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What's the best appproch to make a homebrew Pinball Machine?
fatfingers:
I'm guessing changing your last name to Williams is the best bet.
CrazyKongFan:
There was a guy who had a Three Stooges pinball game at the last 2 Midwest Gaming Classic shows in Oconomowoc WI. He took an old Dolly Parton pinball (that was in really rough shape) and did a custom sound board to replace the game sounds. Looked pretty snazzy :)
KevSteele:
The guy who built the DIY pin in the GameRoom Magazine that Cheffo mentioned (yeah, I noticed ;)) built his own controller board and firmware. Pretty complicated stuff, actually.
Even something like an old EM machine is pretty complicated - open one up and look at the miles and miles of wires sometime.
Good news is that he's working on a new version of his controller board and programming interface to sell - no idea when it will be ready, but it should be a great thing for everyone who has ever wanted to hack together their own real pinball machine.
mark shaker:
Thanks to everyone for the information.
*If* I ever go forward with the project, my plan is:
Write the software in c++.
Run everything from a windows box.
Use an LCD panel for the score display.
Use an I-Pac or two for switch input.
Use an LED-Wiz or two to control the lighting (all LED).
Use an LED-Wiz or two with a power supply and transistors or relays to control the solenoids. (I'm still not sure that this will work, if you know one way or the other please let me know. BTW: I probably won't have the bumpers, slingshots or flippers under computer control. )
- Mark
CheffoJeffo:
Bump ... I was checking for updates on the Classic Playfields site (I want my F2K playfield, backglass and plastics and I want them now!) and noticed that they did preliminary whitewoods for Jeff Matthew`s next custom pinball, which will apparently be produced in limited quantities.
http://www.snowmountainpinball.com/Welcome.html
The FAQ mentions the controller board
--- Quote ---Can you help me build a machine?
DIY Pinball is planning to release pinball specific controllers for sound, lights and solenoids to the general public. We are also planning on releasing Cabin Fever 2 (primarily a cost reduction and playfield redesign of Cabin Fever) as a complete kit. You could take these components and build your own machine.
--- End quote ---
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