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This seems cool, but the article and the artists' web site don't show the game actually being played, only short snippets that don't provide much context.

ajsnigrutin 4y ago
Yep, and on those snippets it looks like a bland pinball with "something" in the middle of those pinball tables.
- andy_cavatorta 4y ago
  To be fair, the playfields are pretty simple. But it's also my very first game. And it's nuts. I feel pretty happy about how it's worked out.
- diydsp 4y ago
  That "something" also got kind of underdeveloped in the article. It's a crazy system for moving balls aka resources from any machine into any machine. If you look closely at it, there's a lot going on :) Each one is made from a bunch of layers of acrylic with channels for the zillions of lights inside, and the solenoids to push out trapped balls, and also inductive sensors to detect if a ball is in there. It would be neat to see this type of exchanger incorporated into other pinball games! Although, given pinball designers' sometimes overly serious nature, it might not happen any time soon...
elsewhen 4y ago
here is a video of the game in action: https://vimeo.com/784903495/2bcad6725d?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=2340650 https://vimeo.com/784903495/2bcad6725d?embedded=true&source=...
- junon 4y ago
  ... Which still doesn't really show any gameplay at all.
michaelteter 4y ago
The article says that the full gameplay is not possible yet because of shortages of chips that were intended to be used in the construction. So it is a work in progress, apparently. That is most likely why there's not a good gameplay video.
- Aardwolf 4y ago
  Chips doesn't sound like electromechanical to me? If something with chips counts as electromechanical, then e.g. a flight simulator or racing game with force feedback joystick and seat is a way more complex electromechanical game
  - ElfinTrousers 4y ago
    I'd say the difference is, in that flight simulator you could take away the electromechanical elements and still have a fully playable and enjoyable game. Having the electromechanical elements enhances the experience, but isn't necessary. Pinball, though, electrically controlled machinery is an inherent part of the game.
  - michaelteter 4y ago
    The parent post complained about the limited video of gameplay. And my response was about that video. I said nothing about whether the game was or was not truly "electro-mechanical". That said, I do think it's unfortunate that HN discussions tend so often to focus on these sorts of disagreements rather than focusing on the achievement or creations being shown. This is not a court room, where exacting definitions and adherence to them is so important.
    - nuclearnice1 4y ago
      > I said nothing about whether the game was or was not truly "electro-mechanical". Indeed you did not. Likewise no one “accused” you of that grievous transgression. As a this is not a courtroom, perhaps it was more an observation than a charge to be defended. Chips you say? Reminds me, chips aren’t technically electromechanical are they? No no friend, they are not! In fact, it contains 17 computers . 17 computers, but only 12k lines of source? Yes feels low,… And so on, like a conversation? Where the contradictions are not accusation but invitation.
TrainedMonkey 4y ago
> Dual Coincidence is capable of being played in this manner, although because of setbacks such as Covid-19, a global microchip shortage and a major earthquake in Mexico, it's still awaiting its full set of features – those may be in place within the year. This is likely key reason for no gameplay footage.
andy_cavatorta 4y ago
The game works fine, actually. It's getting played every day. I just spent so long getting it working that I never got good documentation. I have, like, a thousand photos of solder joints, pinout labels, the moment when the problem happens, etc. I recently stitched together some of the phone videos I took in the middle of the night while I was there and working on it. There will be good documentation at some point. But not yet.
- lisper 4y ago
  Hey, Andy, welcome to HN! DC looks pretty awesome.
IG_Semmelweiss 4y ago
This is a $300,000 piece of applied art, but the "Ad" or review video doesn't make it come alive. Surely Andy (the designer) can find a reasonable video guy that can do a great job without breaking the bank ?
- andy_cavatorta 4y ago
  It will be documented well eventually. But I've been deep in the other commissions since then. It hasn't been a priority until this article gave it some exposure.

ajsnigrutin 4y ago

Yep, and on those snippets it looks like a bland pinball with "something" in the middle of those pinball tables.

andy_cavatorta 4y ago
To be fair, the playfields are pretty simple. But it's also my very first game. And it's nuts. I feel pretty happy about how it's worked out.
diydsp 4y ago
That "something" also got kind of underdeveloped in the article. It's a crazy system for moving balls aka resources from any machine into any machine. If you look closely at it, there's a lot going on :) Each one is made from a bunch of layers of acrylic with channels for the zillions of lights inside, and the solenoids to push out trapped balls, and also inductive sensors to detect if a ball is in there. It would be neat to see this type of exchanger incorporated into other pinball games! Although, given pinball designers' sometimes overly serious nature, it might not happen any time soon...

elsewhen 4y ago

here is a video of the game in action: https://vimeo.com/784903495/2bcad6725d?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=2340650 https://vimeo.com/784903495/2bcad6725d?embedded=true&source=...

junon 4y ago
... Which still doesn't really show any gameplay at all.

michaelteter 4y ago

The article says that the full gameplay is not possible yet because of shortages of chips that were intended to be used in the construction. So it is a work in progress, apparently. That is most likely why there's not a good gameplay video.

Aardwolf 4y ago
Chips doesn't sound like electromechanical to me? If something with chips counts as electromechanical, then e.g. a flight simulator or racing game with force feedback joystick and seat is a way more complex electromechanical game
- ElfinTrousers 4y ago
  I'd say the difference is, in that flight simulator you could take away the electromechanical elements and still have a fully playable and enjoyable game. Having the electromechanical elements enhances the experience, but isn't necessary. Pinball, though, electrically controlled machinery is an inherent part of the game.
- michaelteter 4y ago
  The parent post complained about the limited video of gameplay. And my response was about that video. I said nothing about whether the game was or was not truly "electro-mechanical". That said, I do think it's unfortunate that HN discussions tend so often to focus on these sorts of disagreements rather than focusing on the achievement or creations being shown. This is not a court room, where exacting definitions and adherence to them is so important.
  - nuclearnice1 4y ago
    > I said nothing about whether the game was or was not truly "electro-mechanical". Indeed you did not. Likewise no one “accused” you of that grievous transgression. As a this is not a courtroom, perhaps it was more an observation than a charge to be defended. Chips you say? Reminds me, chips aren’t technically electromechanical are they? No no friend, they are not! In fact, it contains 17 computers . 17 computers, but only 12k lines of source? Yes feels low,… And so on, like a conversation? Where the contradictions are not accusation but invitation.

TrainedMonkey 4y ago

> Dual Coincidence is capable of being played in this manner, although because of setbacks such as Covid-19, a global microchip shortage and a major earthquake in Mexico, it's still awaiting its full set of features – those may be in place within the year. This is likely key reason for no gameplay footage.

andy_cavatorta 4y ago

The game works fine, actually. It's getting played every day. I just spent so long getting it working that I never got good documentation. I have, like, a thousand photos of solder joints, pinout labels, the moment when the problem happens, etc. I recently stitched together some of the phone videos I took in the middle of the night while I was there and working on it. There will be good documentation at some point. But not yet.

lisper 4y ago
Hey, Andy, welcome to HN! DC looks pretty awesome.

IG_Semmelweiss 4y ago

This is a $300,000 piece of applied art, but the "Ad" or review video doesn't make it come alive. Surely Andy (the designer) can find a reasonable video guy that can do a great job without breaking the bank ?

andy_cavatorta 4y ago
It will be documented well eventually. But I've been deep in the other commissions since then. It hasn't been a priority until this article gave it some exposure.