TRON Themed Bartop and P2 Fight Stick

[Charlie97L]

Hi All!

I've been lurking and preparing for my new project the past month or so, and I'm excited to finally dig in and get started on it, as I've ordered all the parts now (and received some!).

I'm building a TRON themed bartop, with a P2 Fight stick.  I figure most of the time it'll just be a P1 unit, but I wanted to have an actual extra controller surface for fighting games and beat 'em ups if desired on occasion.  I'm planning on the CP for P2 mirroring the CP for the bartop, but in a different color, a la the TRON color palette.

I'm eagerly anticipating my HaRuMaN Degenatron bartop.  I think we've finalized the CP layout, and I'm using smoked acrylic for the bezel instead of clear.

This machine will be a Pi3 based unit, using RetroPie, which I'm currently configuring.  I've also snagged a T-SLG v1.6 scanline generator to add some definition to the LCD monitor, something I really didn't like on my last build (no filters or scanlines).  I'm contemplating messing around with shaders and such, but I definitely wanted the hardware in there.

I'm also playing around with getting RGB Led bezels to work, we will see how that goes with the Pi.  There are a few options out there, I know.

So far, I've got ROMs working off the external USB drive, and everything I'm trying to configure seems to be going smoothly.

I'll get some pics up and a parts list when stuff starts coming in!

[wp34]

Have you checked out Le Chuck's DARKADE bartop?  He created a swappable trigger stick for the P2 controller.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116602.0.html

[Charlie97L]

Thanks!  I'll check that out!

:-)

[Charlie97L]

That's very cool.  I definitely am not super into the TRON games, but this is an idea/process I'm definitely filing away for when I build a full size.  For me, personally, having a TRON set of controls on a bartop is a bit over the top, but he did a slick slick job on that.

EDIT: I should note that I'm very into both movies and the aesthetic and concepts.

In project news, I've finalized my CP layouts with the gracious help of HaRuMaN.  I also ordered some more electronics tools that I didn't have, and a different HDMI - VGA converter, as the one I have isn't getting along with the Scanline Generator.

I also placed a huge (for me) order with Randy at GroovyGameGear:

1x TurboTwist Spinner, with a black dome and the weight
2x Omni2 Joysticks with the switch upgrade, with Hard Candy Balltops in Joust Blue and Warm Orange to stick with the Good/Bad TRON color scheme for P1/P2
A bunch of NovaGem clear pushbuttons with Helio RGB LED units, and CLASSX buttons in Black and Orange.  I'm going to make the P1 buttons on the actual bartop Bezel-lit LED, which should be the most challenging part of the build, getting that to work with the Pi.
I also snagged 2 of the NovaGem Coin-door buttons, in Blue.  Very excited.

Right now I'm decided between using RGBCommander with a Pac64LED, or taking a crack at it using an Arduino RGB board myself.  We will see about that!

More to come soon!

Fight stick layout!

[Charlie97L]

And the bartop layout!

[Charlie97L]

Update 5/28/16

Well, the SLG just isn't cutting it, the new HDMI-VGA didn't work with it at all, so I found another solution.  I switched to using the crt-pi shader, which with the new 3.8 update, swaps the orientation for vertical games.  After I tweaked some settings, it looks amazing.  Going to hang on to the SLG for use with my retro consoles on our HDtv, should that ever need to happen.

Additionally, I'm not going to be going with RGB commander, mostly because at this point, buying a PAC64 seems exorbitant for what I want to do with this build.  I did find a cool DIY solution on the RetroPie forums.

https://github.com/shaneapowell/ArcadeIlluminate

I'll have to build a circuit board, which will be fun and interesting, but this will cost me way less, and not feel like overkill for the simple LED setups I want to do.

I've got the consoles, mame, and NeoGeo running and looking great.  I still need to sort out CPS1/2/3 and the spinner games, and the vector graphics settings in advmame.

Waiting on my GGG order to ship, and I should have a draft of the art this weekend!

[Charlie97L]

Update-

I have my non-spinner/non-vector ROM list built for lr-mame2003, primarily off of the All Killer, No Filler list!  Very fun.  I'll be running color vector and spinner games in advmame.  Hopefully I can figure out a shader that looks as good as crt-pi for the few non-vector spinner games that I've got going.

I'm checking to make sure they all work, and once the list is finalized, I'll get them scraped.

I'm still working on getting unibios working with the neo titles, but I think i've figured it out, I might get a chance to finalize those edits tonight.

I also have audio up and running through the usb speakers, which sound surprisingly great for 8.00.

So, all in all, a lot of back-end software work while waiting for parts to come in.  I'm excited to get all this configured and get it backed up for any future projects!

[Charlie97L]

I know my posts have been a little picture light, but that's going to change as soon as parts start arriving.  Here's a picture of everything up and running as it stands.

[Charlie97L]

Had an unexpected morning off this morning, so I was able to get a few things done.

The new soldering iron I ordered came in.  Not just for this project, but I own a production company, and I'm tired of paying people to repair our cables, so this should be a good solution across the board.



I also disassembled the speakers, de-cased them, and reconnected the wires.  I'll replace the tape with solder shrink wrap when the materials comes in.  I've done a lot of cat6 work, but this was my first USB splice, so I'm glad it worked!  the speakers still sound great, even out of their enclosures, though I did lose a little bit of audio quality, which I anticipate getting back when it's in the cab.





In other news, the parts from GroovyGameGear shipped today!  I anticipate they'll be here Friday, which is awesome.  I'll be ordering parts shortly for the RGB control board, as well.

I've also been working through testing all the MAME ROMs, which is tedious, but it'll be great when I have a solidified list I can use for the future.

[Charlie97L]

Big update today!  My GGG order came in!

Very excited.  Everything looks great, a few microswitches might need tweaking, but super high quality across the board.

I have to say the packing job GGG did was insanely good.   I felt everything was thought out and anything with delicate parts or an image was packed in a way that showed a ton of experience and attention to detail.  Can't recommend them enough!

Box:



Pile o' Parts:



Joysticks and Spinner:



Classic Buttons w/ microleaf switches:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=149895.0;attach=348112;image

Coin and P1/2 Buttons:



RGB LED Bezel Concave Buttons:



I'm gonna wire up the spinner and test it out tonight hopefully, and get a video up!

[Charlie97L]

So, life intruded a bit, but it's time for another update!

Been waiting on the wire, heat shrink, and connectors I ordered, as I want to redo the harnesses for the controls so they're not messy.

HaRuMaN did inform me my kit is being CNC'd hopefully tomorrow, so I'm stoked about that!

I also got an art proof from Malenko, and he did an amazing job on the cab.  It's subtle, and I really dig it.  I can't wait to see the fight stick.

[menace]

I like the control panel art but I find the sideart to be a bit jarring--its like some random tron-esque stickers were stuck on at random...

[Malenko]

I like the control panel art but I find the sideart to be a bit jarring--its like some random tron-esque stickers were stuck on at random...

Its a line for line redraw of the Shroud art, I just rotated the bottom section to fill in the side art better.  Im not a fan of the actual Tron side art (or DoT side art either)



That being said, if Charlie wants it altered its still an option. Im a bit biased, but I really like it. 

[Charlie97L]

I was toying with the idea of having Malenko underlay a faint game-grid-like-grid, but I worry that'll be too busy... also super straight lines will a) be hard to apply straight, and b) easy to notice if it's slightly not level.

I like the subtlety.  I do get what you're saying about the sides, but I've been marinating on it for a day, and I'm not sure what if any, additive would make it better.  I definitely like what's there.

[thatpurplestuff]

I like the idea of using side art from the original cab, but I think just a slight modification to it would help out a lot... right now the lines sort of conflict with the lines of the bartop, where if you just rotated them slightly I think it would feel like they belonged with the machine.

[Malenko]

I like the idea of using side art from the original cab, but I think just a slight modification to it would help out a lot... right now the lines sort of conflict with the lines of the bartop, where if you just rotated them slightly I think it would feel like they belonged with the machine.

Thats how they started, then I thought about issues lining the art up with the edges. He seems to like it better so I'll make those changes.

[Charlie97L]

I know people know this, but Malenko seriously rocks the art.  I'm loving it.