Ultimate Pinball Gold (2003) - crash of some pinball tables
Window hooker to run fullscreen programs in window and much more...
Status: Beta
Brought to you by:
ghotik
Menu
▾
▴
I have already mentioned this game in the thread here, https://sourceforge.net/p/dxwnd/discussion/general/thread/3cbc771556/
but since the game is very extensive (40 pinball tables) and also has a considerable amount of crashes with different tables, i decided to make a separate thread. You can find game on Myabandonware.
Update: The game was incorrectly listed here as Ultimate Pinball 2002, but editor Myabandonware have taken heed of my notice and now Ultimate Pinball Gold is listed here under the correct name.
Testing was done in Win7 with DxWnd, without it the game has bad colours.
The description is very long, but I would like to prioritize the main problem with the two game tables:
PROJECT ZERO (projectz.exe) and PARIS (paris.exe). These games cannot run at all if it is set internal game resolution at 1024x768. They crashes immediately when started. If someone could fix it, it would be great.
Update:
The problem is solved, read below.
A few pictures in the attachment. I patched the game with the unofficial patch 1.0a from Mok
Comment:
1024x768 is the highest resolution in Scroll view mode that the game can. At higher resolutions than 1024x768, the game uses Single Screen mode. In this mode, the game table occupies only half the screen width.
Crashes: The game has a nice collection of crashes or internal bugs at various pinball tables. If an accident happened to me, it is described at the relevant gaming table.
-Lost focus can cause the game to crash.
-Some tables crashed during multiball (but not always) or some extra special effects or mini-games, so it can be difficult to repeat these crashes.
-At some tables it helped to reduce the internal resolution of the game to 800x600, at this resolution could be a concrete game more stable
-In some cases, Handle Exceptions helped, in other cases Handle Exceptions + shim:MutexForCriticalSection.
-Sometimes I didn't find a solution.
Update:
Some of the case about ball stuck listed here can probably be released via cheat: The Printscreen key and then type FLOAT (MAD SCIENTIST-verified, HAWAII-unverified, MEDIEVAL-unverified).
Here is a description of the crashes I saw and also some solutions.
Accidents at some tables could not be repaired via DxWnd (maybe I didn't figure out how) or by change resolution, I think it was mostly internal game bugs.
Game theme - SPACE
-SATURN (saturn.exe)
If the ball flies sharply into the hole on the right, the sounds will start to be distorted (not always) up to a level like if you were playing data. Then the game crashes.
By switching the sound to 8bit (in game setting), I delayed the crash but only for a while.
It also does this with non-patched saturn.exe
The solution is a combination of Handle Exceptions + shim: MutexForCriticalSection flags.
I tried it 9 times and the game didn't crash
-SPACE CHASE (spaceshi.exe)
I haven't seen any game crashes, but I also haven't had any extra special bonuses, this table is
quite difficult.
-SPACE SATELLITE (satelite.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-ZODIAC (zodiac.exe)
Once it happened that the ball got stuck in the top left between the bouncers and then they just popping up millions points. In the end, it crashed, but maybe it was a loss of focus when I did wanted to save the image. I didn't see any memory error, but I had it in fake fullscreen so I didn't have to notice. However, I think it was a bug without a crash.
Update:
While experimenting with the "float" cheat, game crashed when I placed the ball in the left hole at top and after reaching the top runway of the game table (ball direction to right), I returned the ball back (ball direction to left). I don't know if this situation can happen in real play, but Handle Exceptions solves the problem.
-PARALLEL UNIVERSE (puni.exe)
The game crashed twice after pressing the space bar when the ball got stuck in the upper left so it will probably always happen.
Update:
Seems, that Handle Exceptions solves the problem. I saw 2x graphics ball artifact in this place point, but the game didn't crash with this flag.
-PROJECT ZERO (projectz.exe)
This table cannot be started in any way, it always crashes (also without DxWnd). The error is related to 1024x768 resolution (as with golf.exe), the game crashes. The game goes in 800x600 run fine, I did not notice any problem.
Update:
The error is in the missing sprites. The game is fixed by a patch from here http://adoxa.altervista.org/bos/index.html, the fixed files are uploaded in this thread under the name "pateched spritesPZandParis.7z"
-SPACE RANGER (spaceran.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but this is a very difficult table, I didn't have any extra special bonuses.
-UFO (ufo.exe)
No crashing issues, but the game probably has a bug, the ball got stuck in the top left while playing, the sound started choking, but the game still worked because I could move the bouncers, but there was nothing to do. The game didn't crash, Esc worked, but I could only start playing a new game.
Game theme SPORT
-HOCKEY (hockey.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes
-POOL (pool.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes
-GOLF (golf.exe)
Crash 1:
The game crashed when I fired a ball into the hole at the top, whose way leads to the left. Unfortunately, the combination Handle Exceptions + shim: MutexForCriticalSection does not work and the game hangs in case of an accident. The hanging is caused by the flag Handle Exceptions (but sometimes also crashes with this flag), shim: MutexForCriticalSection had no effect here.
Crash 2:
The game also crashes immediately when P (pause) is pressed, but this is apparently a different kind of error and Handle Exceptions can handle.
Both crashes happen in 1024x768 resolution in the game settings (in the game menu) in 800x600 it works and the game does not crash.
-EXTREME SPORT (extreme.exe)
On one hit somewhere to the left, the ball started to circle from left to right around the entire game table and the game crashed. Unfortunately, is probably impossible repeat this stroke for me, so I don't know if the combination Handle Exceptions + shim: MutexForCriticalSection or switching to 800x600 fixes the game. PAUSE OK.
-ROLLER COASTER (rcoaster.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-RAW SPEED (dragrace.exe)
I haven't seen any crash games, but the game is quite difficult, I don't think I had any very special bonuses.
-FISHING (fishing.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-HUNTING (hunting.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
Game theme MONSTERS
-SHARK ATTACK (shark.exe)
Crash 1:
The game crashes when you shoot a ball at the top right into the track that leads around the shark (usually from the left). It doesn't always happen, but it happens very often. Whether that error can be eliminated through Handle Exceptions.
crash 2:
Another error happened when the ball cut when shooting into the hole at the top left, but the game did not crash, the sound began to choke and I could move the bouncers, however, nothing else bore only the new game. This error only happens occasionally so it is difficult to repeat. Handle Exceptions did not affect this error even in conjunction with shim: MutexForCriticalSection. This error also occurred in the resolution of 800x600, but here out of 3 cases the ball went free in 2 cases via space bar, in 1 case she just went to start a new game. In 800x600, crash 1 did not happen to me.
-GHOST (ghost.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-DRAGONS (dragon.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-BAT ATTACK (bat.exe)
Crash 1:
The game crashed when the ball fell into the bottom hole in the middle, I don't know if it was preceded by a throw into another hole. Once a game crashed right at startup.
Crash 2:
The game crashed during multiball (but crash may be related to crash 3). With Handle Exception the game did not crash even though I had 3x multiball in one game (but it could have been a coincidence).
Crash 3:
It so happened that the ball fell completely out of the game table. In the first situation I had turned on Handle Exceptions the game didn't crash but still nothing could be done, the game kept slowing down and even though I managed to give a new game the image shift was so slow that it was unplayable. Graphic artifacts in the game were also seen. It happened to me twice (in 1024x768) so this error is not so unusual.
In the second situation I had Handle Exceptions + shim: MutexForCriticalSection turned on, but the behavior was even worse than with Handle Exceptions alone. It also happened to me in 800x600 resolution when I had the Handle Exceptions + shim: MutexForCriticalSection flags turned on, but the behavior was the same as in 1024x768, so I guess without these flags the game would crash in this resolution as well.
It seemed that in 800x600 I could play for a longer time before this error occurred, it is possible that in this resolution makes the game more stable.
-SPIDERS (spider.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I also didn't have any extra special bonuses
-MAD SCIENTIST (science.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes. It so happened that the ball got stuck somewhere under the flask space and it was impossible to get her out. Pushing the space bar wasn't enough, I had to give a new game. Maybe a combination of space + Z would be ball got away, but I didn't make it, I don't know if it's a game bug or a game trap.
Update:
This situation can be solved using the float cheat (at the beginning of the post).
-SORCERESS (sorcer.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but apart from multiballs and slowed down balls, I probably I did not have extra special bonus.
-SKULLS (skull.exe)
It happened once that the game crashed right at launch. I didn't have any other problems, but I did he had no extra special bonus.
Game theme HISTORIC
-CIVIL WAR (civilwar.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-MAN ON THE MOON (manmoon.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I also didn't have any extra special bonuses.
-FIRST FLIGHT (flight.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but apart from multiball, I didn't have any extra special bonuses.
-PREHISTORIC (historic.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes (2x multiball, extraballs, etc.)
-WORLD WAR 2 (worldwar.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes.
-MEDIEVAL (eval.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I also didn't have any extra special bonus. What happened was that the bullet got stuck somewhere on the left side of the walls and couldn't get out through either space or Z. I could only give a new game, it's either a game bug or a trap.
Update:
This situation probably can be solved using the float cheat (at the beginning of the post).
-ICE ERA (iceage.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I only had multiball and snowfall.
-DINO ADVENTURE (dinoadv.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I didn't have any extra special bonuses (despite a lot of effort).
Game theme PLACES
-SAN FRANCISCO (sanfran.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I probably didn't have any extra special bonuses other than multiball.
-NEW YORK (newyork.exe)
It so happened that the ball fell into the hole on the left, the sound began to choke, but the game did not crash and after continued for a moment. I didn't see any crash games, but I didn't have any special bonus except for multiball.
-PARIS (paris.exe)
The game crashes right at startup, it probably has the same problem as PROJECT ZERO (projectz.exe).
At 800x600 it works and I haven't seen any crashes. But I didn't have any extra special bonuses except for multiball.
Update:
The error is in the missing sprites. The game is fixed by a patch from here http://adoxa.altervista.org/bos/index.html, the fixed files are uploaded in this thread under the name "pateched spritesPZandParis.7z"
-EGYPT (egypt.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I didn't have any extra special bonuses
-MOSCOW (moscow.exe)
It so happened that the game crashed when terminated via ESC, but it is possible to have just lost focus since at that moment, it appeared to me from the right in the foreground from another program. Otherwise, I didn't see any game crashes, but I didn't have any extra special bonuses.
-HAWAII (hawaii.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I guess I didn't have any extra special bonus.
It so happened that the ball fell under the green runway ramp on the top right and couldn't get out, I had to start a new game in. It's probably a game bug.
Update:
This situation probably can be solved using the float cheat (at the beginning of the post).
-MOUNT EVEREST (everest.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I didn't have any extra special bonus, the table is very difficult.
-CHINA (china.exe)
I didn't see any game crashes, but I didn't have any extra special bonuses
Last edit: huh 2022-04-19
As a general advice, since replicating the problems is presumably very difficult, I would recommend the help of circular logs.
The idea is to set a robust log configuration (I would propose the first 4 flags + sound & input, adding also hook DirectSound and Hook DirectInput. THe Debug option is discretionary). This way you would generate an unbearable amount of ordinary logs, but the size would be trimmed by using the "Logs / Circular" option, saving always the latest events before the incident.
This would allow me to detect possible patterns (like a specific ddraw error, for instance) and suggest a fix.
As I wrote, I'm mainly interested in these two exe PROJECT ZERO (projectz.exe) and PARIS (paris.exe) crash immediately at startup if the game's internal resolution is set to 1024x768 (the highest allowable resolution for Scroll view mode). They crashes even without DxWnd.
I don't have to do a circular protocol, the game crashes immediately. Here is the log, but I'm not sure if it's for anything. The game crashes with an error:
The instruction at 0044cd79 referenced memory at 00000010
The memory could not be read
Well there is a lot of work to fix. It turns out Microsoft shim fixes each of the game I tested. The shim is "EmulateHeap" and it was supposed to fix games such as Dylan Dog, from where I got the encouragement.
I tested the DxWnd heap replacements and they don't work.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
I use 1280x1024. The weird thing is they run from compatadmin.exe when I was testing, but they don't work independently, but again run when using shim + DxWnd
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
What do you mean?
Do you have an internal game resolution of 1024x768? At higher resolutions (internal), the game does not allow me to "Scroll view mode". If Shim + DxWnd works for you, this is not a best solution for me, because this shim is not included in DxWnd and cannot be used in tab Hook-Additional shims.
Well we talked about this shim earlier and we quit, just because implementing it in DxWnd was "dangerous". But I don't see any other option. In fact, every game crashes for me, even the ones that worked for you. Your solution probably worked because the mutex was doing fine until a heap corruption occurred. Also note I didn't use any unofficial patch, only the OG game.
Let's see what gho has to say, but I fear there isn't much other than this shim. In fact, other DxWnd Heap shims don't work with this game. And it's weird why a Windows XP era game will Windows 9X heap manager.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
I don't remember much, but I think the patch I mentioned, fixed a lot, except for the biggest problems, which are paris.exe, projectz.exe and partly golf.exe.
I would recommend trying it with this patch, that we shouldn't different results.
Actually there's no problems with the games when I tested, I will test patch when electricity returns. The game works flawlessly here. regarding the patch, what is it supposed to do?
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
Only run Ultimate-Pinball_Patch_Win_EN_by-Mok.zip/UltimatePinballGold10a.exe.
You can backup the game if you want, the patch will overwrite the exe files, I don't know if anything else.
I installed it, no change. The game still works with Emulate Heap shim + DxWnd.
Edit: Strange. DxWnd can't run in scrolling mode, let me try more.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
Bad news, every game no longer runs...
Yet Another update: They run at 1280x1024 only...
Update 2: Mutex fix helped to run paris in scrolling mode once.
Yet update 3: Windows 95 compatibility mode fixed again, probably your chance to not use a shim. Lol every table works now all of a sudden but resolutions are an issue.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
I tried now and they crashed as described on the same res on my machine. I will test on XP now.
Edit: XP is interesting. It runs without DxWnd and crashes with DxWnd.
Edit 2: XP doesn't crash the game is DxWnd DirectX is disabled. Seems like we have our suspect.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-15
actually I have my suspects now. Heap and DirectX. You see, the patch tried to fix DirectX issues first. And on XP enabling DxWnd DirectX causes game not to run while on Win 11 it's the opposite. Anothet such case may be seen in dinoadv level. The game works if I launch directly any level but with DxWnd DX emulation enabled on Win11, if I quit the levele and go to menu and retuen to same level, the game halts to a black screen. This doesn't happen on XP where i have to disable DxWnd DX. Surprisingly this effect on Windows 11 doesn't happen on paris level but I'll assume it to be another issue associated with DX rendering.
About heap, Idk it does something but I couldn't consistently find what. I'll keep it until we have the results.
There is something confusing. The game was released in 2002/2003. We are well during the XP era. Then why does it need 9X tweaks and also why would it not work well with Windows DirectX well?
Well, I can only assume, but I assume that the game uses the Balls of Steel (BOS) engine. This game was developed by Wildfire Studios in 1997. This game was followed by other games from this developer, probably on the same engine
Devil's Island Pinball (1999)
Kiss Pinball (2001)
Austin Powers Pinball (2002).
Ultimate Pinball (2002) is listed in this mobygames list,
https://www.mobygames.com/company/wildfire-studios-pty-ltd
but show Antidote Entertainment developer of this game
https://www.mobygames.com/game/ultimate-pinball_
Ultimate Pinball Gold (2003) was probably developed by Antidote Entertainment under license. Valusoft, which released the game, also had Ultimate Pinball (2002) on its website
https://web.archive.org/web/20031002132339/http://valu-soft.com/navigation/games-collections.html
So I think these UP and UPG games were made by Antidote Entertainment under license and issues may be a remnant of an old egine. Maybe the game worked in WinXP SP1?
Update:
There is a bosloader with library bosloader.dll for UPG (Ultimate-Pinball_Fix_Win_EN_by-Mokloader.zip), but in Win7 I get the same memory error with projectz or paris.
Update2:
Oh no, there is a patch! Unfortunately, that stupid Avira deleted him.
http://adoxa.altervista.org/bos/index.html
There is described problem with why it doesn't work:
"The 1024x768 versions of Paris and Project Zero are missing the flipper sprites; this patch adds the ones from Devil's Island. "
Last edit: huh 2022-04-16
Continuation...
Nowadays, it is probably not appropriate to compress patches and similar files with UPX, some antiviruses have a seizure.
The unpacked exe gives fewer fake antivirus scans. The patch does not fix exe files but
PZ_G1024.BNK and PF_G1024.BNK.
I don't know if SF will allow me to upload patched files...
It's there!
Last edit: huh 2022-04-16
I am testing everything again without DxWnd first. The results are all mixed and confusing. I will keep updating this post with my results. What I see is without DxWnd, most levels can be run in scrolling mode but not on single screen mode.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-16
Well, it works well for me now. The last major crash is a mysterious golf.exe crash after pressing P (pause). There is another crash yet in this game, but it is not so easy to replicate.
@huh2 Probably this is important. I was testing shark.exe and the result I had was some resolutions were working, some scrolling/single screen mode worked with certain resolutions and DxWnd gave a hit-and-miss results. Having enough, I immediately installed EmulateHeap shim and guess what, all the resolutions and scrolling/single screen mode started working. Now I will test all other of them to see if they work.
Crashing here...
And the game just launches in single screen mode of 640x480 and I can see the game is improperly scaled. As you mentioned about sprites, this one has similar issues.
Last edit: BEEN_Nath_58 2022-04-16
In alphabetical order, every executable starting from science.exe to zodiac.exe works except worldwar.exe. worldwar.exe is bugged.
On Windows XP and 11, results were quite different because: On Windows XP only, DxWnd DX causes exceptions. You might ask how? Answer:
Running the game on XP, I think only 640x480 scrolling mode worked. Single screen mode didn't work unless I enabled Handle Exceptions. With this Handle Exceptions, scrolling and single screen mode worked till 1024x768 resolution. 1280x1024 didn't work, only a black screen. So then I disabled DxWnd DirectX as well as Handle Exceptions and guess what, every resolution, single screen and scrolling mode worked. So this clarifies gho has a work to do with DxWnd on Windows XP. I will now check the rest of the executables.
golf.exe has a crash when you press P. What I can see is it is the same reason why other games crash. I enabled Handle Exceptions and pressing P, the game just halts, there is no PAUSED message. That mean the sprite is missing or corrupted again. But with Handle Exceptions at least the game plays, and pressing P again will continue the game. The issue occurs for me only at 1024x768
executables from fishing.exe to manmoon.exe works, I tested 640x480 both modes and 1280x1024, also game pausing. Only golf.exe had issues as described above.
Is this the upper left you are talking about?