Light Gun Recommendations?

[Shoegazer]

Hey there,

This is my first post to this forum, though I've been reading so many great posts over the past several months since I've discovered this excellent board.

I've recently taken the leap and purchased a SlikStik cabinet with classic panel, and while I'm waiting for it to be completed and shipped, I've started wondering how you all feel about the best light gun available on the market today.  I'm familiar with older Act Labs and Lik Sang offerings, and I've been watching this vaporware product with great interest:

http://erealgames.com/products.php

I'm wondering, are there others out there or are we really just limited to these two?  Further, I'm wondering if there are any that feature:

* Force feedback (i.e. "recoil" option) which I think would be great;
* Compatibility with the recently-released Wells Gardner d9400 monitor, which I have; and
* A holster that might mount on the side of a SlikStik cabinet for easy storage.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? 

Thanks,
Shoegazer

[NightGod]

Note on the ones you linked if you check the order page:

"Note: G1 does not support multiple players. It is not currently compatible with PC games. "

LCD Top Guns are another alternative that seem to be making alot of people happy. They're what I went with, though I won't have them hooked up and running for a week or so. Do a search on the forums here, there is a ~50 page thread on them.

[NickG]

I have the RGT:G1 from ereal.  I chose this gun because It works with any display.  Actually It could even work without a display because It comes with its own tracking camera.  I set it up on my XBOX and played DuckHunt 8 feet wide on my wall.  I almost weeped with joy as I had been dreaming to do this ever since I bought my first projector.  I also set it up on my computer.  There is not any official support for this.  But someone was nice enough to create a site based around his and others homemade drivers and apps for it.  I have not tried it in emulators on the PC but it should work in anything with mouse support, because it works as a pointing device in Windows.  Sorry to run on; soon I am going to try playing websudoku as a shooting game!

[Shoegazer]

Well.. actually in my first post I was referring to the RGT: Firehawk, not the RGT: G1 (you have to scroll down a little more).  This gun will be directly PC compatible when it comes out.. which is admittedly a long way from now, and based on past delays, may never see the light of day, sadly..

Anyway, I like the fact that the LCD TopGun has the recoil feature but I'm not keen on mounting the ugly LED strips on the side of my arcade monitor - I would think that would ruin the authenticity of the cabinet?  Anyone else have any thoughts on this?  Otherwise I may just end up going with the Act Labs gun.  These seem to be the only two products on the market at the moment.  It would be nice to see a head-to-head comparison of these two guns!

[NightGod]

I don't see how mounting narrow strips on the side (which can be hidden behind a bezel without much hassle) would be any different than mounting the camera on top (which I would imagine could be hidden just as easily) that the RGT guns require.

[Silver]

How are you hooking up the projector?

If you are using a TV-out solution, or an arcade monitor at 15Khz frequencies, then you can actually use any GunCon2 gun for the playstation1/2. There are at least 2 guncon2 drivers that work on a PC. It can be made to work on a PC monitor at 31Khz or more too, although this requires creating a custom circuit (There are some demo videos of this in action on my site somewhere I think.)

Sounds like somone has made a PC-driver for the RGT: G1 (or is it native PC now) although I have heard bad accuracy stories from it.

Personally, I like the LCD Topguns. The do not have the issues of the Guncon/actlabs (ie as they are 'real' lightguns, they can not track at all on dark areas of your screen) as they are display independant - just like the eReal Gun. I have *heard* that they are more accurate than eReal Gun though, but I have never used an eReal Gun to compare. My only issue with the Topguns is the distance - you have to be further back from the screen that lots of people like. Oh, and the recoil is not the best.

If you do not care about tracking on dark areas (think playing Terminator 2/RevolutionX) then the Actlabs will probably be fine.

[DigDreams]

I have the LCD-Topgun, and I did have a little problem with recoil at first, but once I opened it up and cleaned out the plastic burs it has worked flawlessly.  The recoil is the best I have seen, it took me by surprise the first time I pulled the trigger.  The integrated laser sight is awesome if you need a little help getting through a tough spot as well.

Another advantage is that these guns work on PC's, PS2's, and XBoxes.  A little velcro and you can move it from platform to platform pretty easily.  The look EXTREMELY realistic as well (no orange barrel or anything, it's looks exactly like a real Baretta).

The only drawback is the distance you have to be from the screen (or wall).  For my 55" tv I have to be about 10-12 feet away.  House of the Dead III on XBox is wicked with these guns.  Right now I have a Bartop, but when I build my bigger cab, the LCD Topgun is definatley going in.

- DigDreams

[Lilwolf]

The topguns are pretty cool.  But you have to be a bit away from the screen.  You can get a bit closer if you have it over/under the monitor instead of the sides.  This does work find and gets you 1/2 foot+closer

As for the looks.  If you have a bezel around your monitor.  You should be able to attach them to that if you have room.

They also have a white version for walls for those with projection screens.  I was considering adding it behind a projection screen (but ended up not being able to spend the money on a projector

I would recommend them... but not as much for gun games but for the machine gun games their GREAT!  2 player T2 with these guns are GREAT!