Andy, where are the Ultimarc Aimtrack guns?!

[studmuff]

Made a purchase.  Have to try them.  Bought 2.

[AndyWarne]

Andy, I don't see the force feedback motor mentioned anywhere.  Just want to be sure it's there before I buy the casing/kits.  Please let me know, thanks!

Err nope. Maybe thats something for the future.

[Shoegazer]

Andy, I don't see the force feedback motor mentioned anywhere.  Just want to be sure it's there before I buy the casing/kits.  Please let me know, thanks!

Err nope. Maybe thats something for the future.

Alas, Andy, I should have asked a long time ago to avoid waiting as long as I have.  Ultimarc products and service are always top-notch and I hate to pursure alternatives, as few as there are.  Any possibility this could be evaluated in the near term?

[kronic24601]

There really are no alternatives that you will be happy with ... I promise you as I've pretty much tried them all.

[extendedplayarcade]

Anyone get theirs yet?

Interested how they like it?

I want to buy but funzalow and time is even harder to come by.

But awesome to know that it is there.  I hope this becomes a stock item.

[Paul Olson]

There is a small savings if you order your second gun without the led bar, but you should consider paying for the second bar. I bought 2 boards (before the housings were available), but only one LED, and I have regretted it since the first day. For the price (like $8, I think), I definitely wish i had the extra bar to use on my desktop. It would be great for testing new games, and sometimes I just want to sit in the computer chair instead of firing up the MAME cab.

Just something to think about. The bar is cheaper than shipping, so if you think you might want a second one, just grab it.

BTW, I am using the original Topguns with mine, which look just like these housings, and they feel great. The size is just about perfect.
Andy may want to consider making some holsters one of these days though - the ones for Area 51 are way to small for these guns.

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, I hope holsters are in the works too. You need somewhere to put the guns when not in use.

[studmuff]

Made a purchase.  Have to try them.  Bought 2.

Well I am absolutely amazed.  I recieved my stuff from Ultimarc today.  I ordered Tuesday night and just arrived here Friday just after Noon here.  I will say that the package was opened by US customs as it was taped on the outside DHL package and the box contents were also opened and taped with US customs tape.  It appears everything is there though.  I can't wait to try them out.  Unfortunately, may not get to it until tonight.    From UK to US 3 days is very fast IMHO.  I was expecting at least a week turn around if not more.  Great job Ultimarc.

[Usul]

same here. Got them today and put everything together - absolutely easy. Ultimarc rocks.

[gwjrabbit]

Ditto. NICE gun.  Gonna be two weeks before I get my stuff setup, bit I really like the equipment.

[helpmebuild]

Got my gun and assembled and it looks awesome...just having some serious issues with config though. I am having a hell of a time setting things right in MAME. I changed one of the lightgun settings and now when I try and change them again they show up as both Gun 1 and 2 and its changing the X and Y axis.

Also tons of game like Leathal Enforcers etc are coming up on screen as upside down and showing both players aimers. I have set the gun to input 1 but both show up. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Cananas]

Got my gun and assembled and it looks awesome...just having some serious issues with config though. I am having a hell of a time setting things right in MAME. I changed one of the lightgun settings and now when I try and change them again they show up as both Gun 1 and 2 and its changing the X and Y axis.

Also tons of game like Leathal Enforcers etc are coming up on screen as upside down and showing both players aimers. I have set the gun to input 1 but both show up. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Update MAME to 0.131u1 or above. It will solve your problems and other fixes for gun games.

[helpmebuild]

So I made the mistake of trying to upgrade the firmware after a strange box informing me that the function I was trying to use was only enabled in newer versions and to update. So I "updated" to 1.3 (that's what I was running to begin with) thinking it might fix my options..and now when I track on screen my mouse pointer is stuck at the top of the monitor and will move back and forth horizontally but wont move up and down vertical. Whats the deal!!?

[Cananas]

Un-plug (wait a few seconds) and plug again the gun. Sometimes the gun becomes a little crazy after a bad calibration or update.

[helpmebuild]

Un-plug (wait a few seconds) and plug again the gun. Sometimes the gun becomes a little crazy after a bad calibration or update.

Gahhhh, this didn't work. I'm still having the same issue. It was working fine until I did this "update" but now I'm stuck with this crippled line of sight where it only tracks left and right on the very tip of the monitor.

Anyone have ANY ideas?

[Cananas]

Try to setup your Aimtrak with the default values (there is a button in the Aimtrak Utility for this).

After update of the firwmware, which version do you have? 1.3, or the Aimtrak says you have the older version?

[helpmebuild]

Try to setup your Aimtrak with the default values (there is a button in the Aimtrak Utility for this).

After update of the firwmware, which version do you have? 1.3, or the Aimtrak says you have the older version?

I have tried that as well. It says I'm using 1.3 still. The problem is..I always was. I only attempted the update as it prompted me to after I finished my calibration and pressed the side button on the gun.

Once the update was finished it went through the windows new hardware detection process which is when it seemed to have screwed up. I am completely clueless on how to fix this. I've done pretty well anything and everything I know how with no result.

Would downgrading the software help, and if so..I cant roll back drivers so would I need to uninstall everything and go back in and install say 1.3..then try and update/. If so...does anyone have the 1.2 files and installer, or any earlier version for that matter?

[Cananas]

I have tried that as well. It says I'm using 1.3 still. The problem is..I always was. I only attempted the update as it prompted me to after I finished my calibration and pressed the side button on the gun.

This is strange. Be aware that the last version of the firmware is 1.3. There is no firmware 1.4. The Aimtrak Config Utility is v1.4, and includes the firmware update 1.3. 

Once the update was finished it went through the windows new hardware detection process which is when it seemed to have screwed up. I am completely clueless on how to fix this. I've done pretty well anything and everything I know how with no result.

To upgrade the firmware, the Aimtrak config utility uninstall the mouse and joystick device and install a new alternate one (don't know which at this moment) to enable the firmware upgrading. After updated, this alternate device is uninstalled and installed again the real mouse and joystick device.

Would downgrading the software help, and if so..I cant roll back drivers so would I need to uninstall everything and go back in and install say 1.3..then try and update/. If so...does anyone have the 1.2 files and installer, or any earlier version for that matter?

I suggest you e-mail Andy with this problem before doing something else...

[rchadd]

We have only ever really had one product which didnt sell, which is the U-HID G (The version of the U-HID with accelerometer on board). The reason for this is we strayed from the market area we know about. This was produced with two markets in mind, pinball builders (for nudge) and musicians, especially guitarists, for an effects unit. neither markets are really there. This does not really matter as the development costs of this board were tiny, so we just took the hit.

i am sure the digital pinball market will become much more popular in the future as more LCD TVs become cheaper and more available secondhand.

Does the U-HID G work well with visual/future pinball?

[AndyWarne]

i am sure the digital pinball market will become much more popular in the future as more LCD TVs become cheaper and more available secondhand.

Does the U-HID G work well with visual/future pinball?

I believe so yes, but I have had very little feedback on this.

[schleppie]

Gun looks fantastic....any chance someone could provide a length and width dimension of the gun? I've got holsters built into my cab and want to be sure they would fit before purchasing...

[Cananas]

The first think I thought when I saw the Aimtrak gun was....BIG:

Length: 24cm aprox.
Width: 3,5cm aprox.
Heigth: 16,7cm aprox.

[DashRendar]

The first think I thought when I saw the Aimtrak gun was....BIG

That's a good thing IMHO, I prefer guns that I can hold in one hand and keep it steady with my other hand.  Seems to improve my accuracy over guns you hold with just one hand.

[jasonbar]

Andy-

Ugh, I'm working too much.  It took me about 1 month to find time to assemble my pair of Aim-Trak guns.

Assembly was a breeze.  Very entertaining & I'm glad I got the guns in kit form vs. buying them assembled.

To give the guns some heft, I got some of my super-sticky double-sided 1/8" foam tape & affixed a variety of 3/8" & 1/2" nuts & bolts into the grip & barrel.  It feels really nice & solid.  Maybe when I get around to installing the light bar & everything, I'll find they're a little heavy to hold outstretched during a game, but it should be only 5 minutes of work to pop them apart & remove some steel.

A couple of questions:

1 - The kits seem to have too many cables.  I now have 2 USB extension cables (nice if I need them), and I have 2 extra large USB to small USB cables that were packed in w/ the Aim-Trak modules.  Why do you provide that cable with the module *and* with the gun?  Save yourself a buck or so and give customers just 1 set, Andy!    Anybody need some extra cables?

2 - One of the disks on the sensor on 1 Aim-Trak module is noticeably offset.  I'm guessing it's an IR filter over the sensor.  At this rate, it will be quite a while until I have the light bar hooked up & can test these for myself, so I'd like to find out now if you think this is a problem.  Take a look at the pic & let me know--there's a little bit of perspective going on with this close-up picture, but if you look closely, you'll see that the black disk on the Aim-Trak module on the right is definitely shifted towards the right of the picture.


Thanks,
-Jason

[AndyWarne]

I have expended much thought about what to do about the "too many USB cables" issue, and then somehting more important comes along and  stop wondering about it...
I will think of something.

The disk being offset will only be a problem if the adhesive ring used to secure it is also off-center and blocking the sensor. If you just pull it off you can check this, it will easily re-stick.

[FrizzleFried]

Sooo... any ETA on a "plug n play" solution?

[jasonbar]

The disk being offset will only be a problem if the adhesive ring used to secure it is also off-center and blocking the sensor. If you just pull it off you can check this, it will easily re-stick.

Thanks for the quick response.  I pulled off the (assumed) IR Filter & the adhesive donut it off-center but I can still (barely) see a small hole on the sensor surface--I presume that's the actual sensor hole through which light passes?  The adhesive donut is awful close to it but not blocking it straight-on.  Any harm in pushing the donut gently & slightly away from the sensor hole?

Thanks,
-Jason

[releasedtruth]

Is the LED still going to have a possible housing? I don't have any place I can mount it without something cleaning things up visually. I'm definitely looking forward to getting a pair.

[AndyWarne]

Is the LED still going to have a possible housing? I don't have any place I can mount it without something cleaning things up visually. I'm definitely looking forward to getting a pair.

Yes. There was a delay on this owing to sourcing the required infra-red moulding material but should be available in a couple of weeks.

Andy

[releasedtruth]

That's fantastic. I'd expect nothing less from Ultimarc.

[Valken]

Any news, Andy?

[tommyinajar]

Any idea when the gun shells will be Back in stock?

[AndyWarne]

Any idea when the gun shells will be Back in stock?

They are back in stock now,

Andy