NEW AND IMPORTANT Interest Check: Vector Pong PCB set (new game)

cwilkson

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Vector Pong is finished!

I've been working on this for a long time now and I think it's finally ready. I would like to make it available as a kit but I need a minimum level of interest to make it feasible.

GAME DESCRIPTION:
A vector implementation of Pong. With a round ball!
Utilizes an analog computer and discrete logic to generate a vector display with mono sound (unamplified).

Operator Options:
  • Winning score adjustable from 1-40 points
  • Horizontal and vertical ball speed independently adjustable
  • Freeplay only.
Player Options:
  • One or two players.

KIT CONTENTS:
  • Main Board - directly replaces an Asteroids Deluxe PCB.
  • Score Board - mounts under the control panel for LED score display.
  • PCB interconnect cable - connects the 2 PCBs together.
  • Full documentation - schematics, assembly maps, bill of materials, etc.




Control panels will be a separate project. Takeman has expressed a willingness to run those if there is enough interest. The CP requires 3 push buttons (Atari LED volcanoes are supported!), 1 toggle switch, two 5k pots with knobs, and a harness. I will start another thread to deal with this and post a link in this thread.

Artwork will also be a separate project. I have no concrete plans for art packages at this time. I am looking for suggestions. Perhaps a design contest? Volunteers? Yet another thread to deal with this. I'll post a link in this thread.

I have no idea on kit cost because it is heavily dependent on quantity. So treat this as an interest sign up only until I can gauge the volumes and come back with pricing info. Please indicate if you want fully assembled boards or loose parts to solder yourself. It's all through-hole for easy hand assembly. Also state whether you want the metal panel from Takeman and if you prefer cabaret or upright.

Here are some more pictures. Click for larger images. I'm still working on video uploads.

Vector Pong Screenshot

Vector Pong Running in an Asteroids Deluxe Cabaret

Vector Pong Cabaret Control Panel Prototype

Vector Pong - Main Board in an Asteroids Deluxe Cabaret

Vector Pong Score Board scoring options


INTEREST LIST:
1) cwilkson - 1 PCB kit, assembled, 1 metal CP, cabaret
2) Pinball Wizard - 1 PCB kit, assembled, 1 metal CP, upright
3) CossackWarrior - 1 PCB kit, assembled, 1 metal CP, cabaret
4) animesuperj - 1 PCB kit, assembled, 1 metal CP, cabaret
5) VBSD - 1 PCB kit, assembled
6) tbbk - 1 PCB kit, assembled
7) arcadeshopper - 1 PCB kit, assembled, 1 metal CP, cabaret
8) chopperthedog - 1 PCB kit, unassembled
9) Nightbringer - 1 PCB kit, unassembled, 1 metal CP, cabaret
10) Mark H - 1 PCB kit, unassembled
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Vector Pong is finished!

I've been working on this for a long time now and I think it's finally ready. I would like to make it available as a kit but I need a minimum level of interest to make it feasible.

GAME DESCRIPTION:
A vector implementation of Pong. With a round ball!
Utilizes an analog computer and discrete logic to generate a vector display with mono sound (unamplified).

Operator Options:
  • Winning score adjustable from 1-40 points
  • Horizontal and vertical ball speed independently adjustable
  • Freeplay only.
Player Options:
  • One or two players.

KIT CONTENTS:
  • Main Board - directly replaces an Asteroids Deluxe PCB.
  • Score Board - mounts under the control panel for LED score display.
  • PCB interconnect cable - connects the 2 PCBs together.
  • Full documentation - schematics, assembly maps, bill of materials, etc.

Interesting project, but slightly confused on one point above - the one where I added the emphasis to, "Main Board - directly replaces an Asteroids Deluxe PCB."

Perhaps I misread something, but is this a ROM swap or a complete PCB swap? To my mind, keeping the Asteroids Deluxe PCB and doing a ROM swap would make the most sense since that would leave a ton of room for multigame possibilities. A vector implementation of Warlords, for example, would be awesome.
 
Complete pcb swap. Wow bitchen project! Sadly I dont have a cab to kit it into right now otherwise I would be interested. Pong against an asteroids deluxe blacklight backdrop would be neat.
 
Heh... I did that as a class project on a breadboard in 1994 :)
Played on an oscilloscope screen... always wanted to build it into a PCB.
Heh. So did I Mark. I was there at the same time you were. :)
But the ball was a dot and the paddles were lines. Sound and scoring were very primitive, almost non-existent IIRC...but Steve and Ron weren't really interested in taking it further. I think I used around 7-8 ICs - some quad opamps, some quad comparators, a 74LS390, and a 74LS00. And I think there was a 556 timer, but what for? Probably one shots for scoring.

I first built this one as a demo of what _could_ be done with primitives when I was teaching around 1999? It's been kicking around in one proto-form or another ever since. I even took it to CAX in...2013? But the donor cab had issues...it played blind. I was going to take it again last year, but life got in the way. :(

I finally decided to get it off the project list for myself (or die trying) and make it available to others in an official way. So here it is!
 
Interesting project, but slightly confused on one point above - the one where I added the emphasis to, "Main Board - directly replaces an Asteroids Deluxe PCB."

Perhaps I misread something, but is this a ROM swap or a complete PCB swap? To my mind, keeping the Asteroids Deluxe PCB and doing a ROM swap would make the most sense since that would leave a ton of room for multigame possibilities. A vector implementation of Warlords, for example, would be awesome.
Complete PCB swap. I wanted to build a Bronze Age board, with ABSOLUTELY NO SOFTWARE and no magic parts. Everything on this board is pretty generic and easily replaced. I wanted to use this board as a teaching vehicle for electronics classes and to help collectors understand Bronze Age stuff better. A ROM swap goes against all of this. Plus you can't draw a circle with an Asteroids Deluxe PCB. At least not a good one, and even that would be pretty hard to do. This ball is actually a true circle.:D
 
Complete pcb swap. Wow bitchen project! Sadly I dont have a cab to kit it into right now otherwise I would be interested. Pong against an asteroids deluxe blacklight backdrop would be neat.
I should mention that this should run in an Asteroids cabinet too, with a harness adapter.

But you can run this on a table with an oscilloscope and a bench supply. You'll find a cabinet eventually, right? I mean...it's ASTEROIDS (DELUXE). They're everywhere!
Better get in while you can! :D
 
I have an asteroids deluxe cabinet that I'll end up running this in, but now I'm thinking, I could get another cabinet and put this in full time. Maybe I'll make some custom art for a backdrop for this. And if I go that far, it'll need a marquee and CPO.... Hmm, sounds like I have a project to work on.
 
-I should mention that this should run in an Asteroids cabinet too, with a harness adapter.-

Yeh I assumed as much :). You are right. Ive for a lunar lander cab that I kit asteroids into. Another kit game would be great. I was just thinking about if I would ever get around to making up the asteroids style control panel. I have an asteroids cab currenly playing deluxe but I dont plan to keep it (for sale. anyone?) Im not going to not support this. Put me on the list for an assembled kit!
 
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Hmm, sounds like I have a project to work on.
I like it! Be sure to keep us posted! :)

I'm torn on where to put mine. For now my plan is to keep Vector Pong in the cabaret because AD is soooo cool in the upright with 3D art. Pong cabaret is cool too. :D
 
Interest list updated. Please check to make sure I have it right.
And help spread the word!
 
I've mentioned it to a few people, hopefully you get a lot of interest! Is there any sort of minimum number you're thinking of hitting? Obviously the more people in, the cheaper. Wasn't sure if you had a ballpark number to make it happen. I'd be in even with a low count of people.
 
Any AD cabaret owners "close" to Detroit...I'd love to bring the kit over to let you try it out in your machine.
Upright owners too. Just have to deal with a cabaret CP. ;)
 
Any AD cabaret owners "close" to Detroit...I'd love to bring the kit over to let you try it out in your machine.
Upright owners too. Just have to deal with a cabaret CP. ;)
For the PCB kit, any number is fine with me. But the cost is *REALLY* affected by quantity, especially before you get to 10-15 kits.

For the metal CPs, we need a minimum of 18 panels for Takeman to make a run. And 25 is better. Hopefully, we get enough to make both styles! :D
 
Figured 25 for Troy, that's usually his minimum. Hopefully you can get enough, this would be a fun project. If you're ever in the Milwaukee area, feel free to stop by and test on my AD upright.
 
I have a spare b&W vector monitor so put me down as interested.
 
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