5 replies to this topic

[Evans502]

Hiya guys,

After playing on a few emulators for some fruit machines, I thought it could be worth trying my hand at starting a project to add some realism by adding a coin mechanism to make a personal "moneybox" with a load of change I seem to have collected over the months.

There are quite a few coin mechanisms that are available to link to computers (for arcade machines etc) but has anyone ever added a full mechanism (including hopper and dispenser) to an emulation project? If so have they got any tips/reccommendations to such a project?

The task at hand is to create a home-made bar-top machine capable of emulating a fruit machine that can accept and dispense change, but if it isnt possible or legal then i just might have to resort to using a jar by my laptop! :-)

Cheers!

[fuzion]

Hiya guys,

After playing on a few emulators for some fruit machines, I thought it could be worth trying my hand at starting a project to add some realism by adding a coin mechanism to make a personal "moneybox" with a load of change I seem to have collected over the months.

There are quite a few coin mechanisms that are available to link to computers (for arcade machines etc) but has anyone ever added a full mechanism (including hopper and dispenser) to an emulation project? If so have they got any tips/reccommendations to such a project?

The task at hand is to create a home-made bar-top machine capable of emulating a fruit machine that can accept and dispense change, but if it isnt possible or legal then i just might have to resort to using a jar by my laptop! :-)

Cheers!

Coin entry shouldnt be a massive problem, maybe some type of USB board like with the mame stuff. Payout would be the biggest problem, not sure how possible this would be with current emulators. Great idea though.

J

Edited by fuzion, 04 July 2011 - 01:07 PM.

[ross]

as said coin in would be very easy coin out on the other hand would be a problem
amber is (i think) open source so you could try adding in your own code (allthough i have no idea how emulation works so again that might be a problem also

[jim2311]

I think someone has already done this, or at least attempted this. I think he may also have posted pictures.

[Evans502]

Hiya thanks for the replies, I've been browsing through some of the games companies and also some of the parts suppliers that deal with hoppers etc.. There are quite a few that use a system called CCtalk, which can be changed to USB through a serial/PCB - to be honest by connecting the parts together in an old arcade cabinet (from a project ages ago that didn't quite lift off) and using some tubing for the coins it shouldnt be too hard on paper.

There was an all-in one module that took in coins, sorted them into separate bays and dispensed them when needed by the USB master (what they use in self-checkouts I'm led to believe) but at £150 including delivery it might be a bit too much (depending on what the other quotes come up as)

Any ideas if there was a way to get any of the emulators (MFME preferred) to send some sort of signal out to a board like this? As you guys said putting money in shouldnt be too hard as the software could press a key combo when the switch on the validator (coin slot) is hit (for ex, could hit 0 for a £1, 9 for a 50p etc).

@Jim2311, if you know whether the blog for that is still up that would be greatly appreciated!

The only task at the moment is setting up the skeleton of the cabinet, and adding a metal payout tray underneath where the controls were. I'll be happy to upload pictures later in the project if this forum allows.

Edited by Evans502, 07 July 2011 - 07:42 PM.

[mort]

This is an awesome idea, and would only take a signal being sent out from the emulator, very simple in process, but would need an emulator author to be willnig to assist (that could be a problem lol!)

But have a chat with Guitar about it, might be something he has already done or would be willing to think about for the future.