Has anyone attempted to build an "Ice Cold Beer" / "Zeke's Peak"

[spauldingd]

I've seen some amazing cabinet and Skee-ball builds in these forums, but I was wondering if anyone had ever attempted to build an Ice Cold Beer machine.  While challenging, I think it would be easier than a Skee-ball build but obviously harder than a regular cab.  It might even be fun to attempt an all mechanical build using hand-cranks and pulleys but part of the fun is the time limits and electronic scoring.

When I first started thinking about this I wondered if the game could be emulated using either the Virtual Pinball or Future Pinball engines, but I didn't get too far as neither seemed to be well suited for the task.  I found a program that did a fair job of emulating the game and it was fun, but as a Windows program (running in a window) it wouldn't work well in an arcade cab.  I think using a pair of joysticks on a MAME cab would be perfect for controlling the game and a Future Pinball like physics engine should make something like this possible.

Any thoughts?

[(+_+)]

Zeke's Peak. I remember that contraption. I always thought it was a neat game. The only downside is you'd be locked into that game only. If you have the room,
go for it.

[Xiaou2]

 I think the problem is that there is quite a bit of complex logic involved in that
game.  It would probably cost twice as much to build a replica than to pick
an actual machine up.

 For example, if you get the ball in the wrong hole... the game will auto-move
both motors back to the start point, reset the time, remove a ball count, play a tune,
and more.

 Would be cool if there were some easy windows programmable motor/ solenoid
controllers.But, for now, it seems you have to be a real brainiac in electronics &
programming to build something of that nature.

[spauldingd]

All true.  I think the switches and motors could be controlled by an Arduino or some such controller, but I don't think an Arduino would be up to the task of the game logic, timing and scoring.

All of that complexity had me thinking a software emulation would make more sense, but would not nearly be as much fun to build or to play.  If done well, it would benefit anyone with a MAME cabinet that wants to play a simulation of the game on their cab.

[HanoiBoi]

I also recently came across a windows simulation that is similar to Zeke's Peak and Ice Cold Beer.  It's titled Mount Neverest.  While it's fun for a few times, what they really missed out on is the sizing of the holes versus the ball.  When the ball is close (but truly wouldn't fit in while sitting on the bar), it still gets sucked in.

I'd love to see this simulated nicely in MAME.  Zeke's Peak is the one I'm familiar with, and never saw Ice Cold Beer (the game, of course).

[spauldingd]

I also recently came across a windows simulation that is similar to Zeke's Peak and Ice Cold Beer.  It's titled Mount Neverest.  While it's fun for a few times, what they really missed out on is the sizing of the holes versus the ball. 

That is the one I found as well.  I was able to contact the developer that wrote it.  He said he no longer had the source code as it was lost due to a system failure.  He described how he wrote it and his memories of playing Ice Cold Beer back in the 80's with his brother.  It was great of him to respond to my simple inquiry with a long and detailed response.  Its too bad the source was lost as I think it would have made a good base to build from.

He did say that he thought it would go fullscreen if you hit F4, but I haven't tested that.  Mapping the keys is what really needs to happen in addition to the gameplay issues you mention.

Dave in Des Moines

[Xiaou2]

 Well, its not merely the size... its the fact that a ball is 3d SPHERE... and the 2d game did
not consider that factor.

 A spheres contact on the backboard is merely a small point in the center.  Once you
go past that point, the surface of the ball is then contacting at a different surface point,
and the ball easily falls into the nearby hole.

 Think bowling ball on a ledge.  Once its past the center point (more than half way over
the ledge) , it will no longer be balanced, and will roll off the ledge.

 Maybe Future Pinball supports full 3d sphere detection?  If not, then maybe you might
look into something like Blitz Basic 3D.

 
Some interesting Facts:

1) On the real game... a big problem is Dirt/Dust.   A small flake can cause the ball to
get hung on on the leveling bar.  It can also slow down the ball travel (easier game)
and or cause erratic unwanted movement.

 Being that the game has a huge complex pathway system in the rear, a Lot of crud
accumulates in there.  The only way to get the game working well, is to tear the entire
game down and clean every surface.  The rear assembly needs about 50 screws
undone to get it off! 

2) The game is stupid hard... UNTIL you figure out the trick.  Which is basically to
use both sticks at the same time.  IE: Push one stick up, while pushing the other
stick down.  (helps to keep the bar from tilting too much)  Or pressing both sticks up
or down at the same time... making a perfectly level travel.

 The game then become almost too easy.  Its still a challenge.. especially when you
get higher up... or are impatiently trying to rush, to get a good time/score.

3) Another issue with them tends to be the Bar assembly itself.  The joints tend to get
worn and loose.. and do not function properly anymore.  I had to rebuild mine.  I luckily
found the proper sized tubing that worked out perfectly.

4) The belts are often destroyed due to old age. Cracked/brittle and they slip. They
can be replaced with windsheild washer hose from an automobile store.  I used
cableties to mend the ends together.

5) Being mechanical, the micro-leaf limit switches can be hard to keep in-check. 
Needed adjustment every so often.

[Nephasth]

I think using a pair of joysticks on a MAME cab would be perfect for controlling the game and a Future Pinball like physics engine should make something like this possible.

Any thoughts?

I'd love to see this simulated nicely in MAME.  Zeke's Peak is the one I'm familiar with, and never saw Ice Cold Beer (the game, of course).

Bumping this just because I was thinking about how awesome it would be to have ICB emulated in a MAME set up today...

[Haze]

I think using a pair of joysticks on a MAME cab would be perfect for controlling the game and a Future Pinball like physics engine should make something like this possible.

Any thoughts?

I'd love to see this simulated nicely in MAME.  Zeke's Peak is the one I'm familiar with, and never saw Ice Cold Beer (the game, of course).

Bumping this just because I was thinking about how awesome it would be to have ICB emulated in a MAME set up today...

With the recent inclusion of a large amount of mechanical stuff it's feasible that the actual code for the games could be emulated in MAME, just as some pinballs etc. are.

It wouldn't do much on it's own, and you'd still need a simulator for the physical side of the game, or hook the whole thing up to an actual physical piece of hardware using MAMEhooker (which might need some improvements in the process) but yeah, running the actual code to be hooked up to another simulation isn't really out of the question.

[Nephasth]

I think these would look quite nice played on a large vertical monitor. Wish I had some programming skills...

[SavannahLion]

Ah.... I wondered why X's controller comment seemed out of place in a day when GGG offered an I/O board that should fit the bill nicely or a teensy could be had for less than $20 and has enough horse power and I/O to do everything necessary.

[compute]

How is visual pinball not up to the task?  When I used to use it, I had at least 3 shooting galleries.  If it can do a shooting gallery, I think it could handle a ball game.