Death Inc

Hey guys, sorry i've been a bit quiet as of the past couple of years.

So my new GF loves retro gaming, so that inspired me to build a retropie gaming rig. now that was easy enough, but i discovered something for me, and it may interest a few of you.

So i LOVE pinball machine. And i have always wanted one.....but they are rather expensive.

however i discovered virtual pinball

https://youtu.be/vSY8QaMm_no

So i'm doing my own build. from scratch.

is anyone keen for a dear diary/journal on this fairly epic project?

Hell Yeah.

Yes
As I always wanted to own the following pinball games;
- Indiana Jones
- theatre of magic
- Adams Family

Grew up on those bad boys. Also my weeks allowance went into them in 5 mins.

this looks soo cool man..
it is a pretty big thing for these, have seen a few cabnets like this pop up on reddit..

http://imgur.com/a/2Aith

WOW, don't think I've ever even SEEN a real pin-ball machine, let alone played one... you must be OLD Syklone :P

So an update.....i was worried about the wood work side, turns out that was the least of my worries....the software was the real concern.

So you need quite a few programs.

PinMame: which is the emulating software, that loads the roms onto the tables
VisualPinball: (you can use future pinball too but i'm focusing on VP for now) which is a table building software, so this is where people have actually set up the playing fields
DirectB2S: this runs the backglass on the 2nd monitor and also the DMD (little score screen((which you can run on a 3rd monitor in your cabinet if you are so inclined, either via a 3rd monitor or via a USB LED screen))
Hyperpin, which is a front end program that lets you cycle through the tables.

So what i have found is that i have to download files for each of the 4 programs.

e.g Addam's family.vpt, Addams family.b2s, TAF_7.zip (the roms), and then the hyperpin front end files.

the problems i've found, you need to redefine the scripting for EVERY table, to tell it to run the b2s file or when it compiles it just errors out. also is that every file must be the EXACT same name however with it's own extensions EXCEPT the roms, they must be left zipped as downloaded. also there can be up to like 10 versions of the roms, so you need to get the exact one for the table version.

On top of that hyperpin only wanted to run visualpinballX.exe and i had to rename a bunch of files to run visualpinball992.exe (more tables available for this release so far).

So i spent a while making all the programs run at the right resolution and position, but every table i have to redefine the DMD location and size. then once i know the table works i have to then script it into the hyperspin so that it is available form the front end program.

i'm gonna get about 20 tables sorted then i'm gonna make windows launch straight into the front end program, then i will build it into the cabinet itself.

As far as the hardware goes i bought almost all of it off of gumtree.

Sony bravia 46inch LED TV $270
Samsung 27 inch LED Monitor $150
a socket 1156 i5 3.2ghz dual core with a 750w psu and 8gb ram and windows for $150 (the programs only run dual core)
a gtx750i for $80
and a new 146gb SSD for $100
2 sheets of 12mm timber $70
 $100 worth of buttons and a gizmo called an ipac, that converts the buttons into keyboard signals so when i wire the buttons in they translate properly.

also about $100 worth of bits from bunnings that will all become a tax write off

all i'm missing now are table legs and a 2.1 speaker set up.

the timber is cut based upon the williams widebody design, but adjusted for 12mm wide timber instead of 18mm wide, also adjusted for the width of the decased sony tv. Which i should be using a router (wood working tool) be routing out where the TV will sit on friday and then get some paint to paint it all then assemble the cabinet and build it all in.

wow seems like your progressing nicely

Nice work - props for you.

i'll get some photos and videos up for you guys soon. hopefully

Well this has been more work than i thought, but it's almost complete. It's all together, wired, playing well. a few tables lag on multiball which sucks, but i'll work with what i can get running smoothly. all i need to do now is order the playfield glass and make the frame for the glass. super stoked

nice update... looking forward to the pics

it's been a while....where can i upload pics to show you guys?

http://imgur.com/

This took some time to get to, but anyways in order?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBzx9A1FM4 first play test with the PC and the TV hooked up.

(http://i.imgur.com/pPMsI7s.jpg) got wood?

(http://i.imgur.com/ovHMG20.jpg) my box

(http://i.imgur.com/f4REmeA.jpg) guide rails?

(http://i.imgur.com/S2x2eet.jpg) a coffin?

(http://i.imgur.com/cS4fCCy.jpg) lets cut the monitor stand to pieces

(http://i.imgur.com/Vg7ITau.jpg) will it all fit and work?

(http://i.imgur.com/bVfu3yK.jpg) could be handy?

(http://i.imgur.com/9PDnRXu.jpg) IT FITS!!!

(http://i.imgur.com/MOATZ5y.jpg) we need WIRES

(http://i.imgur.com/QfwxJdw.jpg) they are pretty

(http://i.imgur.com/YzfpHKf.jpg) but does it work?

(http://i.imgur.com/O1dWm1X.jpg) IT'S ALIVE

(http://i.imgur.com/pe6IoQy.jpg) MWAH HA HA HA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY-zdjbcBWE With the glass and LED lighting and all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwEMvP2QJfA

What would the cost be to get a 2nd made up

not cheap.

wow that looks awesome!!

Very nice indeed Crypto!  Well done :)

i'm adding more tables to it now. up to about 130 odd working tables ha ha ha

another thing some of you might like and is CHEAP and EASY to do is a raspberry pi loaded with retroPi, google that.....1000s of retro games

Nice work man!

So i'm already planning a v2.0,

Changelog for 2,0:
actual pinball machine knocker, so free games get that CRACK sound.
contactors (probably CA7 Sprecher Schuh) the coils pulling in and out going clunk clunk for the real effect.
the cabinet, build a complete new new one, but this time make it so the WHOLE cabinet can lever open to make working on it easier...thing like the back of a VAN
inverse the design of the top cabinet so the back glass and DMD are lower and easier to see and have the speakers up top

Oddly enough, would buy one off you

i'll put it to you this way. it cost me around $1400 in parts (most of that off gumtree) and around 100 hours to build. Sure to make more i would do it in less time, but the parts took time to source and retrieve. I could modify each design based upon whatever play field that you source...eg a 42inch tv vs a 46inch like this one. But the time is the biggest thing. i would have to charge like $3000 plus to make it worth while....that's with me supplying parts...but since i know some of you live in brisbane, if we wanna do a death inc man shed and make things like this or the sit down arcade tables, then i am willing to be social and help.

That is insanely awesome!

https://youtu.be/afJLdvHu1FY

the pinball game in this would work well.

Man shed idea is cool. I would just like to hang out too and drink and zap myself while plugging shit in. I am libing in Redbank Plains now for 6 months (secured lease) so whats the plan?

What do you think a table would take ? Shall we catch up and have a drink at Sandmans and eat his sausage (nicely bbq'd) and talk?

Thoughts anyone ?

Might be a bit late now but if you need anything cut on a CNC let me know i just built one for my little business.

some people have pinball fx on their cabinets. i have considered it for sure.

Where do you live big mack? because i'm thinking of a mach 2 version in july....do you have the plans for the CNC design that i can look at? what thickness wood did you use? how much would it cost to have a CNC cut job done?