Epic Pinball - Enigma

Epic Pinball was a collection of pinball tables noted for being programmed entirely in x86 assembly language.
Originally released in three packs on floppy disk. Each pack had 4 playable tables. This run uses the CD (aka Full) version which also contains an additional table--African Safari.
This TAS plays the Enigma Table as it has a relatively definable endpoint (though play can continue indefinitely thereafter).

TAS Notes

  • It's pinball.
  • Goal: Make the Enigma arrive as fast as possible.
    • There are 4 unique levels of play that must be completed for the Enigma to arrive.
      • Level 1: Hit all the red gems then hit the shoes to advance.
      • Level 2: Hit all the bar targets 3 times then the gem to advance. One 'death' (lost ball) is used here to save time.
      • Level 3: Hit all the diamond targets then the gem to advance.
      • Level 4: Hit all the gems. Then kill the teddy bear. Then hit the cone targets. And finally lock the ball to make the Enigma appear.
    • There are minimal opportunities for gaining extra points, and thus these targets are ignored unless hit by chance.
    • Once the Enigma arrives, play continues indefinitely by having the player hit a never ending string of red gem targets similar to Level 1. This is considered a bonus stage by the game and is not played in this run.
    • This run is completed by tilting out once the score for spawning Enigma has been awarded, then purposely losing the remaining balls. High-score initials are input then the credits are shown.
    • Table Nudging is used to alter ball movement. These nudges appear as jumps/twitches of the table on the screen. These are not emulation errors but intentional.
Potential Improvements
  • Though I've done the best I can to optimize this run, there are a vast number of possibilities for ball direction and speed on any given flipper strike. A change in timing to any given strike will alter all future events and flipper strikes. As such, it's possible that better 'routing' of ball strikes/direction may yield a faster run. Also, nudging the table can alter ball movement as well and can be performed on just about any frame further increasing the potential for different 'routes'.
  • RNG Manipulation? - If the appearing/disappearing bumpers in Level 1 are RNG dependent, I couldn't figure out what it was. It's not time based as changing the initial RTC does not affect them. Manipulating them to not appear in the path of the ball may be beneficial and could possibly yield a faster run.
  • As it's necessary to lose balls to complete the run, if a run that selects 3 balls instead of 5 in the options can match or improve on the ball routing of this run; a faster run may result. This would depend in part on the time required to change the settings vs time required to just lose the two extra balls.
Emulator Used c-squares modified JPC-rr 11.2

Files

HDD, TRACKS 16, SIDES 16, SECTORS 63
TimestampMD5SizeFilename
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199001010000005f8c6fa6397eca6fcfa5b94fc3eb987d7869LICENSE.DOC
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19900101000000f17190391afdbd8da1225595cccb0a3937461PINBALL.EXE
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199001010000009df4b61a810905c484d3cdeebfe2c854133901SFX7.PIN
19900101000000c287bb9cc02c18416c4b60ce18bd1a98132042SFX8.PIN
19900101000000d56621cd799adce077f09daf370a7c49106545SFX9.PIN
199001010000002591df28d8853cdb17674885ddf21ac9115895SONG0.PSM
199001010000007022c93f58988b1647bc225ed0b8f0aa66896SONG1.PSM
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199001010000004e88033d5b31b5df8d35c48a7213a74a38SOUNDCRD.INF

fsvgm777: Replaced movie file with one that was done on a clean installation (before first run).
Noxxa: Judging.
Noxxa: Delaying until the movie file is extended to include a proper ending of the game (see this post).
Noxxa: Replaced movie file with an extended version, and accepting to Moons.
fsvgm777: Processing.


PLANET
He/Him
Joined: 1/3/2018
Posts: 73
Oh, and while there's still voting, my mental "Yes" vote for this! : ) This is definitely great, entertaining, and seems really tightly optimized : )
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 804
Location: Canada
That is one spartan table! Nothing particularly exciting happens, so I give it a Meh for entertainment.
TASing or playing back a DOS game? Make sure your files match the archive at RGB Classic Games.
Skilled player (1416)
Joined: 10/27/2004
Posts: 1978
Location: Making an escape
hopper wrote:
That is one spartan table! Nothing particularly exciting happens, so I give it a Meh for entertainment.
Which is a shame, because the idea of an amorphous pinball table is an interesting one with a lot of potential. And yet it turned out to be just a series of targets.
A hundred years from now, they will gaze upon my work and marvel at my skills but never know my name. And that will be good enough for me.
DrD2k9
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Ferret Warlord wrote:
Which is a shame, because the idea of an amorphous pinball table is an interesting one with a lot of potential. And yet it turned out to be just a series of targets.
I wonder if it would be possible to build a table with a play-surface made from a thickish yet flexible material (silicone perhaps) that could then have multiple ramps/obstacles that would push up from underneath, constantly changing the playfield depending on goals met during play. This could even allow for a difficulty curve via the angle of ramps being variable and adjusted to be harder to hit for more advanced levels. EDIT: This variable table concept should be revisited in video game format regardless of whether a physical table could be created. (I really need to learn how to code.)
nymx
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Wow, I was never good enough to get to the end of this table. I'm glad to finally have seen what happens. Thanks. Yes vote.
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
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DrD2k9 wrote:
I wonder if it would be possible to build a table with a play-surface made from a thickish yet flexible material (silicone perhaps) that could then have multiple ramps/obstacles that would push up from underneath, constantly changing the playfield depending on goals met during play.
Have you seen https://www.multimorphic.com/p3-pinball-platform/ by any chance? It's not quite the same thing you describe but an adaptable pinball platform with a full display and ball tracking to allow for dynamic interactive targets below the ball is pretty close.
I was laid off in May 2023 and became too ill to work this year and could use support via Patreon or onetime donations as work on TASBot Re: and TASBot HD is stalled. I'm dwangoAC, TASVideos Senior Ambassador and BDFL of the TASBot community; when healthy, I post TAS content on YouTube.com/dwangoAC based on livestreams from Twitch.tv/dwangoAC.
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Not the most entertaining run, but it did do a nice job with what was provided. I ended up liking it overall.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
DrD2k9
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dwangoAC wrote:
Have you seen https://www.multimorphic.com/p3-pinball-platform/ by any chance? It's not quite the same thing you describe but an adaptable pinball platform with a full display and ball tracking to allow for dynamic interactive targets below the ball is pretty close.
I hadn't seen that, but it looks intriguing. Too bad I don't have about $20k to blow on one and a few extra drop in modules. The display with ball tracking is pretty cool. I still think a physically morphable surface would be cool, something that could be altered on the fly. The flexible surface with ramps under that pop up or an electro-reactive material that could be varied by changing electrical charge (something akin to Batman's cape fabric from the Nolan Batman movies.) Or even using electromagnets to modify the surface somehow; though this would require balls of material other than steel (I believe I've seen ceramic ones before).
Nach wrote:
Not the most entertaining run, but it did do a nice job with what was provided. I ended up liking it overall.
A simple statement, yet very meaningful considering who it's from. Thank You.
Noxxa
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DrD2k9 wrote:
fsvgm777 wrote:
By the way, the movie ends mid-gameplay. It probably would be better to suicide the remaining balls to at least reach a high score entry.
If the judge feels this is necessary for completeness (but the run is otherwise publishable), I will have them set the decision to 'delayed' and add the extra few inputs even though it will result in a slightly longer run.
For the sake of (some) consistency with the other Epic Pinball TAS, as well as general preference to have movies end on a proper ending sequence where available, I would prefer that the movie file finishes gameplay, goes back to the main menu, opens credits and ends input there. If that's done, I will accept this movie.
http://www.youtube.com/Noxxa <dwangoAC> This is a TAS (...). Not suitable for all audiences. May cause undesirable side-effects. May contain emulator abuse. Emulator may be abusive. This product contains glitches known to the state of California to cause egg defects. <Masterjun> I'm just a guy arranging bits in a sequence which could potentially amuse other people looking at these bits <adelikat> In Oregon Trail, I sacrificed my own family to save time. In Star trek, I killed helpless comrades in escape pods to save time. Here, I kill my allies to save time. I think I need help.
DrD2k9
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Mothrayas wrote:
...I would prefer that the movie file finishes gameplay, goes back to the main menu, opens credits and ends input there. If that's done, I will accept this movie.
I'll get that done asap. EDIT: I need Mothrayas's thoughts on how to complete the TAS as I can do any of the following. Listed in order of increasing time requirements: 1) Tilt immediately to release the ball asap as the Enigma arrives--but before the points are awarded--and then kill remaining balls. (This will not begin the 'Final Bonus Round' of gems.) 2) Tilt to release ball after receiving the points for reaching the Enigma. (Again this will not begin the 'Final Bonus Round' of gems.) 3) Tilt to release ball as soon as the 'Final Bonus Round' text is shown. (This will not actually start the bonus round, but will yield a glitched enigma sprite and remaining dead teddy bear as the final balls are killed). 4)Tilting/waiting for the the lock release as the bonus round starts then killing remaining balls. (I have yet not actually tested to see if it's possible to tilt as the round starts to release faster than the standard lock release). If you want the final bonus round to start, I'll do whichever of these is faster. The only differences that actually starting the bonus round will accomplish is removing the teddy, enigma, and adding red gems that can be seen on the launch of the remaining balls (none will be acquired). My personal preference is waiting at least until the score is awarded before releasing the ball, but I understand if the earlier option would be considered better for a shorter run. Please let me know and I'll finish where appropriate. SIDE NOTE: Since the decision was made that remaining balls needed killed to complete the game, I tried adjusting the game settings to 3 balls instead of 5 and re-syncing inputs. This however desynced as the ball path was different on the initial launch (the launch angle must be RNG dependent and changing the settings changed it).
Noxxa
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DrD2k9 wrote:
EDIT: I need Mothrayas's thoughts on how to complete the TAS as I can do any of the following. Listed in order of increasing time requirements: 1) Tilt immediately to release the ball asap as the Enigma arrives--but before the points are awarded--and then kill remaining balls. (This will not begin the 'Final Bonus Round' of gems.) 2) Tilt to release ball after receiving the points for reaching the Enigma. (Again this will not begin the 'Final Bonus Round' of gems.) 3) Tilt to release ball as soon as the 'Final Bonus Round' text is shown. (This will not actually start the bonus round, but will yield a glitched enigma sprite and remaining dead teddy bear as the final balls are killed). 4)Tilting/waiting for the the lock release as the bonus round starts then killing remaining balls. (I have yet not actually tested to see if it's possible to tilt as the round starts to release faster than the standard lock release). If you want the final bonus round to start, I'll do whichever of these is faster. The only differences that actually starting the bonus round will accomplish is removing the teddy, enigma, and adding red gems that can be seen on the launch of the remaining balls (none will be acquired). My personal preference is waiting at least until the score is awarded before releasing the ball, but I understand if the earlier option would be considered better for a shorter run. Please let me know and I'll finish where appropriate.
I agree that receiving the points is a good indicator that the Enigma was reached and the objective to reach it was achieved. That should do for a gameplay completion point. So, option 2.
http://www.youtube.com/Noxxa <dwangoAC> This is a TAS (...). Not suitable for all audiences. May cause undesirable side-effects. May contain emulator abuse. Emulator may be abusive. This product contains glitches known to the state of California to cause egg defects. <Masterjun> I'm just a guy arranging bits in a sequence which could potentially amuse other people looking at these bits <adelikat> In Oregon Trail, I sacrificed my own family to save time. In Star trek, I killed helpless comrades in escape pods to save time. Here, I kill my allies to save time. I think I need help.
DrD2k9
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Here is the updated movie file. I'll be editing the submission notes to make them more in line with this file. Though it's nearly impossible to tell at normal speed, the initials used for the high score table were "TAS". Also, the points for spawning Enigma are awarded, but the award text is only present for a couple frames before the "TILT" text pops up. The scoreboard shows the correct total. For those who care about such things, the re-record count is likely incorrect as I did some copy/paste work in Notepad++ to manipulate inputs and ease the job of updating the run. E: I updated the temp encode link with the new completed run.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [3637] DOS Epic Pinball "Enigma" by DrD2k9 in 01:36.81