Author Topic: Its Here: Ultimarc AimTrak Light Gun Module (Read 185660 times)

Epyx · « **Reply #40 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:57:55 pm »

Quote

Question for Andy. Will this interface work with Area 51 guns? I have a couple sitting in my garage.

From my understanding...he is providing the guts and you provide the frame (until Ulti's proto is ready) so just take the area 51 guts out and replace with this.

Picture on his site shows this in detail.

shardian · « **Reply #41 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:02:57 pm »

I would like to see a video presentation. Do you have anything like this Andy?

KonkeyKong · « **Reply #42 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:12:35 pm »

this is too sweet! I do a lot of Nerf Gun modding as well, my head is reeling with possibilities!!

drventure · « **Reply #43 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:16:32 pm »

@konkey
You have any pics up? I thought I had posted a few a while back but I can't find them, so I'm probably just dreaming it.

But if I could make this gizmo wireless, I'd definitely be looking into a Maverick mod (or two

KonkeyKong · « **Reply #44 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:22:57 pm »

sorry, no pics yet, but I've got a couple Recon shells practically begging for this module. Nightfinders might also be great, especially at only 7 bucks a pop.

isucamper · « **Reply #45 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:23:12 pm »

Andy. You are my hero.

AndyWarne · « **Reply #46 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:52:40 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on September 17, 2009, 03:05:19 pm

Question for Andy. Will this interface work with Area 51 guns? I have a couple sitting in my garage.

Thanks!

DeLuSioNaL29

Umm well its not actually an interface. Its a complete module. As to whether it will fit inside the gun, I think all arcade guns should have a large enough barrel.

Epyx · « **Reply #47 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:55:05 pm »

Basically with what Andy is providing you could palm an arcade button (triggered with your thumb) that is wired to the gun portion of the interface and tape it around your hand for a gun on the cheap

Or build/use a shell that looks decent...

AndyWarne · « **Reply #48 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:57:34 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on September 17, 2009, 03:16:59 pm

I was also wondering about the off-screen reload and how it's handled...

Good question. Actually its not physically possible to move a mouse pointer outside the screen co-ordinates so I have no idea how this works. I can only assume it really means reload is "very near the edge of the screen".
Basically it should work if a mouse works. But if there is any special change needed the firmware is upgradeable so I can make changes if required. In fact to be honest I would expect tweaks will be needed as it the case with all new products.
I agree a video would be a great idea. I will look at this possibility.

On the subject of multiple guns, all guns will control the same mouse pointer, but software which reads the devices using DirectInput is able to read each device independently. Mame can do this.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #49 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:07:02 pm »

Finally took the time to read the whole page for this new product and I'm flipping out wanting one (or two!). Sounds like you might have a winner, Andy.

isucamper · « **Reply #50 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:12:07 pm »

Ok. So it works behind glass. Does it work behind smoked glass?

KonkeyKong · « **Reply #51 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:13:19 pm »

Just for reference in this thread...

How many mice will Xp or MAME support? I've already got 2 U360's and a USB trackball. Will I be able to add 2 AimTraks?

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #52 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:13:26 pm »

Quote from: isucamper on September 17, 2009, 05:12:07 pm

Ok. So it works behind glass. Does it work behind smoked glass?

From the Ultimarc site:

IR Gain
This setting controls the "brightness" of the internal IR sensor. Normally this can be left alone because the gain is automatically set, but you can disable automatic gain control by checking the Disable checkbox.
When automatic gain control is disabled, you can set the gain to one of 5 values with the slider. There are very few situations where you may need to do this, but one such configuration might be where the LED PCB is located behind a tinted glass screen. In this case the gain might need to be increased.
If the Disable checkbox is checked, the slider still functions but will be over-ridden during use. In auto mode the slider moves on its own.

Epyx · « **Reply #53 on:** September 17, 2009, 06:19:27 pm »

@KonkeyKong

You seen this?

http://www.weeklygeekshow.com/2007/09/how_to_make_a_kick_ass_steampu.php

I like the look of this and shouldn't be too difficult to convert for lightgun requirements. I could see this on the No#18 Arqadium project

Sir Headless VII · « **Reply #54 on:** September 17, 2009, 06:41:11 pm »

So this will work with a terminator style game?

Encryptor · « **Reply #55 on:** September 17, 2009, 06:45:13 pm »

Quote from: Epyx on September 17, 2009, 06:19:27 pm

@KonkeyKong

You seen this?

http://www.weeklygeekshow.com/2007/09/how_to_make_a_kick_ass_steampu.php

I like the look of this and shouldn't be too difficult to convert for lightgun requirements. I could see this on the No#18 Arqadium project

That is pretty sweet!

Encryptor

bradx · « **Reply #56 on:** September 17, 2009, 07:16:45 pm »

-----oops---wrong thread------

Bender · « **Reply #57 on:** September 17, 2009, 07:33:11 pm »

Ahh, so cool

So many possibilities!

damn, one more project to add to the list!

Haterot · « **Reply #58 on:** September 17, 2009, 07:37:56 pm »

ah sheesh i just got a DHL package form you yesterday! Gotta put in another order!

Turnarcades · « **Reply #59 on:** September 17, 2009, 07:52:53 pm »

Absolutely ---smurfing--- sweet, that's all there is to it. Just the other day I was trawling your thread which was putting the feelers out about what the community wanted from a light gun. Being Ultimarc, we knew we would be listened to and I suspected you would not have asked if you weren't already working on something...

I've personally been waiting on this since my LCD TopGuns proved a bit pants and I think this couldbe the light gun grail everyone has been hoping for. Assuming everything works as stated, a bit of DIY demand is the least to expect for some working technology at last, plus opens the product up to so many light gun game fans as they can pick their own shells for the technology.

Personally this bit was the icing on the cake for me:

Quote

We are working on a complete gun. The CAD is being done at the moment for the gun body, which will be similar in size and shape to the original PS1 Guncon. Actually the older Guncons are great for this and we did all testing using these gun bodies

This is fantastic newsas I personally believe the original GunCon's were simply the best gun design ever and were coupled with some of the best light gun games ever (Time Crisis and Point Blank) so this is exactly what I will be doing. My GunCons have been sat doing nothing since my first TV-based arcade cabinet was sold, where I ran them with a PS1. Now they'll be stripped down and re-fitted with these beauties so I can at last play all the sequels like Zero Point etc. in MAME.

I'm hoping eventually you could run a few 'complete gun' options to replicate the most popular arcade gun designs, so most people have an'off the shelf' solution. I'd love to see a proper arcade G-Con replica with a working integrated recoil. (Hint Hint)

I get the feeling in the coming weeks you'll see a load of actlabs, topguns and other stuff flood ebay as community members sell up to replace them with these! This is great news for me as I have been waiting for an excuse to build a dedicated light gun cab. Watch this space!

Dizzle · « **Reply #60 on:** September 17, 2009, 08:29:11 pm »

Awesome. Simply awesome.

Was about to place another order anyway so this is perfect timing. Wish I waited a couple of months before I plunked down the cash for two Topgun IIs. I just hope Andy has stocked up on these. I'm anxious to see the kind of mods the community comes up with.

drventure · « **Reply #61 on:** September 17, 2009, 08:36:14 pm »

@epyx

Here's a quick pic of the two guns I put together about a year back. My intent was to put a wiimote into something like them, but I went ahead and built these just because I wanted to try my hand at it.

When I do a real mame gun conversion, I don't think I'd be using real glass test tubes as part of the kit bashing

And this ultimarc board would be a LOT easier to integrate.

I am SO on this!

Turnarcades · « **Reply #62 on:** September 17, 2009, 08:39:22 pm »

Dude your cab looks straight outta a theme park install -it's pretty funky, if a little garish.

drventure · « **Reply #63 on:** September 17, 2009, 09:10:42 pm »

@Turnarcades

Thanks! That pic doesn't really do it justice. It looks a lot more subdued in real life. And it folds down into a completely normal looking antique buffet, so the garishness is limited to only when I open it up.

You oughta see it with the AudioMetric Projection System lit up

Epyx · « **Reply #64 on:** September 17, 2009, 09:27:40 pm »

Yep gonna order one of these kits from Ultimarc next payday what a nice piece of Tech from Andy.

@drventure

Nice! You gotta document that part in your project when you get to it

severdhed · « **Reply #65 on:** September 17, 2009, 10:03:12 pm »

this is awesome news. i dont have the money to order them now, which kinda sucks, but at least by the time i do, i'm assuming that a few of you will have already bought them and will have hopefully written up a nice review on how awesome they are.

i guess it gives me plenty of time to find some good gun shells to use...but now i'm torn on what to buy first, these gun kits, or the stuff i need for my DK cabinet....

at least i dont have to worry about trying to find room for a dedicated gun cabinet now, i can add these to my existing LCD mame cab.

thank you andy, you rock.

Bender · « **Reply #66 on:** September 17, 2009, 10:43:26 pm »

Quote from: drventure on September 17, 2009, 08:36:14 pm

When I do a real mame gun conversion, I don't think I'd be using real glass test tubes as part of the kit bashing

And this ultimarc board would be a LOT easier to integrate.

I am SO on this!

you've been hiding those cause you knew I'd beg you for a pair

Seriously with this news it feels like Xmas!!! already!!!

Garish..... are you kidding me that thing is BAD ASSED! plain and simple!

DiskTwo · « **Reply #67 on:** September 17, 2009, 10:45:40 pm »

Just wanted to post and say Thanks. You can definitely expect an order of 2 from me very soon.

Out of curiosity. It looks as though the button connects by a quick disconnect. I havnt opened many light guns, or guns of any kind, so this may be a dumb question... do most gun triggers work off of a microswitch type connection? How could you connect this to say an airsoft gun? connect the QD to a microswitch and aim the button of the switch to where the trigger taps it?

Sorry I know thats probably a stupid question, but ive never really cracked open any guns.. arcade or otherwise.

romshark · « **Reply #68 on:** September 17, 2009, 11:54:44 pm »

I''ve opened a Naomi gun, and they use microswitches. Smaller than what is used in most standard pushbuttons, but still a microswitch. In fact, the Confidential Mission manual states that a spare microswitch is included and how to replace it, so it must have quick disconnects of some sort.

I also realized earlier today that this may allow for portable light-gun fun. Just find some way to safely mount the board on top of my laptop screen (some sort of clip-on housing), plug in the two USB cables, and instant Area 51 or Duck Hunt, anytime, anywhere.

wbassett · « **Reply #69 on:** September 18, 2009, 01:10:58 am »

SWEET!

I'm down and out for a couple months due to bypass surgery and come back to see this! Someone pinch me!!!!

Anyone know of any USB Wireless dongles??!

ivwshane · « **Reply #70 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:45:04 am »

Sweet!!

Please! Whoever gets this up and running first please post a thread with pics and a video!

ZeroPoint · « **Reply #71 on:** September 18, 2009, 06:41:08 am »

The off-screen reload function:

When the camera is tracking, it sends normal (fire) button when pulling the trigger.

When the camera see no IR light (not tracking), send another button (assigned as reload) when pulling the trigger.

In mame:

-[no]offscreen_reload / -[no]reload

Controls whether or not MAME treats a second button input from a
lightgun as a reload signal. In this case, MAME will report the gun's
position as (0,MAX) with the trigger held, which is equivalent to an
offscreen reload. This is only needed for games that required you to
shoot offscreen to reload, and then only if your gun does not support
off screen reloads. The default is OFF (-nooffscreen_reload).

About two players in HOD etc.:

I would guess that "troubleshooter" would work with this, but I do not know (can´t remember) if it requires more than two mouse buttons.

AndyWarne · « **Reply #72 on:** September 18, 2009, 07:24:51 am »

Quote from: ZeroPoint on September 18, 2009, 06:41:08 am

The off-screen reload function:

When the camera is tracking, it sends normal (fire) button when pulling the trigger.

When the camera see no IR light (not tracking), send another button (assigned as reload) when pulling the trigger.

I will need to think about this. At the moment when the gun is pointed off-screen it sends no mouse data at all. Relistically it cant send data when off screen, otherwise the PC would be impossible to use because the gun would control the mouse at all times so the normal mouse would not work, it would be locked in position.

When off-screen it would still send the button signal if the trigger is defined as a gamepad button as opposed to mouse button.

AndyWarne · « **Reply #73 on:** September 18, 2009, 07:52:05 am »

I implemented a change which should work for off-screen reload. When off screen, the gun sends co-ords of (0,max) but only sends when the trigger is pulled, so that it does not interfere with the PC mouse when off-screen.

This will go in the first version as we wont be sending out any until Monday.

Andy

drone · « **Reply #74 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:31:37 am »

Andy,

This is fantastic - thank you so much for developing this!

One question. I have 2 Namco recoil guns I'm willing to convert. Any ideas on how the recoil function could be supported with something like this?

Jim

Paladin · « **Reply #75 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:02:51 am »

Fantastic news! I never bothered with a light gun after reading so many threads that made it just seem like a headache to set up.

Off topic I know, but after reading the product description on the web I had to mention how much I love some of the different terms used 'over the pond'.

UK: foam draught excluder
US: beer seal

Turnarcades · « **Reply #76 on:** September 18, 2009, 10:39:54 am »

Quote from: drone on September 18, 2009, 08:31:37 am

Andy,

This is fantastic - thank you so much for developing this!

One question. I have 2 Namco recoil guns I'm willing to convert. Any ideas on how the recoil function could be supported with something like this?

Jim

I thought about this as well. I guess you could feed a second USB cable twined with the other one to power the recoil function, and link it into the trigger so the trigger pulse makes the recoil kick back. I would say splice into the USB cable and power the recoil function from there, but I imagine the camera would not get sufficient power this way.

bkenobi · « **Reply #77 on:** September 18, 2009, 11:01:40 am »

Many current light guns (I'm primarily thinking GunCon and WiiMote) have 2 or more buttons. I see that there's only 4 contacts that connect this board to the PC, so I'm curious if multiple buttons could be implemented? I'm thinking it might be nice to have a button for second trigger and maybe manual reload. Some games let you shoot a grenade with a secondary trigger for instance. Anyway, awesome product as is!

Epyx · « **Reply #78 on:** September 18, 2009, 11:06:05 am »

This has support for 6 buttons...not sure what you mean?

Quote

Trigger plus 6 other buttons can be defined as gamepad or mouse buttons

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #79 on:** September 18, 2009, 11:20:30 am »

Quote from: Epyx on September 18, 2009, 11:06:05 am

This has support for 6 buttons...not sure what you mean?

Quote
Trigger plus 6 other buttons can be defined as gamepad or mouse buttons

P1 - P5, so maybe that's supposed to be six total.


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