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| 4 PLAYER RACING CAB – LED Outputs/ MameHooker/ OutputBlaster/ Physical RPM Tacho |
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| Pstylz:
I’ve been inspired by the amazing work in the emulation community, especially regarding "lamp outputs" to start a new project (:notworthy: thanks Boomslangnz and Howard_Casto). My custom 4 Player Arcade racers. I've previously built twin racers from the ground up around 10 years ago (they are huge) so decided it was time to start again and make them more compact, more professional-ish, more arcade-like and more immersive. I'm really keen to set up output lamps etc to make the arcade experience more immersive. Things like the flashing RACE LEADER lamps, using WLED and LEDBlinky to control the RGB LED strip light effects and a PACDRIVE and MameHooker / OutputBlaster for controlling LED buttons and lamps. I'm also hoping Boomslangnz can work his magic and find outputs for RPM so I can hook up a physical Tachometer and shift light! And then somehow figure out how to get MameHooker to talk to (I'm guessing) an Arduino which controls the Tachometer - if anyone has any experience with this pleaaaaase reach out! :woot BIGBOX All 4 cabinets are managed by one instance of BigBox on PLAYER 1. * Eliminates the need to use a frontend on each cab * Eliminates the need for the same game to be manually started on each cab at the same time * Stops the initial "network sync" errors with some games if they are not both started at the same time * Eliminates confusion for playersTo find out more info, check out my other post: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,164636.0.html HOME ASSISTANT I use Home Assistant to “turn on” each cabinet (the wall plug) – Each PC Bios is set to TURN ON mode when power is applied (no need to manually turn each cabinet on). When the cabinets are turned off via HA, a script is run on each cabinet to shut down the PC correctly, shortly afterwards, HA turns off the wall plug cutting all power to each cabinet. This ensures every powered device is off. I was also able to set up each cabinet to run an instance of IOTLink : https://iotlink.gitlab.io/. This enables me to “select a game” in Home Assistant which, via MQTT, runs a “start” script on each cabinet. All of this is easily done via my phone or wall tablet. WLED I plan on using the WLED Project to control the colours / effects of the 5xLED strips (Race Leader, under cabinet, footwell, left side and right side) * Example 1= setting each cabinets colours to their car colour i.e for Daytona USA. * Example 2= setting all LED strips to be SOUND REACTIVE i.e for Dirty Drivin’ CHALLENGES * Getting RPM Outputs to MameHooker <-- SOLVED - Thank you Boomslangz :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: * Translating those RPM Outputs to a Physical Tachometer <-- SOLVED - :applaud: :applaud: :applaud: * Controlling the Logitech Z5500 Sound system <-- SOLVED - Z5500 Control bypass cable https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322849191576 ) * Getting the LED strips to work with a ESP32 controller - lots of challenges here, mainly around voltage levels being to low on the data line <-- SOLVED - QuinLED-Dig-Octa System Brainboard - https://quinled.info/quinled-dig-octa-brainboard-32-8l/ * Designing / Building the bloody things! :banghead: CONTROLLING THE Z5500 LOGITECH SOUND SYSTEM This system is a beast! And to have 4 of them running at the same time…. I may get complaints from neighbours haha… anyway, there are two challenges with these systems.. 1. is that they have a MASSIVE control pod and 2. You have to press the ON button every time the power is turned off to turn them on. Not practical for my project considering each cabinet has all power cut when turned off. SOLUTION: I found on eBay a Z5500 Control bypass cable https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322849191576 this way I wont need to manually turn on each system or manually control the volume via a massive control pod. I can control the volume via the source (PC). I can also “reset” the volume on each cabinet when a new game starts by setting the PC volume via game start script 😊 THE LG ULTRAWIDE MARQUEE / LIVE VIEW At it’s most basic, this screen will show the current game marquee. I think some games have a “LIVE VIEW” feature which I will investigate. I’m trying to think of other uses also – perhaps Marquee and a live view of each players camera? Any other ideas? Here’s my parts list so far: x4 :dizzy: * ”Daytona USA” style cabinets * 18mm MDF * 18mm Black T-Moulding * i7 PC * 32" TV * PACDRIVE * 25" LG UltraWide 25um58-p (marquee and live view) * Happ 4 Speed shifter https://www.zax.com.au/buy/happ-4-speed-shifter/50-8496-00 * Racing Seats https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/265236866204 * Zero Delay USB encoder * Logitech Z5500 Sound system (yep 10inch sub BOOM BOOM :timebomb:) * Z5500 Control bypass cable (more on this later) https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322849191576 * 80mm RPM Tachometer https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000043957710.html * Camera – any recommendations? I’m not sure what works best for Daytona 3 / Mario Kart GP DX / Storm Racer G – what other games use a camera? * Custom Registration Plates (just for funnnn) https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231813206387 * 3 Inch Caster Wheels https://www.amazon.com.au/Moogiitools-1000lbs-Swivel-Locking-Casters/dp/B07CMTMHHT * LED Strip Controller = QuinLED-Dig-Octa System Brainboard https://quinled.info/quinled-dig-octa-brainboard-32-8l/ PACDRIVE to control: * 4x VR Buttons * Start & coin & vol buttons * Race Leader LED strip * LED Brake lights https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003776296315.html Software: * MameHooker - Howard_Casto :applaud: http://dragonking.arcadecontrols.com/static.php?page=aboutmamehooker * OutputBlaster - Boomslangnz :applaud: https://github.com/Boomslangnz/OutputBlaster * FFB – Boomslangnz :applaud: https://github.com/Boomslangnz/FFBArcadePlugin * WLED https://kno.wled.ge/ * LEDBlinky * Teknoparrot * Supermodel * M2Emu * MAME * MAME fork by John Bennett – Rave Racer + Ridge Racer 2 2P Lan (hopefully 4P soon) :applaud: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,165638.0.html * BigBox/LaunchBox – Game selection is only done from P1 cabinet. When the game is selected on P1 Cabinet, it will start the game on all cabinets at the same time – this future proofs the game start process when my friends select a game to play (so they don’t need to all select the same game on each cabinet) * AHK Script – used to start the selected game on all 4 cabinets at same time (no need for BigBox on each cabinet! One cabinet to rule them all haha :burgerking:) I’m also working on a spreadsheet that lists games and their lamp outputs / num of players / num of gears / troubleshooting tips / resolution / etc which I’ll post soon and keep updating. I’ll post progress photos soon 😊 |
| Pstylz:
01/08/2022 - UPDATE A ------------------------------- SEATS --> 2x Seats came in - unfortunately they are damaged and out of stock for 4 to 6 weeks which is frustrating. However, they are AWESOME!!! They are all black and have a nice Carbon Fiber look on the backs. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/265236866204 CASTER WHEELS I went 3 inch Heavy Duty Casters. These are rated at 680kg / 1500lbs. They seem pretty solid. https://www.amazon.com.au/Moogiitools-1000lbs-Swivel-Locking-Casters/dp/B07CMTMHHT |
| Pstylz:
01/08/2022 - UPDATE B ------------------------------- I put some work into the design and shape over the weekend. It was a little tricky and took several tests with people and kids of different heights to get the seating, pedals and steering wheel positioned correctly. Still playing around with the dimensions and shape of the foot side panels and top side panels - these will most likely be in a similar shape to Daytona USA cabinets, although I plan on including a RACE LEADER marquee also. I finished the base which is pretty heavy when the 10" Logitech sub is in place. The 18mm MDF makes the unit very solid though. I've pulled apart the Logitech G27 Pedals and flipped them upside down and attached them to an angled piece of wood - this is a more comfortable/realistic feel. I'm not including the clutch or 6 speed shifter - instead using a 4 speed HAPP shifter for that more authentic Daytona USA feel. The base-top piece has been separated into 3 pieces. One that surrounds the subwoofer, one that will be used to access the PC and electrical pieces and the last is support under the pedals. |
| Pstylz:
01/08/2022 - UPDATE C ------------------------------- I also played around with the 4 Speed HAPP shifter holder. Most likely going to angle it slightly for easy access. These 4 speed shifters really make the whole arcade experience more genuine. On my old twin racer cabinet, people would always miss gears on the 6 speed Logitech shifter. |
| Pstylz:
17/08/2022 - UPDATE ------------------------------- Managed to put a bit of time into the design over the weekend. :) I found it quite challenging to get the shape I wanted on the side panels as its quite an odd shape but I think they've come up quite well. I think the angles really give it more character rather than lots of square edges. :D |
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