Some Zektor ZVG on AD pics

gmontag

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This is fun. I'm still working on the control panel and the never ending MAME tweeks.
 

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Looks good, if you can post any helpful info on tweaks you've tried that would be great!
 
I think that's very cool with the AD backdrop. Wonder how it would look if you threw a k6100 in there and had color graphics with that backdrop.
 
Looks good, if you can post any helpful info on tweaks you've tried that would be great!

I mostly just followed shillmover's excellent tips left on this site.

I was initially dumb in wiring the asteroids layout to Optipac as buttons 12345. It should be left, right 3,2,1 (3 is hyperspace). Then most everything works in MAME.

I'm still futzing with vector lengths as you can see. What's right in some games is off in others. Lengths also seems to drift over time.

The power brick for AD needs a custom cable. That's posted in one of the repair threads.
 
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Looks good, if you can post any helpful info on tweaks you've tried that would be great!

After I got sound configured (finally) dvmame from the zektor site did a pretty good job with the games I tried. Here's the remainder:

Easy control fixes:

Major Havoc: Uses fire button to start the game. This is correct but I added the start button so it works like the rest of the games.

War of the Worlds: The thrust button activates the shields. Another easy fix.

Zektor: Left and right spin the ship way too fast. I reduces the sensitivity to 40% which feels natural but I need to compare to a real game.


Issues I hope will be resolved with a newer Mame build (I'm working though .106):

Space Duel: The thrust sound is off. It's a high pitched rasp instead of that deep roar that makes SD's four speakers so sweet.

Demon: It's in color (which I think is incorrect?) The player, enimies, shuttle, and crystals are very dark. Too dark to play.

Omega race: A "known issues with this game" warning about cocktail mode.

Star Trek: Like many have noted, the volume is mixed poorly.
 
Nice! I had similar problems getting vectors to line up when I first went from the vectrex to a proper G05. I was working from an older ZVG manual and setting the jumpers accordingly. In the end I reverted to the vectrex settings and everything lined up perfectly. I later found a (more recent) copy of the ZVG setting manual which was different to the first one I'd been using.

I'll take a note of my jumper settings later if it helps...
 
with apologies to the MAME haters.

You know, I don't think a ZVG is like a MAME machine. I mean the difference is in the experience in my opinion. My ZVG feels more like a color vector game than an emulated machine. I know it's still running MAME, but with the Vector based front ends and stuff, the end result doesn't feel like a computer running an emulator.

And nice looking game! Congrats!
 
Question (related)

Since I have never tried my rig on a B&W monitor, I'm just curious. When you're playing Asteroids, do the shots look like over-bright dots with a glow to them like the real game? Just curious because the B&W games don't look right on a color vector monitor (for multiple reasons).
 
Here's my ZVG settings for the G05 in my Ast Dlx Cabaret:
ZVGPORT=P378 D3 I7 M12

ZVGTweak settings:

Z axis shift: 0
Z axis overshoot: 25

Max intesnsity: 225
Min intensity: 65
Point intensity: 200

Screen size: 171

Jump speed: 15
Settling time: 2

Jumpers on ZVG:
J3:
SP1 closed
SP2 Open
1284 closed
setup open

J4
open, closed, closed, open

J7
all open

J8
all closed
 
Since I have never tried my rig on a B&W monitor, I'm just curious. When you're playing Asteroids, do the shots look like over-bright dots with a glow to them like the real game? Just curious because the B&W games don't look right on a color vector monitor (for multiple reasons).

I know what you are talking about and the answer is no. The shots are no brighter than other vectors. I haven't played with the max brightness settings yet. For now it looks like my vector length problem is the top problem.

I have a Gravitar and spare Space Duel panel ready to convert too. All in time.
 
I've got the shots in Asteroids looking a lot brighter than the vectors. I wouldn't say they are as bright as with a real board but I haven't played extensively with the ZVG Tweak settings for max brightness/point intensity etc. I do get the glow you mention though, and a phosphor trail.

Some games seem to be a lot brighter by default hence I backed off on maxing the settings as they were just too bright overall.
 
You won't make a B&W vector from a colour tube and get it looking like a real B&W vector monitor. Colour tubes have a shadow mask, B&W's don't so you get crisp lines on a B&W with no jagged steps. Not so on a colour tube. Then there's convergence on a colour tube - if it's just a little bit off then your white vectors will separate out into the component colours and be slightly offset from one another.

My ZVG is running on a B&W G05 and the comments above relate to that setup.
 
You won't make a B&W vector from a colour tube and get it looking like a real B&W vector monitor. Colour tubes have a shadow mask, B&W's don't so you get crisp lines on a B&W with no jagged steps. Not so on a colour tube. Then there's convergence on a colour tube - if it's just a little bit off then your white vectors will separate out into the component colours and be slightly offset from one another.

My ZVG is running on a B&W G05 and the comments above relate to that setup.

Ahh sorry, thanks for that, I got threads mixed up. :) my bad
 
Here's my ZVG settings for the G05 in my Ast Dlx Cabaret:
ZVGPORT=P378 D3 I7 M12

ZVGTweak settings:

Z axis shift: 0
Z axis overshoot: 25

Max intesnsity: 225
Min intensity: 65
Point intensity: 200

Screen size: 171

Jump speed: 15
Settling time: 2

Jumpers on ZVG:
J3:
SP1 closed
SP2 Open
1284 closed
setup open

J4
open, closed, closed, open

J7
all open

J8
all closed

Thank you! That looks so much better.
 
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