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just an idea... 2 LCD screen mirror cab with change-able backdrop????
RandyT:
Steve, you have no idea what you are talking about. There is no "3D effect" in the system shown in this thread. My name is on several optical 3D system patents, so I have some idea as to how these things work. I'm not even 100% convinced that Space Invaders was "multi-planar". My recollections of the game was that it was simply overlaid onto the artwork, and that was only necessitated by the fact that actual artwork looked far better than computer graphics at the time. Something that is not so in today's world.
Two monitors with one edge touching (or an equal distance from the beamsplitter, as shown above), and a 45 degree beamspitter between them, place one image exactly on top of the other, AKA superimposition. There are ways to achieve the effect discussed here, but not the way it has been shown. In order to make a "Pepper's Ghost", one would need to move the rear screen perceptively further back than the front screen is high. You cannot, with just a mirror, bring the foreground image closer. To do that, you start needing to create virtual images with real optics.
And Steve, if you want to play thousands of regular games at half brightness with the screen "pasted" on the back of a deep cabinet, or swimming around somewhere slightly closer when you move your head, and consider that more "accurate" than using software underlays for the handful that actually used graphic underlays, then I can only surmise that your train has finally gone the rest of the way 'round the bend. Make the argument that it could be a cool dedicated unit, if you must. But please don't pretend that the negatives from doing so on regular titles don't grossly outweigh the positives on those where it works.
drventure:
--- Quote ---if you want to play thousands of regular games at half brightness with the screen "pasted" on the back of a deep cabinet, or swimming around somewhere slightly closer when you move your head, and consider that more "accurate" than using software underlays for the handful that actually used graphic underlays
--- End quote ---
Good points. It might be an interesting exercise, but it might not be worth it in the end. (but then, my entire cab is basically "an interesting exercise that might not be worth it in the end" ;D
Necro:
Since I'm (I believe) the only one currently with a cab where this would be feasible in the short term and something I'm interested in, I'll elaborate on the thought process I had that popped it into my head (a completely separate event than Bender having the idea).
I'm working on an OmegaRace cabinet, it's a simple mirror setup with the artwork behind lit by a blacklight to make the game itself 'hover' in the asteroid field. This is similar to Space Invaders, Asteroids, and a few other setups I believe (albeit not always with black lights). Because I like the mirror effect, I want to have the cab use the mirror configuration to give the additional distance to viewing. However, the issue is you either yoke flip a tube based monitor or use an LCD and only use software that can inherently flip as there isn't a driver based way (that doesn't come at a HUGE performance cost) to do it. So, I'm using an LCD now for maximum viewing size, weight, and ease of use. By using two LCD monitors in this configuration, I can do the following:
- Maintain the ability to play OmegaRace as it looked 'natively' (or semi-natively)
- Vary the 'floating' art per game so anything that used a mirror setup for 'art' purposes, I can reproduce.
- For games, software, etc., that don't support mirroring you can use the 'rear' LCD to play them on instead.
- If you set things up a certain way, you can have both a vertical and horizontal monitor in your cab and have each monitor used as appropriate for the game of that type. This would, obviously, effect the ability to do the first three items to some degree.
So, it's a novelty to some degree...but isn't having a MAME cab in some ways always a novelty?
Xiaou2:
--- Quote ---And Steve, if you want to play thousands of regular games at half brightness with the screen "pasted" on the back of a deep cabinet, or swimming around somewhere slightly closer when you move your head, and consider that more "accurate" than using software underlays for the handful that actually used graphic underlays, then I can only surmise that your train has finally gone the rest of the way 'round the bend. Make the argument that it could be a cool dedicated unit, if you must. But please don't pretend that the negatives from doing so on regular titles don't grossly outweigh the positives on those where it works.
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Ok, I agree it was a misunderstanding. Your description threw me off. Yes, the rear screen has to be pushed back a few inches.
As for the rest, its not quite true. You can use the front image rather than the back for non-3d games... thus the image will be nearly full brightness. Theres little losses in even a full half silvered mirror... and even if you noticed a difference, you could adjust the monitor settings. Maybe even pre adjust them in the settings, so no fiddling is required.
The problem would be finding a way to flip the front monitor image. On a CRT it can be rewired. Not sure what options there are for LCDs.
And finally, I believe there are many more people who would love to build such a design. There has been talk about it ever so often, here and other message boards elsewhere. Just because you have no desire for a certain experience, doesnt mean that you represent the mass opinions of others. Especially for those who have actually seen and played the games in reality.
Bender:
--- Quote from: Necro on April 23, 2011, 10:08:28 am ---
So, it's a novelty to some degree...but isn't having a MAME cab in some ways always a novelty?
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Well said!
Great minds think alike and all ;D
you're years closer to implementing this than me, so I hope you and make it work, it would just be fantastic to see!
just so you know, my friend has a Vizo LCD TV (I think, I'll find out for the brand sure) and it has a flip (mirror) option in the setup menu, not sure why but it's there and can be exploited >:D