💚 VPXS 4KP Project
Table of Contents
- What is VPX Standalone for 4KP?
- Do you support the HDP?
- How does it work?
- Why isn't this public yet?
- Can this replace my OTG PC / Buying Native 4KP Tables?
- So what exactly are we building here?
- What security is in place to protect the VPX community?
- Do I have to pay?
What is VPX Standalone for 4KP?¶
VPX Standalone for 4KP (VPXS or VPXS 4KP for short) is a community driven project to get VPX tables running directly on the AtGames Legends 4KP pinball machine, using only a USB drive!
The main goals of the project: - Get VPXS tables running, and optimised, for the 4KP! - Build supporting tools that make it as easy as possible for the average person to install VPX tables! - Build a lovely supporting community alongside the project!
Do you support the HDP?¶
I'm sorry, but currently we only support the 4KP. This project was already in it's second year when the HDP came out, so we would rather focus on finishing the project then increase the scope.
We are hoping to get HDP support soon enough though, keep an eye on this space!
How does it work?¶
Simply copy the 'Table Manager' folder onto your USB, plug it into your 4KP, load the Table Manager app on your 4KP.
Once its loaded you will see a website URL. Navigate to that website on your PC install VPXS tables right onto your machine!
ℹ️ How does it work on a technical level?
> AtGames Legends 4KP has the ability to run 'General Loader' apps. These programs can technically be anything, and allow developers to build custom apps that can be ran directly on the 4KP.
> Alongside that, the VPX developer community has released 'VPX Standalone', a version of VPX that can be ran on any device. ([Link to VPXS project](https://github.com/vpinball/vpinball/tree/master/standalone))
Leveraging the 4KP's general loader functionality, and VPX Standalone's ability to run on any device, Nix found a way to get a VPX Standalone build running via a USB drive!
Why isn't this public yet?¶
We are in final preparations / testing for the Release version!
Keep an eye on this space! 👀
Can this replace my OTG PC / Buying Native 4KP Tables?¶
VPXS does not run tables as well as a dedicated gaming PC will.
VPXS does not run tables as well as the native tables will run.
A lot of tables run great, but the 4KP does not have the power that a gaming PC will have, and VPXS is a new software with its own quirks.
If you want a perfect full VPX experience, and every table playable and running at 60FPS (max framerate of the 4KP)... VPXS will not be able to replace your full PC or replace the native tables provided by AtGames.
This project is for those that want to get fun tables added to their 4KP without needing the technical knowledge, or hardware, that setting up a OTG PC VPX requires.
Running VPXS from USB is really convenient, the Table Manager makes adding tables really easy, and there are hundreds of tables that run well.
This is the 'everyman' solution to VPX gameplay on the 4KP.
So what exactly are we building here?¶
There are 3 components to VPXs on the 4KP: - Table Manager - Launcher - Bundle
Table Manager
The Table Manager is a application that runs on the 4KP and starts a local website on your home network.
Navigating to the website on your own PC/Mobile gives you tools to edit files on your USB, add new VPX tables, and other utilities.
This is the 'secret sauce' to making VPXS so easy to use on the 4KP. No more difficult VPX folder structures!!
Launcher
The launcher is the General Loader application Nix built that runs the VPXS bundle.
There is one launcher for every VPXS table you have installed on your machine.
Launchers have built in DRM and security features to protect the VPX community.
Bundle
The bundle is the specific version of VPXS that we run.
This is a big collaboration between the VPX developers, the VPX standalone developers, and ourselves!
They build the main VPX/VPXS versions, and we make our own tweaks to get it working smoother and faster specifically on the 4KP.
Any useful fixes or changes we make are then passed back into the main VPXS builds for everyone to benefit from!
What security is in place to protect the VPX community?¶
The safety of the VPX community is taken extremely seriously within this project. Below are just a few of the ways we are taking security into consideration: - Your 4KPs UUID numbers are recorded, and this gives us the ability to block unauthorised machines. - The launcher contain further DRM measures to further prevent reselling of USB drives. - Tables can only be added via the Table Manager. This means you cannot add tables directly via plugging the USB into a computer, further preventing USB stick sellers. - Direct links, to safe trusted websites, are used for all table file download links. MD5 Hash's are commonly provided for Rom files so that those a little more technically minded can confirm you have the correct file. - The Table Manager Wizard uses the Virtual Pinball Spreadsheet to get even safer direct links - Table authors are given credit on every table added to the repository. - The Table Manager Wizard download links have cool-down timers to make it difficult to bulk load tables (aka given a folder of files to upload via Table Manager)
Do I have to pay?¶
Do not pay for this software!
VPX Standalone and the Legends Unchained Launcher are free!
If you like what we're doing, consider making a donation to one of the below charaties chosen by the team:
- n-i-x and cth77's charity of choice is St Jude's
- Wraiths is Child's Play and MSF/Doctors Without Borders
- and Osies is Trans Actual and Mermaids