Original Arcade Cab Button Colors - Automatically Switching

[EddieArcadian]

I'm pretty sure I've read posts about this, but couldn't find...

What combination of Front End, Pushbutton, plugin/software, and lighting tool(s) would allow me to acheive the original button colors that were on the arcade cabinet when I switch/toggle through my various games?

I'm thinking I need Mala FE, Electric Ice, and some sort of lighting jazz from GGG (RGB lights???).  Not exactly sure what lighting jazz I need though... and not sure if Mala requires a plugin or database for the button coloring mapping (maybe I have to individually set each game?)

Also, could someone quantify what the difference between clear nova gems and electric ice buttons would be?  Just opaque vs. clear lighting?  It didn't seem like the nova gems could be ordered with multiple colors per button.  Any info/preferences are appreciated.

Finally, I'd also like to use some sort of audio plugin (lumin audio???) to make the buttons dance to the music... a list of compatible Front Ends and plugins off the top of your head is appreciated to give me options if I don't end up liking Mala (I may explore GameEx or Maximus for a few bucks).

Basically trying to achieve the pinnacle of buttonness.

Thanks!
Eddie

[abzman2000]

you have no Idea how much I would love this.

[EddieArcadian]

But is it currently possible, or was I just hallucinating seeing/hearing of this?

[BASS!]

Here is what you are wanting. Your not going crazy. As far as a full database, that may be a bit of an issue for you. He does make good programming software for you to do it yourself tho.

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=240

[Franco B]

Yeah, what Sam said 

You can achieve this using Mala and Arzoo's LED Blinky plugin

• With RGB LEDs, you can specify colors for individual controls or using a pre-defined colors.ini file, match the original game control panel button colors. Colors or intensities can also be customized on a game-by-game basis.

Btw, you dont have to use the RGB drives, you can use any common annode RGB LED.

[arzoo]

EddieArcadian,

Here's a bit more clarrification...

For the hardware you're going to need the GGG LED-Wiz as the LED controller. The LED-Wiz has 32 ports - each RGB LED requires 3 ports, so the max is 10 RGB buttons per LED-Wiz. So you'll need multiple LED-Wiz's to light more than 10 buttons. The Electric-Ice buttons are an all-in-one solution for RGB buttons - but they are a bit pricey. RGB LEDs with resistors can be purchased cheap off eBay, then you'll need clear buttons and some way to mount the LEDs. Also, the Electric-Ice are not clear, they're kind of a pearl color, so they diffuse the colors really nicely.

For the software, you have a few options depending on which FE you go with. Both MaLa and GameEx have multiple LED plugins (LEDBlinky, my software, is one of them). LEDBlinky also has a plugin for AtomicFE, and can generally be used with any FE. As for the button/color database, no need to worry about that, it's already been created by headkaze and has been integrated into his GameEx plugin and LEDBlinky.

As for the buttons dancing to music - there you have very limited options. The Luma-Audio software it your best (and possibly only) choice, but it's not integrated with any FE. Basically, it's just a stand-alone app.

Hope this helps!

[TimmyB]

That is exactly how I have my cabinent setup.  Here is what I used to achieve this:

GGG Electric-Ice Buttons w/ RGB drives
LED Wiz - 3 of them for a 2 player cabinet with 8 buttons per player, track ball and admin buttons
GameEx front end
HeadKaze's LCD/LED plugin for GameEx

It reads a colors.ini config file, your own MAME CFG files to light up each button with the appropriate color.  Very slick.  The plugin has an "audio attract mode" where the LEDs dance to music, but I haven't personally played with that feature.

It is not a cheap feature to achieve, the LEDs and controllers are a bit pricey.  But it definately gives your cabinent some bling and goes along way in making the cabinent more user friendly.

[EddieArcadian]

Thanks to everyone for the great info/details!

[DaveMMR]

That is exactly how I have my cabinent setup.  Here is what I used to achieve this:

It is not a cheap feature to achieve, the LEDs and controllers are a bit pricey.  But it definately gives your cabinent some bling and goes along way in making the cabinent more user friendly.

I went the route of implementing two LEDwizes, and 12 RGB Electric Ice buttons and Trackball and it added a couple of hundred dollars and a whole bunch of extra hours to my build.   But I'd do it all again in a second.  The "WOW" factor (not to mention the usefulness of only lighting "active" buttons) can't be beat.   

[ivwshane]

Damn, I don't think I bought enough for the setup I want:(

I have a total of 18 buttons and an electric ice track ball but I only have one LED-Wiz 32 and an LED-Wiz+GP 16.

I'll be short wont I? If I want a full color setup how many more of either lid-wiz's do I need?

[arzoo]

Damn, I don't think I bought enough for the setup I want:(

I have a total of 18 buttons and an electric ice track ball but I only have one LED-Wiz 32 and an LED-Wiz+GP 16.

I'll be short wont I? If I want a full color setup how many more of either lid-wiz's do I need?

You need 57 ports to light the 19 RGBs and you've got 48 (32+16). You'll need one more LED-Wiz or LED-Wiz+GP.