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Light State Controller

Custom light control system for original tables with RGB support and advanced sequencing.

Repository

https://github.com/mpcarr/vpx-light-controller

Overview

Light State Controller is a custom class system for controlling lights in original tables. Purpose-built for complex light shows and RGB effects that go beyond standard VPX capabilities.

Best for: Tables starting from scratch with complex lighting needs

Not recommended for: Retrofitting into tables with existing light animations (use Control Light method instead)

Features

  • Multiple states per light
  • RGB inserts with multiple flashing shots in different colors
  • Custom sequences on individual banks of lights
  • Integration with Lampz for fading and callbacks (3D inserts, toolkit)
  • Stores light states and generates array of states to display each frame
  • Passes to Lampz for fade handling
  • Wave-based effects with gradient palettes
  • Mission Pinball Show Creator integration

Basic Setup

Initialize Controller

Dim lController : Set lController = new LStateController

Register Lights

In InitLampsNF sub where Lampz MassAssign happens: 

lController.AddLight l1, 1

Note: Keep GI collection for mass assign. Turn all GI on with one command in light controller.

Functions (v0.9.1+)

AddLightToBlinkGroup GroupName, Light
RemoveLightFromBlinkGroup GroupName, Light
UpdateBlinkGroupPattern GroupName, pattern
UpdateBlinkGroupInterval GroupName, interval
StartBlinkGroup GroupName
StopBlinkGroup GroupName

Works with existing sequences and pulse commands. Setup groups then start/stop as needed.

Use Case

Synchronize multiple lights blinking together: 1. Add lights to named blink group 2. Set pattern and interval 3. Start/stop group as unit

Wave-Based Effects

Gradient Palettes

  • 0-255 color range
  • Blend between colors using gradient stops
  • Multiple wave functions
  • NOT using VPX sequencer - all custom

Applications

  • Rainbow waves
  • Color transitions
  • Multi-stop gradients
  • Attract mode effects
  • Special effects on original tables

Color Fading

Fade light to color feature: - Calculates colors between current and target - Fades to target over specified timeframe - Smooth color transitions on RGB inserts

Mission Pinball Show Creator Integration

Workflow

  1. Export light layout to Show Creator
  2. Create light shows in Show Creator (visual tool)
  3. Import result as YAML
  4. Parser converts to sequencer format

Show Creator

Visual tool for creating light shows with keyframes - much easier than manually coding sequences.

GitHub: https://github.com/missionpinball/showcreator

Tutorial Video: https://youtu.be/y2-qtPXdz7E?t=897

Integration with Lampz

Light State Controller works with Lampz system: - Stores light states internally - Generates state array each frame - Passes to Lampz for fade handling - Lampz handles callbacks to 3D inserts, toolkit, etc.

Control Light Method Alternative

When to Use Control Light Instead

  • Table already has all light animations coded
  • Retrofitting existing scripted table
  • Don't want to refactor existing light code

How Control Light Works

  • Sync Lampz to control light via GetInPlayState property
  • Used in Game of Thrones and Blood Machines
  • Less work for tables with existing animations

Comparison

Light State Controller: - Better for new tables - More powerful features - Requires building light logic from scratch

Control Light Method: - Better for existing tables - Less refactoring required - Works with standard VPX light sequences

Common Issues

LampTimer Not Enabled

Symptom: Lights not responding

Cause: LampTimer disabled

Fix: Ensure LampTimer is enabled in table

Attract Mode Continues

Symptom: Attract sequence continues after game start

Cause: Missing StopSyncWithVpxLights call

Fix: In EndAttractMode: 

lightCtrl.StopSyncWithVpxLights()

Implementation Examples

Basic Light Registration

' Initialize controller
Dim lController : Set lController = new LStateController

' In InitLampsNF sub
Sub InitLampsNF()
    ' Register lights with controller
    lController.AddLight l1, 1
    lController.AddLight l2, 2
    lController.AddLight l3, 3

    ' Lampz MassAssign as usual
    Lampz.MassAssign(1)=l1
    Lampz.MassAssign(2)=l2
    Lampz.MassAssign(3)=l3
End Sub

' Create blink group for lane lights
AddLightToBlinkGroup "LaneLights", l1
AddLightToBlinkGroup "LaneLights", l2
AddLightToBlinkGroup "LaneLights", l3

' Set pattern and interval
UpdateBlinkGroupPattern "LaneLights", "10101010"
UpdateBlinkGroupInterval "LaneLights", 100

' Start blinking
StartBlinkGroup "LaneLights"

' Later: stop blinking
StopBlinkGroup "LaneLights"

Best Practices

Starting Fresh vs Retrofitting

Light State Controller requires refactoring existing light code: - Starting new table: Use Light State Controller - Existing table with animations: Use Control Light method - Evaluate refactoring cost vs feature benefit

GI Management

Keep GI collection for mass operations: - Register with controller - Turn all GI on/off with single command - Maintains compatibility with toolkit

Integration Checklist

  • [ ] LampTimer enabled
  • [ ] Lights registered with controller AND Lampz
  • [ ] StopSyncWithVpxLights in EndAttractMode
  • [ ] Blink groups configured before starting
  • [ ] Gradient palettes defined for effects

Advanced Features

Multiple States Per Light

Lights can have multiple named states: - Normal on/off - Flashing patterns - Color variations (RGB) - Custom sequences

Custom Sequences

Individual banks of lights can run custom sequences: - Independent timing - Different patterns - Coordinated effects

RGB Support

Full RGB control for inserts: - Multiple flashing shots in different colors - Color fading between states - Gradient palette effects - Wave animations

Technical Details

State Management

  • Controller stores light states internally
  • Generates state array each frame
  • Passes to Lampz for rendering
  • Lampz handles fade curves and callbacks

Performance

  • Efficient state storage
  • Minimal per-frame overhead
  • Compatible with VPX physics loop
  • Works with Lampz timer system

Community Resources

GitHub Repository: Full source code and documentation https://github.com/mpcarr/vpx-light-controller

Example Implementation: Blood Machines original table uses Light State Controller for complex RGB light shows

Show Creator Integration: Mission Pinball community tool for visual light show creation