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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: MAME TIME on April 17, 2013, 11:34:18 am

Title: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on April 17, 2013, 11:34:18 am
Hey

I'm planning on putting together a Geo war's theme cab together, but im unsure what type of controls/joystick config we want to go with, joystick(movement) and twister (shooting), dual joysticks.(types of joysticks) Another problem is that the bomb button needs to be almost instantly accessible for obvious reasons. im going to be using a pc possibly with ipac, any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. pic as she sits
(http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq128/mrshplooga/Mississauga-20130417-00363.jpg) (http://s440.photobucket.com/user/mrshplooga/media/Mississauga-20130417-00363.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ChadTower on April 17, 2013, 03:23:57 pm

I'm very interested in what you come up with.  This has always been a favorite of mine and it just screams out for a dedicated cabinet. 

Geometry Wars and Rez are the two that really need to be done this way.

Is the PC version standalone or is it in some sort of container like Steam? 
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ahofle on April 18, 2013, 12:14:48 am
You will definitely want analog sticks like the u360 (http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html (http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html)), no ipac necessary.  Will also be interested in how you handle the bomb button.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on April 18, 2013, 12:39:44 am
Maybe something like a starwars yoke with a thumb stick on one side to control firing direction.  You can still have three separate switches with that configuration and the thumb stick boards do fit inside that handle. 
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ChadTower on April 18, 2013, 10:17:05 am

Star Wars yoke probably isn't fast enough for Geometry Wars. 

Maybe put the bomb button on a pedal?  That would be different.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: CraftyMech on April 18, 2013, 10:34:53 am
Great idea! Loved Gometry Wars on the xBox, took me forever to get the 1,000,000 points achievement on one life.

A dual joystick setup like the Robotron control panel, but with analog sticks would be cool. Plus you'd become a master at Robotron incidentally by playing Geometry Wars.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on April 18, 2013, 11:01:22 am

Star Wars yoke probably isn't fast enough for Geometry Wars. 

Maybe put the bomb button on a pedal?  That would be different.

The axis is kinda off too now that I think through it. How about just a simple flightstick with a hat on the thumb position?
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ChadTower on April 18, 2013, 01:19:56 pm
The axis is kinda off too now that I think through it. How about just a simple flightstick with a hat on the thumb position?


You'd have to make them both flightsticks if you go that way.  Two analog sticks and a bomb button.  Ideally both sticks are the same.  Not all flight sticks have a trigger, I suppose, so you could do one trigger stick and one no trigger.  That would work. 

Using two trigger sticks you'd have to make the CP out of metal for sure and you'd have to have a heavy cabinet.  Flightsticks give a person a lot of leverage to pull forward and believe me people use it.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on April 18, 2013, 01:22:26 pm
Why two? Lots of flight sticks have an analog hat on the face. Do you need two? Serious question.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ChadTower on April 18, 2013, 01:37:40 pm

Geometry Wars is a dual analog stick game.  Usually done with dual thumbsticks on a console controller.  Think Robotron with analog sticks and a single button for "nuke 'em all" bombs.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: dgame on April 18, 2013, 02:07:47 pm
Mod one of these in for the Bomb:
(http://media.techeblog.com/images/laserscope.jpg)

But seriously the pedal idea was the first thing that came to mind for the Bomb.

I wonder how it would play. Could be useful for Battlezone and other dual stick one button games.

I have racing pedals so eventually I will be able to try it myself.

Nice project!

Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on April 18, 2013, 02:17:13 pm
The thrustmaster 16000 is a HAL stick with 4 axes. $40. I've been looking at getting one, should have enough axes to run the game one handedly.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ChadTower on April 18, 2013, 02:25:32 pm
should have enough axes to run the game one handedly.


(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3643/3460737667_275fbf91ee.jpg)

Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Vigo on April 18, 2013, 02:30:30 pm
Just because the flightsticks I have used in the past feel a bit too sloppy for me, I'd probably mod a couple 360s instead. I'd opt for topfire buttons instead of triggers since it is a secondary weapon, and I would most likely put a button on each stick having them both do the same thing.

I'd gut something like their old quickshot joystick for the grips, because i don't know any modern grips without a trigger button.

(http://www.c64-wiki.com/images/thumb/1/15/Quickshot_I.jpg/417px-Quickshot_I.jpg)

I know im not suggesting the easy route.  :D
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on April 18, 2013, 04:38:50 pm
I was thinking of dual u360 with a bomb button or a peddle of sorts , i did however stumble on the mini grip sticks that Andy has on the website, looks like they have a short throw (4.5 inches) and have buttons on the top. Has anyone used them? Any good? what about those top fire joysticks that happs sells, i think they have 2 models? the shaft seems high on them, im just wondering if it would affect the game play, wont be as tight?
Title: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on April 18, 2013, 04:48:19 pm
+1 on the pedal.  You can simply wire it up to an Ipac.

As far as the Geo Wars game goes, there is a hacked "standalone" version out there. I ended up buying the Steam version to make me feel better. But I use the hacked version.

D
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: drventure on April 18, 2013, 05:11:23 pm
I grabbed a copy of Grid Wars before Incinitti had to take it down. Really good clone, but the real Geo wars is definitely far flashier.

It would look great on a cab like this as well.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Gray_Area on April 18, 2013, 07:57:56 pm
I don't think these games have that close of graphics precision and all to merit anything fancy. Try a couple flightsticks, probly do ya just fine.
Title: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on April 19, 2013, 10:43:46 am
+1 on the "Grid Wars" game clone.  I have that running on my cab as well and it's just as fun.

D
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on July 25, 2013, 03:23:06 pm
i'm horrible with updates, you know life gets in the way right  ;) Geo wars retro-fied if you will

Hopefully get it done shortly
(http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq128/mrshplooga/Mississauga-20130725-00642.jpg) (http://s440.photobucket.com/user/mrshplooga/media/Mississauga-20130725-00642.jpg.html)
(http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq128/mrshplooga/Mississauga-20130725-00644.jpg) (http://s440.photobucket.com/user/mrshplooga/media/Mississauga-20130725-00644.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: ahofle on July 26, 2013, 10:42:30 pm
That is so frickin cool.  :applaud:
Looks like you opted for the pedal idea then?

I just read Le Chuck's idea of using a single stick with an analog hat for firing...that actually sounds like a good idea.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: drventure on July 26, 2013, 11:06:45 pm
I just read Le Chuck's idea of using a single stick with an analog hat for firing...that actually sounds like a good idea.

That games tough enough with 2 sticks! But I love the idea anyway.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on July 27, 2013, 12:47:00 pm
Yeah the pedal just made sense to me, I modified a virtual cop pedal to the cab. It was hard finding the right pedal , because you want to be able to rest you foot on an angle for long periods of time. The end result will be 2 xU360's and the pedal, I'll check into that top hat idea though, sounds interesting
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: opt2not on July 27, 2013, 03:33:08 pm
This is looking great! Can't wait to see it all finished.   :applaud:
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on July 28, 2013, 10:32:30 pm
Yes, looks Good!  Keep us updated!

DeLuSioNaL29
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: rockyrocket on July 29, 2013, 02:21:28 am
Can you play it with a stick and spinner mad planets style?.
Edit - have had time to try it myself, so to answer my own question - no you can not.
With the mouse only having the one axis, rotating the mouse makes you fire left or right and not in rotation around your ship.
I can not think of a way to make this happen with xpadder or the like so thats that idea dead then :) .
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Generic Eric on July 29, 2013, 10:23:20 pm
That side art is nice! 
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on August 22, 2013, 02:58:28 pm
Crappy vid to boot, still needs some finishing touches though, t-molding on the CP and chaning up the color of the buttons and ball top,
Geometry wars Arcade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrhp8DwB3hs#)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on August 22, 2013, 03:31:44 pm
Looks great!

A few questions:
-  Does the game directly boot?
-  Did you end up using the standalone version of Geometry Wars (non-Steam)
-  Are any other games built in?
-  Do you have a front end running to choose which game to play?

DeLuSioNaL29
Title: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Well Fed Games on August 22, 2013, 03:33:49 pm
That is beautiful! Nicely done!
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: drventure on August 22, 2013, 04:02:25 pm
Very nicely done!  :applaud:
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: opt2not on August 22, 2013, 04:05:10 pm
Hey it turned out really nice! :applaud:

Any chance I can get a few nice pictures of the cabinet for my records?

If anyone is interested, here's a quick animated gif of the process the side-art went through -- from initial rough sketches, to the vectored coloured final:
(http://i.imgur.com/tJlXCDu.gif)


Nice job MAME TIME!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on August 22, 2013, 09:38:54 pm
Looks great!

A few questions:
-  Does the game directly boot? (Yes)
-  Did you end up using the standalone version of Geometry Wars (non-Steam) (Yes)
-  Are any other games built in? I have grid wars and echos that im playing around with as well, looking to get waves installed if I can find it
-  Do you have a front end running to choose which game to play? (no not at the moment)

DeLuSioNaL29

Thx again Bryan for helping out with the art, it came together even better then initially thought
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: SORHP on June 16, 2015, 01:26:05 am
Looks great!

A few questions:
-  Does the game directly boot?
-  Did you end up using the standalone version of Geometry Wars (non-Steam)
-  Are any other games built in?
-  Do you have a front end running to choose which game to play?

DeLuSioNaL29

I know I'm dragging up an old thread, but im getting after building ... Ok , making a multi out of my robotron cabinet and trying to do basically the same thing ... And I'd really like the questions here answered...

Also, geometry wars 3 was released on pc... Wanna update your setup too?

And pray for geo wars 2 on pc:)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: bulbousbeard on June 16, 2015, 01:36:40 am
Seems like it'd make sense to put Smash TV, Total Carnage, and Robotron on there too, no?

Is Geometry Wars an analog game? Are those optical joysticks?
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on June 16, 2015, 08:42:14 am
GW is analog.

Initially he used digital but found a lot of dead space in the game play so updated to dual pot analog sticks like are found in SW Trilogy using a Kade+ as the interface.



Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: RetroGreg on June 16, 2015, 06:09:32 pm
GW is analog.

Initially he used digital but found a lot of dead space in the game play so updated to dual pot analog sticks like are found in SW Trilogy using a Kade+ as the interface.

Just to make sure I get this - he swapped out the u360's for different sticks to work with the kade?

Thanks  :cheers:
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on June 16, 2015, 08:10:08 pm
GW is analog.

Initially he used digital but found a lot of dead space in the game play so updated to dual pot analog sticks like are found in SW Trilogy using a Kade+ as the interface.

Just to make sure I get this - he swapped out the u360's for different sticks to work with the kade?

Thanks  :cheers:

Ref thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137361.msg1416883.html#msg1416883 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137361.msg1416883.html#msg1416883)

Geometry Wars won't recognize two 360s so it wasn't a viable solution, that's why we switched over to the kade+ since it has multiple axis support (4 in this case).  I built the replacement panel for him. 
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: RetroGreg on June 16, 2015, 08:12:49 pm
Thanks! I thought this was the only thread. I'll read it all tonight. I'm definitely interested in seeing how it was done. Geometry wars has to be one of my favorite games.  ;D
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Le Chuck on June 16, 2015, 08:17:15 pm
Thanks! I thought this was the only thread. I'll read it all tonight. I'm definitely interested in seeing how it was done. Geometry wars has to be one of my favorite games.  ;D
Well the short version is that I used two analog sticks off fleabay, put fresh pots on them and wired it up to the microavr using the same hex from Sharpfork that I used in M's foot controller and my yoke+.  Then it's a simple job to adjust the deadspace in the windows utility and you're off to the races.  I didn't do a build thread on the CP as it was MameTime's and Opt's art but if you have any questions just let me know.

You could use a gamepad hack instead of the kade+ avr (which are somewhat hard to get right now I think), but you still have to come up with those analog sticks.   
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: RetroGreg on June 16, 2015, 08:19:14 pm
Thanks! I thought this was the only thread. I'll read it all tonight. I'm definitely interested in seeing how it was done. Geometry wars has to be one of my favorite games.  ;D
Well the short version is that I used two analog sticks off fleabay, put fresh pots on them and wired it up to the microavr using the same hex from Sharpfork that I used in M's foot controller and my yoke+.  Then it's a simple job to adjust the deadspace in the windows utility and you're off to the races.  I didn't do a build thread on the CP as it was MameTime's and Opt's art but if you have any questions just let me know.

Thanks. I appreciate it!
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: 8BitMonk on June 16, 2015, 08:47:29 pm
If you like twin stick shooters and Geometry Wars you should check out WAVES. It'd be a great addition to a cab like this though it takes two buttons/pedals, one to bomb and one to slow time.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/107600/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/107600/)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: RetroGreg on June 16, 2015, 10:48:45 pm
If you like twin stick shooters and Geometry Wars you should check out WAVES. It'd be a great addition to a cab like this though it takes two buttons/pedals, one to bomb and one to slow time.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/107600/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/107600/)

Thanks! I think I have Waves on Steam, but I'll have to check. Steam sales get so crazy sometimes I tried to buy games I already have a couple times haha. I have a lot of twin stick shooters on there though so it would be awesome to get a setup like this.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on October 07, 2015, 11:41:59 pm
thanks for bumping my old thread I actually have an update, its just a general info vid regarding the analog setup. full credit goes to chuck for the panel setup and I really appreciate the community that helped me out on this build, I'm just rapping up the build as we speak and hopefully have an update shortly
 old vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrhp8DwB3hs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrhp8DwB3hs)

update
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I_jYs5F76A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I_jYs5F76A)
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: SORHP on October 08, 2015, 12:58:25 am
Thanks for the update video, I think you might have a williams cabinet???

I plan to use analog sticks as well, I bought a set of Naomi sticks with adjustable pots, I plan to wire them into an Xbox 360 pad, time will tell,  it will be a bit before I can get to mine... I will be using an original robotron cabinet, and it will keep the robotron Art , cross fingers that the control panel works well.

Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: opt2not on October 08, 2015, 01:46:50 am
Yeeeeeeah! Awesome update man!  :applaud:
Nice to see the cabinet again.  Any chance you can post some photos of it when it's done?
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: johnrt on October 08, 2015, 07:30:05 am
Ok, so now I want a Geometry Wars cab. Man, that looks cool! Great job btw.  :applaud:
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on October 08, 2015, 08:45:47 am
What about Dominux sticks by GroovyGameGear.com?  (Leaf switches). They work awesome in my Total Carnage / Smash TV build.

Took them to an expo last week and people loved them.
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: SORHP on October 08, 2015, 09:21:34 am
Geometry wars desperately needs analog sticks, everything else is useless
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on October 08, 2015, 12:20:49 pm
Hey Brian when things get wrapped up I'll shoot you over some pics, as for the leaf stick option the only issue with that is when you hit the direction the ship goes from a Stand still to full throttle were the analog you can can control the throttle of the ship, when I had the other setup (micro switch) the ship was at full speed and it was difficult to maneuver through the tight spots or make sudden turns not to mention I couldn't shoot the full 360, I just configured the joysticks with geometry wars 3 and it plays great but the game requires 2 buttons, a special move button and a bomb button so will see about that!
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: mameshane on October 08, 2015, 10:32:48 pm
awesome job. makes me want one!

Sent from my HTC_0P6B using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on October 09, 2015, 09:33:35 am
I just configured the joysticks with geometry wars 3 and it plays great but the game requires 2 buttons, a special move button and a bomb button so will see about that!
I'm glad you brought that up!  I was thinking about getting the new version of the game out of pure curiosity.  And now another button?!  It's hard enough to hit bomb (which you have solved with a pedal).  For $14.99 I may pass until it comes down in price.  Do you have any idea if GW3 supports 640 x 480 or 800 x 600 4:3 resolutions?

Thanks and can't wait to see the update!

DeL
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: MAME TIME on October 09, 2015, 01:49:25 pm
Yeah with the introduction of the new special button in GW3 it could pose an issue for controls, maybe another pedal lol. The game supports 320x200 to 1920x1080, I don't see an option to switch to 4:3,
Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: Nimbus on November 01, 2015, 01:26:37 am
MAME TIME, i just watched your Youtube video. In your video, you asked what cabinet you have. It is a Star Castle cabinet:

(http://www.biltronix.com/images/star_castle/as_purchased/star_castle_as_purchased_02.jpg)

(http://www.biltronix.com/images/star_castle/as_purchased/star_castle_as_purchased_01.jpg)

I am building a Geometry Wars dedicated cabinet too. Thanks for putting out the info about the joysticks. That will save me a lot of time and headaches.

Nice build!! looking forward to more updates.  :applaud:

Title: Re: Geometry wars dedicated cab!! Questions
Post by: SORHP on November 17, 2015, 01:57:02 am

Thanks! I thought this was the only thread. I'll read it all tonight. I'm definitely interested in seeing how it was done. Geometry wars has to be one of my favorite games.  ;D
Well the short version is that I used two analog sticks off fleabay, put fresh pots on them and wired it up to the microavr using the same hex from Sharpfork that I used in M's foot controller and my yoke+.  Then it's a simple job to adjust the deadspace in the windows utility and you're off to the races.  I didn't do a build thread on the CP as it was MameTime's and Opt's art but if you have any questions just let me know.

You could use a gamepad hack instead of the kade+ avr (which are somewhat hard to get right now I think), but you still have to come up with those analog sticks.

Any possibility of showing which joys you used from theBay?