Visual Pinball Advance controls.
You'll only really need to mess with these in certain circumstances.
1) If there is a menu that opens before the table starts up
2) If the table won't let you add coins
3) If the table sounds are two quiet (which I have had).
Lets look at these one at a time.
1) The menu should be self explanatory. It may ask which rom file you want to use. In which case you will need to check which one is in the ROMS file in C:\VPINMAME. You shouldn't need to reenter the rom used next time you play as the tables (including Hi Scores) save automatically. If you don't know which ROM it is, just click on a different one each time you enter until it works.
By the way, sometimes a table will have an 'easy difficulty' click. If you are having real trouble scoring decent points on a table (and some really are harsh by default!) click it. It will help even the playfield a little. If you are happy with the settings you have, you can also click 'no menu at start' on some tables and your settings will automatically be applied to the table. No more menus!
2) If you can't add coins (press '5') you may need to reset. This is done as follows:
Press '7' on the top number pad
press left flipper (left shift)
7 again
When it shows 'credit button' press '1'
'1' again for 'English'.
It should now say 'factory settings loaded'
Press F3 to reset.
You should now be good to go.
3)If the sound is too low you have two ways of working it depending on who made the original table.
For Williams/Bally tables press 'end' to open the coin door.
now buttons 8 and 9 are the volume controls.
For Data East/other tables 7, 8 and 9 are the adjusting keys. The menu should be instinctive enough to use.
You may find that just pressing 8 and 9 will adjust the volume for you anyway.
Any more problems, please do shout.
I know it seems daunting to start with but it is easily worth the initial hassle once you are used to it. The people who program these pull out all the stops to make sure that the tables are authentic and they are great fun to play.
I can also recommend more tables, if you like, but try the ones I recommended initially at least. They are all great fun.
A final note. My favourite table, The Addams Family, is one of the few I STILL can't get a Hi-score on.