Video Pinball 2.0

[ThisOldGame]

Ok, first things first a BIG thanks to the following
Xray2, BaconSM, EndofLine,VectorInvader, Gibbous, Prok, and YodainMN
Disclaimer: For the purists unlike D2K no Video Pinballs were harmed (at least by my hand) in the making of this project

For those that got to see and play this at CAX would love to hear your comments and thoughts
and for those that didn't Ill be posting alot more on this project
Note to self:There are a few technical issues to address... the sound was too low, the 3d effect was too much
and the blacklight needs to be more evenly distributed.

But for starters VP2.0 was basically 2 years in the making and really got going just this past year when
I met and teamed up with Xray2 (ArcadeHacking.com)
who really took this project to the next level and reworked the entire original Atari game code to make this happen

VP2.0 Features:
New playfield design rom hack-Xray2 worte a windows playfield editor which could then generate the new code and be Mame tested
because there is no background in Video Pinball the screenshot also uses the building elements in Mame to help grid align for the physical playfield which was built later.

Added and adapted a new sound board to play Tron sounds during game play and all new silkscreened art

There have been lots of technical developments on this project as well that should help alot of other projects
for original VPs I think Xray2 has a set of self- test roms and other 6502 mods.
The rom expansion can also hold multiple versions and could possibly be adapted into a multi game feature
which could include Solar War and a few other variations
also exploring options of adapting the sound board to other games like DOT as a enhancement/replacement for the EDOT speech board,
Pinballs, as well as some other cool custom applications.

Im posting a complete blog build over on the BYOC
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103778.0

and a sound test clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqexE-1FdO4

 

[ThisOldGame]

The Art Designed and ScreenPrinted to perfection
-Glass Bezel

-Blacklight fluorescent physical playfield

-Blacklight Fluorescent cpo

-Sideart which was done on a light reflective vinyl
(same material used on Police cars to light up at night)

Other graphics used included: original Tron inner art and shroud art for some of the interior and a modified screenprinted
EDOT kickplate.

Ill have a new Vid clip soon will be testing a new set of roms in about a week.
VectorInvader has a nice clip about 19min
http://www.vimeo.com/13522260

 

[30FathomDave]

I played it a few times at CAX and loved it. You did an amazing job on that machine, Rich.

 

[orion3311]

Holy crap!! I was going to ask about the details on this, but man you really went all the way! If mine were not one of the nicer games I own I'd be up for a conversion! In fact I may be up for a bezel anyway for the hell of it.

Actually, can you take a couple more pics of the actual playfield (assuming you had it out) and the backdrop?

 

[ThisOldGame]

Im currently reworking the psyical playfield the 3-d effect was alittle too intense.
the Orginal uses a 3/8" foam board and I had used reg 1" Pinball plastic spacers
much cooler and pin authentic but created a unforseen dilema. : (
heres a shot of the test print before cutting and assembly its all printed in reverse
since the image is reflected off the 2 way mirror

 

[gozer5454]

simply beautiful. I love the colors especially, that is what really gets my attention on the other tron cabs too. The sideart especially is sweet. Hopefully one day I'll actually get to come up to the ole' shop and give it a play.

 

[orion3311]

I had thought about a small 7w blacklight fluorescent mounted towards the front to better fill the light. Agreed that its pretty bad.

I also think someone mentioned a white black light doing a MUCH better job, even though I think they came factory with a standard black light.

 

[TheShanMan]

I had the pleasure of playing this at CAX and it was awesome. How about a gaming party at your place to show it off to the local PAC folks, Rich?

 

[bit_slicer]

Awesome job to everyone involved! I hope you can bring it again to CAX next year when hopefully I can finally make it. I'm also looking forward to reading about the HW/SW mods to the board.

Oh, and has orion3311 seen this yet???

 

[orion3311]

Yes, and scroll to the top of the thread for the HW/SW mods - I can't (ok, I can) believe xray made a playfield editor!

He also wrote me a ram test rom on his lunch hour, so I can believe it.

 

[bit_slicer]

Yes, and scroll to the top of the thread for the HW/SW mods - I can't (ok, I can) believe xray made a playfield editor!

He also wrote me a ram test rom on his lunch hour, so I can believe it.

Hey I'm just messin'. Did you ever get your VP up and running? I know you were dogged on it for quite a while. Annnd, I'm waiting for *details* on the HW/SW mods so I can share in the geek-out.

 

[orion3311]

Yes! I got mine running late last week. I picked up a Fluke 9010a and with its help figured out the problem in literally a minute! The write enable line for the rams was stuck high, and I think it used the same line for all 4 chips (so no program AND no video).

I put up a post with a vid of the actual problem (using the 9010 and a Logic Comparator) under the "Fluke 9010a club" and under my repair thread.

PS I'm curious too - that little red board looks like an MP3 kit or something, I think I see a mini SD card on there?

 

[bit_slicer]

Nice! Glad you were able to get that thing running. Now you're the go-to guy for VP!

Yes! I got mine running late last week. I picked up a Fluke 9010a and with its help figured out the problem in literally a minute! The write enable line for the rams was stuck high, and I think it used the same line for all 4 chips (so no program AND no video).

I put up a post with a vid of the actual problem (using the 9010 and a Logic Comparator) under the "Fluke 9010a club" and under my repair thread.

PS I'm curious too - that little red board looks like an MP3 kit or something, I think I see a mini SD card on there?

 

[orion3311]

Nice! Glad you were able to get that thing running. Now you're the go-to guy for VP!

I think X-Ray is the go-to guy but I'll happily have his back if need be. I think I almost know what every chip on that board does at this point, and honestly I'm glad I went through the repairs myself, I learned a LOT about how the boards work.

PS - While its not a Playfield editor, I'm going to write up a simple test script for the Fluke which will also trigger the audio as well.

 

[_sentient_]

Out of everything I saw that was at Cax..and every other game I have never played..this has me the most excited to try! Looks like an awesome project to see to the end.

 

[xray2]

Hey Rich, you completely left out the "best" part of the story...

You know, the part where you purchased 4 new tires before CAX and then had one blow out on the drive down from Oregon? I especially liked the part where you hit the concrete divider, your front window was ejected from the vehicle and the Video Pinball 2.0 catches some air in the back. Of course, none of the VP damage was discovered until you arrived at CAX and found the contents in the vehicle were now *UNDER* the Video Pinball cabinet!

So Rich arrives at the show about 18 hours behind schedule with a damaged cab. Externally it looked great but the cab had twisted during the accident. The rear door had to be forcibly removed which then revealed everything inside (power brick, pcb, monitor and lamps) had gone flying. We spent the better part of Saturday repairing the damage and trying to adjust the monitor so it was aligned with the 3d playfield.

VP 2.0 was almost a no-show at CAX with everything conspiring to prevent it!

 

[xray2]

He also wrote me a ram test rom on his lunch hour, so I can believe it.

Heh, I don't get no stinking lunch hour. I was waiting for my lunch date (wife) and she was late so you got some test roms out of the deal.

Glad to see another VP up and running too. We'd taken your troubleshooting about as far as it could have gone without removing the CPU and inserting resistors into the sockets. The fluke was a far more elegant solution. ;-)

 

[ThisOldGame]

Hey Rich, you completely left out the "best" part of the story...

You know, the part where you purchased 4 new tires before CAX and then had one blow out on the drive down from Oregon? I especially liked the part where you hit the concrete divider, your front window was ejected from the vehicle and the Video Pinball 2.0 catches some air in the back. Of course, none of the VP damage was discovered until you arrived at CAX and found the contents in the vehicle were now *UNDER* the Video Pinball cabinet!

So Rich arrives at the show about 18 hours behind schedule with a damaged cab. Externally it looked great but the cab had twisted during the accident. The rear door had to be forcibly removed which then revealed everything inside (power brick, pcb, monitor and lamps) had gone flying. We spent the better part of Saturday repairing the damage and trying to adjust the monitor so it was aligned with the 3d playfield.

VP 2.0 was almost a no-show at CAX with everything conspiring to prevent it!

LOL all true but I thought my abridged intro story was long enough
so yeah for those that were at CAX this is why we didnt have it up and operational until
later Sat. night.

but how about more on your contributions like the playfield editor and sound board hookups??

 

[InsaneDavid]

Wow, amazing work two fold now hearing about the trauma the machine received en route to the show.

 

[orion3311]

Man that part was definitely left out! Sounds like the history of my SI cab.

Yeah we wanna hear the geeky stuff!