Author Topic: New Product: The UNREAL CoinDoor™ - GroovyGameGear (Read 13428 times)

RandyT · « **on:** August 13, 2007, 01:57:14 am »

Some of you may recognize this from an old thread when I first showed it. I've decided to run off a few and offer them at the store.

Do you have an unsightly empty space on your cabinet where a coin door should be? No problem. Get the look of a real coin door without the extra effort and expense. From just a few feet away, it's hard to tell it's not the real deal!

Features:

Realistic 3D rendered, full-scale printed reproduction of an actual coin door ready to peel and apply o the front of your cabinet (or any other flat surface.)
Printed on high-grade, outdoor quality, water-fast, self-adhesive, matte-vinyl with pigmented inks to fight against fading. Adhesive holds like iron to smooth surfaces.
Contour cut. Measures 11.75" x 13.25"

Price: $19.95

Available now. Thanks for looking.

RandyT

bfauska · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2007, 02:20:05 am »

Wow, maybe the first product I've seen you release lately that I haven't thought "damn, I need that." On the other hand I haven't built a cab from scratch either. I've definitely seen cabinets that could benefit from this.

I really like the line in the ad... "When anything more won't do"

As fantastic as this product looks, I hope the engineering and design didn't hinder the development on your upcoming joysticks.

pboreham · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2007, 04:57:08 am »

Be good if the coin slots could be punched out and replaced with the NovaGem Coin Button?

jfunk · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:42:40 am »

My dad wasn't going to add a coin door to his. Might have to get him one of these

Donkey_Kong · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:56:09 am »

Quote from: bfauska on August 13, 2007, 02:20:05 am

Wow, maybe the first product I've seen you release lately that I haven't thought "damn, I need that."

Thats what a lot of others might say, then when they are checking out at ggg website and they have like 27 items in there cart and the total is at $437, they might say to themselves "well heck I might as well throw in an UNREAL CoinDoor."

Nice going Randy, I already have an artificial something else to go in place of where I should have put a REAL coindoor. You will sell a bunch of these I bet.

Quote from: pboreham on August 13, 2007, 04:57:08 am

Be good if the coin slots could be punched out and replaced with the NovaGem Coin Button?

Brilliant!

RandyT · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:49:58 am »

My plan has been to make another version of the render with the coindrops omitted and a drill template for the NovaGem-CDR's in their place. Just haven't made it to that point yet

RandyT

Arcades R Fun · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:28:53 am »

WoW Randy! Do you ever sleep?

Gret idea that will be very popular!

Jack

Kaytrim · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:39:01 am »

Ok Randy. This looks real good and the idea to incorporate the CDR buttons is great. But when is the real announcement going to happen.

TTFN

xmenxmen · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:40:12 am »

Quote from: RandyT on August 13, 2007, 09:49:58 am

My plan has been to make another version of the render with the coindrops omitted and a drill template for the NovaGem-CDR's in their place. Just haven't made it to that point yet

RandyT

If that came out before I went ebaying for used one, I would have grab one.....

javeryh · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:42:43 am »

Cool idea! I'd like to see something similar but made of metal (or plastic sprayed to look like metal). Imagine just screwing a sheet of metal to the front of your cab that had holes for the NovaGem-CDR buttons... I'd probably think long and hard about ever buying another coin door...

Kaytrim · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:44:39 am »

With these now there is no real reason for a real coin door unless you want to limit the amount of time your kids play on your machine.

ahofle · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:23:48 am »

Quote from: RandyT on August 13, 2007, 09:49:58 am

My plan has been to make another version of the render with the coindrops omitted and a drill template for the NovaGem-CDR's in their place. Just haven't made it to that point yet

Awesome, I'm definitely down for one or two of these. I love the look of a coindoor, but honestly I just can't justify the expense as I'd probably never use it. One question, you mentioned the version with templates for the NovaGem-CDR's. Would that version be the exact same size, just minus the holes template? Basically I'm wondering if I could install this version now and then drill the holes at a later time for the NovaGem-CDR's.

SavannahLion · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:18:16 pm »

I love the rattle the coin door makes when you beat on it or the noise the whole thing makes when you drop coinage into it.

Nontheless, it is a great idea. I see a lot of naked cabs in need of a decent coin door. This would dress up the look they so desperately need.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:27:56 pm »

By Peel and Stick does that mean it can be removed with no residue and put somewhere else?

RandyT · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:52:10 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on August 13, 2007, 12:27:56 pm

By Peel and Stick does that mean it can be removed with no residue and put somewhere else?

No, it means "peel off the backing and stick it to the surface". It is a permanent adhesive.

Quote from: ahofle on August 13, 2007, 11:23:48 am

One question, you mentioned the version with templates for the NovaGem-CDR's. Would that version be the exact same size, just minus the holes template? Basically I'm wondering if I could install this version now and then drill the holes at a later time for the NovaGem-CDR's.

You probably could but it won't look as good as the model that is specifically designed for the NovaGem-CDRs. Aesthetically, it will be better not to have the coin-drop protrusion graphics underneath the bezels of the NG-CDR's. The version I just modeled / rendered is a blank panel with hole outlines and drill cross-hairs so that one can just stick it to the face of a cabinet, drill the holes where shown and install the NovaGem-CDR buttons.

RandyT

ahofle · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:23:18 pm »

OK thanks for the clarification -- I'll be waiting for the CDR version then.

solderguy1 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2007, 02:27:15 pm »

Wouldn't it be fun to install this on a sheet of wood behind a real coin door before you sold a system. Just think of the look on the buyer's face.

torez · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2007, 03:17:10 pm »

Now, if only this thing could return quarters. Image pressing NovaGem button to give credit and then press another button to "return coin." Kind of a "black box" principle. Well, that would be one neat money maker.

bfauska · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2007, 03:31:28 pm »

If you really missed the sound of coins dropping in you could maybe do a recorded sample of one and have the front end run that sound when you select a game, obviously it would only be when choosing a new game and not when actually coin-in happens, but it would still help with the nostalgia. Or if there were a little application or special way to compile MAME to include a coin in sound when the credit button is pressed then it would be every time. EVEN more cool would be to have several samples and run a random one when you inserted a credit.

RandyT · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2007, 04:39:03 pm »

Quote from: solderguy1 on August 13, 2007, 02:27:15 pm

Wouldn't it be fun to install this on a sheet of wood behind a real coin door before you sold a system. Just think of the look on the buyer's face.

I have a few of them on unlikely things. One is on the side of a file cabinet under the color laser. 25 cents a copy!

Quote from: bfauska on August 13, 2007, 03:31:28 pm

If you really missed the sound of coins dropping in you could maybe do a recorded sample of one and have the front end run that sound when you select a game, obviously it would only be when choosing a new game and not when actually coin-in happens, but it would still help with the nostalgia. Or if there were a little application or special way to compile MAME to include a coin in sound when the credit button is pressed then it would be every time. EVEN more cool would be to have several samples and run a random one when you inserted a credit.

This would be pretty simple for the folks who have already devised "key" listening software which uses hooks. Maybe Ahofle will add a function to his mouse axis activated volume control program to play a wav file when one the appropriate keypresses are sensed.

RandyT

ahofle · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2007, 05:01:25 pm »

Quote from: RandyT on August 13, 2007, 04:39:03 pm

This would be pretty simple for the folks who have already devised "key" listening software which uses hooks. Maybe Ahofle will add a function to his mouse axis activated volume control program to play a wav file when one the appropriate keypresses are sensed.

LOL I thought of exactly the same thing when I read his post.
The only issue would be that I'd need to introduce a little delay of some sort -- when you dropped a coin it usually took half a sec or so for the credit sound to activate. Which means I'd have to steal the keystroke from MAME somehow, wait a half sec, then send it back. Hmmm, off to visual studio.

EDIT: OK I am able to 'steal' the keystroke from MAME (scary what these keyboard hooks can do actually). Just need to play a wav file, sleep a user-configurable amount of time, and then resend the keystroke. Stay tuned...

pboreham · « **Reply #21 on:** August 13, 2007, 05:27:42 pm »

You could have it play the wav straight away, but with a second silence before the coin drop.

So if the wav file is 3 seconds...

1............2............3
SILENCE | COIN DROP

Saves having to worry about programming any delays.

ahofle · « **Reply #22 on:** August 13, 2007, 05:39:46 pm »

The coin drop sound should come immediately when you press the button, followed by a small delay and then the game's particular '1 up' sound effect. The only way to do that (besides modifying MAME) is to introduce a delay.

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #23 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:29:05 pm »

For a minute there I thought Randy had resorted to a blatant ripoff of my cab theme.
I've got an Unreal Tournament themed cab, that includes Unreal Tournament coin slots.

RayB · « **Reply #24 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:56:07 pm »

Randy, instead of doing seperate runs of the door sticker with and without the coin drop parts, you could just print up a pattern that matches the door color and texture and then have people stick it on TOP of the area, to hide it. Then they can install the nova button on top.

RandyT · « **Reply #25 on:** August 14, 2007, 09:48:36 am »

Quote from: RayB on August 13, 2007, 10:56:07 pm

Randy, instead of doing seperate runs of the door sticker with and without the coin drop parts, you could just print up a pattern that matches the door color and texture and then have people stick it on TOP of the area, to hide it. Then they can install the nova button on top.

That's not a bad idea, and I did consider that option. But truthfully, I think it will be noticeable dues to the size it would need to be in order to cover. It would also be very difficult to render the graphic so that the "patches" look seam-less. The whole thing is ray-traced, so removing features changes the way the light behaves.

I don't mind stocking the extra units, so the CDR style will probably be available by the end of the day.

RandyT

DarkBubble · « **Reply #26 on:** August 14, 2007, 10:51:43 am »

Quote from: solderguy1 on August 13, 2007, 02:27:15 pm

Wouldn't it be fun to install this on a sheet of wood behind a real coin door before you sold a system. Just think of the look on the buyer's face.

I pictured that in my head Loony Toons-style, with multiple doors in a row, and the buyer repeatedly pulling them open to reveal another door.

Randy, any plans for a vacuum-molded 3D version of this? I'm not in the market, but it was something that occured to me the last time you had shown this. And now that you've got the coin buttons, you wouldn't even have to worry about painting them, outside of a dab of silver on the lock, and the customer can do that with a small bottle of Testors.

RandyT · « **Reply #27 on:** August 14, 2007, 11:32:46 am »

Quote from: DarkBubble on August 14, 2007, 10:51:43 am

Randy, any plans for a vacuum-molded 3D version of this? I'm not in the market, but it was something that occured to me the last time you had shown this. And now that you've got the coin buttons, you wouldn't even have to worry about painting them, outside of a dab of silver on the lock, and the customer can do that with a small bottle of Testors.

I don't know if I would call it a plan, but this was modeled in an engineering program so I have the option of providing it to a vacuum former. I am aware of at least one outfit not too far from where we are that does this kind of thing inexpensively for packaging purposes. I may send them off an email to see what they can do.

The issue is finding one that can do them for less than a real steel coin door costs. Tooling will probably be the large up-front cost that would need to be factored into the sale price. If I sold 10,000 units, this cost would be negligible, but for some reason I can't see that happening

The other challenge may be finding a reasonably priced material that has that "powder coat" look. There would also need to be final machining performed on the part, again adding to the cost.

RandyT

DarkBubble · « **Reply #28 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:43:31 pm »

If anyone I know ever wants to get into production and manufacturing, I'm pointing them your direction before they dive in.

As far as the look, can it be achieved through texture, rather than material? The Star Wars bezel came to mind as having a good texture that gave it a satin look and I thought maybe something along those lines would work. I'm rather dumb on the subject, so pardon my ignorance.

Kaytrim · « **Reply #29 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:48:08 pm »

I think the best idea is to 'stick' with the sticker.

TTFN

RandyT · « **Reply #30 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:54:14 pm »

Most likely at some price premium, texture can be put into the form. This is usually done where texture is required on the side of the part being pulled down into the form. It might be an option to look into. The outfit with the cheap "packaging" vacuum forming may not be too into it as such things aren't the norm for packaging purposes, but who knows what types of things companies get into. Hard not to be a little diverse and still stay in business nowadays.

RandyT

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #31 on:** August 14, 2007, 01:01:32 pm »

If you really want to mess with people, I think you'd want to drill out the "lock" and install a real lock and leave the key in it. "Why won't this open?"

ahofle · « **Reply #32 on:** August 16, 2007, 12:35:33 pm »

Randy, if I wanted a couple of the CDR template versions, could I just order the regular ones and add a note at checkout to make them the cutout version? I assume they will be the same price? Thx.

RandyT · « **Reply #33 on:** August 16, 2007, 12:41:27 pm »

Quote from: ahofle on August 16, 2007, 12:35:33 pm

Randy, if I wanted a couple of the CDR template versions, could I just order the regular ones and add a note at checkout to make them the cutout version? I assume they will be the same price? Thx.

Yes. They are ready and waiting for me to put them up. If you want one of the CDR versions, feel free to say so in the comments at checkout time.

RandyT

ARTIFACT · « **Reply #34 on:** August 16, 2007, 02:43:01 pm »

Quote from: GadgetGeek on August 14, 2007, 01:01:32 pm

If you really want to mess with people, I think you'd want to drill out the "lock" and install a real lock and leave the key in it. "Why won't this open?"

LOL

ahofle · « **Reply #35 on:** August 21, 2007, 12:06:21 am »

Just received my unreal coin door and two CDR buttons, slapped it on my cabinet, threw in some 5V wires from my computer and voila!! Randy, you are the MAN! Thought I'd share some pics.

Lakersfan · « **Reply #36 on:** August 21, 2007, 12:34:52 am »

Looks great in those pictures. Is it really that 3D looking in person? I know you got the CDR buttons on there, but the rest looks real authentic.

ahofle · « **Reply #37 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:10:08 am »

Well it doesn't quite look as 3D from the sides (because it's flat of course), but it looks great to me. I wasn't even expecting it to look this good honestly. And now I can insert MAME credits with my feet while sitting on the barstool.

About my only complaint is that the LEDs are a little too bright (doesn't show in the pics). Nothing a couple resistors won't fix though.

koolmoecraig · « **Reply #38 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:12:29 am »

Reminds me of this:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70327.0

Aurich · « **Reply #39 on:** August 21, 2007, 04:38:57 pm »

Once you've gone real coin-door it's hard to go back, there's nothing quite like the whole physical aspect of inserting a quarter. I think my coin door was maybe $15 on eBay or so, plus a little time with some paint and buying superbright LEDs etc, so it's not like you have to shell out to Happs. That said, the above pics of the install with the buttons over it is surprisingly nice. If you're lazy or don't have physical space for a real door it's not a bad option at all. A dropping quarter sound with delay would sweeten it even more.


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