Do you love the JJP service menus?

[dave]

I haven't had access to these menus but have seen them since WoZ came out so I can't say I love them but having it all on big screen is appealing.

I guess most people probably aren't in these menus anyway a lot of the time but it looks user friendly, especially for a home owner, again I couldn't report on that having not used them.

Is there anything missing you would need or restrictions like the switch history being at 24?

Images from the GnR manual for reference.

 

[Marvello]

They make the Stern service menus look incredibly dated. Stern's are functional but you'd think they would have revamped them now they have a larger colour screen.

 

[slippifishi]

Is there anything missing you would need or restrictions like the switch history being at 24?

That's not the switch history, that's just the switch location reference you can view on screen!

If you want history, oh boy are you in for a treat. The game logs are wild, it isn't infinite and I can't tell if the limit is number of log entries or just a timeframe, but every single switch hit in every single game is logged and time stamped, every jackpot recorded, every cheap drain written down to taunt you later when you are looking back. I knew there were lifetime switch counts and stuff in some games but I hadn't expected the level of detail I saw when I saw it; you could almost replay games just from the logs alone. I can't recall if there is a log for/this includes coils firing, but I feel like there probably is. There is certainly lifetime counts for all the coils and switches and modes and jackpots and so on.

I haven't seen any other modern service menus so not sure how they compare, doesn't Stern keep the old DMD style? Having the on screen reference for switch locations and stuff is also very helpful I imagine, especially since they stopped producing physical printed manuals. But so far - touch wood - I have not needed to use it...

 

[dave]

They make the Stern service menus look incredibly dated. Stern's are functional but you'd think they would have revamped them now they have a larger colour screen.

Will have to have a better look, but they've just ported the SAM menu layouts? Same as a Tron menu would be but colour.

Woz has got to be a good 10 years now and they didn't start going LCD till a while after. Still no need for them to go there yet and I don't think everyone wants the TV size.

 

[dave]

That's not the switch history, that's just the switch location reference you can view on screen!

No, sorry I didn't post the switch history but in the manual for it is:

When you enter the Switch History Test, the LCD monitor will display the screen shown. A list of the 24 most recent dedicated and/or matrixed switch inactive-to-active transitions is shown alongside a window depicting the game’s playfield.

If you want history, oh boy are you in for a treat. The game logs are wild, it isn't infinite and I can't tell if the limit is number of log entries or just a timeframe, but every single switch hit in every single game is logged and time stamped, every jackpot recorded, every cheap drain written down to taunt you later when you are looking back. I knew there were lifetime switch counts and stuff in some games but I hadn't expected the level of detail I saw when I saw it; you could almost replay games just from the logs alone. I can't recall if there is a log for/this includes coils firing, but I feel like there probably is. There is certainly lifetime counts for all the coils and switches and modes and jackpots and so on.

For the test report you can do there they have a video explaining that view. I did wonder if there is annoying message as the video suggests when some (harder) switches are not hit for a while after they get flagged to test.

Yeah most of all your audits on one page which you are more than likely to have a look at being like that and not ballaching through menu.

Do they have logging players? Or just game? You can create a player yet?

Edit: actually I think they had scorebit but it's gone, or was that stern.

 

[slippifishi]

Do they have logging players? Or just game? You can create a player yet?

Edit: actually I think they had scorebit but it's gone, or was that stern.

I can't remember if it states for every entry, but it certainly logs each player #s turn starting/turn ending so you can work out from that which player each log item was for; it definitely records when new highscores in each category are achieved, but I can't remember if it logs the name you enter, I'd have to check. I don't have a wifi dongle or Scorbit turned on so I don't know if it would integrate with that, I doubt they would do it to that level but maybe Scorbit adds it's own entries or had a separate log. I think JJP are ending their relationship with Scorbit, but I am still on v2.01 or something so it's still in the menu and pops up in attract mode, I would update but there is nothing new and I know there are other changes in beta so I will wait for them (not holding my breath!)

 

[dave]

I can't remember if it states for every entry, but it certainly logs each player #s turn starting/turn ending so you can work out from that which player each log item was for; it definitely records when new highscores in each category are achieved, but I can't remember if it logs the name you enter, I'd have to check. I don't have a wifi dongle or Scorbit turned on so I don't know if it would integrate with that, I doubt they would do it to that level but maybe Scorbit adds it's own entries or had a separate log. I think JJP are ending their relationship with Scorbit, but I am still on v2.01 or something so it's still in the menu and pops up in attract mode, I would update but there is nothing new and I know there are other changes in beta so I will wait for them (not holding my breath!)

It would be a step up if they did to have a player login then not having to do your name. Creating tournaments in the game with those players, like mini leagues as well, something that would also save you some manual labour easy to setup, export, web server also to adjust.

 

[dave]

I think in this manual anytime they show this playfield overlay in test menus they are using the same image so that little pink square looks part of the playfield.

If you cycle through these switches that blinks the square (currently pink) next to the switch? And the same if you push switch on the playfield testing? You get a sound and a little blinking square?

 

[slippifishi]

If you cycle through these switches that blinks the square (currently pink) next to the switch? And the same if you push switch on the playfield testing? You get a sound and a little blinking square?

Correct, the square on the playfield image will follow the selected switch. It will also react if you press the switch on the playfield, but it only does it for the currently selected switch (at least in the wonka 2.0 menu); there is a separate switch matrix that will give instant feedback for all switches on one screen, but there is no associated playfield image.

 

[dave]

Cool thanks for confirming that. In the matrix view you should also be able to bring the playfield up, in that GnR manual at least anyway it says "START to bring up PF" and you can slide it across the screen out the way of switches with Up/Down.

Again, I haven't used the menus but the single switch view compared to the switch matrix view I don't see much use for it unless wanting to view them in a list.

I am shamelessly copying them btw, they are setting the standard tbf and I need this at home.

 

[slippifishi]

Again, I haven't used the menus but the single switch view compared to the switch matrix view I don't see much use for it unless wanting to view them in a list.

It does also have the wire colour reference as well (which is also on the matrix view actually), so maybe it would be useful in the case of a broken switch or something. I did wonder on the usefulness of not reacting to non-selected switches, but if there are lots of switches close together and you are debugging one flakey one then maybe the false positives could put you off and being able to isolate just the one would help in that case (each switch activation/deactivation is also accompanied by a jingle on and off sound)

I will have to try and pull up that PF display next time I'm in front of the machine.

 

[dave]

Sure and it's probably quicker to see the wire colour as well there compared to a large matrix. I suppose having the wire colours is really a plus these days on a screen where it should cut down the debug time.