Its Here: Ultimarc AimTrak Light Gun Module

[Dannymh]

To be honest I have helped with ---fudgesicle--- all for mame. I might have helped in other scenes or industries but I  not looking for self gratification. at the end of the day It is one of tge solutions to a problem. I get that you may not like tge product but with all due respect t
you sound like a child who had been denied their favourite toy

[Xiaou2]

You just dont get it.

 Im not saying that I dont appreciate mame, and the people behind it.

But I Am saying, that with Other peoples money and help, you shouldnt just do whatever
you want to do. Meaning... sometimes, what is fun will have to be a little extra work to
satisfy the desires of the donaters and helpers, as well as in tribute to the original designers.

 Its also a form of responsibility, because you are talking about history here.

 I posted my personal experience with some Devs merely to show the cold level
of responses I got when trying to Help with the project for Free.  It was a bit negative
initially, and yeah, I was surprised that the art finally was added... even after a year+ later.

 This isnt merely about Me.  Its about what should be done.  Weather it gets done or not
is not up to me.  But people Should voice their opinions, even if they go up against the mighty
Devs.  They are mere humans, like everyone else.  Just maybe, their ideas might change to
a point, as it has in the past.

 At one point in time, there were at least 2 Devs on the message boards were so rude and rotten,
they bashed people left and right with insults and derogatory commentary.  This may have
caused some permanent bad relations with collectors which Might have Helped Mames efforts
somewhere down the road.  This may also be one of the reasons why the Japanese collectors
just about Refuse to sell PCBs to mame - no matter how much the winning big stands at.

 Not all devs are so childish and mean in spirit.  But, it is meant to show that these guys are
just people.

 People seem to be So afraid to stand up and voice their opinions, Fearing that all the Devs
and Manufacturers will simply Stop what they are doing and quit forever.  Its highly unlikely that will
happen. The Devs enjoy their puzzles, and the Manufacturers have an established business.

 Similarly, there is nothing wrong with telling a Business owner your tastes and desires.
For example... if you go out to eat... and there is no asparagus on the menu.. you might Ask
for it.  If you get a menu item which you feel needs more spices, you might ask for that.
Enough people asking for such things... and the owner might change his menu & or recipes.
If nobody asks / tells... then there might never be any motivation to change.  The owner may
think everyone is perfectly happy.

 As for me, Im simply telling Andy that Ive had mediocre Steak before... and am not
interested in spending money on the same.  Instead, Im interested in Fillet Minion, and am
fully willing to pay a premium price for it.

 Just because you are content with your steaks, or are afraid to ask for a better steak,
does not mean I do not have the right to ask for a better cut.  Nor does it mean you
should take offense to it... nor to get all bent up about someone who is not satisfied with the
same levels that satisfy yourselves.

[Hoopz]

No, you just don't get it. 

The bottom line is you are telling people why Andy's product doesn't work even though you have never tried it.  Ignoring all of your other points, you have zero basis to review a product and say why it doesn't work if you haven't tried it.

[aljupy]

Hello:

I know I´m asking too much but.....

Would not be possible to have a "PLAYSTATION 2" version??  Not even with a Firmware upgrade? (It has USB)

PS2 is the best console with best lightgun titles. (Point Blank and Time crisis 1,2,3+Crisis Zone)

-Best Regards

[Ragtag83]

Xiaou2, what you apparently are not able to grasp is the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. Maybe your intentions are in the right place, but your words are not.

[1UP]

Didn't get any more tired than with the real thing.

 Well, being that you held the gun close, its understandable.  However, its NOT like the
real thing... being that there is No variable Recoil... which basically makes it a lifeless
version of the original experience.

That's coming next...hehe....    The Happ guns I'm using already have solenoids and  a driver board for them, all I need is to get the LEDWiz to take an output from Mame's T2 LED status to get things jumping.  I do have work so it may take a while but I'll get it eventually.  Too busy makin' movies!  ARRRGH!   

[northerngames]

Similarly, there is nothing wrong with telling a Business owner your tastes and desires.
For example... if you go out to eat... and there is no asparagus on the menu.. you might Ask
for it.  If you get a menu item which you feel needs more spices, you might ask for that.
Enough people asking for such things... and the owner might change his menu & or recipes.
If nobody asks / tells... then there might never be any motivation to change.  The owner may
think everyone is perfectly happy.

and you sit there for a few days pestering the cheif that it should have came with it as you are gardner and you grow your own asparagus and donated it to the local grocery store and therefore it should be a standard that comes with all dinners becuase you grew it, donated it and said so right.

your contribution to mame is just a hair on there ass man.

I mean if you really did contribute to mame we appreatiate that but we also should not harp on you for day's that you did not do it right or fast enough or you should have used fed ex express to send it or your artwork scan has flaw's and you should have done this instead and used this method and machine becuase we said so etc.

!!! just stop we understand these are not for you for whatever your reasons !!!

[Firebat138]

Hi all, I have all of a sudden run into a small problem.  I have the guns plugged into the FRONT of the cpu and everything was fine for a while.  But now all of a sudden, my CP doesnt work in mame if I have the guns plugged in.  My CP has 4 usbs, could there be a conflict.

Thanx

Camper

[northerngames]

Hi all, I have all of a sudden run into a small problem.  I have the guns plugged into the FRONT of the cpu and everything was fine for a while.  But now all of a sudden, my CP doesnt work in mame if I have the guns plugged in.  My CP has 4 usbs, could there be a conflict.

Thanx

Camper

did you assighn each gun their own device I.D.'s?

[Firebat138]

yup... but the software keeps crashing on me in Win 7...Weird...  It also will not let me upgrade firmware...

[northerngames]

are you upgrading the firmware through the same app or are you using the extra app that is the the aimtrak folder that is used for updating the firmware?

there are 2 seperate apps in the folder.

also try only having one gun in at a time for each firmware update do them each seperate by themselve's and go from there if you have not sone so already.

[1UP]

I don't think the Config utility is working in Win7, or at least not in 64 bit.  I could never get the upgrade to take in Win7 x64, I had to do it in Win XP.  Once updated the guns do seem to work in Win7, it's just a mouse emulation after all.  I do wish Andy would do an update, WinXP is going to die eventually.

[Manre Boo]

Sorry if someone mentioned this one allready, but anyway how does this gun look:



Here is link to homepage:
http://www.xcm.cc/

I am new to light guns so don't know if this is any good inside arcade cab.

[northerngames]

looks silly and painted with poop  

To be honost I would not pick that up over these if I had them next to each other and had a choice of wich to play with I would use my aimtraks still.

[Manre Boo]

Yes but couldnt you put its insidings into other gun?
edit: oh check the website there is other guns, white one for PS3

[northerngames]

depends on how bulky the pcb/guts of the gun are.

what is the cost of each unit though and then the cost for the gun casing to put it in and what results would you get when compared to the aimtrak or lcd topgun?

we will have to wait until they are released before any of that can be compared but right off the get knowing XCM products very well there going to be an arm and a leg.

my first impression of that picture is ugly bulky and poopy colored though so far 

[shateredsoul]

correct me if I'm wrong.. but isn't that xcm gun just in the shape of a gun? but really it's just a normal controller. 

[Manre Boo]

I guess you are right about it. Because gun maker is saying it works with every kind display CRT and LCD, i was thinking it would actually be real light gun. But now that I look video closer it seems like guy is moving picture around with thumb!

Too bad I would personally had use of that kind of thing :/

[AndyWarne]

I don't think the Config utility is working in Win7, or at least not in 64 bit.  I could never get the upgrade to take in Win7 x64, I had to do it in Win XP.  Once updated the guns do seem to work in Win7, it's just a mouse emulation after all.  I do wish Andy would do an update, WinXP is going to die eventually.

The utility and upgrade should work in Windows 7 64 bit. I will test again just in case though..

Andy

[AndyWarne]

I have re-tested the utility and the upgrade in Windows 7 64 bit and unfortunately cant reproduce any problem.

So, anyone who does see any issues with W7 64 can please drop me an email and we can try to work out whats going wrong.

Andy

[mlalena]

I keep seeing Andy posts and think that it might be the product announcement for the AimTrak integrated into a gun shell. Ah well.

[Paul Olson]

Well, I have one of the aimtraks installed in a guncon now. It took me quite a few tries to get it to calibrate, but now that it is, I am pretty happy with the accuracy. I was able to hit whatever I aimed at in Area 51, until my arms started burning, then I missed a lot. It has been a while since I have shot for that long. I was playing without crosshairs, and the offscreen reload worked great.

When not in a game, I was watching the mouse cursor as I aimed. The cursor lags behind a little bit, but it does catch up and becomes accurate. I have the tilt/z connection set to continuous, so that may slow it down some.

I have used act labs guns and the LCD Topgun, and I can definitely say that the aimtrak beats both of them by a wide margin so far. I still have a lot of testing to do; I am testing it on my desktop. so I still need to get it working in the cab.

I soldered one of the buttons to P1, and it is not working, so I need to figure that out. The outer button on the gun is attached to aux, and it works fine.

I used guncon 1s for these, and I really like them. They look great and the aimtrak fits in there easily with only a little bit of trimming inside the barrel. Andy said that his will be similar to the guncons, so I think this will end up being a really nice light gun solution for our cabs.

I watched some of the videos in the various threads, and properly calibrated, it is accurate over the entire screen, except for the lag I mentioned.

Edit: I have been playing quite a bit tonight and having a lot of fun. I am ready to move the led bar to the cab so I can get everything set up in its new home. I have a suggestion for those who have not ordered the aimtraks yet: Buy 2 of the full kits. I have been playing sitting at my desk, and I would like to keep that option, so I really wish I would have bought the second led pcb. Shipping is too expensive to get one now, but I wish I would have thought of it before I ordered.

[rbarr110]

Well, I have one of the aimtraks installed in a guncon now. It took me quite a few tries to get it to calibrate, but now that it is, I am pretty happy with the accuracy. I was able to hit whatever I aimed at in Area 51, until my arms started burning, then I missed a lot. It has been a while since I have shot for that long. I was playing without crosshairs, and the offscreen reload worked great.

When not in a game, I was watching the mouse cursor as I aimed. The cursor lags behind a little bit, but it does catch up and becomes accurate. I have the tilt/z connection set to continuous, so that may slow it down some.

I have used act labs guns and the LCD Topgun, and I can definitely say that the aimtrak beats both of them by a wide margin so far. I still have a lot of testing to do; I am testing it on my desktop. so I still need to get it working in the cab.

I soldered one of the buttons to P1, and it is not working, so I need to figure that out. The outer button on the gun is attached to aux, and it works fine.

I used guncon 1s for these, and I really like them. They look great and the aimtrak fits in there easily with only a little bit of trimming inside the barrel. Andy said that his will be similar to the guncons, so I think this will end up being a really nice light gun solution for our cabs.

I watched some of the videos in the various threads, and properly calibrated, it is accurate over the entire screen, except for the lag I mentioned.

Edit: I have been playing quite a bit tonight and having a lot of fun. I am ready to move the led bar to the cab so I can get everything set up in its new home. I have a suggestion for those who have not ordered the aimtraks yet: Buy 2 of the full kits. I have been playing sitting at my desk, and I would like to keep that option, so I really wish I would have bought the second led pcb. Shipping is too expensive to get one now, but I wish I would have thought of it before I ordered.

OMG - A review based on someone who has the product in hand and tested.  What has this thread come to.

No, really, thanks for an opinion and review based upon hands on experience.  I will be buying my two very soon.

[Dannymh]

Andy,

I was wondering when you have the full units ready, will each one be tested to make sure they put inside the shell properly and lined up etc, or is there still going to be some element of DIY to them?

Dan

[yo1dog]

I have to say, so far my experience has been very frustrating. It does not seem to be accurate at all after spending hours of moving around the sensors and recalibrating. I finally was able to upgrade the firmware to 3.1 and now the gun only moves up and down on the far left of the screen. Every once in a while it will randomly bounce around the screen.

Also, the gun keeps showing up as a joystick in mame...

Some help please?

(I am using W7 64)

Edit:
I did something wrong somehow when I upgraded the firmware. I did it again and now the gun works great

[AndyWarne]

Have you sent me an email as there is clearly a fault and we can resolve this by email.

andy@ultimarc.com

[AndyWarne]

Andy,

I was wondering when you have the full units ready, will each one be tested to make sure they put inside the shell properly and lined up etc, or is there still going to be some element of DIY to them?

Dan

We will offer whatever people want. There will be some who would like a kit to assemble either using a module they have already purchased and also others who prefer complete assembled tested units. So we will offer both.
Initially the kits will be available followed by complete units.
We now have the first of all 8 of the molded parts from the production molds so should not be too much longer. I will post some pics in the next couple of days.
They look rather scarily realistic actually. In fact maybe some countries might not allow them to be imported and we might need to do a de-tuned version in blue or some other color alongside the black.

[Dartful Dodger]

Excellent!!!

I'm a week away from finishing my MAME cab(7 years in the making).

A few years ago I had to promise myself I wouldn't buy any more BYOAC related crud until I built something with what I already have, so the parts I had just sat in a box.

I was content with just playing games on my laptop with the keyboard, but a shooting game is something that needs to be played on a cab.

[Silly Burrito]

Andy,

I was wondering when you have the full units ready, will each one be tested to make sure they put inside the shell properly and lined up etc, or is there still going to be some element of DIY to them?

Dan

We will offer whatever people want. There will be some who would like a kit to assemble either using a module they have already purchased and also others who prefer complete assembled tested units. So we will offer both.
Initially the kits will be available followed by complete units.
We now have the first of all 8 of the molded parts from the production molds so should not be too much longer. I will post some pics in the next couple of days.
They look rather scarily realistic actually. In fact maybe some countries might not allow them to be imported and we might need to do a de-tuned version in blue or some other color alongside the black.

Huzzah! This is great news!

[Dannymh]

oooh awesome!

I bought a topgun last week because I am selling my showcase cab and wanted to get in some buck hunter before I did that. But will certainly be picking some of these up when they are all done, though the import may be an issue.

Usually an orange nossle is enough to get it through though

[MK3FAN]

The first LED rail that I received was faulty. The replacement worked perfectly. Many thanks Andy. Here it is in action....

[jasonbar]

They look rather scarily realistic actually. In fact maybe some countries might not allow them to be imported and we might need to do a de-tuned version in blue or some other color alongside the black.

Great news, Andy!

Well, if you're in the early stages of picking colors, and you're taking input on colors, I hope to be able to buy 2 guns of different colors, in red, or orange, or yellow (i.e., a red & an orange, a red & a yellow, or an orange & a yellow).

Looking forward to it--I plan on buying 2 kits. 

Thanks,
-Jason

[yo1dog]

Andy,

I was wondering when you have the full units ready, will each one be tested to make sure they put inside the shell properly and lined up etc, or is there still going to be some element of DIY to them?

Dan

We will offer whatever people want. There will be some who would like a kit to assemble either using a module they have already purchased and also others who prefer complete assembled tested units. So we will offer both.
Initially the kits will be available followed by complete units.
We now have the first of all 8 of the molded parts from the production molds so should not be too much longer. I will post some pics in the next couple of days.
They look rather scarily realistic actually. In fact maybe some countries might not allow them to be imported and we might need to do a de-tuned version in blue or some other color alongside the black.

I am happy to hear this. I prefer a realistic looking gun rather than a bright red one.

I sent you an email

Here is my thread on my Aim-Trak gun if anyone is interested.

[Silly Burrito]

They look rather scarily realistic actually. In fact maybe some countries might not allow them to be imported and we might need to do a de-tuned version in blue or some other color alongside the black.

Great news, Andy!

Well, if you're in the early stages of picking colors, and you're taking input on colors, I hope to be able to buy 2 guns of different colors, in red, or orange, or yellow (i.e., a red & an orange, a red & a yellow, or an orange & a yellow).

Looking forward to it--I plan on buying 2 kits.  

Thanks,
-Jason

Different colors would be a good idea if you can't ship realistic ones. I'm pretty sure there's some law about that as I remember that new versions of the old Megatron Transformer toys couldn't be sold to the US unless the barrel was bright orange or something like that. My votes would be for black and gold, but that's just because that would match my cab.

Another small idea for those of us who want complete kits...maybe you could sell a holster or something similar to make it one-stop shopping. Just an idea.

[jasonbar]

Another small idea for those of us who want complete kits...maybe you could sell a holster or something similar to make it one-stop shopping. Just an idea.

+1 that a holster would be a good accessory to offer, but don't let a holster hold up availability of the guns/kits.

Thanks,
-Jason

[ratsflif]

I received my pair of aimtraks about 2 weeks ago and have been playing around with them here and there.  I can say that these are much better than the LCD Topguns, I had a pair of those and was really disappointed.  The aimtraks are working great, it took some playing around with but I have both guns dialed in pretty well.  I have them setup on a Naomi Universal cab with a 29" vga monitor, with the LCD topguns I would have to be in another room for them to work on a screen that size, with the aimtraks I stand about 3' back and can play area 51, timecrisis, police trainer without the crosshairs, as well as virtua cop 1 and 2 on the model 2 emulator.  For the games with positional guns like T2 and Alien3 you can stand even closer.  Since my monitor is VGA I am running everything at 640x480, I was having all kinds of problems until I turned triplebuffering off for the gun games.  Here is a quick pic, I installed them in some Guncon2s that I picked up for $10; you can see the leds glowing, I mounted the board under the bezel and bent them to point down to the guns.

[phildo77]

The first LED rail that I received was faulty. The replacement worked perfectly. Many thanks Andy. Here it is in action....

Phenomenal.  That's what I needed to see.  Mine are on the way!   

[Reckless]

Hello folks,

got a prob while calibratring my aim trak:

I upgraded to fw1.3. Now I am holding the trigger 5 secs to go into calibration mode.

upper left works fine and upper right to,
but when my mouse coursor points at the lower middle I can aim wherever I want and press the trigger as often as I want but I cant get the calkibration process done!

When I am pressing the triger the coursor moves back to its initial location from where it moves down again which means the button press is registred but thats all.

Is this a known prob?

[Dannymh]

This is only a guess, but the camera probably can't see the LED bar properly when you are pointing at the bottom. Make sure the camera is aimed up and the LED bar down.

Check the line of site

[helpmebuild]

Andy,

What are we looking at in terms of time for the completed units (shell and all), a week, a month? I'm just looking for a general idea so I can decide if its best to wait or just cave and DIY with a Guncon or something.

Thanks!