Category Archives: Video Games

Video Games

AMH Debug 4-6-14

Turns out of you have a Windows 8 laptop with touchscreen, you can go back and forward in Chrome by dragging your finger left and right across the screen. That’s kinda cool.

  • Minion MB working well.
  • Hellavator MB working well. Fixed glitch where Minion Targets were erased on Hellavator MB start.
  • Improved end of mode code for Photo Hunt. If I have time, might re-stack it with Ghost Minion Mode.
  • When Hell MB is stacked with eligible modes, it needs a way to advance jackpot value. Going to look into it, “nice to have” not a bug…
  • Working on code to prevent Pop Bumper videos / number displays from overriding prompts when shooting up center shot (it leads to pops, so that’s the issue)
Video Games

AMH Debug 4-5-14

Ah, the umpteenth consecutive Saturday I’ve been at my shop working.

  • Looking into music play bug  (nope, it was a different mistake, myself forgetting to mask off a bit)
  • Rewrote Minion and Hellavator multiball end code to clear things up
  • Realized using same variable for # of locked balls and how many balls to autolaunch was really stupid.
  • If Hell MB starts, active minion lights get erased – need to fix
  • Added more prompts for “dry” scoop shots, adding time to Photo Hunt, and Ghost Prison Escape
  • Making sure Hellavator Multiballs stacks perfectly with the modes it can stack with (Hospital, War Fort, Haunted Bar, Minion Battle)
  • Fixed glitched with “Lock” staying lit even with Hellavator in down position
  • Think I know why that combo light is staying on! That’s what happens when code gets too old – you forget what did what.
  • Probably won’t enable Wizard Mode or Video mode for MGC – more important that the 99% of the game people will actually see works perfectly!
  • Found glitch where Minion Multiball ending would prevent Spirit Guide from being collected until another mode started – whoops!
Video Games

AMH Debug 4-4-14

Lots of 4’s in today’s date!

The first prototype AMH has been on location for 2 weeks now. It’s had a few wear & tear issues (same game that went to Expo, Ball Crawl and Christmas Party) but overall quite solid.

I have what should be the final production board in my prototype programming game at my shop.

Current debug state:

  • Defeating the 3rd or 9th Minion gets you Minion Multiball, which can stack with Hellavator Multiball or Ghost Photo Hunt. Making sure stacking works right.
  • Extremely unlikely, but possible, that you can start a Minion MB while Hellavator MB is still loading balls. Making sure correct # of balls are added.
  • Making sure modes active when you go into Minion MB work correctly when it ends.
  • Found possible bug with Minion Mode enable after defeating Theater Ghost.
  • Setting Multiball states to bitwise operations
  • Game won’t start without 4 balls in trough. BUT, still making sure Mulitball Modes (especially ones that stack) only try to kick out what balls are actually available. Because you never know!
  • Found glitch where collecting an Extra Ball during a mode prevents Door from being re-opened.
  • Improved timing for Ghost Prisoner and Captured team member callouts in Prison Mode.
Video Games

AMH Debug 4-3-14

How “done” can I get America’s Most Haunted by Midwest Gaming Classic? Stay tuned for daily updates!

  • Added black stroke around “Spirit Guide is Ready” text on Member Spelling Animations.
  • Added “Spirit Guide Ready After Mode Ends” alternate version on Member Spelling Animations.
  • Cleaned up code for Balcony Jump. Run-up and abort animations work much better.
  • Implementing conditions to light Video Mode (mode not programmed yet)
  • Spell WIKI, TECH and PSYCHIC to light Video Mode (collected at Ghost so ball can be trapped during mode)
  • Found “dead shot” in Hotel Mode, gave it nominal point value, added what to do prompt.
  • Fixed glitch with Spirit Guide awarding Prison Lock Lit
  • Fixed glitch where Spirit Guide Award #17 would never be selected
  • Fixed advance mode glitch where faster progress on Bar or War mode would prevent their Spirit Guide awards from working.
  • Fixed glitch where Mode Total shown after Minion Multiball would not include the “Mode Won” points (but you still got them, just weren’t shown in total)
  • Working on entry/exit issues with Ghost Minion Multiball when stacked with Photo Hunt or Hellavator Multiball.
Video Games

Ben Heck “Steam Box” Concept with AMD APU

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My idea of a “Steam Box”

Last winter I built several projects for AMD to highlight their new line of APU’s (Accelerated Processing Units) which are combination CPU’s and graphics card on a single die.

Most of the projects used concepts from AMD, but for one showcase item I got to build “whatever I wanted” so I took a crack at my rendition of a living room PC that could function as a “Steam Box”. Please note this isn’t associated with Steam/Valve, rather it’s my own concept of how a living room “Steam Box” could be put together.

Click below to see the making of!

 

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