Author Topic: Best gun games for a cab? (Read 9268 times)

swamprat96 · « **on:** March 06, 2009, 09:05:23 pm »

I am trying to find a list of good gun games to build into a cab I am refurbing. Now that I've fried the jamma board

I'm left with a good cab with guns so I'm bringing the conversion forward.

I'd prefer to run Mame but I could also run Nebula's sega 2 emulator. I've noticed both house of the dead and Lethal Enforcers have issues with Mame

Can anyone suggest good games? I'd like to run a P3 pc or similar

Turnarcades · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:13:33 pm »

My favourites are the Point Blank/Zero Point games under MAME, but you will not be able to use genuine arcade light guns with a PC so I'm afraid that idea is out the window.

swamprat96 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:23:03 pm »

I did not know that about the light guns. So a PC conversion would mean the two guns are useless yes? (I am using the existing arcade monitor)

OK what other options are there. If I use a multi jamma board instead would that solve it?

Turnarcades · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2009, 10:17:02 pm »

No. Multi-Jamma boards are just PCB's created with PC architecture and running a modified build of MAME (highly illegal). Connecting arcade controls goes much deeper than just the connection type, so the fact a game is JAMMA is irrelevant.

When it comes to regular arcade controls, they can be interfaced easily as they are simple on/off digital switches so can be connected using a keyboard hack/encoder to be recognised as key inputs. Analogue controls are a little more complex but still possible as PC's already recognise analog inputs like mice. Lightguns however need several hardware factors and custom encoders to work, which is why all shooting arcades were built with custom interfaces, encoders and light gun technology that at most would work on another game by the same manufacturer, but there was never a universal gun setup.

Home light guns worked differently and hence the hardware was completely different and the software was encoded to work with this new setup on each successive console. PC's especially have been difficult to create light guns for as you always need to have some kind of sensor bars due to the high refresh rates PC monitors work at. If you really want a light gun rcade then either get a dedicated machine or try something like the LCD Topguns for the PC. Although not perfect they are the best you can expect to play MAME and PC shooters, but don't expect them to work in other emulators and be prepared for a lengthy, head-scratching setup process.

swamprat96 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2009, 10:22:37 pm »

Ok thanks heaps for your help. OK so I've found a Lethal Enforcer 2 jamma board for sale. Based on your advice I am presuming this will work OK in my cab using the same setup? I had Letha1 Enforcers 1

Turnarcades · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2009, 10:33:25 pm »

Possibly. Just found this on another forum:

Code: [Select]

> I read that you can swap a Lethal Enforcers II: The Gunfighters PCB
> into the original Lethal Enforcers cabinet. But according to KLOV the
> original is Standard Res and number 2 is Medium Res.
>
> Anyone familiar? I was going to keep and eye out for a #2 board but
> don't want to waste my time.
>
> - Dave

I went a different route . Started With Police Trainer cab and added
LE1 & LE2 . All play great - minor tweaking of monitor ajd. to happy
medium so guns fire and contrast-brightness look good on all boards .
Once that was done -no more screwing around . Dont remember any dip
setting for mid res monitor on LE2 = not really looking all that bad
displayed on std res . Cab with straight up monitor - no
mirror . mike

Maybe this helps? It suggests it is ok to swap the board for #2 or even Police Trainer, with jus a couple of dip switch changes and monitor balance adjustment. Might be a good candidate for building a multi-pcb rig to have all 3 of these games in there without the need to physically swap the connectors over.

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2009, 11:57:02 am »

Good to see someone is interested in the same thing I am.

I have an original Lethal Enforcers 2 but I bought a the Originial Lethal Enforcers pcb board but never tried to swap them out.

Good to know they are a bit different. I wish they weren't.

Thanks for the info I if i attempt to tackle my one of 12 arcade projects i will post here if i am succesful. If anyone else finds any more info please post

thanks in advance

Goatz18 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2009, 01:22:26 pm »

Zombie Raid for Mame. I happened to stumble across this gem by accident and it can even run on my old P3 800 Mhz. You'd be depriving yourself if you didn't check this one out.

iAtoria · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2009, 01:37:47 pm »

ZOMG I love gun games:

#1 AREA 51 (jaded because it was a childhood favorite)
Max Force Duo (mame)
CarvEvil (mame)
Eggventure (mame kinda lame, but get's challenging later on)
Police Trainer (mame same thing kind of lame, but anything for another shooter right)
House of the Dead 1/2/3 (get the PC version and load on front end better gameplay)
Virtua Cop 1/2 (get PC version)
Lethal Enforcers 1/2 (personally don't have atm, but plan to get soon

For more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_light_gun_games#Arcade

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:55:29 pm »

I know it is an old topic.

But has anyone used the Craig Multijamma switch? I emailed him and not even sure he sells them anymore.

Everywhere I read it seem jamma is a dying breed. Bummer I just fixed all my machines this past thursday.

Wow i forgot how much fun it is to play golden tee 99, Lethal Enforcers 2 and world cup soccer pinball.

Now I just want to add my lethal enforced pcb board to my lethal enforcers 2 cab. I would love to add it and be able to switch back and forth.

But i might be a little to late with this concept.

any advice is always welcome.
b

DJ_Izumi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:55:08 pm »

Solution: Guncon 1's and a PlayStation.

Beretta · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2009, 03:36:00 am »

well personally i think the best 3 light gun games in arcade was..

1. lethal enforcers
2. hogans alley (yes this game still rocks imo)
3. time crisis

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2009, 04:10:29 pm »

At one point, I had planned to use Clay's MultiJAMMA (which is entirely different from the xxxx-in-1 boards that Craig is talking about) for a multi-gun-game cab.

I hadn't got around to working out how I was going to handle the gun harness/compatibility issue -- I never did decide what games I wanted in there. Some of the modern gun games are cool (and I wouldn't count LE among them, although it saw a lot of play when I had it in a cab), but I really hanker for some of the classics (I'm a bit surprised that there isn't more Exidy love!) and adapting them for a multi-cab was going to be a daunting task.

I have since abandoned the concept as I will build a MAME-based multi-gun once we have a decent PC-based gun solution.

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:13:07 pm »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on July 05, 2009, 04:10:29 pm

At one point, I had planned to use Clay's MultiJAMMA (which is entirely different from the xxxx-in-1 boards that Craig is talking about) for a multi-gun-game cab.

I hadn't got around to working out how I was going to handle the gun harness/compatibility issue -- I never did decide what games I wanted in there. Some of the modern gun games are cool (and I wouldn't count LE among them, although it saw a lot of play when I had it in a cab), but I really hanker for some of the classics (I'm a bit surprised that there isn't more Exidy love!) and adapting them for a multi-cab was going to be a daunting task.

I have since abandoned the concept as I will build a MAME-based multi-gun once we have a decent PC-based gun solution.

So a multi gun game cab with the multijamma by craig is probably not going to work.

Might be the reason why I gave up on this a while ago. Bummer. Every casual gamer that comes over loves a gun game. I just wanted to give them more options.

What about the one that Jammaboards.com has? the 6 - 1 with a remote.

http://www.jammaboards.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&watchitem=1&productId=250

probably still not going to work either.

Oh such a bummer

Thanks for the info

Turnarcades · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:20:40 pm »

The issue is with the gun and interface hardware compatibility, so a multi-JAMMA will not solve it as even if you were to connect them up successfully I doubt the gun would work on all the games.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:32:59 pm »

Don't

yet, but this is definitely a project where you need to define in advance what it is that you are trying to do.

You will have the same problems with *ANY* JAMMA-based switching mechanism -- guns (neither optical nor positional) aren't included in the JAMMA spec, so there aren't managed by the switchers. Clay's (you mention Craig, so I'm not sure that we're talking about the same guy/kit) kit does have provisions for "auxiliary" controls, but I don't think they will work nicely. Add to that the complication that not all arcade guns and gun PCBs are compatible and you end up with a very tricky situation. The situation can be managed and there are, at least theoretically, solutions to the problems, but everything depends on what games you want to play.

EDIT: Craig beat me to it ...

For me, the biggest issue is that I would want to play classic games like Cheyenne, Crossbow, Hogan's Alley, Duck Hunt, etc. where the original games aren't JAMMA, the monitors are very different and the guns aren't cross-compatible.

Blech ...

For me, the most interesting opportunity is the Nanotech optical board, but I'm still on the fence in that regard (have enough other projects) and tend to disagree with most of everything that people here have been saying about it. I haven't yet bothered to research the issues that MAME has with the gun games that I want to play, so can't comment there yet.

ivwshane · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:28:55 pm »

Are you guys saying that if I'm using a pc connected to a tv that using a gun for an arcade machine wouldn't work (interface issues aside).

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:05:22 pm »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on July 05, 2009, 06:32:59 pm

Don't yet, but this is definitely a project where you need to define in advance what it is that you are trying to do.

You will have the same problems with *ANY* JAMMA-based switching mechanism -- guns (neither optical nor positional) aren't included in the JAMMA spec, so there aren't managed by the switchers. Clay's (you mention Craig, so I'm not sure that we're talking about the same guy/kit) kit does have provisions for "auxiliary" controls, but I don't think they will work nicely. Add to that the complication that not all arcade guns and gun PCBs are compatible and you end up with a very tricky situation. The situation can be managed and there are, at least theoretically, solutions to the problems, but everything depends on what games you want to play.

EDIT: Craig beat me to it ...

For me, the biggest issue is that I would want to play classic games like Cheyenne, Crossbow, Hogan's Alley, Duck Hunt, etc. where the original games aren't JAMMA, the monitors are very different and the guns aren't cross-compatible.

Blech ...

For me, the most interesting opportunity is the Nanotech optical board, but I'm still on the fence in that regard (have enough other projects) and tend to disagree with most of everything that people here have been saying about it. I haven't yet bothered to research the issues that MAME has with the gun games that I want to play, so can't comment there yet.

Yeah I ment Clayton. Sorry.

Yeah the games i want to put together are these three. Lethal Enforcers 1 and 2 and Police Trainer (maybe not police trainer)

Nothing other than jamma games. I already have the Lethal Enforcers 1 pcb and I have the arcade machine LE 2

studmuff · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2009, 01:40:10 pm »

Gun Games I like in Mame:

Area 51
Lethal Enforcers
VS DuckHunt
VS Hogan's Alley
Maximum Force

Arcade:
House of the Dead, 2, 3

bkenobi · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:21:46 pm »

I've tried a number of times but haven't gotten either Vs Duck Hunt or Vs Hogan's Alley to work. What hoops do you have to jump through to get the game loaded? Also, is there a way to use a saved state to start out in the game so you don't have to go through the Vs select screens?

Beretta · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:39:46 pm »

hogans alley and duck hunt play perfectly in mame from what i can tell..

i think you are confusing VS with players choice.. players choice you could have more then one game in the cabinet, and you selected the game you wanted and played for as long as you had time.. basicly quarters gave you time not credits.

basicly you're paying to play NES version of the game.

the VS is just like any other arcade game.

check mame make sure you're loading the VS version of the game.. all VS games have VS as a prefix so they're at the bottom of the list if you're using mame-UI (32) or a Front end.

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2009, 02:50:48 pm »

Anyone try this?

http://www.nanotechent.com/opti-gun.php

extendedplayarcade · « **Reply #22 on:** July 13, 2009, 02:59:45 pm »

Scratch that last post

I saw it on another thread

sorry guys


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