Hi Everyone,
I'm Brian Madden, one of the creators (along with Gabe Knuth) of the Mission Pinball Framework (MPF), a Python-based open source pinball framework that can be used to create software for pinball machines with P-ROC or FAST pinball controllers in them.
In the JPOP thread last week, I was talking about how if JPOP wanted to use MPF to be the software for his machines, I believe that someone could get the code for his machine completely done in a month or two. I also said I'd take the challenge to see how far I can get with MPF with a brand new machine in one day. (i.e. I walk up to a machine I've never written any code for, and using MPF, how far can I get in a day?)
So anyway, today is that day. I have a Demolition Man that I just got, and at 7:30 this morning, I removed the Williams MPU and replaced it with a P-ROC. After that it only took me 1 hour 45 minutes to get a completely playable game up and running. (About 45min was spent just going through the manual and adding all the switches, coils, lamps, and flashers into my config, 45min to group all those together into the "logical" devices like troughs, VUKs, jets, flippers, targets, etc. Maybe 15min to fix typos and adjust pulse times and another min or two to throw together a real quick DMD attract show and game display.)
Of course there is no scoring or music or light shows, but you can play complete games.. multiple players, etc. And of course it was under 2 hours! I'm just trying to show how easy it is to get started.
Unfortunately I need to step away for a few hours, but when I get back I'll create some shots, scoring, maybe some modes, some light shows, music, etc. (And again, this is all just in one day.)
Anyway, here's a Youtube video of the (boring yet playable) game after 2 hours:
Here's a link to the entire "config" I created which powers the code in this video:
https://gist.github.com/missionpinball/5d34dcd21ce1aa906ab4
Here's the step-by-step tutorial which you can use to do the same thing on your game:
https://missionpinball.com/docs/tutorial/
I'll post more later today to show the progress. I'll also write a full blog post tomorrow with all the details, including links to all the configs, the show files, etc.