Saddle River, NJ
Will it tell you if the ball was attempted to be picked up, but was lost? 
(Topic ID: 66098)
Linked Games
Jurassic Park
Data East, 1993
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Quoted from spfxted:Will it tell you if the ball was attempted to be picked up, but was lost?
No, I don't have a way of doing that without getting more complicated. I'd have to set something up with a microcontroller that has at least two switches, one to sense that the t-rex has bent down, and one in the subway to tell that the ball was successfully eaten.
The game doesn't have any built in t-rex audits except for the number of t-rex saucer hits. Nothing would help indicate that there's an issue with the t-rex...
Quoted from winteriscoming:No, I don't have a way of doing that without getting more complicated. I'd have to set something up with a microcontroller that has at least two switches, one to sense that the t-rex has bent down, and one in the subway to tell that the ball was successfully eaten.
The game doesn't have any built in t-rex audits except for the number of t-rex saucer hits. Nothing would help indicate that there's an issue with the t-rex...
If you had two coin meters, couldn't you just wire them both up? One on the trex motor and one on the subway? Assuming there's a path on the subway that only the trex ball takes.
Quoted from aobrien5:If you had two coin meters, couldn't you just wire them both up? One on the trex motor and one on the subway? Assuming there's a path on the subway that only the trex ball takes.
I believe there are two switches in the subway (not counting the one on the VUK). The first would only get hit by being eaten by the t-rex. The thing is I can't utilize existing switches for this since it would be throwing a new ground and 5v into the switch matrix, and I don't know if there's a good way to mount a new switch in the subway without permanently modifying it.
Things are looking pretty good with my latest version of the t-rex. So far I've got a 100% successful pickup and swallow rate. Since adding the counter in and actually playing the game instead of just testing, I've got about 45 pickups counted give or take when considering startup audits.
Hook up a go pro inside there and we'll see how many are dropped in a fast video loop. I don't have one but I'm sure someone will donate one for the weekend. Just a suggestion and that might not work since I don't know how much they store.
Quoted from futurepinhead:Just a suggestion and that might not work since I don't know how much they store.
That would be my concern... Well, and then I'd have to watch hours of boring video instead of playing my game! 
While it would be good info, I'm not that concerned about successful pickups since I'm seeing a 100% success rate so far. I mainly want a count of how many times it bent down and what it looks like from a wear perspective after that many times.
1 week later
The t-rex is on display at the Louisville Arcade Expo this weekend. I forgot to check the t-rex counter when I left tonight. Overall it seems to be holding up fine after the first day. 2 more days to go.
this is great. I will be bringing mine to Midwest Gaming Classic. i don't know if i will put the meter in or not, but either way i think people are going to enjoy it.
586 total plays and T-rex counter shows 288. I'm not seeing any wear on it, but I'll take it out and inspect closer some day soon.
Update: I still haven't taken the t-rex out to inspect after the expo last weekend. I'll do it soon. I'm not in a huge rush, though, because I've got two people taking their prototypes to MGC next month. I want to see if anything comes up there that I need to factor into the final design.
Quoted from winteriscoming:Update: I still haven't taken the t-rex out to inspect after the expo last weekend. I'll do it soon. I'm not in a huge rush, though, because I've got two people taking their prototypes to MGC next month. I want to see if anything comes up there that I need to factor into the final design.
Make sure they have some signs advertising your mod, they will get a ton of plays at MGC! Can't wait to see it in person.
Chilliwack, BC
Quoted from Darscot:It would be cool to put an LED in the head to give the eyes a little light, not Terminator red or anything but a faint touch of yellow or green might look cool.
That's not happening. I only jokingly brought up the idea several pages ago and some vocal folks made sure to shut it down before the idea became serious.
Quoted from snakesnsparklers:Make sure they have some signs advertising your mod, they will get a ton of plays at MGC! Can't wait to see it in person.
Honestly, I've got all the interest I want just from Pinsiders. The number of interested people so far is kind of overwhelming if I think about it too much, though that's a good problem to have. 
On paper the idea of selling hundreds of them sounds like a good thing, but I doubt I'll be interested in prolonging production into the hundreds. I'm not setting a number, but I want to be up front with everyone that the run will likely be limited to the number I feel like making or the number of interested people, depending on which runs out first.
The only guaranty I can make at this point is that I'll make good to the 3 people currently testing them. They'll get the first final versions. The rest is up in the air, though I'm going to be optimistic and say that I hope to provide them to everyone who wants one.
The value in it being displayed at an expo for me is mainly stress-testing at this point and not advertising.
2 weeks later
Two t-rex prototypes should be at MGC this weekend. I'm waiting for feedback from there before proceeding with the final version. If all goes well, and I don't really hear about anything major, I'll be able to proceed pretty quickly with making the final changes to the original and remaking molds for the first production run. Hopefully I'll be able to start filling orders and shipping next month.
Quoted from wcbrandes:How do I get on the list for one of these winter?
PM and hope I don't burn out before I get to yours. 
Quoted from winteriscoming:Honestly, I've got all the interest I want just from Pinsiders. The number of interested people so far is kind of overwhelming if I think about it too much, though that's a good problem to have.
On paper the idea of selling hundreds of them sounds like a good thing, but I doubt I'll be interested in prolonging production into the hundreds. I'm not setting a number, but I want to be up front with everyone that the run will likely be limited to the number I feel like making or the number of interested people, depending on which runs out first.
The only guaranty I can make at this point is that I'll make good to the 3 people currently testing them. They'll get the first final versions. The rest is up in the air, though I'm going to be optimistic and say that I hope to provide them to everyone who wants one.
The value in it being displayed at an expo for me is mainly stress-testing at this point and not advertising.
Could you hire an intern for a few bucks from the local college art department?
You get some assistance, and they get to put down some work experience on their resume.
Quoted from aobrien5:It looked great. Unfortunately, the scoop mod didn't make it.
IMAG1264.jpg (Click image to enlarge)
That happened to mine at Louisville Arcade Expo, too! Can't blame it on the T-rex, though.
Upper Hutt
Damn! I've since switched to a stronger epoxy after Jim's feedback. Typically my customers are just running their games at home so they haven't had trouble before, and when they do it is easy to rectify right away.
Quoted from accidental:Damn! I've since switched to a stronger epoxy after Jim's feedback. Typically my customers are just running their games at home so they haven't had trouble before, and when they do it is easy to rectify right away.
For the record, it is an easy fix! I just glued the plastic back onto the wire when I got home. I wouldn't want anyone seeing that image and my comment and thinking any less of the scoop light mod. It gets my seal of approval!
I guess any glue is going to break free over time, especially the Control Room that gets hammered. I came to this design solution because it makes for an absolutely minimal mounting point that doesn't obscure the backlight. A bracket with screws would be a deal-breaker IMO.
1 week later
1 month later
I'm working on the new molds today. If all goes well, I'll be able to cast some production t-rexes this weekend, too.
All three parts are boxed in and sealed for pouring the first half of the molds.
There were so many alterations needed for the jaw, I'm opting to make a mold of my already altered prototype jaw. That way I can be sure the production jaws come out the way they need to. I would risk not altering the original correctly and it's too brittle for in game testing.
patiently waiting.
I wasn't confident that the molds had cured fully at the 4 hour mark, so decided to leave them for longer. I just checked them again and they have firmed up well. I'll try to pour the other halves in the morning.
Quoted from winteriscoming:I wasn't confident that the molds had cured fully at the 4 hour mark, so decided to leave them for longer. I just checked them again and they have firmed up well. I'll try to pour the other halves in the morning.
OK. I guess I can wait until Tuesday to get mine.
Quoted from outcida:OK. I guess I can wait until Tuesday to get mine.
Some Tuesday next year maybe...
Just poured resin into the new molds. It has a 90 minute demold time, so here's hoping I have some good news later.
This is also my first attempt at spraying primer into the mold prior to casting, which is supposed to chemically bond the primer to the resin.
Quoted from winteriscoming:Just poured resin into the new molds. It has a 90 minute demold time, so here's hoping I have some good news later.
This is also my first attempt at spraying primer into the mold prior to casting, which is supposed to chemically bond the primer to the resin.
Yea! I was just thinking of this project the last day or so and wondering how it was going! It looks like things are going great! 
I demolded the chest and jaw. Both were way too malleable, meaning they weren't finished curing. I'm going to leave the big piece over night. I went with the black resin with the longest pot life (used the quicker curing kind last time) so I'd have more time to work and could maybe put it in the vacuum chamber to eliminate bubbles, but the long cure time is going to limit the number I can cast in a day to maybe one or two.
The new molds look like they're going to give good results. I unfortunately dropped the first new head/back piece onto the concrete and broke a piece off...
I poured the second attempt this morning.
I'm getting good results from the new molds. Besides capturing the changes, these molds yield parts that are much easier to clean up and finalize when compared to my last molds which makes for a quicker turn-around time from casting to painting.
Also, the primer in the mold seems to be working. Hopefully that ends up being a good solution.
The next step is to test one of the newly cast t-rexes in the game to confirm they're coming out correctly. I'm busy with work for the next couple of days, so I'll hopelly get a chance to test on Friday. I'll post back with results.
If all goes well, I'll exhaust my current supply of resin and paint them up for sale. I expect that to yield 10 to 15 (possibly a couple more) for this run. I'll formalize the wait list and start contacting people who PMed with details on their place in line and my guess on how long until I get to theirs.
Thanks to everyone for their support so far!
Thanks,
Jim
Quoted from winteriscoming:I'm getting good results from the new molds. Besides capturing the changes, these molds yield parts that are much easier to clean up and finalize when compared to my last molds which makes for a quicker turn-around time from casting to painting.
Also, the primer in the mold seems to be working. Hopefully that ends up being a good solution.
20150525_134519.jpg (Click image to enlarge)
Awww, he wants to go play outside.
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