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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: deadmoney5 on August 13, 2005, 01:02:29 am

Title: light guns
Post by: deadmoney5 on August 13, 2005, 01:02:29 am
OK I'm officially confused..

I've read through most of the 15 page thread about the Guncom2 drivers and using them in Mame...

I came to the conclusion that, since I use "S" video to my tv, the Guncom2 might not me my best option...since I would be degrading the signal..

So now I'm thinking of getting the new Act Labs gun...is it out yet?
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: nickbuol on August 13, 2005, 01:46:33 am
Welcome to the club.  I am still convinced that the GunCon2 stuff, while awesome and making great progress, is not for the average person.  Still too many variables and still too many unsuccessful install attempts to really push me to try it yet.

Not slamming it, I am just as excited as the next guy about that project working, and the people that are taking the time and money to create the code and buy the guns, and test things out should get a big thank you from everyone, I just don't want to spend the time and money to find out that I didn't factor in some aspect and end up with useless hardware or waste too much time to get a few lightgun games working.

Instead, I am putting a Dreamcast into my cabinet.  I already had one with a whole bunch of controllers, including light guns, and the MAME PC will use S-Video, and my Dreamcast will be RCA Composite, so they will both plug in easily to my TV and give me light gun support.  Not as nice as having 1 system, but it will work until the GunCon stuff gets a little more developed.
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: spiffyshoes on August 13, 2005, 05:57:20 am
Why Dreamcast?  It only has like 2 light gun games plus NES emu.  Has some one come up with some way to use DreamCast light guns with a PC?  Your still just useing an RCA signal for your dreamcast so I don't see any advantage signal wise.  With a PS2 even if you don't want to try out the GunCon 2 Drivers with your PC there are still about 16 good light gun games for the system.
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: aljupy on August 13, 2005, 06:44:57 am
<<but it will work until the GunCon stuff gets a little more developed.>> Did you test it before Judge it?
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: deadmoney5 on August 13, 2005, 08:56:43 am
wow..didn't realize how wrong I was... :o

but I still have an "S" video out from my card to the tv....Are there any guns that use "S" video?
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: Lilwolf on August 13, 2005, 09:05:41 am
all the guncons do.  But you have to build a circuit for it.  If I remember correctly (I didn't build one... I'm still waiting on the vga release) the easiest way is if you have a composite out in the same video card.  Otherwise it takes a little work.
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: nickbuol on August 13, 2005, 09:56:30 am
For the DC I have some import gun games too, so I have a few choices.

As for development, as mentioned by a lot of people, heck even someone asked a few weeks ago for a GunCon2 FAQ or "How To" but the thread quickly faded away. 

Then, if you want S-Video, you need a circuit built to work?  I thought that you could hack an S-Video cable to get the GunCon RCA cable to tie into that.  Maybe that has changed, don't know.  I've spend a few hours trying to sort through everything, and still don't feel like I am 100% condifent in how to set it all up.

Again, I love the project, I WILL participate in the GunCon2 route, but if I need a circuit built, I sure wouldn't know how to do it, and then with calibration issues, different guns working with smoked glass (which I have) and so forth, I'm just not ready.  Others are, but then again I am still just trying to get my cabinet done first, then I will revisit it.  Oh, and the Dreamcast is being used for much more than a few light gun games.  My kids are big into DDR, so that, plus my other 200+ Dreamcast games need a new home since my wife says that it can no longer sit in the living room.
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: MiKman on August 13, 2005, 10:49:27 am
wow..didn't realize how wrong I was... :o

but I still have an "S" video out from my card to the tv....Are there any guns that use "S" video?

Most if not all the guncon2 guns use composite (rca style) connection.  I have mine connected to the RCA out on my MSI Geforce 4200 Ti and I have my TV connected to the svideo out on my geforce 4200 Ti so no special cables it just works!

I have 2 guns hooked up, I have tried both the WinGun drivers and smogs Guncon driver both have advantages and disadvantages but both work very well and are very easy to install and calibrate.

Bottom line if you have a TV (no matter what type of connection) what have you got to lose if you spend $20 on a guncon2 gun and give it a go.  OR you could spend $100 on Actlabs... Your choice.   Even if you don't have a video card that has both the svideo and the composite (1 rca type cable) or you have component (3 rca type cables), you can hack an svideo cable to Y out to composite signal for the gun relatively easy and it works...

I dunno for $20 I think it's worth the gamble. And they DO work. One of the 2 drivers WILL work with whatever guncon you buy.
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: deadmoney5 on August 13, 2005, 11:21:53 am
Holy Schnikies...

I think I got lucky...

I assume the yellow input on my videocard next to the S-video is the video out for rca composite?

I didn't know I had both!!

So all I have to do is get the gun..plug the USB into computer, plug yellow rca into videocard...install one of the drivers....and I'm ready to go?
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: deadmoney5 on August 13, 2005, 12:00:55 pm
anybody have this gun?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PlayStation-Guncon-Sexxxy-Gun-SEALED-LQQK_W0QQitemZ8211541606QQcategoryZ21193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: Sensei on August 13, 2005, 12:15:46 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-ActLabs: Callibration it is very easy. But do not expect the better results. When you reboot System, you loose callibration.
-Wingun: It has 2 options, Autocallibration (Act Labs style), or manually callibrate (Recomended for experienced players and for Excepcionally accurate results). You can Save your own callibration for every profile you that make with this aplication. You
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: vibez on August 13, 2005, 12:49:59 pm
anybody have this gun?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PlayStation-Guncon-Sexxxy-Gun-SEALED-LQQK_W0QQitemZ8211541606QQcategoryZ21193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is only guncon1 You need guncon2. Funny, but that gun looks identical to the new actlabs guns!


Another point worth mentioning is that Smog's driver only works on XP SP2. I'm not sure about Acorns driver
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: Acorn on August 13, 2005, 07:22:40 pm
My newest will work in Win2k/XP (any SP). My older ones (0.1B and 0.2B) will work in 98, but require a seperate package.

When looking for guns, be sure they are guncon2 compatible (have the USB plug)!
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: Timoe on August 13, 2005, 08:21:14 pm
does it matter what gun you use if you have PAL or NTSC?
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: DannyH on August 13, 2005, 09:11:08 pm
I bought an old PC Mag light gun for $10AUD the other week and plugged it in. This thing works great, However my monitor is almost flat so I may have to re-sell it. This was a great option for me!
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: steptoe on August 14, 2005, 11:09:02 pm
Wahts you guys think of this one

http://www.buyquick.com.au/shop/Product.asp?ID=AID_AP2JSS2AG&parentid=&rootid=&brandid=&x=52&y=14
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: DannyH on August 14, 2005, 11:24:15 pm
My personal opinons of byquick aside I think that looks pretty good. I have had a bad experience buying from them but they are pretty quick with delivery and service
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: steptoe on August 14, 2005, 11:34:18 pm
heres one that came out last month

http://www.gamehead.com.au/product.php?productid=82959&cat=171&page=3
Title: Re: light guns
Post by: steptoe on August 14, 2005, 11:37:31 pm
heres another for $20au

http://www.gamehead.com.au/product.php?productid=13392&cat=171&page=3