13 replies to this topic

[Smiley]

Just released FullScreenDXs of both The Rocky Horrow Show and The Crystal Maze.

Thanks to Mike (mjj) for his 'Rocky Reels' and to Pook for the Flyer for Rocky.

You will also notice that the layouts are not locked.
I've decided to release all my layouts unlocked from now on so that keys can be remapped for personal preference.

Hope you enjoy the Richard O'Brien "Science Fiction Double Feature" (sings badly)

Available at Fruit-Emu

Smiley.

[Bencrest]

Why does noone reply to a release thread these days? If it wasn't for hugely damning release threads like this, nobody would ever get better and FME would be full of half hearted attempts

Lol, well, here we have 2 of my favourite machines :

Crystal Maze running £8 Token JP ROMs [Although the graphics currently say 6, I understand an updated version is being uploaded as I write this]

and Rocky Horror Picture Show running £10 Cash JP ROMs. Excellent alternative to Lucky Strike and its clones by Barcrest, with some excellent sound samples!

Well, first thing that struck me with these two layouts [which is always going to be a problem with FSDX releases] is the definition of the reels. As they take up such a huge amount of the layout, your eyes are always being drawn directly onto them. They are a little bit grainy, especially where overlays are used. Its not a major problem, and no doubt I'll change the reels on my personal version as it is an unlocked layout

The graphics are generally excellent throughout. Its pretty amazing how you can stretch a layout way out of its normal proportions and have it appear - quite often - more pleasing to the eye. I guess it also helps when redrawing layouts, as you have more space to play with. Unfortunately, and I'm not sure if this is due to the Reel images used, the filesize is pretty hefty for a 1024x768 layout, FSDX or WDX. As long as you have ADSL you won't notice, but those on a dial-up will need a good 25>30 mins to download this pair!

The lamping is also very good, although on Crystal Maze the lamping on the Jackpot Decal area is a bit weird, I'm not sure if contrast has been used to lamp rather than Brightness or OmniLamp, but it looks a little 'bleached' when unlit.

Overall, I'd give Crystal Maze an 8/10, and Rocky a 9/10.

I don't want this review to be taken as me having a go at the layouts by any means, but if you wanted some things to focus on for your next layouts, I think all it really would be is :

Trying to keep filesizes down [My first 1280 layout was 6.7mb [Crystal Maze ], whereas my second [Fruit and Loot] was about 3.7 for a 1280x768]

Despite anything I may have pointed out, I still think that they are 2 excellent layouts, and will be spending loads of time playing them today. I just don't believe in posting stuff like 'Oh wow best layout ever', as then noone would feel an incentive to improve on their techniques.

Don't worry, when I **finally** get around to releasing Adders N Ladders, I'll let you lot take the pi*s as much as you want to

BarcrestBenito

[mjj]

I agree with BB on the lack of responses nowadays, it's very downheartening for people to put a lot of effort into creating a layout and get so little feedback, sad really, but it's the way the scene has developed.

I've not downloaded Crystal Maze yet, so can't give any judgement on that, but I DO know just how poor the Rocky Flyer was, and it's turned out rather well, the colours are a little washed out, but they are bright and easy to make out on's from off's, so it isn't a serious problem.

The file size, well, that's an obvious one, it's all down to transparent lamps, they bump file sizes up enormously, I'd never criticise a layout for its use of transparent lamps, that's up to the designer, as long as they are aware of why a layout is large, they can then make an informed choice on how to create other DX's, manual, which is time consuming and yes, tedious, but has the advantage of control over what type of lamp to use, bringing file sizes down, or automatic, easier to understand, but little control over the eventual file size.

All in all, a good DX, worthy of anyone's hard drive space.

[Bencrest]

Looks like I'll have to reply to all of them then, try to get people started!

I really hope that Smiley doesn't take my comments too badly, and you have to realise that having only done one layout prior to this 'Double Feature', hes done an excellent job, and has a huge amount of potential. That was clear from his first release, bringing Lucky Strike Club to the masses - a machine I'd wanted to see emulated for YEARS!

If it were up to me, I'd have it so that people would have to reply to a release thread to download the machine, but then I'm a total git, as you can tell!

If anyone thinks I've been too harsh, let me know, and I'll not review layouts anymore

BarcrestBenito

[marcosource]

When I see the number of members,the thousands of downloads here
on the site and compare it to the forumactivity,
so it seems to me only a tiny fraction of people ever post in the forum.
To make ALL people ,who download all the machines and layouts,
to appreceate the great service here,
and to make them understand,how many hours of work
have gone into designing a layouts
and to let them understand that
this is NOT comercial service ,
why not do the following :
Lets have downloaders post at least 10 (or five) times
in the forum,bevor they are allowed to start downloading anything.
Most people probably wouldnt know ,what to post anyway,
so I believe it will be posts like:
Nice site ,good layout, go on like this,or
probably even some ideas for new releases and
hopefully also some more interesting and productive ones.
What do you think.
Imagine the usal leecher finding,the next time wanting to download
a new release,a window,saying:
Sorry,restricted acsess only !
You have to use the forum at least 10 times,
before you can continue downloading .
Sorry for the inconvenience,but
layoutdesigners are getting pissed of,
as they dont get their due respekt .

What do you think ?
(I bet they will)
:twisted:

[Smiley]

I don't mind the comments at all.
Always good to hear constructive criticism.

I'm currently working on The Simpsons FSDX.
Not a great machine (it likes to crap on me very often), but hey, it's the Simpsons and I must have it on my CAB.

Did you decide to make a Mame Cab after BB?

Anyway, thanks for the comments.
Enjoy.

[Bencrest]

I've had some people asking for physical touchscreen [some kind of capacive matrix in a sheet of sticky plastic] from my Cluedo, and I guess I'll no doubt end up selling the other bits on eBay. No point in trying to revive Cluedo, and the touchscreen may well benefit the FME scene, so watch this space

I'm glad you didn't take my comments badly, after all, they are still among the best layouts I've seen in the past couple of years, and by doing FSDX and 1024, you make them available to almost all.

Your Crystal Maze could never get more than 8/10 as mine rules all!!

I got a damning review on my first version, and then corrected every single mistake [about 10 in all!!], and re released it. I think I got away with using no transparent lamps, and it was still over 6 and a half megs, and was pretty shocking. Still it was the best at the time, and I guess thats how FME works. Everything is great until someone like yourself [or Pook] comes along and does the definitive super version

I'd better just remember to focus on my feckin college this year rather than posting here and using MAME and MAGE

BarcrestBenito

[Banzai]

I did sort of reply but in another post :roll:

Must have been half asleep for past 2 days.

[frankie4fingers]

Just like to say that these latouts are blindin. The rcocky horror show brings back some memories cheers SA

[pm990]

I agree that the machines are excellent and certainly bring back memories. Just a few comments regarding Marco's post. I don't have the expertise to comment on layouts, reels, bulbs etc. I found this site earlier this year and have been amazed at the number of machines that are available. I have nothing but repect for the guys that design them and offer them through this site. If fruit-emu were to put a stipulation that new mebers cannot download until that have had 10 posts in the forums then surely the forums would become clogged up with pointless posts. I joined the site as soon as I found out that I could revisit the machines I played in my youth. It certainly is 100 times better than playing fruities on the crap las vegas casino cd-roms as I used to before finding fruit-emu. I visit the forums regulary and will post if I have a relevant comment or query.

Thanks again to all you designers you have made me a very happy man!!

[marcosource]

I fully understand the matter now.
Actually I was just replying to BBs post,
because I thought,designers where getting
pissed off,because all the hours of work done
and people just downloading it ,whithout even
thinking about the hard work ,that was involved.
But true,alot of useless posts would spam the forum
and it would be hard to hold sight of the topics.
So its just the usal suspects posting a reply to the new
releases.
I would really like to join the crowd designing,
but my skills are not sufficent at all.
I havent got paypal ,nor even an ebay account,
but from my next paycheque I will send a dirty brown
envelope to the UK...
Sorry,I didnt use my brain, before posting...

[pm990]

No problem mate. I would also love to have the ability to design layouts but I even had difficulty downloading the emulators when I joined fruit-emu!!

[Memap]

Let's face it, both Crystal Mazes were shite.
My classic was miles better

[Bencrest]

Lol!

I have to admit, the only classic I did was ages ago of a bingo-esque granny machine - about 10 lamps in total

If it hadn't have been for the classics around when most recent people started designing, there would still be loads left to do - as it stands, theres precious little left

BarcrestBenito