Illuminated Controls + Software

[Mameroom]

I have just finished the prototype for our illuminated control panel.  Using the software we created specifically for LED-WIZ control boards, you can change the color of each and every control (except spinner, for now) to any color you want.

The software even lets you specify a different color for when a control is being used.  For example, you can have all of your buttons change to "red" when the are pushed...and return to their original color when they are released.  You can specify up to 4 different colors for a single control.  This is so you can have the joystick change colors for each direction it is pushed.

Now that I have the panel done, I just have to figure out how to work my camera to take good pictures of Illuminated controls...and video of the controls in action!

If you are using an LED-WIZ controller with RGB leds...check out the software:
http://www.mameroom.com/files/LedWizSetup.zip

Updates on this project/product will be available on the www.mameroom.com website.

[severdhed]

this is awesome...i'll never have the cash to load up on all of those light up controls, but i love the idea

[Games001]

excellent work, nice layout and effect.

[DJ Infinity]

I'm going to try this software this weekend. I want some of those color changeable lighted joystick handles 

[torcer]

I don't suppose Mameroom sells those joysticks separtely?

[arzoo]

I don't suppose Mameroom sells those joysticks separtely?

You could buy those from Slikstik at one time.

[Hoopz]

I don't suppose Mameroom sells those joysticks separtely?

You could buy those from Slikstik at one time.

I have a set and they are great.  I can't, however, control the lights with the Led-Wiz.  I believe someone was selling the stainless steel joysticks shafts in B/S/T that could be used to make your own.  Was it Franco (Franco1)?

EDIT:  Here is the thread from B/S/T

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=75527.0

EDIT 2:  Looks like he doesn't have time to make these anymore. 

[arzoo]

I have a set and they are great.  I can't, however, control the lights with the Led-Wiz. 

Are you referring to the LED-Wiz hardware or the MaLa plugin?

[Hoopz]

I meant the Led-Wiz hardware from GGG.

[arzoo]

I meant the Led-Wiz hardware from GGG.

Is there some reason your LED-Wiz can't drive the LED's in those SlikStik joystick handles? I have a friend who I believe uses the illuminated joysticks with the LED-Wiz.

[Hoopz]

I haven't read that anyone had setup their's to run off the Led-Wiz.  I could probably do it with some research but I haven't been inclined to do anything yet.  LEDs, resistors etc arent my strong suit so RandyT's Nova-Gems and the LED-Wiz were an easy solution for me. 

Cutting the plugs off the wiring to the handles and wiring them up to the LED-Wiz would take some work though.

[Cornchip]

      arzoo - To get the best results you would need RGB Led's in the joysticks. Slikstik never sold anything but mono colored units.

 Cornchip.

[Hoopz]

      arzoo - To get the best results you would need RGB Led's in the joysticks. Slikstik never sold anything but mono colored units.

 Cornchip.

I have the multi-colored joys.

[Popcorrin]

      arzoo - To get the best results you would need RGB Led's in the joysticks. Slikstik never sold anything but mono colored units.

 Cornchip.

I have the multi-colored joys.

The color cycling ones don't work with the ledwiz software supplied by ggg.  It has something to do with the pwm.  However, I do believe the led plugin for gameex written by Headkaze is fixed so that the color cycling leds do work with the led-wiz.

[Cornchip]

    Great stuff HooPZ.....I've been on the hunt for good quality 4 pole jacks that don't cost a fortune. Not too many uses out there that make these jacks as common as 2 pole mono/3 pole stereo jacks. So far it looks like a good 4 to 6 bucks per set more expensive over mono/stereo jacks.

 Cornchip.

[DJ Infinity]

I still have some illuminated joysticks from slikstik and I have used them with the LED-Wiz. But no color changing as I only have the blue colored handles. I hope Mameroom will sell them separately as I have projects coming up. I also would like some illuminated 49 way joystick handles for my Blitz 99 machine since I put Electric Ice Buttons in it. 

[fjl]

The software even lets you specify a different color for when a control is being used.  For example, you can have all of your buttons change to "red" when the are pushed...and return to their original color when they are released.[/img]

Hey! That was originally my idea! I told it to the guys that created the LEDWiz plugin for Mala. You stole it!

Oh well. I also mentioned some other options I'd like to see. Like instead of changing to only one different color, instead change to different colors either slowly or quickly. Basically fade to different colors as its being held down. Or even flashing/dancing to various different colors. Also you can have the surrounding buttons change to a lighter color or pulse like water waves. You can even have it do random different things each time the button is pressed. That'd be cool! 

[Mameroom]

Well, I have come across what may be a major problem with the software when changing colors on a keypress event.  When multiple buttons/joysticks are used, the color changes just as it should...however, this now creates a major "lag" while in mame.

I'm hoping it is just my low end computer in my Mame cabinet.  I was planning on adding several effects to the keypress events, such as the fade in/out, an "explosion" effects that fades from one color to another, etc...but all a moot point if I can't find a work around for the "lag".

For all the programmers out there, I'm using a KeyHook.dll to capture all keypress events from VB6.  I'm wondering if I rewrite it in .NET and run it as a service if this will correct the problem.  Any thoughts? Suggestions?

[arzoo]

It seems unlikely that the keyboard hook is causing the slowdown. But any application that's actively processing at the same time as the emulator risks degrading the game performance. I actually considered adding a similar feature to LEDBlinky (flashing when pressing the credit button – PowerMame did this), but abandoned it for just this reason – I disable my keyboard hook during all game play.

One thing with the LED-Wiz; it takes longer to load the PBA values (intensities), than to load the SBA values (on/off). So you only want to set the PBA one time, unless you need to change colors. Not sure if this will help with your app.

[Mameroom]

Thanks for the feedback.  Your LEDBlinky app is a great piece of software!  The whole reason I even considered writing my own was for the Keypress event....which may have been a waste of time.

..I'm going to try it in .net and run it as a windows service with a low priority to see if that helps.  I'll let you know how it turns out....unless anyone has some suggestions.

[headkaze]

The LEDWiz plugin I wrote was written in C# and I haven't had any problems. You won't be able to get the ocx working though, well I couldn't although I believe I was trying to get it to work without needing a window. I think you could possibly do it with a hidden window. You might be better off using the ledwiz.dll written by MikeQ. I have some example source that I put together with it into an SDK. It includes examples in C# and VB.NET so it's a good place to start.

I've also written a keyboard hook in .NET and the performance is fine. Even to remap keys in gameplay. Just keep the processing to a minimum inside the hook.

You can find the SDK here.

[Mameroom]

I haven't gotten much further with the software...but I did rip apart my entire panel to throw one of our new overlays on:



These overalys will be available on www.mameroom.com shortly.