Pinball Sandbox Editor Demo Working

OK just excited that I finally have a game that is attracting some attention and made it to the top games list on Scirra arcade.

Now before anybody rains on my parade you should know I have worked really hard to finally get a game that people like and will come back and play over and over and many of my games have been duds so take this as my way of encouragement and saying to keep trying and don't give up just because some of your games bomb. Rework them or learn from them and the feedback you get and put that to use in your next game.

I learn something from every game I make and new ways of doing things and new effects and I collect sprites and sound effects in my library and skills for my next project from every game. I have over 20 games published on Scirra but probably well over a 100 games that I never finished for one reason or another.

So here is my Pinball Sandbox with new Simpson's playfield and I am proud of this game so far and will continue to make it better and I hope people appreciate the hard work and time that goes in to our games.

https://www.scirra.com/arcade/tutorial-games/pinball-sandbox-demo-13984

Check it out and play the different playfields and let me know what you think please!

Updated Pinball Sandbox with Simpson's Theme Fan Game:

https://www.scirra.com/arcade/tutorial-games/pinball-sandbox-demo-13984

I also tweaked the flipper and ball for better finite control and added some grit to the ball so you can aim it very accurately. You can really control the ball about as well as in real pinball now with a little practice.

The game scoring and missions are still in development but you can see where I am headed.

I am working on the editor and also a mobile version and flat screen editor version for people that want to design their own games.

I have a website set up now so I can start promoting the game and sandbox editor when it is finished:

http://pinball-sandbox.comli.com/

Now you can create your own Pinball games using accurate physics and objects or select from themes I will create.

This is a Demo of the controls and features for feedback purposes.

I have been working hard on the Pinball Sandbox Editor and I have the controls working but not all the objects can be modified or created yet.

Here is the Demo:

https://www.scirra.com/arcade/tutorial-games/pinball-physics-sandbox-demo-13984?action=updated

Edit Controls:

Themes: Click to choose Soccer theme (more themes coming)

Play: Closes the editor

Color: click on color and then object to color and color on primary board (only yellow)

Move: Click on object and then right click to place

Bigger Smaller: Changes size of objects

Copy: Right click to place

Create: Opens object window. left click to select and right to place

Delete: Deletes playfield objects

Change wall, floor, and cabinet by clicking on Labels

Save and Load to Save your creations to share (Only one creation)

Lock does not work in Arcade version.

I intend to have at least 5 sport themes to choose from and maybe a Zombie. I have to create assets for each game and design the layout so that take a lot of time. I will have many more wall and floor choices and stickers and other play elements in the next update. This was just to test the controls and get feedback.

The plan is to make this a stand alone game and also a mobile game and maybe get it on Amazon Games and Steam. You will be able to create several of your own pinball games to share with friends and modify them at any time. There will be many more assets in the paid version and you will be able to lock a game so no one else can edit it and have more saves.

This is a large game file so the first time you run it may take 5 minutes to load. Don't get upset and go have a cup of coffee and come back.

If you are still seeing the old version you need to clear you Browser Cache images and downloads.

Picture of Soccer Theme and Editor Screen.

Picture of the Create Object Window.

awesome man!:D i like how it feel now its more stable.

Edited: editor is ok, its buggy though, mouse gets stuck when you create objects, also im not entirely sure if i can create new objects, if i change the theme, theme button doesn't toggle from original default to football theme and back,

color works, background floor wall changing is a nice addition, everything that are in editor option are a good addition to the gameplay and the customization ability, it only needs to be fixed so no glitches appear. a bit more polishing details and its the best pinball i seen on scirra arcade.

awesome man!:D i like how it feel now its more stable.

Thanks- yes I think I have most of the physics probs fixed.

Did you try the editor and what did you think?

I forgot and left in my mousX and mouseY and I moved the bumpers back where they are supposed to start. I just uploaded the changes.

You aren't resetting controls after a tilt/end game.

You aren't resetting controls after a tilt/end game.

There are still a few bugs to work out as I do not restart the layer when switching between games and some controls are carrying over.

This is just to demonstrate the editor.

Did you try the editor and what did you think?

Note: Play the Soccer theme and you will see the soccer players move and will throw up their little arms when you score a goal and the crowd cheers.

That is one thing I like about video pinball as I can make objects do things that would be quite impossible in real pinball including have character objects that will move and walk and speak or trigger a major event like a new layout etc.

There are so many possibilities I get caught up working on themes instead of getting the basic editor parts all working lol!

I am working on new playfield designs and assets so the screens may be a bit buggy for awhile. I will get all that fixed after I get playfields designed as each one requires tweaking controls and scoring.

Don't get alarmed if a ball suddenly disappears or a soccer field becomes an ice hockey rink lol!

awesome man!:D i like how it feel now its more stable.

Edited: editor is ok, its buggy though, mouse gets stuck when you create objects, also im not entirely sure if i can create new objects, if i change the theme, theme button doesn't toggle from original default to football theme and back,

color works, background floor wall changing is a nice addition, everything that are in editor option are a good addition to the gameplay and the customization ability, it only needs to be fixed so no glitches appear. a bit more polishing details and its the best pinball i seen on scirra arcade.

Thanks- Yes quite a few bugs in the editor I need to fix. I am getting all the playfields and assets designed right now and then I will have to tweak controls and scoring for each playfield.

Lots of work still to do but I think I have a handle on how I want the game to function and to make it as easy as possible for other people to design a playfield and game of their own.

This is kind of in between the hardcore visual pinball creator programs and windows pinball creator that is just flat screen. Feels like a real pinball game and plays enough like one to give people a real challenge.

At least I hope so!

— You are certainly onto something big here. Yes, there is plenty work to be done to get some things right but very commendable efforts. I have tried the editor and I like the direction the project is taking. This is an excellent project. Don't stop!

— You are certainly onto something big here. Yes, there is plenty work to be done to get some things right but very commendable efforts. I have tried the editor and I like the direction the project is taking. This is an excellent project. Don't stop!

Thanks- I am excited about this project and see some real potential. I am amazed at how many websites and forums are dedicated to Pinball both traditional and video and there are lots of people that I think would like this sandbox creator. Not hard to learn and you can design your own game playfield in a few minutes or create your own assets for hardcore game designers.

I am designing ramps and chutes today which will really add to the affect.

It's a good first step for the editor. Once it gets all polished up it should be awesome. I'm looking forward to new ramps and chutes. Have you considered adding some dynamic lighting effects based on collisions/scores/player actions etc?

It's a good first step for the editor. Once it gets all polished up it should be awesome. I'm looking forward to new ramps and chutes. Have you considered adding some dynamic lighting effects based on collisions/scores/player actions etc?

Thanks Burvey!

I am uploading a new version with dynamic lighting and special effects and I will do a lot more with lights. buzzers, bells and whistles and special effects as I progress so it looks and sounds more like arcade pinball.

This one has the ramp and lights:

https://www.scirra.com/arcade/action-games/pinball-sandbox-demo-14053?action=updated

Eventually I will have a backlight top with working GIF screen that you can scroll up to watch but that is down the road. Lots of fun stuff coming.

I get bored working on one section so I go work on another and today it is all that fun stuff to make it exciting to play.

Go check out the new version:

Yeah, that's really cool. Some of the sounds take me back to my poker days in the casino (hearing all the slots in the background). The ball is still slipping past/through the flipper sometimes even with the CTRL key. Some things are just a pain to get rid of haha. Also, the LED display was showing game over while I still had a ball in play. The red text (game over) didn't show up until after I had actually lost though.

Yeah, that's really cool. Some of the sounds take me back to my poker days in the casino (hearing all the slots in the background). The ball is still slipping past/through the flipper sometimes even with the CTRL key. Some things are just a pain to get rid of haha. Also, the LED display was showing game over while I still had a ball in play. The red text (game over) didn't show up until after I had actually lost though.

Yup just like a slot machine and I borrowed some of those sound effects lol!

At least with video pinball you don't waste your money.

Here is a discussion of what I have planned for this:

https://www.scirra.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=159&t=185945

I still have some bug issues with the ball count because of multiple balls I need to work on. Just have my count wrong somewhere.

The flippers are still not picking up the ball at certain angles. I will work on that in a future update. Only happens at certain angles when the ball is at a certain speed the iterations ignore the collision. Same with two balls meeting. Not sure it can be fixed but I will play with it.

> — You are certainly onto something big here. Yes, there is plenty work to be done to get some things right but very commendable efforts. I have tried the editor and I like the direction the project is taking. This is an excellent project. Don't stop!

>

Thanks- I am excited about this project and see some real potential. I am amazed at how many websites and forums are dedicated to Pinball both traditional and video and there are lots of people that I think would like this sandbox creator. Not hard to learn and you can design your own game playfield in a few minutes or create your own assets for hardcore game designers.

I am designing ramps and chutes today which will really add to the affect.

congrats lamar

i believe last year some time ago. i made a comment in the forum that a good pinball template would be a gold mine for 2d game devs and artists. i think pinball has as much room for expression, mood and artistic interpretation as platformers. especially when unique elements to digital pinball are incorporated.

the ball is still passing through the flipper sometimes. but i agree with the others that it feels much more stable and realistic. i am sure you will find a way to work out the physics kinks. i also got a ball to get stuck right in the center of the red 'deadball' circle. it would not exit the board and give me another ball. so i used the plunger control. which should have been turned off...lol.

really looking good.

i have not played with the editor yet, but that is going to be the bread and butter of this project.