Virtual Pinball Controls?

[DashRendar]

At some point, I'm going to add controls to allow me to play virtual pinball on my MAME machine.  Yep, one step closer to a frankenpanel.   

Anyway, I assume this is what I'd need-


O Left Bump                                               O Right Bump
 O Left Flipper                                           O Right Flipper

                                                    O Plunger?


I'm wondering what is normally done for the plunger controll.  Is this a special button?  Or is it an actual plunger that interfaces with the PC?

Also, am I missing anything with these controls (besides the normal start and credit buttons)?

[Dazz]

Honestly, I use an optical circuit with a real pinball plunger that I found online from John's Retro Arcade.  It works like a treat.  Unfortunately, I'm re-doing my cabinet and my new screen will not allow for friendly pinball emulation/simulation.  So, all of my pinball inputs are going to be saved and put into my pincab once I get it started shortly.

You may want to ask the guys over on the HyperPin forums what they all use in their cabinets and what their outcome has been.  I've seen it done several different ways.  There are some freaking amazing cabinets posted in our project section...

[DashRendar]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if there was a vendor that had a special plunger control created, or if it was something that requires some tinkering.

I'll take a look at what else I can find out there.  In the meanwhile, if anyone out there has a Virtual Pin cab set up, feel free to share how you did your pinball plunger.

[angryred]

I'm using VP 8, and most of the tables gradually pull back the plunger as you hold down a key, as opposed to some analog setup.  I assigned the plunger to Down on my 4-way joystick.  It's in the general area where the plunger would be, and it feels alright (nice springy release).  The only thing I haven't got set is a forward nudge. Still haven't figured out how best to do that.

[mlalena]

Forward nudge is usually next to the right nudge. Anywhere else and you would never be able to move your hand quick enough.

[wp34]

I was interested in purchasing the one mentioned in this thread -

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=98252.msg1040051#msg1040051

But if you read further down the OP ended up replacing it.  Too bad.  It looks like a nice plug-in-play setup.

[BobA]

You might want to read this thread or search on nanotech

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=97845.0

[mccoy178]

I got everything you need.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=99324.0

[DashRendar]

Thanks Mccoy, but it appears that Nanotech products are something to be avoided...  Shame too, as it looks like they would have been just what the doctor ordered.   

Whoops- called them "bump" buttons.  I meant nudge.  Thanks mlalena for the advice- didn't even think about a forward nudge.

Interesting idea about using a joystick for the plunger pull.  I suppose I could put an actual pinball plunger in for appearances only, and use one of the joysticks on the control panel.  Would need to think about that.

[drventure]

Dude, grab a real plunger off ebay, and just wire up a normal old cherry switch with a roller on it. It's easy, cheap, looks great and works quite well. Maybe not as great as the digital plunger I've seen around, but it's also not 150$ or whatever.

[Dazz]

I'm tellin' ya... This is the way to go if you want to use a real plunger.  http://www.johnsretroarcade.com/hardware_pinball.asp

[drventure]

That's pretty slick. But at the end of the day, it's just an on off switch too.

Here's what mine looks like.



easy, cheap, no soldering, works the same in effect.

I wish there was an easy way to hook a real plunger up to a joystick or pot somehow to get a true "pull back distance" reading, as if you were moving a joystick up and down. Not sure how you might do that though without a completely custom plunger.

[DashRendar]

Drventure, is that a leaf switch I see behind your plunger?

Dazz, I've looked over that.  I guess I was looking for a pre-built solution.  While I have a lot of technical saavy, I haven't played with circuit boards and that type of electronics for a LONG time.  But it looks like most of that stuff can be bought at Radio Shack, so maybe it wouldn't be as hard to go that route.

I would ideally like a plunger control that senses the pull to determine the force of the ball launch.  Dazz's solution seems to emulate that to a degree.