Delta Game Update

Delta updates install only what has CHANGED since the last running version on your game. Delta updates are released when only game code has been modified.


NOTE: Update will work on any previous updates.

Alien(s) - V2.0R1.2 → v2.2 → 2.3→ 2.4→ 2.5→ 2.6 → 2.7 → 2.8→3.0


DELTA UPDATE PROCEDURE


STEP 1

Start by downloading the latest available "Delta Update" for your game.: file is attached at the bottom of this page.


Both WINDOWS and MAC USERS: Click on the download button.


Save to download folder.

STEP 2

It have come to our attention that newer USB sticks don't work, please use old type 2.0 USB sticks

Once the ZIP file is downloaded, insert your USB stick into your computer. (greater than 1GB)


You should see a new "USB DISK" in My Computer (Windows)


or a new Drive on MAC Desktop that looks like this:


Please ensure that the USB stick has been formatted correctly prior to STEP 3.


WIN Format: FAT32

MAC Format: MSDOS-(FAT)

STEP 3

Copy the UPD file you downloaded to the USB stick.


STEP 4

Safely eject your USB stick.:

Right click on USB (D:) and select Eject.

It will now disappear from your "My Computer / This PC"


STEP 5

Power on pinball machine.

wait for it to boot up.

Remove the translite.

Insert the USB stick in one of the USB connectors on top of the screen (which one does not matter) 



STEP 6

Enter Service menu -> Actions -> System update -> Enter.

A new screen will appear.:


Make sure you have the USB connected. And press Enter. (Black button)


STEP 7


After update game will reboot and you can verify date and version number is updated to 3.0


ALIEN 3.0
6 October 2022


Changes since version 2.8:


System Changes:

  • Improved stability of communications with I/O controller board.
  • Fixed some issues in LED initialization that could cause the LEDs to freeze later.
  • Changed trough counting logic to handle magnetized balls better.
  • Tweaked some LED blinking/fading effects to reduce load on the controller.
  • Improved timing on the stepper motor.
  • Added bad switch board detection.  When any board providing switch data reports too many or too few active switches during initialization, that board will be marked bad and all of its switches ignored.  This condition will be reported in test mode, and usually indicates a wiring or fuse problem.  A restart will be required after the problem is corrected.  This mainly addresses the problem with the volume up/down buttons constantly activating.
  • Improved jaw update after communications errors to the controller board.
  • Reset the autolauncher and trough devices, if balls were in the process of being added to play, but the game was then restarted.
  • Fixed crash that could occur if the stepper motor was running while there was a lot of other switch activity.
  • Fixed crash that could occur during periodic log file cleanup.



Game Changes:

  • Chestburster Combo lamp effect now has priority over regular combos.
  • Fixed ball search starting while the ball was in the pop bumpers for a long time.
  • Fixed a crash that could occur if the magnet grab command required retry due to other tasks running.
  • Fixed a bug when the xeno home switch goes inactive outside of a stepper movement, but never comes back. The stepper could go into an infinite loop trying to find home. This now times out after a few seconds.
  • Fixed the centre magnet grab for Ambush so that it only fires when the final target is initially hit.  Previously, it was re-firing when the same switch was released.


ALIEN 2.8

13 August 2022


Changes since version 2.7:


  • Fix a crash that would occur if the connection to the master controller went down while the xenomorph jaw was moving.
  • Fix large audits (e.g. number of left flippers). These were not being counted or displayed properly when the value became too high.
  • Fix a crash when the firmware reported a switch number out of the expected range.
  • Fix crash that could occur when many log messages were being written simultaneously. This has been observed to occur when several multiballs are stacked.
  • Add more timestamps into the log files to help with problem analysis.
  • Fix black bar from sometimes appearing on the screen when going into test mode.
  • Improve communications between the game code and the master controller.
  • Remove code that shuts off the up-posts when either top lane is made. Spurious closures of these switches was causing unexpectedly short post times.
  • Change right up post to fire on either left (inner) loop switch, instead of requiring both of them. This should catch more balls on a fast loop shot.
  • Delay the Ambush start lamp effect slightly to allow more time for the magnet grab command to execute.
  • Fix handling of ball devices when they give up trying to kick out a ball.
  • Credits message now goes away faster when credits are added during a game.
  • Correct center magnet timing one more time.



ALIEN 2.7

9 June 2022


Changes since version 2.6:


System Changes:
  • Report 12V power supply loss in diagnostic messages.
  • Improved text for some diagnostic messages.
  • Improved USB communications and error detection for the hardware controller.
  • "Debug Report" now saves messages across reboots.
  • Improved factory burn-in test.
  • Modified the Lamp Test feature.  It will now cycle through the different colors much more slowly than before.  Pressing ENTER will stop auto-cycling; continue to press ENTER to advance through the different phases manually.
  • Changed "unknown update error" message during a failed system update to show the actual error code.
  • Fixed flippers sometime not being activated after a game in progress is restarted.
  • Fixed Jaw Test sometimes reporting incorrect open/closed state.
  • Fixed some logic with coil power adjustments that could cause coils to be stopped earlier than expected.
  • Fixed a buffer overflow in the logger that could cause game resets.


Game Changes:

  • Fixed spinner only scoring on every other spin.
  • Increased LED brightness on Hypersleep super jackpots.
  • Fixed airlock shot being scored on ball entering from back.
  • Fixed jaw not immediately closing sometimes at end of ball.
  • Added light shows for Special and Extra Ball.

ALIEN 2.6

5 April 2022


Changes since version 2.5:


  • Changed firmware update function so that if multiple updates are present on the USB device, only the latest will be installed. Filename is now irrelevant, as long it ends with .uf2.
  • Added firmware version to startup screen, once detected.
  • Fixed bug that could occur when game code could not connect to the controller board.  Sometimes it did not attempt to retry the connection, which would require a reboot to continue.
  • Renumbered some LEDs to avoid conflict between the new backbox LEDs and the cabinet lamps/stepper motor.  This   fixes several issues, such as: launch button and coin door LEDs being stuck on and the stepper running during lamp test.
  • Fixed the "Set Location" action which was broken in 2.5.
  • Fixed coil commands from sometimes exceeding firmware power limits. This was usually observed when the center magnet would turn off too soon when its coil adjustment was set to pulse it stronger.
  • Fixed incorrect mapping/labeling of the lower/upper flipper switches on the LV.
  • Increased the priority of the Sentry Guns super jackpot lamp on the airlock over other multiballs. When Sentry Guns and another multiball are running together, the main arrows for the Sentry Guns shots will now blink more slowly, to help distinguish between the two.
  • Fixed some bugs with combo scoring.  It now resets correctly after the combo sequence ends, and times out slightly faster.
  • Changed combo scoring to reward longer combo sequences more than shorter ones.
  • Fixed the double scoring insert not always blinking when 2X scoring was active.
  • Improved the All Out War ready lamp effect.  It is now less likely to be preempted by another effect, and is much brighter.
  • Removed many settings from the "Modify Game" menu that didn't work properly.
  • Added more shaker motor calls.
  • Increased brightness of multiball jackpot arrows.
  • Update 2.6 is archived here if needed: File size is about. 40MB - And needs to be downloaded from this link.: pbap26.upd


ALIEN 2.5

9 March 2022


Note! To enable Beacons and Shaker motor requires hardware addon and firmware version 0.57 or higher. Only available for LV at this moment.


Changes since version 2.4:

  • Add support for Limited Edition (LV) model.  2.5 can be used on either model.
  • Added new installs "LV Edition" and "SV Edition" to update all adjustments related to a particular game model. Presently, these update "LV Attract Mode", "2-Stage Flippers", and "Disable Beacon" (see below).  Others may be added in the future.
  • Added beacon support.  Use adjustment "Disable Beacon" to enable or disable it.
  • Added shaker motor support.
  • Added software controlled backbox LEDs.
  • Added adjustment "LV Attract Mode".  Set to YES for the LV model. This will switch to use a new translite animation.
  • Implemented adjustment "Magnet Hold Time".  Default is 3s; this can be changed to control how long the center magnet holds onto the ball during a xenomorph ball grab. Note: the magnet will be turned off regardless once the tongue reaches its maximum extent.
  • Added Jaw Test for testing the jaw servo motor.
  • Added support for coming firmware 0.70.  When detected, these new features are utilized:
    - Improved center magnet grab
    - Smoother stepper motor control
    - Support for independent lower/upper flipper buttons
    Note: game version 2.5 will continue to work with older firmware also, but these enhancements will not be available.
  • Increased pull strength on the left/right up posts.  Note: if you had previously adjusted the coil strength manually, those adjustments will be reset to "Normal" after installing this update.  Please try the new settings before adjusting the post power again.
  • Fixed bug when Ambush multiball was started on skill shot. The ball grab did not initiate in this case.
  • Added the "Revive Lit" callout.  This speech will be triggered once per ball when the side ramp is made, Hypersleep lock is not lit, and a revive lane can be awarded.
  • Fixed points not being awarded on a side ramp shot that started Hypersleep Multiball.
  • Fixed a rare speech bug where shooting the scoop told the player to complete inlanes to light the next scene, when the previous scene was still running in its grace period.
  • Increased multiball grace periods slightly.
  • Fixed the ball saver running briefly during the Ambush multiball start effect, when no balls were in play.
  • Improved flipper hold.