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Attract mode random wheel not very random


Xpendable

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20 minutes ago, Jason Carr said:

@Xpendable That's basically what we do already...

Not exactly, but the end result would be the same.

Yeah, after I posted this, it occurred to me that's probably pretty close to what you are already doing.  No, I haven't had a chance to update yet.  I didn't realize the update was available already.  I will try it sometime over the next few days.

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@Jason Carr Below was my second attempt at recording the list as the first file got corrupt on USB but from memory it basically did the cycle the same except different games and platforms. For example Type X+ first showed Battle Gear 4, three times in a row and for the dupe Platform it was Super Famicom also from memory it seems it did the dupe Games and Platform roughly at the same cycle, probably just a coincidence.

Enters Taito Type X+ (5 Games):

  1. Battle Gear 4
  2. Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits Of Zeon
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon
  4. Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon
  5. Won!tertainment Music Channel

Exits

Enters Sega 32X (34 Games):

  1. Mortal Kombat II
  2. WWF RAW
  3. Amazing Spider-Man, The: Web Of Fire
  4. Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
  5. Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

Exits

Enters Hector HRX (59 Games):

  1. Balade Dans Paris
  2. Formule 1
  3. Dedale
  4. Cow-Boys

Exits

Nintendo WiiWare (454 Games):

  1. Bloons
  2. Flowerworks
  3. Lostwinds
  4. Pong Toss Pro: Frat Party Games

Exits

Enters Atari 2600 (664 Games):

  1. Cakewalk
  2. General Re-Treat
  3. Karate
  4. Realsports Football
  5. Solaris

Exits

Enters WoW Action Max (5 Games):

  1. Blue Thunder
  2. Hydrosub: 2021
  3. Sonic Fury
  4. Blue Thunder
  5. .38 Ambush Alley

Exits

Enters SuperGrafx (5 Games):

  1. Battle Ace
  2. 1941: Counter Attack
  3. Dai Makaimura
  4. Madou Ou Granzort

Exits

Enters VM Labs Nuon (11 Games):

  1. The Next Tetris
  2. Amaze
  3. Ballistic
  4. Iron Soldier 3
  5. Games + Demos

Exits

Enters Nintendo 64DD (11 Games):

  1. Mario Artist Communication Kit
  2. Mario Artist Paint Studio
  3. Mario Artist Paint Studio
  4. Super Mario 64

Exits

Enters Nintendo 64DD (11 Games):

  1. Mario Artist Talent Studio
  2. Dezaemon DD
  3. Doshin The Giant
  4. Doshin the Giant Tinkling Toddler Liberation Front! Assemble (Japan)
  5. F-Zero X Expansion Kit
  6. F-Zero X Expansion Kit
  7. Mario Artist Communication Kit
  8. Dezaemon DD
  9. Dezaemon DD

Exits

Enters ColecoVision (140 Games):

  1. Gyruss
  2. Squish 'Em Sam!
  3. Brain Strainers
  4. Super Action Soccer
  5. Memory Manor
  6. Super Action Soccer
  7. Donkey Kong JR
  8. Mr DO!'s Castle

Exits

Enters Taito Type X3 (4 Games):

  1. Puzzle & Dragons: Battle Tournament
  2. Puzzle & Dragons: Battle Tournament
  3. Ultra Street Fighter IV
  4. Puzzle & Dragons: Battle Tournament

Exits

Enters Commodore Max Machine (15 Games):

  1. Jupiter Lander
  2. Jupiter Lander
  3. Lemans
  4. Mole Attack
  5. Clowns
  6. Mole Attack

Exits

Edited by wallmachine
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@wallmachine Keep in mind that the fewer games there are in the current list, the more likely the random selector will end up picking the same game, so it's expected for small lists of games. So even though sometimes "random" picks aren't what you would want, I think the only way to improve on the current system would be to make it not random, or force not landing on a previously selected game.

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Just another example, the wheel rarely scrolls upwards, majority is a downwards cycle.

Sega Genesis (942 Games)

  1. Snake Rattle
  2. Streets Of Rage
  3. Tommy Lasorda Baseball
  4. Wayne'S World
  5. Aa Harimanada
  6. Batman
  7. Bulls Versus Blazers And The NBA Playoffs
  8. Jungle Strike
  9. Prince Of Persia
  10. Saint Sword
  11. Spider-Man
  12. Worms
  13. Bass Masters Classic
  14. Cannon Fodder
  15. Double Double: The Playoff Edition
  16. Gouketsuji Ichizoku
  17. Jewel Master
  18. Fido Dido
  19. Magic School Bus, The
  20. Monster World Iv
  21. Ooze, The
  22. Rent A Hero
  23. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Crossroads
  24. Tecmo Super Bowl II: Special Edition
  25. Aerobiz Supersonic
  26. Bulls Vs Lakers And The NBA Playoffs
  27. J. League Pro Striker
  28. Liberty Or Death
  29. NBA Action '95 Starring David Robinson
  30. Race Drivin'
  31. Team USA Basketball
  32. Undead Line
  33. Chou Kyuukai Miracle Nine
  34. Double Clutch
  35. Phantasy Star II: Rudder'S Adventure
  36. Ristar
  37. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Crossroads
  38. Urban Strike
  39. Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
  40. WWF Super Wrestlemania
  41. Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
  42. Beyond Oasis
  43. Chi Chi'S Pro Challenge Golf
  44. Dragon'S Revenge
  45. Jordan Vs Bird
  46. MLBPA Baseball
  47. Olympic Gold
  48. Pit-Fighter
  49. Road Rash Ii
  50. Spider-Man
  51. Tecmo Super Bowl II: Special Edition
  52. World Series Baseball '95
  53. Air Diver
  54. Dino Dini's Soccer
  55. F-15 Strike Eagle Ii
  56. Jammit
  57. Mickey's Ultimate Challenge
  58. Pele!
  59. Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master
  60. NBA Hang Time
  61. Panorama Cotton
  62. Spot Goes To Hollywood
  63. Trampoline Terror!
  64. Exo Squad
  65. Grind Stormer
  66. Jeopardy!: Deluxe Edition
  67. Nightmare Circus
  68. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  69. Putter Golf
  70. Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition
  71. Waterworld
  72. Arcade Classics
  73. College Football's National Championship
  74. Doki Doki Penguin Land
  75. General Chaos
  76. Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament
  77. Robocop 3
  78. Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  79. Super Skidmarks
  80. Tony La Russa Baseball
  81. World Series Baseball '95
  82. Valis III
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8 hours ago, Jason Carr said:

@wallmachine Keep in mind that the fewer games there are in the current list, the more likely the random selector will end up picking the same game, so it's expected for small lists of games. So even though sometimes "random" picks aren't what you would want, I think the only way to improve on the current system would be to make it not random, or force not landing on a previously selected game.

Just wondering if something would be put in place for like top 50, top 100 sets as it ends up on the same game more often than not 

 

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  • 1 year later...
On 8/14/2020 at 11:19 AM, Jason Carr said:

We can revisit this at some point, but we'd be looking at major changes in order to make it not completely random and force not landing on previous entries, so I'm going to put that off for now.

Jason, this topic came up a year ago, and I noticed it was not an option on the last poll.  Just wondering if this item ever got looked into or if this is still on your list of things to tackle in the future.  Thanks.

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  • 11 months later...

Apologies for raising an older thread, but it seemed silly to start a new one - has anybody continued to have this issue? I can do a similar comparison list to earlier in this thread if it helps, but my attract mode will constantly land on the same games consistently (even the same games between times powered on), almost like its drawing from a much smaller list than my actual overall library.

I have had a look at my Attract Mode settings and can't see anything that jumps out, but it honestly feels like my attract mode pulls from any of about 25 games on my cab rather than the 300 or so that are on there. I understand how 'random' works and stuff, but it still feels as though I get a selection of games that doesn't feel like it's working as intended

Edited by Gimpy
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  • 2 months later...

Yeah it's not very random or at least there aren't any safeguards to prevent seeing lots of doubles or triples within a single attract mode sequence. I wish attract mode kept a list of games already landed on and then skip over them by 1 either ahead or behind if they have already played so that eventually it could fully cycle through all the games. More like a running playlist than a rng.

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Yeah I dunno why, because it’s a relatively minor thing in the grand scheme of things, but it drives me absolutely crazy - it’s weird as well because it feels like it’s the same games that come up constantly, even across different times the machine is turned on. I don’t think I’d mind nearly as much if it was different repeats every time I powered on, but it feels like it runs through the same 20/500 games like 50% of the time. 

Edited by Gimpy
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On 11/21/2022 at 8:47 AM, C-Beats said:

What you're asking for isn't randomness. What you're asking for is a predetermined value selected based on previous selections. Random would have repeats as you are seeing, the latter wouldn't (which is what you're asking for).

My Christmas wish is for a non-repeating list in random order. 

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Personally, I'd like the perception of randomness at the cost of true randomness.   Meaning, I'd like the attract mode to show me more of what I haven't seen. 

And I completely understand without a database backing up what has been shown, this would be tricky, if not impossible.  And it would cost additional cpu cycles (time).  I doubt it worth the effort in the bigger picture. 

I think the "not going backwards" and/or "not starting from the beginning" would go a long way though. 

On super small lists - like under 20 or something - you could have an option to just increment by 1 or 2 places instead of a random spin that often ends up on the same entry.  (meaning the random 'roll' will pick the number 1 or 2 to move the wheel forward that many places)

Anyway, thanks!   Fun to think about.

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On 11/21/2022 at 2:47 PM, C-Beats said:

What you're asking for isn't randomness. What you're asking for is a predetermined value selected based on previous selections. Random would have repeats as you are seeing, the latter wouldn't (which is what you're asking for).

Yeah I think everyone understands this isn’t true randomness, but I also refuse to believe this is working as truly intended - the way it currently works doesn’t feel random either? I don’t mind repeats at all, but my attract mode constantly repeats the same games on over and over. 

if I can predict which pool of 20 games it’s going to throw up at me out of a list of about 500, then it’s not random either. At the moment it feels like a metronome wavering back and forth between 2 zones more than something that could land anywhere (even on repeats) 

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  • 1 month later...
On 12/2/2022 at 7:44 AM, Gimpy said:

Yeah I think everyone understands this isn’t true randomness, but I also refuse to believe this is working as truly intended - the way it currently works doesn’t feel random either? I don’t mind repeats at all, but my attract mode constantly repeats the same games on over and over. 

if I can predict which pool of 20 games it’s going to throw up at me out of a list of about 500, then it’s not random either. At the moment it feels like a metronome wavering back and forth between 2 zones more than something that could land anywhere (even on repeats) 

I feel the same whenever I let BigBox run the attract mode, it doesn't seem random at all, it's more like the wheel goes back and forth between the same value.
Maybe an option to select a set number of jumps, lets say 5, then 3, then 10, then 8, and so on, it wouldn't be random, but it will cover the game list way better.

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On 1/31/2023 at 9:37 PM, exodus_cl said:

I feel the same whenever I let BigBox run the attract mode, it doesn't seem random at all, it's more like the wheel goes back and forth between the same value.
Maybe an option to select a set number of jumps, lets say 5, then 3, then 10, then 8, and so on, it wouldn't be random, but it will cover the game list way better.

Yeah weirdly enough yesterday I actually sat down and just let the wheel spin 100 times and watched it - out of a pool of over 600 games, it span 100 times and pulled up a game it had already shown 41 times. Interestingly, it didn't repeat once for the first 35 times and then it was like once it had a pool of games to repeat, it just constantly landed on one it had already shown - 3 different games actually got shown 3 times. I think there is possibly something to what you said about it moving back and forth within a set number as well, because not only do games repeat, but it feels like the same pool of games always shows up, like there are some games I never ever see, and then some I can probably bet on with certainty will show up within the first 30 or so spins

I understand how random works, but it feels like maybe it shouldn't actually be random then, as a less random solution would probably make it appear more random 😅 I appreciate this probably isn't a high priority thing, but it's basically the only thing about my setup that bugs me haha :D 

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