Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Questions about EMS TopGun  (Read 6194 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Questions about EMS TopGun
« on: July 31, 2008, 01:26:47 pm »
I have an Act Labs gun at the moment, but I am considering switching to an EMS TopGun because the constant flashing of the screen on the Act Labs irritates me, and others have said the same. I have a few questions about the TopGun that hopefully someone can answer. I've found it difficult to find a lot of information on it.

1) How is the accuracy compared to the Act Labs, or just the accuracy in general if you've never used the Act Labs?

2) Any way to hack the gun to disable the red laser pointer?

3) How far back to you have to stand? I've read anywhere from 4 feet to 16 feet which is quite a large range.

4) Will this work with basically anything that can use a mouse?

5) Is it better to get the TopGun I or TopGun II? According to hkems website: Please note that EMS TopGun  II could only supports GunCon2™ compatible games (e.g. Time Crisis 3).  GunCon™ compatible games (e.g. Area 51) and GunCon3™ compatible games (e.g. Time Crisis 4) are not supported.

Does this mean TopGun II is not compatible with MAME, considering Area 51 is supported by MAME?

Thanks for your help.

Mike

Bleagh

  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 161
  • Last login:October 18, 2016, 04:33:25 pm
    • BLEAGH!
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2008, 04:20:29 pm »
I dont understand the hate for the flashing, many arcade shooters always did this.

1) better,  you don't get the odd stray shots that you get with act labs.  but there is a bit of cursor lag when aiming from one side of the screen to the other.  Unnoticable if you turn the  mouse cursor off.

2) there is a switch to turn it on/off

3) about 4 feet is probably right.  About the same distance I would stand when I played virtua cop in the arcades.  It depends on your screen size.

4) yes, pretty much

5) i believe this refers to psx console games.  The topgun I is incompatible with vista as far as I know.


mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2008, 04:46:15 pm »
I dont understand the hate for the flashing, many arcade shooters always did this.

It never used to bother me personally, but as I got older my eyes have become more sensitive to flashing light or something, who knows  :P

Thanks for your answers. I think I'll be picking one of these up.

I had also read that with the EMS TopGun 1, you had to reconnect it each time you restart your computer. Is there any truth to this, and if so, does the same problem present itself with the TopGun II?

Bleagh

  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 161
  • Last login:October 18, 2016, 04:33:25 pm
    • BLEAGH!
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2008, 04:57:46 pm »
I've never had any problems with mine when restarting my computer.  I wouldn't know about the topgun II.

rlehm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 198
  • Last login:September 30, 2010, 09:04:25 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2008, 05:01:24 pm »
i have 2 ems topguns and have never used them. I can't find a way to mount those ugly rails on my cab where it wouldn't look stupid. Plus, the rails have lights on them which would annoy the hell out of me. I think i may go with act labs, to be honest, and ebay the ems guns. That is provided that actlabs doesnt have rails, something i haven't looked into yet.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2008, 05:08:36 pm by rlehm »

mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2008, 05:09:38 pm »
There are no rails for the Act Labs guns. You just need a VGA box for each gun you want to use, but this can be hidden under your cab or something.

ark_ader

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5645
  • Last login:March 02, 2019, 07:35:34 pm
  • I glow in the dark.
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2008, 05:23:38 pm »
I have 2 EMS Top Guns and mount them on my monitor with velcro.

They are great, simply stunning.  If you have a projector its even better.

If you can still get them, do it.

These whiners about getting the LED stands on their cabs, makes me laugh.

Its simple.   ;D
If I had only one wish, it would be for three more wishes.

wbassett

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 424
  • Last login:October 05, 2024, 02:18:42 am
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2008, 05:59:18 pm »
These whiners about getting the LED stands on their cabs, makes me laugh.

Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

As far as a projector...  You do realize that the average screen costs around $500 and the better quality ones will set a person back $1500 or more?  They also damage pretty easily too.  I personally can't think of anyone that would actually want to stick one of these to their projection screen!  And that doesn't even go into the fact that now you have two sensor bars and wires hanging right in the middle of the screen and your image.  That's pretty idiot.

It's kinda like the line from Jurrasic Park...  Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Mike I have one of the original guns.

Once you jump through a few hoops it works okay but the lag can screw you on games where you have to be fast and accurate, like Police Trainer.  For games where you just have to hit the monster or bad guy for a kill, it works really good.

I mounted my sensor bars on the top and bottom of my monitor.  It shortens the distance a little and I don't know if it's just my setup or if this is normal, but it seems to be a bit more accurate mounted that way.

I have a 21" monitor and I stand back around 4'. 

Overall I think it's an okay setup. 
Pros are it looks really cool and feels good in your hand.  The other pro is it can be used with any type of display.

Cons- The first version was very buggy.  Some people had no problems, others had major issues and they tended to break easily.  Accuracy is okay at best.  More like a shotgun accuracy than a sniper.   Has some cursor lag, and the first version would lose accuracy the further from the center of the screen you were aiming.

Those pros and cons are for the original gun, I don't have the new version.

The new guns seem to be working better but some people have still been reporting some problems here and there but overall it looks like they fixed some of the issues people were complaining about.  Only took them three years though!

If you don't mind the wires and the sensor bar, then I'd say get them.  Make sure they are the new gun though and not the old one. 

Personally I think they should cost half the price they do, then I'd be more forgiving of some of the flaws and give it a much higher rating for its price vs performance value.

Hoopz

  • Don't brand me a troublemaker!
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5285
  • Last login:June 13, 2025, 09:18:32 pm
  • Intellivision Rocks!
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2008, 06:08:52 pm »
These whiners about getting the LED stands on their cabs, makes me laugh.

Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

As far as a projector...  You do realize that the average screen costs around $500 and the better quality ones will set a person back $1500 or more?  They also damage pretty easily too.  I personally can't think of anyone that would actually want to stick one of these to their projection screen!  And that doesn't even go into the fact that now you have two sensor bars and wires hanging right in the middle of the screen and your image.  That's pretty idiot.

It's kinda like the line from Jurrasic Park...  Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Mike I have one of the original guns.

Once you jump through a few hoops it works okay but the lag can screw you on games where you have to be fast and accurate, like Police Trainer.  For games where you just have to hit the monster or bad guy for a kill, it works really good.

I mounted my sensor bars on the top and bottom of my monitor.  It shortens the distance a little and I don't know if it's just my setup or if this is normal, but it seems to be a bit more accurate mounted that way.

I have a 21" monitor and I stand back around 4'. 

Overall I think it's an okay setup. 
Pros are it looks really cool and feels good in your hand.  The other pro is it can be used with any type of display.

Cons- The first version was very buggy.  Some people had no problems, others had major issues and they tended to break easily.  Accuracy is okay at best.  More like a shotgun accuracy than a sniper.   Has some cursor lag, and the first version would lose accuracy the further from the center of the screen you were aiming.

Those pros and cons are for the original gun, I don't have the new version.

The new guns seem to be working better but some people have still been reporting some problems here and there but overall it looks like they fixed some of the issues people were complaining about.  Only took them three years though!

If you don't mind the wires and the sensor bar, then I'd say get them.  Make sure they are the new gun though and not the old one. 

Personally I think they should cost half the price they do, then I'd be more forgiving of some of the flaws and give it a much higher rating for its price vs performance value.
Good info.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts.   :cheers:

mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2008, 11:06:51 pm »
Does the TopGun work with the 64-bit version of Windows XP or only the 32-bit version?

rlehm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 198
  • Last login:September 30, 2010, 09:04:25 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2008, 12:36:44 am »


These whiners about getting the LED stands on their cabs, makes me laugh.


It's not that it is hard to install. It's about wanting a clean, organized looking cabinet. like the rest of the house, :wink:

rlehm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 198
  • Last login:September 30, 2010, 09:04:25 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2008, 12:42:29 am »
There are no rails for the Act Labs guns. You just need a VGA box for each gun you want to use, but this can be hidden under your cab or something.

If you pick up the TV version doesn't it use S-Video and not VGA? There are two versions aren't there?

DJ_Izumi

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1098
  • Last login:November 04, 2023, 04:19:22 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2008, 01:28:25 am »
5) Is it better to get the TopGun I or TopGun II? According to hkems website: Please note that EMS TopGun  II could only supports GunCon2™ compatible games (e.g. Time Crisis 3).  GunCon™ compatible games (e.g. Area 51) and GunCon3™ compatible games (e.g. Time Crisis 4) are not supported.

Does this mean TopGun II is not compatible with MAME, considering Area 51 is supported by MAME?

Thanks for your help.

Mike

This disclaimer is refering to the PlayStation 1 port of Area 51, not the arcade version.  However it's also inaccurate.  The PS1 port of Area 51 doesn't support the Guncon at all, the Guncon didn't even EXIST when it was released, it supports the Konami Justifier.  The later ported Maximum Force for PS1 however supported both guns.

I think a better example of a Guncon1 game not working would have been Point Blank.

I think however the jist of it is 'Does not support PS1 or PS3 games'

mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2008, 12:17:02 pm »
There are no rails for the Act Labs guns. You just need a VGA box for each gun you want to use, but this can be hidden under your cab or something.

If you pick up the TV version doesn't it use S-Video and not VGA? There are two versions aren't there?

It does use S-video but it still has to pass through a VGA box, so the setup is pretty much the same.

rlehm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 198
  • Last login:September 30, 2010, 09:04:25 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2008, 02:37:19 pm »
There are no rails for the Act Labs guns. You just need a VGA box for each gun you want to use, but this can be hidden under your cab or something.

If you pick up the TV version doesn't it use S-Video and not VGA? There are two versions aren't there?

It does use S-video but it still has to pass through a VGA box, so the setup is pretty much the same.

ahhh, thank you.

So, if someone uses an arcade monitor they get a different act-labs gun then someone using  t.v. and s-video. Is that correct?

Organic Jerk

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 550
  • Last login:May 09, 2013, 12:39:09 am
  • I'm per pixel lit.
    • OmeshPersaud.com
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2008, 02:44:15 pm »
Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

It's not that it is hard to install. It's about wanting a clean, organized looking cabinet. like the rest of the house, :wink:

I don't understand... can't you just install it inside the plexi and under the bezel, making holes for the leds where needed?

Why set them up outside the cabinet at all?

Progress Rate:  Moderate      ||      Threads:  Cabinet  |  Art  |  MaLa Layout
XBL: OrganicJerk  |  PSN: OrganicJerk

ark_ader

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5645
  • Last login:March 02, 2019, 07:35:34 pm
  • I glow in the dark.
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2008, 02:50:37 pm »
Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

It's not that it is hard to install. It's about wanting a clean, organized looking cabinet. like the rest of the house, :wink:

I don't understand... can't you just install it inside the plexi and under the bezel, making holes for the leds where needed?

Why set them up outside the cabinet at all?

I was going to ask that question.  As the topgun works through smoked glass anyway.  I would also get some holes punched in the surround for the LEDs too.

My guess is that these guys made their cabs too tight and they cannot get the LED bars inside if they wanted to.

I always give myself the benefit of extra room in my cabs for any future add ons.  I mean the perfect cab is the cab you never modify, and in my book that is up there with impossibility.   ;D
If I had only one wish, it would be for three more wishes.

rlehm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 198
  • Last login:September 30, 2010, 09:04:25 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #17 on: August 01, 2008, 02:59:53 pm »
Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

It's not that it is hard to install. It's about wanting a clean, organized looking cabinet. like the rest of the house, :wink:

I don't understand... can't you just install it inside the plexi and under the bezel, making holes for the leds where needed?

Why set them up outside the cabinet at all?

I was going to ask that question.  As the topgun works through smoked glass anyway.  I would also get some holes punched in the surround for the LEDs too.

My guess is that these guys made their cabs too tight and they cannot get the LED bars inside if they wanted to.

I always give myself the benefit of extra room in my cabs for any future add ons.  I mean the perfect cab is the cab you never modify, and in my book that is up there with impossibility.   ;D


hmm.. i thought the whole rail had to be showing. so if not, that was my mistake. I kept seeing images, video of the rails just hanging wires and all looking puke.

as far as not having room, i have plenty. not sure what others have. i just thought the rails looked stupid. everyone that came over to play felt the same way when i asked their opinion on the subject. it was like why buy a mercedes and pull off the bumper to fit it in the garage. ..

also, i did not know you could simply punch out small holes from the bezel for the sensors. and now that they have 4 sensors instead of 5 (if i remember right) this maybe the way to go. :)

I'd be willing to mount them if all that was needed is 4 little holes and the red light could be hidden. the distracting light would drive me batty.



wbassett

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 424
  • Last login:October 05, 2024, 02:18:42 am
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2008, 03:00:56 pm »
Nothing like taking a slick looking cab and then sticking something on the front of it with wires hanging all over the place!  Yeah baby, that really looks nice!

It's not that it is hard to install. It's about wanting a clean, organized looking cabinet. like the rest of the house, :wink:

I don't understand... can't you just install it inside the plexi and under the bezel, making holes for the leds where needed?

Why set them up outside the cabinet at all?
Actually I was thinking of doing just that but I have decided to hold off until I figure out what gun system I am ultimately going to go with.

Maybe someone that owns the new gun can confirm if this is still recommended-  I know with the first setup they say not to leave the sensor bars plugged in all the time.  If the new guns are the same, make sure if you do put it behind the plexi you can still easily get to the USB cable to disconnect the sensor bars when not in use.

mikeveli20

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 49
  • Last login:May 01, 2009, 05:11:14 pm
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2008, 04:04:48 pm »

ahhh, thank you.

So, if someone uses an arcade monitor they get a different act-labs gun then someone using  t.v. and s-video. Is that correct?

Pretty much. The guns themselves are the same, it's just the VGA box that differs.

Also, does anyone have an answer to my question above about whether or not the EMS TopGun II works with Windows XP 64-bit?
« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 04:07:36 pm by mikeveli20 »

ChicagoDave

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 196
  • Last login:May 18, 2023, 11:08:23 am
    • Dave's Website
Re: Questions about EMS TopGun
« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2008, 11:13:11 am »
deleted
« Last Edit: August 02, 2008, 11:47:15 am by ChicagoDave »
Homer Simpson:
"Here's to alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all life's problems."