Blinky Atari LED

[FrizzleFried]

Alright,  so I got my Atari Volcano LEDs lit (running a 60-in-1 board in the cabinet so I couldn't just plug `em in...no support for them on the board)...

...but being the anal S.O.B. I am,  I'd LOVE to get them to blink.  I realize I doubt Ill be able to get them to light up when you press them, but just blinking shouldn't be THAT hard,  right?

Any suggestions on how to get em to blink on par with the original?

[ahofle]

You mean when you insert a credit?  It would be easy with MAME, but I'm not sure about the 60 in 1 board.  Does it have any outputs for blinking keyboard LEDs like MAME does?

[BrentRadio]

Do you want them to constantly blink, even when playing a game? The originals blink when the game is coined up and stay lit depending on which one is pushed.

Brent

[FrizzleFried]

I'd love for them to mimic the real Centipede...HOWEVER...I realize that isn't going to happen.  Do they stay solid lit before coin-up?  I forgot. 

[ahofle]

They are off until a coin is inserted.  Then player 1 blinks.  If another coin is dropped, player 2 also blinks.  Once you start playing, the LED corresponding to the player 1 or 2 is lit solid during their turn.  When the game is over, both turn off.

[shardian]

It would be neat to make an interface for volcano buttons. The code wouldn't be that complicated. you'd basically have a counter that keeps track of credits and start presses. A credit switch hit would increase the count 1 and a start button hit would decrease the count by one. a count =1 would blink p1 led, and a count = 2 or greater would flash both led's. Of course, count would have to be set to zero as a minimum. If you know a coding person, they could whip up a simple circuit for you in no time. I bet there would even be a few people willing to pay $20 or so for a simple volcano button interface that would enable flashing for all games.

[Kevin Mullins]

Do they stay solid lit before coin-up?   

Only when there was a problem with the game pcb.

[ahofle]

It would be neat to make an interface for volcano buttons. The code wouldn't be that complicated. you'd basically have a counter that keeps track of credits and start presses. A credit switch hit would increase the count 1 and a start button hit would decrease the count by one. a count =1 would blink p1 led, and a count = 2 or greater would flash both led's. Of course, count would have to be set to zero as a minimum. If you know a coding person, they could whip up a simple circuit for you in no time. I bet there would even be a few people willing to pay $20 or so for a simple volcano button interface that would enable flashing for all games.

How would you shut them off when the game is over?  I suppose you could put in some kind of switch to detect the player slamming their fist on the control panel in anger to assume 'game over'. 

[shardian]

It would be neat to make an interface for volcano buttons. The code wouldn't be that complicated. you'd basically have a counter that keeps track of credits and start presses. A credit switch hit would increase the count 1 and a start button hit would decrease the count by one. a count =1 would blink p1 led, and a count = 2 or greater would flash both led's. Of course, count would have to be set to zero as a minimum. If you know a coding person, they could whip up a simple circuit for you in no time. I bet there would even be a few people willing to pay $20 or so for a simple volcano button interface that would enable flashing for all games.

How would you shut them off when the game is over?  I suppose you could put in some kind of switch to detect the player slamming their fist on the control panel in anger to assume 'game over'. 

Hey, I'm no programmer. I took classes in basic and C++, and I've programmed with a basic stamp before. I know enough to create flow charts and the basic idea of what the script would do.

Anyways, I don't think you can get input from MAME, but can probably get input from the front end easy enough, such as when the FE kicks back in after exiting the game. Or, you could just set the "exit button" to zero out the count if you wanna keep it simple.

[ahofle]

You can get input from MAME (that's how ledutil works currently to blink my player 1 and 2 start buttons exactly like the original did).  The problem is he is using a 60 in 1 board.

[shardian]

You can get input from MAME (that's how ledutil works currently to blink my player 1 and 2 start buttons exactly like the original did).  The problem is he is using a 60 in 1 board.

Are you saying this ledutil will work with all games to flash start buttons??

[ahofle]

It works for the games that had flashing start buttons, yes.  By default it just blinks your keyboard LEDs though.  You will need something to intercept those like the IPAC or an LED Wiz.

[shardian]

It works for the games that had flashing start buttons, yes.  By default it just blinks your keyboard LEDs though.  You will need something to intercept those like the IPAC or an LED Wiz.

Ah, now I remember. Thought you had sprung something new on me.

[BrentRadio]

They are off until a coin is inserted.  Then player 1 blinks.  If another coin is dropped, player 2 also blinks.  Once you start playing, the LED corresponding to the player 1 or 2 is lit solid during their turn.  When the game is over, both turn off.

Not sure this is 100 percent accurate. If you start a 1 player game, only the player 1 will stay lit. If you start a 2 player game, only the player 2 will stay lit. It doesn't switch back and forth during the game.

I just tested this with my Asteroids, Tempest, and Centipede.

Brent

[wp34]

This is somewhat OT but any suggestions where to buy Atari Volcano LEDs? 

Thanks.

[BrentRadio]

If you are refering to the cherry switch start buttons, you can get them from Todd at TNT Amusements for $10 each. The ones I bought came with the cones and the switches.

If you just want the cones, you can get them in several places. Arcadeshop for one.

There are 2 sizes of cones, tall and short.

Here's a pic of the cherry switch with the cone on top.



Brent

[ahofle]

Not sure this is 100 percent accurate. If you start a 1 player game, only the player 1 will stay lit. If you start a 2 player game, only the player 2 will stay lit. It doesn't switch back and forth during the game.

I just tested this with my Asteroids, Tempest, and Centipede.

Brent

Ah yes, you are correct.  Thx.

This is somewhat OT but any suggestions where to buy Atari Volcano LEDs? 

Thanks.

RAM Controls also has them available (with and without lighting).  http://www.ram-controls.com/controller-cones.html

[wp34]

Thank you both for the tips.  I've been looking for those for a while but did not know what to call them.  Love the old Atari cabs.

[Level42]

Luigi on this forum has them as well, but he's in Germany. Good price though but with current euro-dollar rate not to great for the US people here. Strongly suggested for the rest of the world people though

Brent, how bright should I expect the LEDs to be ? We're pretty spoilt these days with super bright led's of course, but it seems my Centipede LEDs look pretty dim. Also, one is a lot brighter than the other....

Some video (youtube ?) would be great

Also, how for "up" should the button be above the cone ?

[BrentRadio]

They should be nice and bright. Not lik today's LED's but, they should light up nicely. I would just replace them both.

[arzoo]

You can do this with the MaLa LEDBlinky plugin, but as others have said, you'll need to use a LEDWiz or PacDrive. That's a lot of effort (new hardware, new FE) just to blink the credit buttons