphic lamp is created.

Now you need to copy the lamp numbers from the simple lamps you dragged off to the side, and apply them to the new graphic lamps.(right mouse click on the box / properties) then delete the simple lamp. repeat till all lamps are done.

If you used an existing Dx or classic placing the reels and alpha a mostly drag and resized onto the background area..load roms & sound...test..........Enjoy

A word of warning...Jpemu does occasionally crash, trash and mutilate your layouts so backup often and dont tend to overwrite the same jel consecutive numbers after the filename ie(redalert1,2,3 etc) saves a lot of heartache after several hours lamping..then jpemu says "layout, what layout" and the jel is now 0 bytes big

Hope this has been useful...and is just my way of doing things....

RB

[fruitymad2003]

Nice one RB

[DaemonX]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.....

nicely put RB

I guess since I have BB I have no excuse to not download Photoshop

is it ok to make a Hybrid tho?

From a classic, but with a 'new look' on things.

[DaemonX]

P.S. Why didn't I think of that????

When I 'attempted' my first layout, I drew it from scratch, placing things etc.... never considered getting the classic and rearranging it lol

thanks for the idea

Saves trying to work out lamps too hehe

[RB]

you design what you like mate...only person you really have to please is you....but have a bit of thick skin as purest's can be Blunt and honest...
Constructive criticism is useful and helps you to grow...Flaming just burns!

[DaemonX]

After reading the comments about someone elses first attempt at a DX and how the replys ranged from 'not bad for a first attempt' to 'looks s##t!' I think I can handle it

I'm used to people being horrible to me, I used to annoy A LOT of 'kids' on IRC, it's amazing what they believe.... muahahaaaa

(tip for those who don't know, if you're on mIRC and they tell you that to get ops type in /server ops I want them NOW!) don't believe them.

[RB]

blatant re-arranging of someone elses classic is really a no no..as another classic...

Classics tend to be the building blocks of most DX's so we usually end up with one definitive classic and several "better" or "improved" dx's.

Design a classic from scratch...Fine
Design a Hybrid from a classic...fine
Design a DX from Classic...fine

Re-arranging someone elses artwork and passing it off as your own....not good....

Have fun..and enjoy the world of Fruit machine Emulation.


RB