# Game Launch Options

Hide the Windows taskbar while a game is running: This option is intended to make the transitions between PinballY and running games more seamless, graphically, by making sure that the Windows taskbar doesn't pop into view during game launches or when games are exiting. This option simply hides the taskbar entirely any time a game is running.

The reason this is optional is that Microsoft doesn't consider it good practice for applications to mess with the taskbar like this. The taskbar is supposed to be the exclusive province of the Windows desktop. In this case, though, it's somewhat justifiable, as PinballY effectively serves as a replacement for the Windows desktop as long as you're operating in "pinball mode". If you have any problems with the taskbar remaining hidden after you exit PinballY, or anything along those lines, disable this option to make PinballY behave itself with respect to the taskbar.

Terminate game when idle for (seconds): This sets an inactivity timeout period for launched games. If you launch a game and then walk away from the system, not touching any buttons for a while, PinballY will terminate the game and return to its menu display when this timeout period expires. Set this to zero to disable the timeout entirely.

The timeout won't kick in while you're actively playing a game, since it only takes effect when you haven't pressed any buttons for the timeout period. So it doesn't limit the amount of time you can play a single game. It's just there in case you walk away from the system while a game is running, to ensure that the system eventually returns to "attract mode" if left idle for a long time.