Good idea/Bad Idea (small 2nd monitor)

[ekopp2]

In my youth, the arcade I frequented used to put cardboard placards atop every game, showing the high score for the month on that game. They put the person

[papaschtroumpf]

there was a thread in the software forum that outlined the fact that it's not trivial to retrieve the highscores for each game, although it can be done (for most).

[ekopp2]

there was a thread in the software forum that outlined the fact that it's not trivial to retrieve the highscores for each game, although it can be done (for most).

I would be OK with manually updating the high scores and putting them on some form or template (though retrieving the high scores automatically would be so much nicer!). By doing it manually, I could include the top "x" scores and maybe a date/comment or whatever The cabinet is on the network, so I could update the info from my desk PC.

Right now, I'm keeping track with pencil and paper (OK, Excel) - so I'm doing most of the work anyway.

there was a thread in the software forum that outlined the fact that it's not trivial to retrieve the highscores for each game, although it can be done (for most).

I would be OK with manually updating the high scores and putting them on some form or template (though retrieving the high scores automatically would be so much nicer!). By doing it manually, I could include the top "x" scores and maybe a date/comment or whatever The cabinet is on the network, so I could update the info from my desk PC.

Right now, I'm keeping track with pencil and paper (OK, Excel) - so I'm doing most of the work anyway.

Exel sounds high tech.  After I got my Asteroids back in "93" We kept track of the high scores on the cardboard divider from a coorslight cube. We kept it on the wall beside it with a thumbtack. I never liked leaving my old machines on over night.  

[ekopp2]

Exel sounds high tech.

OK...I'll admit my solution is probably over-engineered

Exel sounds high tech.

OK...I'll admit my solution is probably over-engineered

Yeah but I was 20 some years old in my first bachelor pad.  What we did looked like heck in that hovel.

[RetroJames]

I had a slightly similar, although much easier to deploy idea for my cab.  It is an old off-road with a generous marquee area. I thought that instead of a marquee I could put a small monitor up top and surround it with some cool artwork on the sides.  The monitor could initially and easily just split the video from the main screen so the game actio would be displayed.  The neat trick would be to be able to switch it (preferable programatically) so that when games were not played it might display other images like arcade84 movie, various marquees, and other screen saver type graphics.  Great for a massive jukebox too.

[Tailgunner]

One of the arcades I frequented back in the day used an removable letter menu board to keep track of the high scores.

Much like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2576368678&category=50933

[cj1]

Just to throw in another option, what about something like this?

http://www.seetron.com/slcds.htm

(Note: I don't know anything about this company. Just picked the first Google result that I could use to illustrate my point.)

It could work nicely with the tech theme of your cab...

[screaming]

Just to throw in another option, what about something like this?

http://www.seetron.com/slcds.htm

(Note: I don't know anything about this company. Just picked the first Google result that I could use to illustrate my point.)

It could work nicely with the tech theme of your cab...

Those things are actually pretty cool.  I've been itching to use one myself  This is a pretty cool idea, ekopp2.  It sounds like something I could really use!

  I don't know if any of you guys are familiar with a product 3Com came out with a couple years ago called 'Audrey'.  It was supposed to be a 'webtop appliance' that was basically a giant palm pilot with internet access.  The idea flopped (cost of manufacturing vs. demand), but Audreys are still out there being hacked to death by people that find cool uses for them (check out Audrey Hacking). I bought mine for $100 about a year ago at a computer show, and I use it for a couple things that it wasn't designed to do (in addition to the stuff it was):

- Caller ID: It pops up a message on the screen when someone calls and emails me the callerID info
- MP3 jukebox: It interfaces with the stereo in my living room and plays streamed MP3s from my main desktop (don't forget - touch screen interface!)
- picture frame: The screen saver slideshows through Monet's paintings (to go with the rest of my living room theme).

  There are a couple other products out there that do similar things: I-Opener, MailStation, WebPal.. See here.

 It's good stuff and you electrical engineers might be able to get one to work here!

  Anyway, seems like a cheap way to get something like what you're looking for... and so much more.

If you have any ideas about this, share them! If you have any questions about the Audrey, let me know.. I might be able to help out.

/Steve

[micro571]

I bought and wired up one of those LCD displays a couple years ago.  If there's software avaliable for displaying high scores on them, then it'd be a neat addition to any cabinet project.  You can use them to display a ton of things.  I love mine.

www.jbprojects.net/projects/lcd if you're interested.

Jon