Pinball Arcade vs. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame ??

Hi guys,

We own the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame disc for Wii and absolutely love it (I played many of these games when I was younger). But our Wii console isn't working right so we got an Xbox console instead (it was free thanks to a new computer purchase! ).

I downloaded the Pinball Arcade demo on Xbox to try it out, but there's a frustrating slight delay when hitting the flippers. Note that this delay is NOT there when playing Williams Pinball Hall of Fame on Wii, so I don't think it's a TV setting problem.

Here's my question: do you suppose I'm better off seeking out a used copy of Williams Pinball Hall of Fame for Xbox (new ones are too expensive) or is there a fix for the flipper delay on Pinball Arcade for Xbox? Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Also... other than the flipper delay issue and the obvious different game tables, what's the difference between the Pinball Arcade version and the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame version?

Thanks in advance!

Better physics and graphics are the differences, XBOX is having issues with releasing new DLC and it might be some time for the next DLC. Thats the first I heard XBOX LAG, If you can find a used copy of PHOF:WC get it! You could always give it to someone when you have all the tables from it on TPA. Oh yeah and WELCOME to the FAN PAGE!

Thanks! But what's DLC?

Downloadable Content. Add-on packs with new tables.

Welcome to the fold, SoundsGood.

Thanks Bonzo!

I guess I'll start looking for a used copy of Williams Hall of Fame now...

SoundsGood said:

Note that this delay is NOT there when playing Williams Pinball Hall of Fame on Wii, so I don't think it's a TV setting problem.

Click to expand...

This could still be a TV setting problem, or an issue with the TV in general; since the Wii only has standard-definition analog video output, your two consoles are likely connected to the TV in completely different ways, so the lack of lag with the Wii is no indication of what the TV might be doing with high-def digital XBox input. Is your XBox connected via an HDMI cable?

PlayStation 3 users have complained a lot about flipper lag in TPA, but I don't notice much in TPA on my XBox 360, and it hasn't been a common complaint among XBox users. If it's a problem with your video setup, PHoF will probably exhibit it too.

Hey Soundsgood. Wow this is the first I've heard of flipper lag on xbox. But I think the flippers are sluggish on TPA in general. I am reminded of how sluggish they are when I play Zen, Pro Pinball, or real pinball after a few long TPA sessions. This is one of the biggest problems with TPA. Stick around a bit and read some threads, these problems and many more have been addressed by many.

Check out this thread:
http://digitalpinballfans.com/showthread.php/2660-What-are-your-3-biggest-concerns-for-TPA

TPA is way better than PHOF in many other areas though. The ball physics are way better and the tables are more accurate. Some of the PHOF tables don't even have all the modes available or have been altered in some way. Also, now Farsight is producing tables from all the major companies and new DLC makes it worth having. Farsight is working toward something good here and going in the right direction with TPA, but there are a few potholes on the way.I have gotten used to the flippers on TPA, just as I get used to the Zen physics, or like I get used to the ball draining every 2 seconds on real pinball lol.

Soundsgood, do you have TPA on your iphone? You should download it and try a demo table for free, then compare with the same table on xbox version side by side. Then answer this question: Are the flippers more responsive on iphone?

I will say, though the ball physics feels more realistic in TPA than in PHoF, on the other hand, TPA tables seem more infested with game-ending bugs.

In PHoF on the Wii, I'd often get the "ball fell off table" message, but the game could deal with it in a way that didn't disrupt play too badly. All too many TPA tables have the infuriating problem in which the ball gets apparently stuck, but "call attendant" doesn't work. As far as I know, that never happened in Pinball Hall of Fame, which by rights ought to be a clue.

(I actually haven't seen this bug yet with the latest Android release, but even if they fixed it, it may be a long time before that fix ever comes to the XBox, given Farsight's distributor troubles on that platform.)

Another thing to look at is to try switching from the analog triggers to the bumpers above them, the clicky ones. There is a dead zone to get the flippers to respond with the triggers. In a way more realistic but i think it's set a little to far in the trigger's travel.

SoundsGood said:

Hi guys,

We own the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame disc for Wii and absolutely love it (I played many of these games when I was younger). But our Wii console isn't working right so we got an Xbox console instead (it was free thanks to a new computer purchase! ).

I downloaded the Pinball Arcade demo on Xbox to try it out, but there's a frustrating slight delay when hitting the flippers. Note that this delay is NOT there when playing Williams Pinball Hall of Fame on Wii, so I don't think it's a TV setting problem.

Here's my question: do you suppose I'm better off seeking out a used copy of Williams Pinball Hall of Fame for Xbox (new ones are too expensive) or is there a fix for the flipper delay on Pinball Arcade for Xbox? Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Also... other than the flipper delay issue and the obvious different game tables, what's the difference between the Pinball Arcade version and the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame version?

Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

PHOF has more tables available than PA on the 360. Also, I'm having a lot more fun currently with PHOF than PA. The is one similarity I've noticed though-neither one will have Twilight Zone available as DLC.

superballs said:

Another thing to look at is to try switching from the analog triggers to the bumpers above them, the clicky ones. There is a dead zone to get the flippers to respond with the triggers. In a way more realistic but i think it's set a little to far in the trigger's travel.

Click to expand...

This is true! I use the bumpers all the time on the XBox, and they are definitely more responsive than the triggers, though perhaps ergonomically less-than-ideal. (Part of the infamous flipper-lag trouble on the PS3 may just be that all of the switches are analog on the PS3 controller, so whatever slop is in Farsight's handling of analog switches applies to all of them. But the left and right bumpers on the XBox 360 controller are simple on-off switches.)

rehtroboi40 said:

...neither one will have Twilight Zone available as DLC.

Click to expand...

Twilight Zone is expected to be the 360 version's next DLC as soon as FarSight finds a new publisher. FarSight has indicated several times that they do not intend to abandon the platform.

Matt McIrvin said:

This could still be a TV setting problem, or an issue with the TV in general; since the Wii only has standard-definition analog video output, your two consoles are likely connected to the TV in completely different ways, so the lack of lag with the Wii is no indication of what the TV might be doing with high-def digital XBox input. Is your XBox connected via an HDMI cable?

Click to expand...

Hmmm. That's a good point. The Xbox is connected via HDMI, the Wii was plain 'ol component cables.

DrainoBraino said:

Wow this is the first I've heard of flipper lag on xbox. But I think the flippers are sluggish on TPA in general.

Click to expand...

It's only a slight delay. I can adjust for it, but it makes things more difficult (especially during multi-ball play).

DrainoBraino said:

TPA is way better than PHOF in many other areas though. The ball physics are way better and the tables are more accurate.

Click to expand...

I see. That's good to know.

DrainoBraino said:

Soundsgood, do you have TPA on your iphone? You should download it and try a demo table for free, then compare with the same table on xbox version side by side. Then answer this question: Are the flippers more responsive on iphone?

Click to expand...

Yes, I actually had it on my iPhone long before we had the Xbox. The flippers are "instant" on the iPhone, just as they should be. On the Xbox I need to click the flipper half-a-second (or so) before I normally would. Frustrating.

superballs said:

Another thing to look at is to try switching from the analog triggers to the bumpers above them, the clicky ones.

Click to expand...

That's the very first setting I changed.

rehtroboi40 said:

PHOF has more tables available than PA on the 360. Also, I'm having a lot more fun currently with PHOF than PA.

Click to expand...

I'll definitely snag a used copy of PHOF. Any place other than eBay that you guys might recommend for this?

SoundsGood said:

I'll definitely snag a used copy of PHOF. Any place other than eBay that you guys might recommend for this?

Click to expand...

I found my copy at a GameStop for $13 (PS3) Just go to their website, enter in the title and then see if there are any available in your area. Beyond that, you're at the mercy of eBay.

SoundsGood said:

Hi guys,

We own the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame disc for Wii and absolutely love it (I played many of these games when I was younger). But our Wii console isn't working right so we got an Xbox console instead (it was free thanks to a new computer purchase! ).

I downloaded the Pinball Arcade demo on Xbox to try it out, but there's a frustrating slight delay when hitting the flippers. Note that this delay is NOT there when playing Williams Pinball Hall of Fame on Wii, so I don't think it's a TV setting problem.

Here's my question: do you suppose I'm better off seeking out a used copy of Williams Pinball Hall of Fame for Xbox (new ones are too expensive) or is there a fix for the flipper delay on Pinball Arcade for Xbox? Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Also... other than the flipper delay issue and the obvious different game tables, what's the difference between the Pinball Arcade version and the Williams Pinball Hall of Fame version?

Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

How is your Xbox hooked up to your TV? Are you using HDMI or are you using composite (red, white, yellow cables) ?

What type of TV do you own?

It's a setting or connection issue that I can walk you through no problems but I need this information. When hooked up correctly Pinball Arcade has zero lag on 360 and is a big improvement over the williams collection.

Thats so weird that you get lag on xbox. Hope you can find a fix for it. Glad you play it on iphone, I find myself playing TPA on my phone more often anyway. I like that I can play real pinball tables while watching sports, sitting in a waiting room, or while driving.

Nothing wrong with getting PHOF, in fact I do still play it. I'm one of the freaks who likes Jive Time.

(joking about driving.....not joking about Jive Time ))

It's actually pretty common. Both the TV's I have lag when using HDMI. Ones a Sony Bravia and the other is a Samsung LED, so these aren't bargain bin crapola tv's by any means.

The lag on the Sony is barely noticable so I'd say 85% of people would never be able to tell. The Samsung lags bad unless you know the workarounds. And if he's using composite cables that came with the Xbox he's going to have lag, not to mention an absolutely awful image quality.

shutyertrap said:

I found my copy at a GameStop for $13 (PS3) Just go to their website, enter in the title and then see if there are any available in your area. Beyond that, you're at the mercy of eBay.

Click to expand...

Gamestop is OOS. Off to eBay I go....

Mark Wyda said:

How is your Xbox hooked up to your TV? Are you using HDMI or are you using composite (red, white, yellow cables) ? What type of TV do you own? It's a setting or connection issue that I can walk you through no problems but I need this information. When hooked up correctly Pinball Arcade has zero lag on 360 and is a big improvement over the williams collection.

Click to expand...

HDMI to TV. Optical cable to receiver (shouldn't affect this). Samsung LN55B650 TV. Help!

DrainoBraino said:

Thats so weird that you get lag on xbox. Hope you can find a fix for it. Glad you play it on iphone, I find myself playing TPA on my phone more often anyway. I like that I can play real pinball tables while watching sports, sitting in a waiting room, or while driving.

Click to expand...

I know, right? Although playing on the iPhone drives me nuts because my thumbs cover part of the screen. Anyone have an iPad? Is TPA on the iPad full screen like the iPhone, or is there a place to hit the flippers that doesn't cover part of the table??

By the way, I love your Xenon avatar. Brings back some great long-forgotten memories!

Mark Wyda said:

The lag on the Sony is barely noticable so I'd say 85% of people would never be able to tell.

Click to expand...

Ah, this makes sense. My TV is also a Sony Bravia, and I haven't noticed any lag problems (I haven't really bothered messing with the settings). Maybe it's a good combination.

I have a Samsung LED and the lag is similar to the lag of the ipad version.