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Front End for Public Coin-op
rCadeGaming:
Ok, well it's pseudo in the sense that you would get away with it, like operators running bootlegs.
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 03:27:02 pm ---If you own all the PCBs, then it is probably a better idea to grab a JAMMA switcher anyway and avoid the front-end.
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For us, yes. For someone unfamilar with the machine, not so much.
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 03:27:02 pm ---Having said all that, if I wanted to have a front-end on an emulation-based machine on route, I would choose the easy way and use a coin door with lockout coils and simple lock out the mechs until a game has been selected. Easy peasy, no lemon squeezy.
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That's genius. I would probably include a highly visible notice in the front-end, saying "choose game before inserting coins" so the user understands why it won't take coins.
You still have to address the problem of quitting the game with unused credits left though.
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: rCadeGaming on December 09, 2012, 03:38:27 pm ---
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 03:27:02 pm ---If you own all the PCBs, then it is probably a better idea to grab a JAMMA switcher anyway and avoid the front-end.
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For us, yes. For someone unfamilar with the machine, not so much.
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In my experience, people have a much easier time dealing with a button that says "switch games" than dealing with a front-end. I have cabinets with each option and I've never once been asked how the switcher works, but have to deal with questions about the front ends fairly regularly.
Another solution (and I can't remember if somebody has done it before ... it sounds familiar to me) is to create a simple coin bank circuit board that sits between the coin mech and the encoder. The board increments the bank on coin drop, displays the bank balance via numeric LED and then sends a pulse to the encoder on a button press. You drop coins in to coin-up the "bank" and hit a button to transfer a coin from the bank to the encoder. Making those buttons light up only when a game has been selected would help prevent user error (or could create a button lockout circuit).
In any event, far too much trouble for far too little payout, even if you go the "pseudo" route and then skip things like getting a coin-op license, tax tag and insurance (requirements varying by locale).
rCadeGaming:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 04:10:42 pm ---In my experience, people have a much easier time dealing with a button that says "switch games" than dealing with a front-end. I have cabinets with each option and I've never once been asked how the switcher works, but have to deal with questions about the front ends fairly regularly.
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Is there a dedicated button for each cab, or do you have to use one or two buttons to cycle through? Either way you're limited on how many games would be reasonable to include, and also limited by having to physically fit all the PCB's inside the cabinet.
I can certainly see how there could be confusion about a front-end, but it could be simplified to make everything straight forward.
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 04:10:42 pm ---In any event, far too much trouble for far too little payout
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Maybe with enough development, it will be worth it at some point. Right it's just kind of a what if. Just thinking out loud.
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 09, 2012, 04:10:42 pm ---even if you go the "pseudo" route and then skip things like getting a coin-op license, tax tag and insurance (requirements varying by locale).
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Now this is the stuff I wouldn't skip. A source of government revenue is going to be much more likely to be enforced than copyright stuff on twenty or thirty year old games..
paigeoliver:
All the X in 1 boards are running mame anyway and I have seen them on location multiple times. If you are looking for someone to tell you a nice legal way to do what you are looking to do then purchase a licensed multigame machine (there are several) and put that out on location, that is your only legal option. You will also need a business license, insurance, and likely both a state and local tax stamp on your machine. It will earn less than $10 a month and eventually the location owner will ask you to get it out of there because the electricity it uses isn't worth his split of the coin drop.
yotsuya:
Just to second the last two posts- you'd probably have more of a chance of getting popped for having an unlicensed, untaxed game on site than you would getting a call from Namco's lawyers. I'm not sure either is preferable.