Space Base - A homebrew ICB/ZP

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Xiaou2:
Huge Props for the recreation. Im quite interested in the magnetic sensors for sure. Does the ball have to be magnetic for them to activate?
Cool stuff.

Ive always liked the Elvira style themed fun/funny/sexy vocals... but for those with younger kids, I can see it being an issue. Still, not a fan of the girl art clip. It doesnt match in the color scheme. Very out-of-place. Super saturated .. against dark, desaturated, plain, and somewhat boring backdrop. Its well drawn.. and I like the half-tone work a lot... but its kind of lifeless in totality. And while we all know that most of space IS Lifeless... thats never what the focus is when we are thinking about space.. or watching some movie about space. We are thinking Aliens, Space Craft, Hi Tech, LaZ3r FiR3! (and woman of course!) Time Travel, Black Holes, Warp Gates, Wormholes, and some amazing Captain and Heroic battles... Not merely docking your balls...err I mean, ship..

Take a look at Asteroids Deluxe artwork. Blacklight lit, a lot of zest and interesting things happening:

ICB is a tough one for art, due to all of the holes. It limits the possible range considerably.. as well as changes the impact of the art, if not done well in accordance with them.

Long ago, Id came up with some seriously sick ideas for a game based on ICB.. as at that time, I was actually considering modifying the original machine. However, I just restored it, and sold it for a hefty sum.. to get a more closer in funds, to a much more desirable pinball machine...

It goes well beyond your current cost & output parameters... Still, Id love to get some made, and pop them on-location...

Just something to note about Audio... Have you thought about using an actual digital FM synth engine, such as the DX-7 ? As the musical complexity and compositions you could create... would take almost no memory up. And due to the nature of good FM Synth sound.. its pretty much timeless. I find that FM synths like the Yamaha Dx7, Yamaha DX7 IID... etc.. have sounds that are so vivid and clear... that they are almost astounding. Unlike a low quality sample rip... which can get grating, sterile... and sound like poop compared to a good FM Synth. I think the magic is in the math. Its like the sound is a mirror of life. Theres a sort of infinite "Fractal" method of how it works, and how it sounds... and its somewhat cosmic. Alive. Perfect.

Whats great is that with emulation, and or other similar methods... you can use such a synth... and even add other synths to the mix, and even create enhanced capabilities that were never possible.

Most all the older games used Synths. Marble Madness uses a Yamaha chip thats very close to the DX-7 if memory serves me correctly. And as we all know.. that game has some incredible sound effects, and movie-style theme backing. Thunderforce II has some incredible Synth work. And check out "Target Earth" for Sega Genesis... A much lower quality synth, but wow.. what awesome composition and sound...

A combination of some samples (or cd / mp3) + synth, would probably be best. Allowing for clear vocals... yet amazing high def synth sounds... that take up almost no space.. despite many large and complex compositions.

Not that Im knocking Eds work. Havnt heard his stuff yet. I am a big fan of electric guitar btw. But just that due to the nature of certain themes... and limitations on audio, it can really add an amazing level of Pop, when using good synths.

Now, I have to be real here... in saying that the original ICB was a bit flawed and limited. Once you got the hang of it.. it wasnt as exciting as you had once thought. I have some ideas that would probably fix this problem... and while theme does help... its still not enough.

For anyone whom wants to make one on the cheap... you do not even really need any electronics. Two hand crank wheels would do the trick... using a string / pulley style system. (and or rubber belts, or direct gear drive)

Anyways.. nice work guys.
:cheers:

Le Chuck:
X - some of your comments are well taken and will be considered. I think that the music eds1275 is composing/has composed will be more than sufficient as, again my opinion, it is quite remarkable and vibrant, but I appreciate feedback on other methods of implementation. The playfield does present challenges in that it is swiss cheese. I think my art could be improved on but I disagree on the incongruity. The asteroids in your example are very nice asteroids. Fluoroscent printing might well lend itself to this theme but is beyond my resources and inclination.

I think your bringing up the fact that you had a great marketable idea for ICB conversion a long time ago that was "seriously sick" but not sharing it in a thread that is all about giving ideas to the community presents a poor impression. Kind of a, "nice project, I was going to do something much cooler but nice try" vibe. Again later with the "I have some ideas that would fix the problem" but no hint to what those ideas are. Well thanks man, good to know. Good for you then I guess. ;)

BadMouth:
While it's good to get some feedback for the sake of new ideas and avoiding mistakes,
IMO the best projects are the ones where a person or small group of people have a vision and faithfully execute it.
Projects that try to please everyone in the peanut gallery end up bleh.

Keep up the good work!

EDIT: I could totally see a Stargate themed version of this.
(the movie and tv series, not the arcade game)

DOUBLE EDIT: I'd also like to add that Eds1275 did an unreal job on my NeoGeo jingles.
They're better than anything SNK themselves would have had done.
I feel bad for not getting that cab done in a timely manner to show them off. :-[

SavannahLion:
At $6+ each for those field switches did you manage to find a cheaper source?

I really wanted to use them for my own but as many as I wanted, it would've blown my entire budget apart.

Le Chuck:

--- Quote from: SavannahLion on August 05, 2014, 10:17:58 am ---At $6+ each for those field switches did you manage to find a cheaper source?

I really wanted to use them for my own but as many as I wanted, it would've blown my entire budget apart.

--- End quote ---

That was a concern, I think the ones I'm using are $6.38 and I need 12 of them. I have been searching for months for a less expensive retailer or viable sub. What found is that the money they saved me in building a reliable working chute system for ball management made the juice worth the squeeze. Your LED sensor solution is very elegant too and would be good for this application but I'm not familiar with it enough to know if it would work in the same manner. I don't need one for every outhole, just score holes. I just need one at the gate to shift states. If a score hole wasn't tripped first then the software knows it was a dead ball.

Still $70+ is a punch in the gut, especially considering how far IDS is able to stretch the same amount and get pretty much everything else working.

--- Quote from: BadMouth on August 05, 2014, 09:03:58 am ---While it's good to get some feedback for the sake of new ideas and avoiding mistakes,
IMO the best projects are the ones where a person or small group of people have a vision and faithfully execute it.
Projects that try to please everyone in the peanut gallery end up bleh.

--- End quote ---

Thanks man, we're going to see it through. I love new ideas but we're not jumping on every band wagon that rolls by.

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