We tested the latest code thoroughly at Pinball Expo 2014 and now it’s available for download.
Enjoy! And don’t get too scared by those pesky ghosts!
Category Archives: Video Games
More info regarding Single Handed Controllers
I have not forgotten about everything asking for these. However I continue to be very busy. Hopefully once we get past our shop move there will be more time to address these before the holidays.
A PS3/PS4 version is not looking likely. Unfortunately those controllers use a type of silk screen circuit that is not easily hackable. We will also be looking into if the older Xbox 360 version is worth continuing, or if we should go next-gen only.
The main goal is doing whatever results in the most controllers being available. All emails are being collected into a folder so we can respond to you once ready – stay tuned!
Single Handed Controllers
Thanks everyone for the continued interest in these controllers! I do intend to build more in the near future, I just needed to take a break this summer (and by that I mean “only” work 1 full time job)
My goal is to resume selling them in September in time for the holiday season. A PS4 version may also be possible but the controller is a little harder to work it.
Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience!
More about podcasts
I’m still working on this site and making improvements, thanks for your patience.
Did you know you can find every single one of our podcasts on this site? Click here, or use the drop-down MEDIA menu up at the top.
Some of the podcasts were done on video (thus, “video podcasts”) and I’ve embedded those on YouTube to save server space.
Enjoy!
AMH Debug 5-8-14
Not really debug anymore, just polishing stuff. You can open a serial terminal at 115200 baud on the USB programming jack to “talk” with the game. I’m beefing up what this can do, both for human-readable debugging, and using Bluetooth UART via a tablet or smartphone app.
- Improved command parser for serial.
- On serial terminal, added commands for servo control, SFX and music (see below)
- Added one-shot switch status return, so tablet app can control rate at which it monitors switch data.
- Improved main game titles, added vendor logos.
- Improved attract mode PRESS START graphic (always thought it looked crappy before)
————-SERIAL MONITOR COMMAND LIST————-
[E99000] Get current switch state, raw data (2 bytes dedicated, 8 bytes matrix)
[E98000] Toggle serial stream of human-readable switch data
[E97000] Disable Ball Search (useful for testing)
[E97001] Enable Ball Search (default)
[F00ABC] Play sound effect ABC
[F00ZXX] Play music file XX (music files always in _DZ folder)
[F00Z00] Stop music
[V00ABC] Play video file ABC
[SXXzzz] Set servo XX (0-4) to ZZZ Degrees (Only set if you know proper values!)”
[MXXzzz] Activate Coil XX (0-23) for ZZZ Microseconds (0-250)
[LXXzzz] Set light XX (0-63) to ZZZ brightness (0-7)
[L99000] Disable light attract mode
[L99001] Enable light attract mode
Update on available time for project building
I have just finished work on our custom pinball machine “America’s Most Haunted” which has entered production and started shipping. You can read more about it here. I’ll also make a large, in-depth article about it on this site once I get a chance.
I’ve been working non-stop on this game, The Ben Heck Show, and other commissioned work since mid 2012. It’s time for a break.
I’m going to be limiting my non-show commission work to 8 billable hours per week for the foreseeable future. This includes single-handed controllers, prototype work for companies and individuals, basically anything outside of our show. If you’d like to contact me about a project you may do so at benjamin.heckendorn@gmail.com. Keep in mind that this time allotment will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The automatic Paypal links for the single handed controllers will be coming down during this time as well. If you’re still in need of a controller, please contact me via email. I will probably spin the production of those back up in time for the holidays. I know there’s a great need for them, but there is also a great need, personally, for my sanity.
Other news:
- I had the wrong file linked to Episode 80 of the podcast – sorry about that! You can find the corrected version here.
- We are still doing our best to release a podcast once a month, time permitting.
- You can of course keep really up to date with what we’re up to on The Ben Heck Show, follow me on Twitter, or visit my YouTube channel using the links on the right side of this page.
- We’ll be at Maker Faire San Mateo next weekend filming an episode of our show – stop and say hi and we might give you a t-shirt!
- I will be attending the Northwest Pinball Show in Tacoma this June. Ask me anything you’d like about our new pinball machine!
- Good chance I’ll also attend California Extreme and there might be an America’s Most Haunted machine there as well. More info as it becomes available.
AMH Debug 5-5-14
Got some feedback from the Allentown show which I’ve worked into the game!
- When ball gets stuck, game goes into Ball Search (firing everything trying to loosen ball) There is a way to get the ball stuck behind the targets. Normally the game checks for this whenever the targets go up, but if a ball is resting on target edge (which can happen) the game doesn’t know this and thus check didn’t occur. Fixed.
- Added 2 new flags doorTrap and targetTrap, so the game knows if a ball is purposely stuck in those places during a mode. If a ball is there, game won’t move those spots during a ball search.
- Enabled ball search when ball is trapped on purpose. Before this would prevent a ball search (since switch constantly triggered) but now a ball search can happen alongside it.
- Made “halfway” point for targets so they can jostle about and still keep a ball trapped behind.
- Re-exported Hospital Mode audio to quiet done Dennis Nordman’s booming voice that caused clipping.