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What about build your own skee ball?

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RandyT:

Thought about this one a little too seriously in the past myself.

The machines seem to come in both a 10' and 13' version and they are super expensive.

I really think one could be built without too many problems, but it would be a chore to source the right materials for the skee-ramp.  And as others have already mentioned, make it seamless (of course, there's always wood putty and/or bondo ;))

But a scoring setup would be pretty simple.  Make a giant number display out of the crappiest old PC and TV set you can find.  Wire up a KeyWiz to switches for each of the holes and whip up a simple QB program that keeps the score and counts the balls.  It would take less than an hour to program :)

Anyone want to post the dimensions they came up with?

RandyT

BigBri:

Plus, I always see a set of skeeballs on ebay for cheap.  A keyboard encoder makes sense.  The balls would trigger the microswitch to give it a certain command.  Like you said, if someone could write a program.  I was thinking of using my old 366 mhz and monitor.  What material is the ramp cover?  Plastic?

jagnogg:


I bought an old broken down skee ball machine (with no electronic components) on ebay for $75. I'm going to put a PC inside of it (old Pentium 1 machine) with the monitor in the score area. I'll use an I-Pac to register the point values of 10 through 100 and for the GUI controls / start button /coin mech. I'm going to write a custom program that includes the "normal" skee ball scoring system but I'll also create new games with different scoring systems.  For example, if you're familiar with darts, I want to make a two player cricket type game where the first person to get 3 of each point value wins. Another easy dart scoring game would be a countdown game like 301 or 501. I'm open to suggestions here. Maybe a target practice type game where you try to hit the hole that is suggested?

I'm also going to try and install an anti-cheating device. If I can find a switch that is activated by an infrared beam - an electric eye type thing, I'm going to install it so the beam goes across the path of the ball on the ramp. It should be hidden from view because it'll be under the rubber bumber rails that run along the sides of the ramp. Anyway, if the eye beam switch doesn't trip but a score registers then you know somebody just dropped the ball into the hole. This will result in a loud blaring siren and "CHEATER!!!!" across the screen. I'm planning ahead for when my son tries to cheat. Hey Dad! I got 1000 on skee ball!!!

I've already started the project. I'm planning on making a web site to show my progress. I'll try to get pictures up soon.



RandyT:


--- Quote from: zell on May 29, 2004, 08:39:04 am --- What material is the ramp cover?  Plastic?

--- End quote ---

I think it depends on the version of the game you are looking at.  The new ones that use the plastic balls have a PVC-like surface.  The old one seem to be some sort of canvas or something.  Seems more "leathery".  Anyone got any other ideas as to what that material is?

RandyT

BigBri:

jagnogg - that's awesome!  Can't wait to see your screenshots.  Could you post the dimensions as well?  Could you make a ticket dispencer work with an ipac?  100 tickets = 1 beer!  That would be awesome.

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