We need to send Jeremy a message. I just want his blessing before we mod it.
I’ve CCed him on this message.
-chad
On Oct 26, 2016, at 8:56 PM, Simon Heath <icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So! It turns out that arcade machine monitors usually don't use normal VGA
signals. Instead, they tend to use a 15 KHz RGB signal, which is less than
half the frequency of the 31 KHz VGA signal. Basically, half the scanlines,
so half the resolution, but not close enough to half to make conversion
trivial. So, as Chad said, the computer in the arcade machine has a
non-standard video card. Fortunately the company that makes them is still
around and still makes the cards: http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html ;
<http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html>
And also fortunately, they're huge nerds who have a fairly technical (if
somewhat biased) FAQ on arcade monitors: http://www.ultimarc.com/monfaq.html ;
<http://www.ultimarc.com/monfaq.html>
Unfortunately, the card we have is an AGP card, not PCI or PCIe, and people
more or less stopped making computers with AGP slots around... 2006 or so.
And we're not going to fit a new graphics card into an RPi more or less no
matter what. (The PC in there has a sticker on the bottom labelled 2001; I'm
amazed the thing hasn't died already.)
Now, some enterprising hackers HAVE connected a Pi to an arcade monitor, and
wrote about it:
http://thearcademan.net/connecting-a-raspberry-pi-to-an-old-15khz-arcade-monitor/
<http://thearcademan.net/connecting-a-raspberry-pi-to-an-old-15khz-arcade-monitor/>
Long story short, they used a VGA-to-arcade video converter, much like this
one which can be found by searching eBay for "vga to arcade converter":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VGA-to-CGA-Converter-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-/110934183488?hash=item19d4314e40:m:mW9QZ4s6rPG7gRfikP3yrug
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/VGA-to-CGA-Converter-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-/110934183488?hash=item19d4314e40:m:mW9QZ4s6rPG7gRfikP3yrug>
Be careful though, converters from arcade signals to VGA monitors are a lot
more common than vice versa.
SO. That's where we sit right now. I will happily try to get in touch with
Jeremy and ask if we can replace the CRT, if anyone has his contact info. I
kind of want to do that just so we get rid of the ear-rending whine. But
apart from that I'm down to messing around with the original PC to see if it
can be coaxed into running software that actually works well. If anyone
wants to buy a VGA to arcade converter (or build their own!) I'll be glad to
put everything together, but I already shelled out $30 for the HDMI-to-VGA
converter and this is starting to be less fun.
Also, darn it, I assume the prohibition on modifying the arcade cabinet nixes
painting cool stuff on the side, which was going to be my next idea...
Simon
On 10/25/2016 11:26 PM, Chad Elish wrote:
You can’t use a Pi on that…
It is using a modified video card with that computer so that it can use the
original arcade monitor. You would need a new monitor.
The P4 is enough to handle everything that it plays.
Also, Jeremy asked that we do not modify it. It is on “Permanent Loan”
I would contact him directly.
-chad
On Oct 24, 2016, at 8:57 PM, Joachim Hall <jjoachimhall@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jjoachimhall@xxxxxxxxx> <mailto:jjoachimhall@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:jjoachimhall@xxxxxxxxx>>> wrote:
You can also use the shop flicker camera as an SD card reader.
-Joachim
On Oct 23, 2016 11:55 AM, "Simon Heath" <icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx> <mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx>>> wrote:
Derp. Well that makes life easier, thanks.
On 10/23/2016 11:52 AM, Robert Berger wrote:
The laptops running the BoXZY and vinyl cutter have SD card
readers.
On Oct 23, 2016, at 11:29 AM, Simon Heath <icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:icefoxen@xxxxxxxxx>>>> wrote:
In related news, is there an SD card reader at the shop?
I couldn't find one, and the one in my laptop seems to
have broken...
Simon
On 10/22/2016 11:54 PM, James Keener wrote:
OK, I just didn't know the arrangement (donation or
loan) :) I know where he went! I visited his factory
a few months ago:)
Sorry, just sticking my nose where it doesn't belong!
On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 10:55 PM, Yevgeniy Soroka
<ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:ukranians2@xxxxxxxxx>>>> wrote:
Its Jeremy's, but he moved to Silicon Valley 3
years ago to start
a company, and donated a bunch of stuff, including
the arcade
machine. We can do what we want to it. Jeremy
would only encourage
it.
-Geno
On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 9:49 PM, James Keener
<jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>>>
wrote:
John, which machine? The one by the garage
door that is a real
arcade box and screen with a PC in it was
Jeremy Herrman's.
On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 9:28 PM, John Lewis
<oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>> wrote:
I am pretty sure Chad built this one.
On 10/22/2016 09:09 PM, James Keener wrote:
Not to poo-poo anyone, but is the
Arcade ours or just on
loan from Jeremy? If it's ours, I'd be
OK upgrading it:)
I like playing it from time-to-time
when I stop in.
On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 9:04 PM, Eris
Symms
<eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>>> wrote:
Missed the USB controls part.
Either way, I can drop
off the pi tomorrow.
Eris
On Oct 22, 2016 9:03 PM, "Eris Symms"
<eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:eris.symms@xxxxxxxxx>>>>
wrote:
I can provide the pi 3 and the
retro pie image
but I don't know much about
mapping the physical
buttons via gpio.
Eris
On Oct 22, 2016 9:01 PM, "John
Lewis"
<oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>>
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:oflameo2@xxxxxxxxx>>>
wrote:
I think we should replace
the whole thing
with a Raspberry Pi 3. I am
willing to go in for half
of a New Pi and a
hdmi to vga converter.
On 10/22/2016 08:33 PM,
Simon Heath wrote:
> So I've figured out how
to take the arcade
machine apart enough to
> actually do stuff to it,
if we want. Turns
out that the computer in
> it is *really* old,
like, Pentium 4 with
512 mb of ram. I'm kind of
> amazed it still works at
all. But I tried
at least seeing if I could
> get Linux or something
to boot on it, and
it's too old to boot off of
> a USB drive. And I don't
really feel like
burning a CD just to see if
> that thing is
salvagable. It's running an
old version of software
> called Maximus Arcade.
>
> There's a pile of custom
wiring to get all
the inputs and outputs
> connected to the
computer, but it LOOKS
like the joysticks end up
> plugging into a USB
input, the monitor is
VGA and the sound is just a
> 3.5 mm jack.
>
> So the question is, what
do we want to
actually do with it? Our
> options seem to be:
>
> * Just update the
software to a new version
of the same thing
> * Keep the same computer
but put Linux on
it running MAME or something
> (maybe http://www.lakka.tv/)
> * Just replace the thing
with a RPi
>
> I'll play around with
different programs
and see if I can find one
> that works significantly
better than what
we have.
>
> On the more hardware-y
side, I really want
to cover the gaping holes
> next to the coin
acceptor with something...
maybe plastic with cool
> laser-cut designs and
LED backlighting. The
sides of the thing are
> also just aching for
paint and/or decals.
Anyone have any good
> suggestions there?
>
> Simon
>
>
>
