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Zen FX3 & FX2

This page is not the most current information. If you are following my “NailBuster” how to video for Zen FX3 then follow this page: https://www.nailbuster.com/wikipinup/doku.php?id=popper_fx3

Most common issue: Most people cannot use FX3 in Exclusive Screen Mode. Many people found that VLC media will be crashed when returning from FX3/2. The easy solution is to setup FX3 in its video settings to use Window-Borderless.

Also, you must run the your steam-client on windows startup (the default behaviour). You do not want to run steam for the first time from launch script.

NOTE: this is NO SUPPORT or help with any of this if you are using a PIRATED version of Zen FX3. Don't be silly and support Zen with their pinball software (well worth it, during steam sales you can get all the tables at great prices). Also, doflinx and dmdext will NOT work correctly with pirated copies.

NEW!! Exciting update to PuPDMD inside Popper to mirror FX3/2 easily.

see here: http://www.nailbuster.com/wikipinup/doku.php?id=pupdmd_fx3|

PupDMD is an alternative to using DMDExt. So if you do not want to use PuPDMD then follow the DMDExt instructions below;

For DMDExt:

DMDExt is difficult to get setup and should be done OUTSIDE of Frontend at first to make sure you have all the proper DMDEXT parameters set. Once that works then you can copy your tested parameters into the launch script of FX3.

In DMDEXT if you're using –fx3-legacy option you need to setup the size of your DMD in FX3 EXACTLY to the correct width and height like this:

After you have it Working go In FX3 Options Under UI/streaming set Dot matrix size : to off

Typical beginner Steam FX3 direct Game launch Setup

popper_fx3_setup.jpg

Launch Script

@echo off

START "" "[STARTDIR]Launch\VPXSTARTER.exe" 5 5 60 "Pinball FX3"

START "" "[DIREMU]\steam.exe" -applaunch 442120 -table_[GAMENAME]

Close Script

"[STARTDIR]LAUNCH\PUPCLOSER.EXE" WINTIT "Pinball FX3" 4 1

For Information on Adding Multiplayer to FX3

DMDExT with FX

note: dmdext.exe is an exe that will mirror the FX3 dmd to a better looking LCD-DMD window or your hardware DMD. It is DIFFERANT THAN dmddevice.ini and it only gets its settings via command line parameters… no changes to the dmddevice.ini will help/affect the DMDExt.exe program.

Here is a sample of a LCD-DMDext Setup that I use: You would change the #'s in the virtual-position parameters to your screen size position. THIS WILL NOT WORK WITH HARDWARE DMDs.

With Freezy 1.73 or Higher this is not needed –fx3-legacy

cd "C:\Visual Pinball\VPinMAME"

start /min "" "dmdext.exe" mirror --source=pinballfx3 -q -d virtual --fx3-legacy --virtual-hide-grip --virtual-position=5786 514 1560 375 --pinup PINUP\[GAMENAME]

START "" "[STARTDIR]Launch\VPXSTARTER.exe" 5 10 20 "Pinball FX3"

SET ALTPARAM=
if "[ALTMODE]"=="classic"  (SET ALTPARAM=-class )
if "[ALTMODE]"=="hotseat2" (SET ALTPARAM=-hotseat_2 )
if "[ALTMODE]"=="hotseat3" (SET ALTPARAM=-hotseat_3 )
if "[ALTMODE]"=="hotseat4" (SET ALTPARAM=-hotseat_4 )

START "" "[DIREMU]\steam.exe" -applaunch 442120 %ALTPARAM% -table_[GAMENAME]

a sample one for pin2dmd would replace the dmdext line from above with this:

start /min "" "dmdext.exe" mirror --source=pinballfx3 --fx3-legacy -q -d pin2dmd --pinup PinUP\[GAMENAME]

a sample with pindmdv3

start /min "" "dmdext.exe" mirror --source=pinballfx3 -q -d pindmdv3 -p com3 --fx3-legacy --pinup PINUP\[GAMENAME]

Close script FX3

"[STARTDIR]LAUNCH\PUPCLOSER.EXE" WINTIT "Pinball FX3" 4 1

rem          Remove "rem" on the next line to close DMDExt after exiting a table.
rem taskkill /f /im "dmdext.exe"

SSF with FX3 ,PuP-SSF and DOFLinx

For FX2 Sample Launch Script

@echo off

rem remove rem to setup your DMDEXT press "open examples for more info"
rem cd "C:\Visual Pinball\VPinMAME"

rem start /min "" "dmdext.exe" mirror --source=pinball FX2 -q -d auto --virtual-hide-grip --virtual-position=x y w -o PinUP\[GAMENAME]

START "" "[STARTDIR]Launch\VPXSTARTER.exe" 5 1 5 "Pinball FX2"

cd /d "[DIREMU]"

START "" "steam.exe" -applaunch 226980 -table [GAMENAME]

Close script FX2

"[STARTDIR]LAUNCH\PUPCLOSER.EXE" WINTIT "Pinball FX2" 4 1

rem          Remove "rem" on the next line to close DMDExt after exiting a table.
rem taskkill /f /im "dmdext.exe"

Annoying "would you like to continue or start new game FX3 prompt?"

FX doesn't have an option to disable that prompt to continue or start new game…so I made a 'workaround' that should work.

download this zip and unblock-it and put the exe into the pinupsystem\launch folder

https://www.nailbuster.com/pup/SendFXNewGame.zip

emulator setup FX3 in your launch script at the very bottom add these lines

timeout 15
START /min "" "[STARTDIR]Launch\SendFXNewGame.exe"

you may need to change the 15 (thats seconds) if your system is slower to launch.

this will send keystrokes to 'start new game' always.

Note: this should work fine for default keyboard setup in fx3, if yours is different then don't use this workaround…

Aliens FX3 PuP-Pack Not triggering videos

If you have problems with the videos triggering When using PuPDMD
Try copying these modified pupcapture images to the pupcapture folder in the pup-pack.
https://vpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AliensPupCapture.zip

A little more info on the modified pupcapture images
https://vpinball.com/forums/topic/aliens-fx3-pup-pack-bg-topper-ssf-movie-music/page/5/#post-206878

Volume 6 and 'wacky' DMD letters not working on new tables

With Volume 6 pack tables their DMDs are italic and cause issues for pupdmd and others. Ive made a workaround attempt using the following update: https://nailbuster.com/pupupdatesv14/PUPDMD_FX3_vol6_update.zip

Use the readme.txt file inside zip to get those working. NOTE: this is for LCD PUPDMD users only!!!

TableName are not obvious to which ones they are based on Filename.

For anyone else who has trouble with the naming on some of the Zen/FX3 tables, here you go:

  • Son of Zeus = Hercules
  • Secrets of the Deep = Atlantis
  • Solo = RedCup1
  • Calrissian Chronicles = RedCup2
  • Battle of Mimban = RedCup3
  • SW The Last Jedi = SpaceBear1
  • Achto Island = SpaceBear2
  • Sorcerer's Lair = citadel
  • Masters of the Force = STARWARS_Light_VS_Dark
  • Epic Quest = looter

Launching "Mars" table will launch "Attack from Mars" instead.

There's a known bug IN Zen FX3….(NOT in PinUP). If you use command line to launch mars, it will launch the wrong game. Easy solution is to make a copy of MARS.PXP file (in FX3 app folder) and call it NARS.PXP. Then add NARS.PXP to Popper like a normal game and set the media for it (remember to 'hide' MARS.PXP file in games manager).

zen_fx3.txt · Last modified: 2021/03/20 18:06 by pinupadmin