Author Topic: Light guns FAQ? (Read 15874 times)

Florp · « **on:** December 23, 2004, 03:31:07 pm »

Hi guys. Is there a up-to-date FAQ regarding lightguns and MAME? I'm interested in adding a pair of guns to my cabinet with an arcade monitor, but much of the info I've found seems to be outdated (i.e., ActLabs no longer makes light guns for monitors?).

What's the State of the Lightgun Union out there?

Thanks,

Scott

ErikRuud · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2004, 03:41:10 pm »

There isn't a FAQ that I know of.

The state of the union is this:

The Act Labs gun for monitors is no longer available, except maybe through Ebay at high prices. They may bring it back, or they may bring out a new gun. No one knows for sure. Go to the Act labs site and get on the wish list!

The Lik-Sang PC Virtual Gun appears to be discontinued also, but is stil available from some vendors.

The Lik-Sang Bio Gun is still available, but is considered to be the worst choice.

Florp · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2004, 03:48:54 pm »

Thanks for the summary, Erik.

What about adapting actual arcade lightguns to a PC? Happ sells a couple of them, including a really cool-lookin' "Recoil Gun". Has anyone had success with this?

-Scott

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2004, 04:19:57 pm »

Quote from: Florp on December 23, 2004, 03:48:54 pm

Has anyone had success with this?

No.
The light gun is only PART of the system.
The rest of the system is the interface.
In the case of the Act-labs, it's the box that sits between the monitor/gun and USB port/gun.
In the case of arcade games, it's contained on the actual boards of the individual game.

Silver · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2004, 06:10:29 pm »

Quote from: Florp on December 23, 2004, 03:48:54 pm

What about adapting actual arcade lightguns to a PC?

There was some talk on this a while back re the happs unit - if I recall someone was trying to buy a unit from happs to test/write a driver. No idea where this is at now.

A far more promising point - for the future anyway - was that Andy Warne (he of IPAC/Optipac fame) posted a few weeks back saying he was planning to look into the Namco light gun interface. Promising because while more complex/expensive (it uses several sensors placed round the screen instead of a "white-blanking" approach) it is very accurate once calibrated (in the arcades anyway) and can track a guns position at all times, not just when they fire (this is an issue when trying to use light guns for games like T2 that actually used a joystick). This would allow it to be used *perfectly* for all light gun games that I am aware of.

I was planning to email Andy in the New year and ask if he still has plans to pursue this. If so I personally intend to get hold of a set. In fact I'm tempted to do so anyway and post them to Andy to work on if he doesn't have any....

Andy?

romperwomb · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2004, 11:40:59 pm »

Quote

Go to the Act labs site and get on the wish list!

When I joined this wish list, I also wished they would make the gun a bit more uhhm manly. I've seen tampon applicators that are more masculine!

stevodevo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2005, 03:12:57 pm »

Any update on this?? Any word from Andy at Ultimarc?

vartech · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2005, 03:31:08 pm »

www. erealgames.com is working on a wireless pc version of there G1 gun for Mays E3 show. It uses a camera mounted on top of the screen to track the gun movement, which would mean it would not matter screen type LCD, Plasma, Arcade monitor, tv or CRT all would work.

Daniel270 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2005, 07:04:29 pm »

That model looks like it'll do the job... once it's available for PC use.. so far, only consoles (according to the site)

Minwah · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2005, 07:39:34 pm »

Quote from: Daniel270 on January 26, 2005, 07:04:29 pm

That model looks like it'll do the job... once it's available for PC use.. so far, only consoles (according to the site)

Yep I emailed them last week and they said they hoped the PC version would be ready for E3 in May.

clanggedin · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2005, 11:09:08 am »

I'm planning on going to E3 in May. I'll post a little review on it while I'm there.

vartech · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2005, 12:10:01 pm »

Quote from: clanggedin on January 28, 2005, 11:09:08 am

I'm planning on going to E3 in May. I'll post a little review on it while I'm there.

When you go ask if the PC version will also allow use of there other peripherals they working on like boxing gloves and golf clubs etc. I think if it does this will add a whole other aspect to MAME gaming.

brandon · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2005, 07:28:06 pm »

wow.. that would be awesome.. so how exactly does the console version work? Does the console see it as a joystick?

Lilwolf · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2005, 08:54:57 am »

Hopefully it will be solvable with an analog+ type software solution...

but probably based on the gun sends data to sensors above / around the monitor... And it can't tell the difference between two guns.

but if you get machine gun capablities... I'm buying one.

Silver · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2005, 09:01:43 am »

Quote from: Lilwolf on February 01, 2005, 08:54:57 am

but if you get machine gun capablities... I'm buying one.

That is the huge advantage it would suggest due to the constant tracking. I just wish they used 2 or more sensors as I think accuracy is going to be a shortfall with only 1 sensor. The problem will be small movements of where the gun is held - such as adjusting you stance - may throw the calibration off.....

Hope I'm wrong though.

fogman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2005, 09:03:57 am »

Did we get a response on whether you could use a PS-2 to USB adapter.

Lilwolf · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2005, 10:14:42 am »

I would wait since they are looking at a pc release.

and lightguns / special controllers usually don't work with the XXX->usb connectors.

ErikRuud · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2005, 10:55:05 am »

The G1 gun gas two emitters on the gun and a single camera that sits above the screen.

According to there FAQ, changing your shooting style can throw the calibration off. http://www.erealgames.com/support/support_5.htm

menace · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2005, 11:06:07 am »

my arms get tired holding the little act albs gun for lengthy periods--i can't imagine lugging that beast for long.

jjaffa · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2005, 07:39:41 am »

Hi All,

My name is Jonathan Jaffa, I'm Managing Director of eReal Games UK. I was just browsing and noticed you have been chatting about the G1 Light Gun. So I thought I would fill in the missing gaps for you.

PC Version
We are talking to Sega at the moment about bundling possiblilites for the G1 as they are due to launch House of the Dead III for the PC in a couple of weeks. We will only develop a PC version of the light gun if there is enough demand. I am not completely clued up with the world of MAME. Maybe one of you guys could fill me in. If I felt there was enough people out there that wanted the PC version we would definately develop it this year. The PC version of the light gun will also be smaller because you don't need to be so far away from the screen. The current light gun is developed for use up to 12 feet away and is capable of being used on Projected images larger than a cinema screen.

HOW IT WORKS
The G1 system works by tracking 2 infra-red LED's that are positioned at 2 points on the light gun itself. The camera does all the magic. It is incredibly sophisticated and calculates the position of the light gun relative to your original calibration point. The calibration process can be adjusted at any point before or during game play and only takes 3 seconds. So even if you do change position its no problem. One of you mentioned that you get sore shoulders when playing for a short while. We discovered this was a real issue and we actively promote that you don't use the gun in a Military Down-the-Barrel shooting position. There is no need to use a gun like this anyway, your brain is capable of calculating the position of your target relative to your position with out accurate sighting. So we recommend that you calibrate and then continue playing games from a relaxed position. After a short while you soon get used to it and realise it is much better, especially when you play a game for 30 mins or so.

2 PLAYER G1
We are actually developing the 2 player version at the moment and hope to launch it in time for E3. We are still discussing whether we will make it 1 gun that is switchable or have 2 separate guns.

So....I hope this info is helpful to you, if any of you have any other comments, please let me know, you can email me direct on jjaffa@erealgames.com.

Happy Shooting.

fogman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2005, 08:22:32 am »

These guys seem really interested, which is very good news for us! I had sent them the following and their response follows. So, we need to get people to post here (since they are obviously following this thread, to let them know what the demand is. I hope Kevin reads this and posts something on Retroblast, since the more feedback, the better the chances of getting something!

And thanks Jonathan for posting!

My email:
I have a Mame box with a PC and was interested in knowing if the G1 has been tested using an X-Box or PS2 to USB connector and if this works. If not, do you know why, because I am sure there are many people in the Mame community who would like to take a shot at writing a driver.

I understand that you may be coming out with a PC version of the gun and was would like to know if you have an ETA.

Response:
Thanks for your mail. We are checking with our development team to find out more. Sorry for the delay, we will try to give you an answer by end of this week.

We are very interested in writing a Mame driver, we really appreciate your suggestion and look forward to talking with you about this later.

Thanks again.

eRealGames Info Team.

sofakng · « **Reply #21 on:** February 03, 2005, 08:37:25 am »

I've sent them an e-mailing letting them know I'm very interested in a PC version of their lightgun. I'd recommend everybody else who is interested do the same thing so that they will see the high interest rate and perhaps start developing the gun...

- Sofa

Taborious · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2005, 09:39:07 am »

I too sent an email over...

ErikRuud · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2005, 11:35:10 am »

Johnathan Jaffa,

Thanks for posting here in our forum, and answering some of our questions.

I do not know how many MAME user's there are, but you are bound to get a lot of responses about the G1 gun.

If the PC version of the G1 looks like a mouse to the operating system, it should work well with MAME.

Silver · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2005, 12:52:14 pm »

Has anyone seen any reviews of the gun?

I'd love some 1st hand opinions on accuracy....

fogman · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:07:30 am »

Lilwolf · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:18:39 am »

Erik.. watch for what you wish for.

DONT DO STANDARD MOUSE CALLS. If you do it will not work with mame.

There is joystick (%of screen) this works well for mame.

Then there is mouse commands... If you use relational moves (move left 2 inches) it will not work well. If you touch your mouse while playing you will loose your calibration.

It needs to be move to x,y... Then it will work well with mame.

This is why mame has a -lightgun setting and a -mouse setting.

Minwah · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:44:06 am »

Quote from: fogman on February 03, 2005, 08:22:32 am

I hope Kevin reads this and posts something on Retroblast, since the more feedback, the better the chances of getting something!

I've mailed Kev with a heads-up, I'm sure he'll be interested in this.

For the record I'm very interested in this one too - lets hope it gets the go-ahead...

ErikRuud · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:44:44 am »

I bow to the master.

Maybe you should send Jonathan an email as well.

KevSteele · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2005, 10:09:30 am »

(Stumbles in)

Hey, cool! I'll have to post a news item about this and urge people to write in for the PC version!

Sorry for not visiting more often - just been incredibly busy the last couple of months...

(Stumbles back out)

MameMaster! · « **Reply #30 on:** February 04, 2005, 01:47:49 pm »

fogman · « **Reply #31 on:** February 07, 2005, 08:20:37 am »

In yet another showing that the G1 team is not only responsive, but interested, I received the following:

G1 has not been tested using an X-Box or PS2 to USB connector. This is only due to our limited resources. Actually, G1 contains a chip for USB, and it is therefore not difficult to support USB directly. All we need to do is to support MANE for PC. But it takes time to develop, to test and to certify. Please be patient.

Best regards,

eRealGames, Info team.

Silver · « **Reply #32 on:** February 16, 2005, 08:27:55 am »

Thats quite interesting (althuogh not surprising as a lot of Xbox stuff is usb type I believe....)

Also due to the way this gun system works (cameras/infrared) - ie NOT reliant or interupting the video signal - I actually think it would be possible to 'hack' to work on a PC. I'm not suggesting its necessary as it looks like they are developing the PC version themselves, but if this fell through (hope not) I reckon this would be FAR easier than a 'typical' console gun. All you need to know/decipher is how the positional information is passed from the gun....

Silver · « **Reply #33 on:** February 28, 2005, 06:14:10 am »

As an update to the above, I've read a review of the Xbox version of the G1 Gen where they state that it actually has an Xbox and PC-USB connecter - just no drivers for the PC...

Anyone have one of these to confirm? Normally the issue with Xbox guns is that they use the "extra yellow wire" in the interface connections (which is otherwise a USB plug).

fredster · « **Reply #34 on:** February 28, 2005, 03:31:52 pm »

Glad I sold my ActLabs gun about a month ago.

Got $171 including shipping

stevodevo · « **Reply #35 on:** March 10, 2005, 03:19:39 pm »

Any updates on this? or are we all just waiting for E3?

M3talhead · « **Reply #36 on:** March 10, 2005, 04:35:05 pm »

I'm wating for E3 myself.

jelwell · « **Reply #37 on:** March 10, 2005, 10:51:40 pm »

Quote from: stevodevo on March 10, 2005, 03:19:39 pm

Any updates on this? or are we all just waiting for E3?

me too. Come on MAY!
Joseph Elwell.

ripzone · « **Reply #38 on:** March 11, 2005, 12:11:40 pm »

I too sent an email to them!

I hope they develop it.

Also would it be easy to switch the case to a real arcade gun?

ErikRuud · « **Reply #39 on:** March 11, 2005, 03:55:37 pm »

I finaly found the correct site again, it has these pictures of the RGT G1 in use.

http://gaming.engadget.com/entry/0253827737214684/

As you can see, it is larger than a regular hand gun but not too huge.


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