Will's Gaming Projects

Done??

I'd say it's almost perfect. It could use a little paint, and the left side t-molding needs replacing, but wow, what a difference.

Here's an updated photoset, complete with captions describing each step.

Soon I'll do some kind of concluding writeup.

Audio Done

Not much time to work on MAME between holiday trips and work, but the audio is now done.

The design of this cabinet (an Atari Tempest you'll recall) is ingenius.

I made a slight modification to the drawer insert and installed a Cambridge Soundworks system. These are a little dated, but quite affordable, and they provide great sound for their price and size. I've had a few sets of these over the years.

There's a series of photos illustrating the audio setup starting here.

Oh yeah: I also replaced the screws holding the trackball in place with proper carriage bolts from Happ.

This Rules!

Continuing progress...

• Installed control panel buttons and trackball and stuff
• Got old monitor out (didn't die trying)
• Got PC monitor in, found clever mounting approach
• Removed old Mat Mania boards
• Installed PC and interface boards, wired 'em all pretty
• Hauled it upstairs!
• Lots of playtesting, naturally
• Figured out how to print and affix control panel artwork (Kinko's print and laminating was imperfect, size was off a tad resulting in visible template markings, and the color registration could use improvement. Maybe after everything else is done I'll try again. Contact cement worked good.) Here's the 300dpi original.
• Made an online help screen.

Still to do:

• Design and print a Marquee
• Create a monitor bezel
• Figure out audio (here's a hint)
• See if existing backlight fixture works on 110VAC
• Paint cabinet, replace T-molding
• Consider reprinting control panel artwork

Making Progress!

The story so far:

• Got me a kick-ass cabinet. Turns out it's a converted Tempest!
• Old control panel stripped off.
• New control panel designed and validated (visio)
• Control panel artwork designed and validated (tif, tif without template, gimp version)
• Metal control panel: new holes drilled, old holes patched

To do:

• Install control panel buttons and trackball and stuff
• Get old monitor out (don't die trying)
• Get PC monitor in (how how how?)
• Remove and eBay old Mat Mania boards
• Install PC and interface boards
• Test test test!
• Figure out how to print and affix control panel artwork (decoupage?)
• Design and print a Marquee
• Create a monitor bezel
• Figure out audio
• Paint cabinet, replace T-molding
• Haul it upstairs!

Mame Project Underway

With the TZ in good shape, work starts on this year's MAME box. (The last one didn't make it with us to Portland.)

I blogged about this yesterday. What's on my mind at the moment is the control panel.

• Here's what it looks like now.
• Here's the original Tempest layout. I need an overall design on which to superimpose as many of these images as possible without it becoming a chaotic, amateurish collage.
• Here's my amateurish collage of a first stab.

How to play Twilight Zone

I took Sigma's TZ guide, imported it into MS Word, made a few small edits, added a table of contents, and annotated it with lots of photos. It's designed to be printed double-sided.

You can download a zipped copy of this file here.

Update: Here's a PDF, thanks to Kevin Steele at www.retroblast.com.

I am willing to have this printed, coil-bound and FedEx'd to you, at my cost. It's not cheap: Kinko's charges $44 for printing, $8 for ground shipping, and tax varies. So if you send me $58 that should cover it. Please don't flame me: I'm not charging for the content, I am offering to have Kinko's/Fedex perform this service, and I am passing the cost directly to you.

If you are interested, Click here to use Paypal to send money. Don't forget to enter your shipping address.

Finished (almost)

It's ready to party. It's not perfect: the jet bumpers aren't as sensitive as I'd like them to be, but that's not surprising since I never took them apart to service them.

Click for captioned photos.

Back to work!

It's been nine months and 1000 miles since I worked on the Twilight Zone. But today much progress was made after I decided it was a bad idea to strip the playfield absolutely bare:

• Waxed the playfield, 2 coats
• Disassembled, cleaned, reassembled gumball machine
• Cleaned miscellaneous plastics
• Polished miscellaneous metals
• Replaced lots of rubber
• Applied rear panel decal
• Replaced a bunch more 44 bulbs with 47's
• Basic gumball test: still works!

Safe and sound in our new home, progress made!

Just a few parts to get back, in the right order!

So now it's on to the home stretch, hopefully soon:

• Replace gumball machine
• Replace assorted plastics near gumball machine
• Clean and reinstall rubber I don't have/need replacements for
• Replace ramps
• Replace mini-playfield
• Try to reconnect all the cables
• Take it all apart again because something's wrong
• Reassemble everything, again
• Install five brand new balls and the powerball
• PLAY IT!

There's more. Click here for the older stuff.