Anyone put a button on the front for pinball plunger?

[megashock5]

I haven't even messed with Visual Pinball yet, so I don't know what the default controls are. But I was wondering about putting a button on the front of the CP about where the plunger would be on a pinball table.

I guess the question is, since it seems most people don't do this, what button works as the plunger? And how hard would it be to add this button (i.e. if it used a button that already is used, would I need to run wires from one input on the encoder to two different buttons)?

thanks in advance!

[BobbyG66]

I plan on mounting a button in the front where the plunger would go.

I have seen it a few times. Someone actually used a real plunger and connected it to a switch.

In VP the ENTER key acts as the plunger. I think you can remap the key in VP also.

[megashock5]

Thanks for the info!

[Doc-]

Yes,
  I did it on my modular cabinet (see link in signature).  I have two buttons on each side, one for flipper and one for right/left nudge.  I also have the button front right for the plunger.  I have them wired to the regular buttons, and then just program appropriately in Visual pinball to match.

  It works remarkably well with Visual Pinball.  In fact I've been going through a visual pinball phase lately and had a great time with it.  If you do a google search, you can find lists of the best pinball machines - which are pretty well done in Visual Pinball and a blast to play.

Cheers!
Doc-

[erikthecat]

i got a pinball plunger where a pinball plunger should be:)
it doesn't look too out of place, with the flipper buttons on the side.
all stuck on the alternate larger cp.
ball launch is wired so that when the plunger returns to normal, the ball launches. pushing the plunger in nudges the machine up.

yep! i'm mad:)

GaRy:)

[GameOver]

I mapped the plunger to my P1 joystick.  Not a perfect solution, but better than a button IMO.  You pull back on the joystick, then let it go!  It sorta gives a plunger effect, better than a button anyway!

[Chris]

I have a real plunger I'm planning to add.  I'm going to wire up the Normally Closed contacts of a microswitch instead of the Normally Open, so the longer the plunger is pulled out the stronger the shot will be.

I like the idea of bumping the plunger for nudge... I may have to steal that one.

--Chris

[coachcarstens]

I also put a button where the plunger would go.  I thought that was a very common thing actually.

Chris

[lcddream]

http://www.johnsretroarcade.com/hardware_pinball.asp

there ya go

[megashock5]

Gameover,

Your joystick solution sounds intriguing. The way you described it sounds like the ball launches when the stick returns to normal. How would that be wired?

[Hurray Banana]

I've got a plunger and an extra player 1 start button sat side by side on the front of my CP.

It works pretty well but it would be cool to have a real plunger.

Has anyone tried creating a real tilt switch mechanism for implementing tilt, using something like a metal plumb weight hanging through a ring?

[oldsage]

I have a real plunger I'm planning to add.

[Thenasty]

Gameover,

Your joystick solution sounds intriguing. The way you described it sounds like the ball launches when the stick returns to normal. How would that be wired?

Hehe, your joyticks are already wired (unless your planning not to have any joystcik at all). Just assign MAME to use that joystick value.

[Thenasty]

when this discussion was being in the open years ago (God was it been that long), they were talking about applying this gadget. I bought one and never got around to trying it out.

[Hurray Banana]

I was actually thinking of something like this, a mechanical switch. I wonder if you'd need a circuit to time contact duration?

If this is horse crap say so.

[Thenasty]

you can buy what they use in a real pinball machine.

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/pinball/95032800.htm

[megashock5]

Gameover,

Your joystick solution sounds intriguing. The way you described it sounds like the ball launches when the stick returns to normal. How would that be wired?

Hehe, your joyticks are already wired (unless your planning not to have any joystcik at all). Just assign MAME to use that joystick value.

Yeah, I realize the joystick will already be wired. 4 inputs: up, down, right, left (+ combinations). The description that GameOver gave sounded like the ball was released when the stick returned to center, not when one of the stick's switches was activated. That was what my question was about.

[Hurray Banana]

you can buy what they use in a real pinball machine.

http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/pinball/95032800.htm

@$10 I might have a go at scratch building one. I think I can figure out the parts I'm gonna bodge together using their sketch

[Thenasty]

Gameover,

Your joystick solution sounds intriguing. The way you described it sounds like the ball launches when the stick returns to normal. How would that be wired?

Hehe, your joyticks are already wired (unless your planning not to have any joystcik at all). Just assign MAME to use that joystick value.

Yeah, I realize the joystick will already be wired. 4 inputs: up, down, right, left (+ combinations). The description that GameOver gave sounded like the ball was released when the stick returned to center, not when one of the stick's switches was activated. That was what my question was about.

In some pinball games, the ball releases when you release the switch (joystick method). Some releases when the switch is pushed (closed).

[Chris]

Yeah, I realize the joystick will already be wired. 4 inputs: up, down, right, left (+ combinations). The description that GameOver gave sounded like the ball was released when the stick returned to center, not when one of the stick's switches was activated. That was what my question was about.

That is how Visual Pinball works.  The longer the button is held, the stronger the plunger shot, and the bal is released when the button is released.

[megashock5]

Chris/Nasty,

Very cool, that's what I was wondering about.

So I assume that mapping the plunger to a joystick is done in the VP software? And if so, I'm also assuming you could map it to the player 2 stick since the plunger is usually on the right side? (Planning on putting on the machine, but I've never used it)

thanks again for all the great input guys!

[GameOver]

Exactamundo.  Map the plunger to whichever joystick (I'm left handed, so I mapped it to P1, just seemed right for me) in VPinball config.  The longer you pull back on the joystick, the more power in your shot just as Chris described.  The ball doesn't go until you release the joystick.  It works really well.