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Zen Pinball M (Steam 2023) - Media Pack and LB How to Setup Direct Launch 1.4.0

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About This File

The following includes media for Pinball M a new system based off the Pinball FX (2023) engine but oriented towards Mature rated pinball themes.  Media naming is formatted for ease of import assuming setup as noted below. This pack contains 8 tables as of 2024-10-24. Screenshots and Fanart are all 1920x1080 and in PNG format. Goal was to try to find high quality images. Unfortunately, Zen only ever releases some media for their tables so you have to hunt and peck.  I will update pack periodically as additions are made by Zen.   Video pack will follow at some point.

Setup in Launchbox (details): Note: as of 12/3/2023 Cabinet Mode Direct Launch is currently broken. Fixed as of patch v 1.02 in Steam.  Epic version apparently has issue where cabinet setting won't remain selected after restart. 

Spoiler

What It Does:   

  • Launches directly to that table vs going to the Pinball M menu.  Works with desktop view and cabinet views.  
  • Functions within Pinball M now have ability to show a Backglass on second monitor. You can use this for cabinet and desktop users if two screens available.
  • Functions within Pinball M now have ability to show DMD independent of main screen (i.e., for cabinet users). 

Caveats:

  • LB Pause Button/Menu will not work. This is similar issue in Pinball FX.
  • AHK scripts within LB will not work.  You will have to use the normal exiting process.
  • This is for Steam.  Don't know on Epic since didn't bother to research how to on that.
  • The way I get the table IDs into LB is one way. There are others.  However, this choice does impact what LB will look for automatically for any external media packs. This is immaterial for anything matched via LB DB and downloaded since LB uses own naming process. 
  • Not getting into DMD use at this stage; maybe a later update to this how to.  
  • Launching Pinball M is much slower than FX3 to get the program launched and table open (~20 to 25 seconds).  I have fast net connection and run Steam on a decent computer so I don't think it is anything relative to my setup.

Resources/Info: 

  • Table IDs:  Link to Pinball M Table ID# listing and Cabinet Setup (Link). Note the way they name tables is different vs what they used for backglass media naming. The difference is backglass images use an "underscore" between the number.  Confusing but such is the case.  
  • No need for cabinet "code": They got rid of the pain of a cabinet code like in FX3.   It works with cabinets out of box.
  • Modes: you can select from 6 modes to insert (with default being Classic if no mode inserted) into your launch command: Classic, Arcade, Hotseat, Practice  **Note this is not tested yet since Zen hasn't published all settings**
  • Default Pinball M Steam Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\PinballM\
  • Backglass Image Location. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Pinball M\PinballM\Mods\Cabinet
  • Backglass Image Naming:  Must be PNG format and use corresponding Table ID in following format (note the underscore!):  Table_147.png
  • Backglass Default Image: Any image you name as PFX.png will be used if no specific backglass image is available.  

The default command-line parameters for all tables are:

 

-applaunch 2660520 -GameMode Classic -

Important to make sure "Remove Quotes" and "Remove File Extensions and Folder Path" are checked in the Edit Emulator Details Window. 

 

My Way of Getting Table ID into LB for Launch: 

Now that you have the emulator setup I have found the easiest way is to use "dummy" pointer text files as the "ROM" with the table ID for importing into LB.  See alternative below if want to do entries without pointer files.  Place the text files in a directory called "Data". You can name that directory anything but that is what I called it.  The extension of the text files doesn't matter.  LB only looks for the first part to insert that "rom" name into the command string to launch Steam with the appropriate table.  I have added my Pinball FX.XML file which should link the Table IDs to table names. 

This link to the FX setup has some screenshots and detail since similar process. 

EXIT SCRIPT:  Pinball M and FX take exclusive control and any AHK script in LB will not run correctly.  There is a method to use an external compiled AHK as described here for Pinball FX.  A script for Pinball M is also included. 

 

 

Media in this Pack:  Current as of October 24, 2024.

  • Clear Logos (Clear Logo.zip).  Fortunately Zen had most in their Press release site so all high quality.
  • Tarcisio Style Wheels - Silver/Round (Box - Front - Reconstructed.zip).
  • Screenshots (all 1920x1080 PNG format files):  
    • Gameplay (Screenshot - Gameplay.zip):  Desktop View
    • Game Select (Screenshot - Game Select.zip): Full Table View
    • Game Title (Screenshot - Game Title.zip): These are typically backglass type images. For physical tables the images are from backglass (non-stretched).  For others typically will be similar to fanart images but with various logos on image.  
  • Fanart - Background (Fanart - Background.zip):  similar to the Game Title images but with no Zen logos and less textual clutter.  Not all Zen tables have easy to find media so in some cases the fanart file will be identical to the Game Title above.  
  • Pinball M LB XML: XML file which should have all data and match up to table naming convention.  Has 5 tables at moment. The Data.Zip file containers the text pointer files for each table (see install details above). 
  • Front Cover Art:  (Box-Front.zip):  Box formatted cover art Zen created.
  • Steam Backglass Images (Cabinet.zip) - 2 monitor setups only:  You only need this if you have two monitors and want a back glass image on the second monitor.  Images are the same as the Game Title versions above but renamed as needed to properly work (need a "_" in the name and must be PNG format).  These are to be placed here:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Pinball FX\PinballFX\Mods\Cabinet   
    • Note note to be confused with the Launchbox "arcade cabinet" media. This is for Steam folder only

Below are a few misc graphics including a 3D box for the Pinball M system and Silver Ring Logo.

 

PinballM3DBox.thumb.png.95ddf7fde765acc802a7bda1d72f3222.pngapps.42025.13868869262006920.dee3eb5f-a239-4a39-83fc-4f629a46624b.jpg

 

 

 

Pinball M alt1.pngPinball M.pngPinball-M_logo.thumb.png.19c881e3bf71347ac77cb7b7317935c0.png

 

Edited by sundogak
V1.04


What's New in Version 1.4.0   See changelog

Released

Updated with zip file containing files for Camp Bloodbrook table released on Oct 24, 2024. 

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  • Unusual Gem 1

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Recommended Comments

Great work, got this up and running nicely with your instructions and files.

All we need now is a Platform Video and we have the full shabang :)

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Yesd i Agree We need a platform video for this. 

Also Anyone know the table Number For the newest table (  System Shock Pinball )?????

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2 hours ago, Truest1 said:

Yesd i Agree We need a platform video for this. 

Also Anyone know the table Number For the newest table (  System Shock Pinball )?????

Table 183

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8 hours ago, RapsterUK said:

Anyone know the table number for Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball?

It isn't even out yet (June 6th) and Zen hasn't posted table number info. 

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On 5/31/2024 at 4:06 AM, RapsterUK said:

Anyone know the table number for Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball?

It is Table 180

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Updated download section with Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball Media, XML, and data pointer files.  All in one zip.  Note this ring below is alt to what is in pack that forgot to include.

Table180.thumb.png.ec2c2d982dca997112110cebcac40b16.pngTable180.thumb.png.abe212ffe4b6a30120d4d15b1ef19ce9.png

Edited by sundogak
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Has anyone got direct game launch with epic version.. I tried to use same command line as Pinball FX.
I get black screen with music still playing in the background. 

*edit
Further testing I actually do not get a black screen. It just boots into the 'home' menu.
I got only 1 table launch working.. wrath of the elder gods table 147
I do not think the contents of the data file matters but the following is in the .fxt file 
 

Wrath of the Elder Gods - Director’s Cut 147

 

Not sure why other tables will not launch, any suggestions would be helpful

 

20240619125627.png

Edited by drewjbx
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Thanks fella,the wheels are gonna come handy for my cab.Great job,and thank you for the time and effort you've put into this,i know that this is time consuming....and some times frustrating (found out trying to set my cab with fx3!).

Once again thanks.

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On 6/19/2024 at 9:58 PM, drewjbx said:

Has anyone got direct game launch with epic version.. I tried to use same command line as Pinball FX.
I get black screen with music still playing in the background. 

*edit
Further testing I actually do not get a black screen. It just boots into the 'home' menu.
I got only 1 table launch working.. wrath of the elder gods table 147
I do not think the contents of the data file matters but the following is in the .fxt file 
 

Wrath of the Elder Gods - Director’s Cut 147

 

Not sure why other tables will not launch, any suggestions would be helpful

 

20240619125627.png

I had the problem too when I tried to create the dummy files by myself. The downloadable ones here worked for me.

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An AHK exit script for FX and Pinball M (Steam version) discussed in this thread as Pinball M and FX take exclusive control of window and AHK scripts in LB will not work reliably.  Instructions updated above but also posting here for reference. Thread is for FX but similar process. 

Edited by sundogak
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