Light Gun Games

[Woodshop Flunky]

Okay... before, I'd just go to MAWS and search for games that use light guns.  But since MAWS is gone, is there an effective way of finding out what light gun games are out there?

Also, since I only remember ever playing "Hogan's Alley", and "Operation Wolf"... what are some fun light gun games?

I'm trying to decide if it's worth adding light guns to my next build.  On my last build I added a spinner, and we rarely use it.

Thanks.

[harveybirdman]

http://www.mamedb.com/category/Shooter/Gun

I know mamedb isn't exactly updated, but this would be a good place to start....

I loved Terminator 2 Judgement Day, Mechanized Attack, among others

[Nephasth]

Area 51 was one of my favorites when I was a kid. I still would like to have a dedicated cab...

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Virtua Cop 1 and 2
House of the Dead
Time Crisis
Duck Hunt
Operation Wolf
Area 51
Maximum Force
Carnevil
Lethal Enforcers 1 and 2
Point Blank 1 and 2
Police Trainer
Zombie Raid

Your "fun factor" may vary, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head...

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Oh, also forgot the Big Buck Hunter series (I don't play them, but some people love them.)

And Chiller. Though I don't recommend anyone play that.

[AlanS17]

Ditto-ing what others have said...

T2
Area 51
all of the Time Crisis games (and all the Namco gun games, for that matter)
Operation Wolf

[CheffoJeffo]

And Chiller. Though I don't recommend anyone play that.

 

The entire Exidy 440 series (Crossbow, Cheyenne, Combat, Crackshot, Chiller, Clay Pigeon, Hit 'n Miss 3.0, Who Dunit, Catch-22) is fun for the whole family!

Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley are two games that I wish I had in my game room.

[DarthMarino]

Here is a pretty good list with pictures:

http://www.arcadeguns.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=35_36&sort=20a&perPage=0

Some great recommendations above.  I'll add these:
Revolution X
Steel Gunner 1 and 2
Alien 3: The Gun

The Big Buck series was mentioned.  The PC version works perfectly and includes 4 arcade ports. Though only 1 player is currently supported, the Virtua Cop games on Model 2 work very well. Also don't forget about some non-arcade titles from the NES Zapper, SNES Super Scope, etc.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

And Chiller. Though I don't recommend anyone play that.

 

The entire Exidy 440 series (Crossbow, Cheyenne, Combat, Crackshot, Chiller, Clay Pigeon, Hit 'n Miss 3.0, Who Dunit, Catch-22) is fun for the whole family!

Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley are two games that I wish I had in my game room.

Please forgive me Cheffo, I am honestly not sure if you're being facetious or serious about that!  ... the "fun for the whole family" part has me scratching my head a bit.  I mean, I could see why someone might like those games... I suppose... ?

More importantly, I wasn't aware that there was a whole flock of them, not just the lovely Chiller. Thank you for introducing me to that.  LOL.

[CheffoJeffo]

Completely serious.

The 440 multi kit is one of the most sought after multigames out there. Everybody loves Chiller!

Finally got this installed ... it is teh sweomes!

Ready To Be Made More Bueno	More Bueno
Welcome To The COLLEX'N	Make Your Choice
Crossbow	.
Cheynne	.
Catch-22	.
Combat	.
Crackshot	.
Chiller	.
Clay Pigeon	.
Hit 'N' Miss	.
Who Dunit	.

And, yes, Chiller is really as creepy as you think it is ...

[harveybirdman]

Beast Busters is another good one....

I was thinking there would be more, but I guess the only gun games I played the heck out of were Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, T2, and House of the Dead...

SO sounds like about 25-30 games that one would have to get a lot of play from to justify the add on....

If $ and time were no object I'd rather have a dedicated gun cab with platform shooters as well.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Completely serious.

The 440 multi kit is one of the most sought after multigames out there. Everybody loves Chiller!

Huh. Okay, cool, fair enough! Learn somethin' new every day!

So Cheffo (not to hijack the thread...) I'm reading the wikipedia article about Exidy now, is there any other place to read up on the history?

I'm definitely going to give that set of games an honest shot now... still, Chiller doesn't do it for me. Hope that's okay. 

[BadMouth]

All the MAME ones are covered in the Aimtrack manual.
Download here:

http://www.ultimarc.com/aimtrak.html

Other than MAME, there's.....
Nebulas Sega Model 2 emulator (only player 1's gun works):
EDIT: Both players now work with the use of Howard Casto's Troubleshooter 2 program (only works with model 2 v1.0).

Virtua Cop
Virtua Cop 2
House of the Dead
*Behind Enemy Lines
*GunBlade NY
*Rail Chase2
(*mounted gun games, but they'll work with Aimtrack.  No go with Act Labs guns)

Demul (only player 1's gun works): EDIT: Both guns now work with Demulshooter..search the software forum.  (it also covers Model 2 games)

Ranger Mission
Confidential Mission
Extreme Hunting
Extreme Hunting 2
House of the Dead 2
Lupin the Third
Maze of the Kings
Sport Shooting USA (crashes after calibration for me)
Death Crimson OX

EDIT: Forgot the Digital Leisure PC versions of the American Laser arcade games.
(Make sure you buy the version that says "for XP" on the front.  The older dos versions are lower resolution and look like crap)
If you want them to be more true to the original arcade version, there is an emulator called Daphne Singe that adds the arcade score overlay and coin input.
I tried it, but found that the video looked lower quality.  (you are required to convert it from your original game cd or dvd)

Crime Patrol
Mad Dog McCree
Mad Dog McCree II
Drug Wars
Who Shot Johnny Rock?
Space Pirates
The Last Bounty Hunter
Fast Draw Showdown (never been able to find a copy of this game)

Coming soon(hopefully) on Supermodel Emulator:
(all mounted gun games)

The Lost World
The Lost World Special
LA Machineguns
The Ocean Hunter
Star Wars Trilogy is also fun with a gun.


Almost all the console games were just inferior ports of the arcade ones, so I've never bothered with them.

I have act labs s-video guns and like them. (there are also people that hate them, lol)
You have to set the resolution the same on all the games to avoid having to calibrate them when starting a new game.
They are true light guns, so they require a CRT tv/monitor and are next to useless on mounted gun games like T2.

I also have an AimTrak that I bought for tinkering with recoil.  It's ok, but I've never been able to get it calibrated good enough for my taste.  If I were putting it in a cab, I would have to leave the onscreen crosshairs on.  Otherwise, there are too many missed shots because I can't get it calibrated good enough to use the gun sights.  If you don't mind having the onscreen crosshairs on, they're fine and you can even use them for the positional gun games.

[Xiaou2]

Almost all the console games were just inferior ports of the arcade ones, so I've never bothered with them.

Shouldnt be so quick to write them all off.

 Ive found the Sega Master Systems "Shooting Gallery", to be more fun and challenging than many arcade lightgun games.

[Wade007]

I have a total of 83 lightgun games through MAME on my cabinet. Another 4 with Nebula's Sega Model 2, more with Supermodel 3 and Demul.

I have to "Arcade Guns" on my cabinet. Totally worth it.
Read all about them (review) here:
http://www.cheapskategamer.com/pc_game_stories_and_news/true-light-gun-support-for-pc-gaming-the-arcade-guns%E2%84%A2-product-review/

[SNAAKE]

wait you can use guns with demul and nebula ??

[Rok]

I was always a fan of "Target Terror" and Area 51

[BadMouth]

wait you can use guns with demul and nebula ??

Yes.  Have been able to for quite some time.  For Demul, it was starting in version .5.6
I haven't tried the light gun games in .5.7 yet, but most of the games perform worse than v.5.6 if you don't have directx11.
If you have directx11, it's pretty awesome.  If you're running XP, you're probably better off sticking with the older version.
There is one problem with .5.6 and that is it can't be launched fullscreen. 
See my workaround here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108239.0
Or if you're using Hyperspin, there is a solution on their boards.

I've posted this before, but it might help get Woodshop Flunky psyched up to add guns to his cab:


The exidy games aren't in my gamelist.
I played each one for about a minute or less and decided I didn't like them.
I'll have to give them another try.

[DarthMarino]

Some of the original Super Scope games are worth checking out:

Battle Clash
Metal Combat
Super Scope 6
Yoshi's Safari
X-Zone
Bazooka Blitzkrieg
Tin Star

Plus a few of the less remembered NES Zapper Games:

Freedom Force
Barker Bill's Trick Shooting
To The Earth
Wild Gunman

I love having a spinner, but I've definitely gotten more use out of my Aimtrak light guns (I also have the ArcadeGuns.com guns), especially with 2 people.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Thanks everyone!  As usual... lots of interesting titles I knew nothing about. 

I think I'll probably add two guns.  A friend of mine at work build a cab a few years back and he said the guns were the first things most adults wanted to pick up when they played his cab.

[Mark Thomas]

Other than MAME, there's.....
Nebulas Sega Model 2 emulator (only player 1's gun works):

Virtua Cop
Virtua Cop 2
House of the Dead
*Behind Enemy Lines
*GunBlade NY
*Rail Chase2
(*mounted gun games, but they'll work with Aimtrack.  No go with Act Labs guns)

Demul (only player 1's gun works):

Ranger Mission
Confidential Mission
Extreme Hunting
Extreme Hunting 2
House of the Dead 2
Lupin the Third
Maze of the Kings
Sport Shooting USA (crashes after calibration for me)
Death Crimson OX

How come these games are only 1 player? Is it an emulator issue

[BadMouth]

How come these games are only 1 player? Is it an emulator issue

Yeah, the emulator just doesn't support input for player 2's gun.
There is nothing that can be done and I don't forsee this being changed in the emulators anytime soon.

I don't have any gun games in my main list so I don't have to explain to my guests why they can play two player on some games but not others.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks for clarification on this mate it's a real shame as I love HOTD and virtua cop in 2 player mode, can these model 2 games be played with the new supermodel emulator or is that just for newer type games?

EDIT: Forgot the Digital Leisure PC versions of the American Laser arcade games.
(Make sure you buy the version that says "for XP" on the front.  The older dos versions are lower resolution and look like crap)
If you want them to be more true to the original arcade version, there is an emulator called Daphne Singe that adds the arcade score overlay and coin input.
I tried it, but found that the video looked lower quality.  (you are required to convert it from your original game cd or dvd)

Crime Patrol
Mad Dog McCree
Mad Dog McCree II
Drug Wars
Who Shot Johnny Rock?
Space Pirates
The Last Bounty Hunter
Fast Draw Showdown (never been able to find a copy of this

Where can I buy digital leisure games? Do they come as a collection? I'm in UK and have never seen them on sale. I always remember them from arcade as they were so different, I never played them as they were very expensive. Are they as fun as they look?

Cheers

[BadMouth]

Thanks for clarification on this mate it's a real shame as I love HOTD and virtua cop in 2 player mode, can these model 2 games be played with the new supermodel emulator or is that just for newer type games?

Supermodel is for Sega Model 3 games.  For Model 2 games, you need Nebula's Sega Model 2 Emulator.

Where can I buy digital leisure games? Do they come as a collection? I'm in UK and have never seen them on sale. I always remember them from arcade as they were so different, I never played them as they were very expensive. Are they as fun as they look?

They're usually for sale individually on ebay for $5-10 each and well worth that.
You can also order them from directly from Digital Leisure, but they're asking crazy prices for as old as they are:
http://www.digitalleisure.com/contents/pcCDRom_games.htm

[DarthMarino]

You can try the PC versions of House of the Dead 1-3 and Virtual Cop 1&2 if you want 2 players.  There is a program called "Troubleshooter" that supposedly allows for dual mouse support.  I was having issues though didn't spend too much time with it. Might be a Windows 7 thing but others seem to have had some success.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=100010.0

[Mark Thomas]

Supermodel is for Sega Model 3 games.  For Model 2 games, you need Nebula's Sega Model 2

They're usually for sale individually on ebay for $5-10 each and well worth that.
You can also order them from directly from Digital Leisure, but they're asking crazy prices for as old as they are:
http://www.digitalleisure.com/contents/pcCDRom_games.htm

Thanks BadMouth I will certainly be keeping my eyes out on EBay for these games and the upper model emulator looks very interesting.

You can try the PC versions of House of the Dead 1-3 and Virtual Cop 1&2 if you want 2 players.  There is a program called "Troubleshooter" that supposedly allows for dual mouse support.  I was having issues though didn't spend too much time with it. Might be a Windows 7 thing but others seem to have had some success.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=100010.0

DarthMarino I had never even considered using PC ports as I would imagine the constant swapping of discs wold be a nightmare unless there is a way of installing and launching them like a Mame game?

Does anyone know which emulator runs the time crisis games the best?

[Nephasth]

This thread makes me want to get a couple AimTraks...

[BadMouth]

Does anyone know which emulator runs the time crisis games the best?

MAME, but you need a recent version of MAME and a very powerful computer.

There's the Playstation version on ePSXe emulator, but last time I checked it required the troubleshooter program and jump through some other hoops:
http://thetroubleshooter.home.mindspring.com/games/epsxe/info.htm
Newer versions of ePSXe might have addressed this, but I haven't messed with it in a while.

[ant2]

most people have replied to most of your questions already but I am playing hotd 1/2/3 using the pc versions, using the troubleshooter application to use 2 light guns.

I am using the epsxe application for time crisis, it only works in one player.

the troubleshooter application doesnt require any fiddling, install + go

for epsxe just configure the controls for the light gun and job done.

have a look at www.youtube.com/aletchet if you want to see my cab with 2 guns,guitars, net play etc

[Mark Thomas]

most people have replied to most of your questions already but I am playing hotd 1/2/3 using the pc versions, using the troubleshooter application to use 2 light guns.

I am using the epsxe application for time crisis, it only works in one player.

the troubleshooter application doesnt require any fiddling, install + go

for epsxe just configure the controls for the light gun and job done.

have a look at www.youtube.com/aletchet if you want to see my cab with 2 guns,guitars, net play etc

How many version of time crisis are actually emulated? I've seen several versions of the game were released on play station 2 but don't think there is a working ps2 emulator is there?

[BadMouth]

How many version of time crisis are actually emulated? I've seen several versions of the game were released on play station 2 but don't think there is a working ps2 emulator is there?

[Mark Thomas]

How many version of time crisis are actually emulated? I've seen several versions of the game were released on play station 2 but don't think there is a working ps2 emulator is there?

Yes very funny Google could show that there are ps2 emulators but it won't give me the views of a dedicated group of people that may be actively using them in their cabs. I should maybe have worded my question better and for that I apologise. So here goes ---->

Do any of you guys currently use a ps2 emulator in your arcade cabinet and if so which one do you use, could you tell me your views on the emulator and have you tried any of the ps2 time crisis games on it? And we're there any issues playing these games. I hope this is clearer.
Many thanks.

[DrChek]

As an answer to your general question, look into the ROMLister program. It's great for getting lists of games for different control types.

[ant2]

My Arcade PC isn't powerful enough, I would suggest seeing how well it runs first -

there may be a way to get gun support - http://forums.ngemu.com/showthread.php?t=143143

[DarthMarino]

I put together some comprehensive videos for people who are on the fence about getting a gun for their setup and aren't really sure what games will work. I will probably add some PC games in the future but I need to do some more research on those.


 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nephasth]

I put together some comprehensive videos for people who are on the fence about getting a gun for their setup and aren't really sure what games will work. I will probably add some PC games in the future but I need to do some more research on those.


 

 

 

 

 

 

The past couple of weeks I've been really considering picking up a couple Aimtraks. Thanks for the videos!

[BadMouth]

Anyone have IR guns calibrated well enough to get rid of the on-screen crosshairs?

[RamjetR]

Anyone have IR guns calibrated well enough to get rid of the on-screen crosshairs?

I haven't original arcades calibrated enough for that lol.... Actually I was thinking the same thing however. The calibration surely depends on the calibration setup in windows + the calibration in the ROM + the distance you stand from the screen being stationary and constant each time you play?

I'm sure IR guns will be especially susceptible to movement towards and farther from the screen effecting accuracy and sensitivity. I know the Wiimotes especially display this issue. You'd almost need a Tripod to setup the gun at the right height/arm length at your shooting point to be held perfectly still during calibration.

I'm keen to get a gun setup now after watching all those videos lol

[BadMouth]

Anyone have IR guns calibrated well enough to get rid of the on-screen crosshairs?

I haven't original arcades calibrated enough for that lol.... Actually I was thinking the same thing however. The calibration surely depends on the calibration setup in windows + the calibration in the ROM + the distance you stand from the screen being stationary and constant each time you play?

I'm sure IR guns will be especially susceptible to movement towards and farther from the screen effecting accuracy and sensitivity. I know the Wiimotes especially display this issue. You'd almost need a Tripod to setup the gun at the right height/arm length at your shooting point to be held perfectly still during calibration.

I'm keen to get a gun setup now after watching all those videos lol

I have an Aim-Trak in a happ recoil shell that I tinker with ocassionally.  I've never been able to get it calibrated well enough to only use the gun sights, but I haven't invested a whole lot of time in it.  The upper corners of the screen give me problems.  I'm sure that points to a certain thing needing tweaked, but I'd like to know that someone else has it dialed in.

I decided to try the wii guns in the new cab instead of it because they are wireless (and look cool).
If they don't work out, I won't have to modify or remove anything from the cab except for the IR LED bar.
I've just accepted that I will have to use on-screen sights when it comes to an LCD screen. 
The plan is to modify the crosshair images so they appear as laser dots.


They should be here toward the end of next week if they're not held up in customs for looking like real guns.   

[DarthMarino]

Ok, I've finished all my AimTrak videos.  I will eventually make videos like this for Spinner and Trackball games.