Spyhunter Mame Project

[jerrybigd]

I decided to build a Spyhunter MAME machine. I found a spy hunter control panel on Ebay a few months back. Spyhunter was my favorite game in the 80's. So, I figured I could build a spyhunter MAME and then add other driving games to it. I found an old beat up and stinky (cat urine infested) turbo cabinet that I decided to use for my project. As I was building it, I had an Idea to add StarWars and Paperboy. The challenge to adding these games was to add a y axis along with the x axis. Well, the Spyhunter control panel has a hinge on the bottom for easy access to the back so this made the y axis pretty simple. The Spyhunter control panel pivots on the bottom. Now I just needed a way to transfer the information to the computer.

For the steering and pedal controls, I hacked an xbox steering wheel. This also gave me the buttons I needed for the Spyhunter steering column. The xbox steering wheel assembly had two pedals with it. So I used one pot of the right pedal for the gas pedal on the spyhunter game and the other pot is what I used for the y axis on the steering column. I used a spring tensions wire that I hooked up to the back of the Spyhunter steering column. when the steering column pivots out, the wire unwinds and turns the y axis pot. When the steering column pivots back in, the spring tension pulls the wire back and turns the pot the opposit direction.

I needed to center the steering column out a few inches so that it had a y+ and y- movements for up and down and faster and slower, depending on the game. So,  the steering column is spring loaded to keep it in the zero position. I have a small bungie to pull it back to zero position.  For the Spyhunter game (which is the primary game), I latch the steering column down so that it is not flopping in and out when used for driving game.

The problem in the past with making a spyhunter game was that you could not get the weapons buttons. Well, with the good people who write the MAME programs, they now made it possible to put the weapons buttons right on the screen.

So, this is not as good as a real spy hunter game, but its pretty darned close. I can also make the screen as large as I want. Star wars and paperboy are not quite the same either, but for a mame copcat, It does pretty well.

[jerrybigd]

This is how I rigged up the y axis.

[offset]

Had no idea a Spyhunter control panel would fit on a Sega Turbo cabinet.  Is it a nice fit, or did you have to hack things to get it to work?

[bfauska]

Steering wheel + control panel pivot = yoke

Clever.

[matsadona]

A Spyhunter game is definitely on my must have/do list.
But finding a Spyhunter wheel/control panel here in Sweden is harder than finding Elvis and a Yeti at the same time... 

[wp34]

I decided to use for my project. As I was building it, I had an Idea to add StarWars and Paperboy. The challenge to adding these games was to add a y axis along with the x axis. Well, the Spyhunter control panel has a hinge on the bottom for easy access to the back so this made the y axis pretty simple. The Spyhunter control panel pivots on the bottom. Now I just needed a way to transfer the information to the computer.

That is really, really clever.

The problem in the past with making a spyhunter game was that you could not get the weapons buttons. Well, with the good people who write the MAME programs, they now made it possible to put the weapons buttons right on the screen.

I did not know that.  I was thinking of including Spyhunter in a driving build I'm working on and had no idea.

[jerrybigd]

Posted by: offset
« on: Yesterday at 01:17:49 pm »
Insert QuoteInsert Quote

Had no idea a Spyhunter control panel would fit on a Sega Turbo cabinet.  Is it a nice fit, or did you have to hack things to get it to work?


Offset:   the Spyhunter control panel is about 1-2 inches shorter than the Turbo cabinet. Right now there is a slight gap on one side. Trying to decide what to do with that. Other than that, the fit was very nice. I actually have another mame project that has all the joystick/button games that I grew up with in the 80's that I started a couple years ago. I was trying to add the Spyhunter /racing games to the cabinet but I figured its best for the driving games to have their own cabinet.

Unfortunately, I screwed up and passed on a true working spyhunter game that was for sale  in my area. Asking price was $300. this was 2 years ago when I first started my projects and I had already purchased two arcade cabinets (for a total of $125) and I didn't want to overspend on my hobbie - you see, Im MARRIED. Any other husbands can relate....LOL.  Anyway, I am KICKING myself every day for letting that get away.  BUT, I actually had more fun building this project so maybe its better in the long run....

[jerrybigd]

A Spyhunter game is definitely on my must have/do list.
But finding a Spyhunter wheel/control panel here in Sweden is harder than finding Elvis and a Yeti at the same time... 

Well, what are you willing to pay for  the control panel including shipping?? I just passed on a Spyhunter control panel on Ebay that sold for $10 -   YEP THATS RIGHT   T E N DOLLARS!!  But, the shipping here in the USA was $50.  On top of that, the same seller had a TRON control panel, complete with joystick and spinner that sold for $50 - shipping was $25.  I had both on my watch list and the seller even said he would reduce the price for combined shipping, but like the IDIOT that I am, I forgot to remind myself to put my bids in ontime and I missed them - KICKING MYSELF ONCE AGAIN!!

Anyway, my point is, the spyhunet control panels are out there, you just have to keep watch.  I will post on here if I see another one come up....

SPYHUNTER is the greatest 80's game that was invented....IMHO....

[jerrybigd]

I decided to use for my project. As I was building it, I had an Idea to add StarWars and Paperboy. The challenge to adding these games was to add a y axis along with the x axis. Well, the Spyhunter control panel has a hinge on the bottom for easy access to the back so this made the y axis pretty simple. The Spyhunter control panel pivots on the bottom. Now I just needed a way to transfer the information to the computer.

That is really, really clever.

Bfauska and wp34....thanks for the acalades. 

I'm lucky to work in an industry where I can get some cool parts for my projects (used and broken of course), like the spring loaded pot....

The problem in the past with making a spyhunter game was that you could not get the weapons buttons. Well, with the good people who write the MAME programs, they now made it possible to put the weapons buttons right on the screen.

I did not know that.  I was thinking of including Spyhunter in a driving build I'm working on and had no idea.

[Fursphere]

I did the same thing awhile back - bought a Spy Hunter control panel and a Spy Hunter gas pedal assembly on ebay. 

I've seen one or two working Spy Hunter games go for $1000 plus here in Sacramento.  Way too much.  So I was going to build my own.   I thought you could get the weapon lights working with MAMEHooker and LEDBlinky + an LED driver board ?

Can the hacked XBox wheel handle the abuse of the gameplay?  Spy Hunter is meant to be played by SLAMMING the yoke side to side when you knock cars off the road - hence the reason the control panel is damn overbuilt.  And the software will detect how hard your steering not only by how far the yoke is turned to one side, but also how fast the acceleration was from side to side. 

The game was really ahead of its time when it was built. 

[sroberts]

Wow, $1000 is crazy for a Spy Hunter.  I bought a working one in 1998 for $100.  It started wigging out after a year or so, then the monitor died.  So it is now my mame cabinet but to my kids dismay I've never been able to get a decent Spy Hunter emulation on it.  But I'm about to give it another go.

If anyone is interested I'm willing to part with the marquee and glass, although those things are not too difficult to get these days.  Regrettably I no longer have the steering wheel.

Steve