AimTrak, MAME, and arcade monitors via ArcadeVGA

[angryred]

For the most part, my AimTrak works great. The only issues I have with it show up when I'm trying to fine tune the X and Y axis levels in MAME (TAB/Analog Controls) for games not quite at their original resolutions.

My cab is running MAME32 v112 and Win2k at a desktop res of 640x480, using an ArcadeVGA with a WG 19k7906. Depending on at what resolution I'm running a game-- let's say 256x240, for example-- the X and Y axis sensitivities need to be adjusted, usually to about twice their initial values. Without that adjustment, the cursor doesn't reach the edges of the screen; it's confined to a smaller 'box' at the center.  I haven't discovered a common axis sensitivity value; I have to tweak each game individually, and the final adjustment usually lands somewhere between 75-100%.

The way I've been adjusting it is to line up the MAME cursor with my gunsight, and then bump the axis sensitivities until I've gotten as close to a 1:1 movement as I can. If I'm running a game at or very close (only off by a line or two) to its original resolution-- or at 640x480 hardware stretched-- it's usually pretty easy to achieve this.  But if I have to fudge the resolution for whatever reason, it becomes very hard to maintain that straight sightline. The cursor gets knocked off center after the gun is aimed away from the screen, and seems to slightly adjust itself anytime the gun is aimed off screen. The movement is still 1:1, but I usually end up with the MAME cursor positioned slightly up and to the left of my sight.

Sometimes it seems that if I set Lightgun to Lightgun (instead of Mouse) in Controller Mapping, the cursor will reset itself to the proper position when fired, so I have a few games running that way. But this remedy doesn't work for all instances of this issue. Also, games that have their own calibration function offer a remedy that works pretty well, but again, not all gun games have one.

It doesn't help that everytime I adjust an axis, I'm stepping out and back into the sweet spot for firing, adjusting my position slightly. I have to make sure I'm standing in the exact same spot, or the cursor will be slightly off due to my change in position, so I have to make sure I account for that. It's not a huge difference, but it does matter when fine-tuning.

Has anybody else with a similar setup encountered similar issues? What methods do you use to alleviate it? Am I missing something that makes fine tuning less of a guessing game (or am I just being too anal about fine tuning)? And lastly, what is the real difference between running the AimTrak with Lightgun=Lightgun vs. Lightgun=Mouse?

[angryred]

...or is it just me?

[northerngames]

F2 service menu for gun calibration for the game's in question?

[angryred]

F2 service menu for gun calibration for the game's in question?

That works for the games that have it. Not all do.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm seeing this issue because of light refraction; the LED's are behind my bezel plexi, albeit pressed right up against it. I might try mounting the LEDs outside the plexi.

(Sorry I didn't respond to this earlier. I thought I had, but I guess all I did was shake my head in despondency.)

[andrewbean90]

as yourmkarcadesource has said dont turn on your light or have a lite room

[angryred]

as yourmkarcadesource has said dont turn on your light or have a lite room

Have been testing in a dark room.