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Post by vectrexmad on Aug 21, 2012 19:55:26 GMT -5
Here's something else that I also considered (but never actually implemented): www.bigscreentv.20m.com/photo.htmlThese are plans on how to convert a TV to a projector. I thought about rear projecting this onto a semi transparent area inside an arcade cabinet. Probably though the resulting image will be quite dim.
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Post by VectorX on Aug 21, 2012 20:32:03 GMT -5
^That's neat!!
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Post by gliptitude on Aug 22, 2012 3:29:23 GMT -5
Yeh the amount of light (as well as darkness on the other end) is a big limitation with optical projection. And then, because of the glowing nature of the vector graphics that we love, you really don't want to introduce more light to the image (like you would probably have to with an overhead projector or opaque projector) and you also don't want to display the image on a rasterized video feed (such as an LCD projector). ... With this tv projector project that you linked (vectrexmad), I don't really understand why to use a fresnel lens. Not that I have real concrete knowledge on this subject, but it seems counter-intuitive to me. I think a camera lens would work better (less diffraction and light loss, as well as some ability to focus), but it would require more experimentation with the placement of the lense, and possibly a much longer cardboard cannon, as well as some sort of apparatus to hold the lens... Basically you are building a giant camera and the "screen" that you are viewing is just like the plane of the film frame inside of your (completely light tight) camera. ... The page reader I bought is from loopityloupes.com. It is about 1/8" thick, rigid and fairly substantial. I might be a little eager to give a positive report on it, but for $20 it's a pretty worthwhile experiment in my opinion. Cool thing to have around, even if it doesn't get implemented in a Vectrex cabinet. ... As I'm looking into lenses and projection now though, I'm really not sure how fresnel lenses work, or what their ideal uses might be. Originally they were used for light houses, which does seem like a matter of projection. ... And then apparently they have been used as part of rear projection tv systems: www.instructables.com/id/Salvaging-the-Fresnel-Lens-from-a-Rear-Projection/Though apparently in this instance the fresnel is the screen that you look at (like the page reader/vectrex), rather than the projection element. At any rate, here you can see a new prospect for where to find a huge fresnel! Also found this 1950's rear-projection television (no fresnel), which was linked from the Wikipedia article "Rear-projection television". There is a diagram of the optical system: www.thevalvepage.com/tv/philips/1800a/phil1800.htmLooks to me more along the lines of something that could happen inside an arcade cabinet.
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Post by gamezone on Aug 22, 2012 11:57:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the posts. I am curious about fresnel lenses also and it will make a nice break since I have been immersed in other projects. Like Artichoke.
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Post by VectorX on Aug 26, 2012 8:11:40 GMT -5
The 21" Vectrex in action!
I like what the guy says and does at the end, ha ha.
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Post by sj on Aug 26, 2012 9:11:26 GMT -5
Those screwed up graphics are a little like how my Vectrex went some time ago (but not that bad). Touch wood mine's been okay though, although I think the problem occurs when the ambient temperature is on the cold side.
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Post by gliptitude on Aug 27, 2012 13:44:33 GMT -5
On the subject of optical magnification for purposes of building a cabinet - this Aztarak game natively uses a magnifying lens for the arcade cabinet (not a fresnel though, more like a fish bowl). ... For some size reference, that circle that comprises the game display is approximately 12" in diameter, not far off from attainable fresnel lenses. ... I've always thought it would be cool to have a Vectrex game overlay with lenses in it, of course made to work with a specific game that was made to take advantage of it. .. I'm sure this would be prohibitively difficult/expensive to produce though. Not sure if Aztarak is a fun game or not, but you can imagine a rectangular overlay for a Vectrex port of this game, with a circular fresnel (molded in the overlay as one continuous plastic sheet), with scores and lives etc displayed in the margins. Attachments:
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Post by VectorX on Aug 27, 2012 13:48:06 GMT -5
this Aztarak game natively uses a magnifying lens for the arcade cabinet (not a fresnel though, more like a fish bowl). Or a ship porthole. I've seen it. Not sure if Aztarak is a fun game or not, Not sure either; when I saw it at a gaming expo years ago someone had broken off the joystick before I got to it
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Post by gliptitude on Aug 27, 2012 13:55:49 GMT -5
Not sure either; when I saw it at a gaming expo years ago someone had broken off the joystick before I got to it Were you able to see the graphics in action, what the magnified display looked like, or if it was even a magnifier? Also size wise, how it felt to look at? Was it a comfortable size display?
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Post by VectorX on Aug 27, 2012 14:40:15 GMT -5
It was an adequate display, not much smaller than a regular-sized arcade screen. It didn't look like a magnifier at all.
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Post by VectorX on Aug 31, 2012 13:00:35 GMT -5
The Vectrex definitely looks different with some color added to it!
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Post by gliptitude on Jan 15, 2013 13:18:07 GMT -5
Well I didn't feel like starting a new thread for this since I know it's not a new subject, (this seems to be the thread that Vectrex cabinet projects were discussed in). ...
Another idea I had for how to make a Vectrex cabinet, without serious monitor re-engineering or re-producing oversize screen overlays, is to have a display system that involved MOUNTED GOGGLES, like the original Battlezone cabinet.
As I was looking up the specs on that Battlezone cabinet (the "goggles" are commonly called a "shroud" in this instance, also likened to a "periscope"), I saw that the monitor was the normal arcade size of 19". But I think that the only reason this was necessary was because the machine also had windows on either side of the shroud, so that spectators could also see the game in action. ... I see no reason an existing Vextrex monitor would not be big enough, if the cabinet was skewing the player's view through a shroud like this.
Certainly arcade machines using a headset, and very small video displays, has been done before. (Can't remember the names of any, but I know I've seen it). ... Having arcade controls and audio, and some cabinet art etc, would round this out nicely I think, and produce a Vectrex 'arcade experience'.
Also I think having the Vectrex enclosed in a dark cavity, only viewable through the goggles, I think would make some of the optical tricks we've discussed much more viable. (Since there would be less dissipation of light). ... Perhaps the goggles could have some mechanism where there was a shudder blocking light from passing through, until a person pressed his face against them. (Just to cut down on light loss/interference). Then maybe there could be mirrors and lenses involved to display the video to multiple viewers, for 2 player games or for a spectator. ...
The goggle/shroud setup would be particularly cool for Web Wars, in my opinion.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 15, 2013 13:23:02 GMT -5
Certainly arcade machines using a headset, and very small video displays, has been done before. (Can't remember the names of any, but I know I've seen it). The Sea Wolf games had them (a periscope actually, that you had mentioned), I think Subroc 3-D did... Nice idea on the rest
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Post by VectorX on Jan 9, 2019 23:44:01 GMT -5
Due to just getting Stramash Zone yesterday and trying it with the magnifying sheet this morning, this got me to bump up this old thread. As I had said with the other thread how much it looks like you've got your own miniature Battlezone cab right in front of you with that overlay (and would be really cool to have a VecWrap for it to complete the experience), it really seems like it with a magnifying sheet, making the game seem bigger! So, I just went through my how to enlarge your Vectrex screen wiki page and got all the games that I recommended for this little fun project. Just keep in mind this is all an opinion and yours might vary. I might see about getting a more expensive magnifier in the next couple of months as well if any place around here sells them that doesn't distort the magnification. Disc Duel Demo (off Vecmania; even though it's a demo it still looks cool) I, Cyborg Gravitrex Moon Lander Nebula Commander Paratroopers (seems really huge!) Star Fire Spirits (last area especially, in the trench) Stramash Zone Y*A*S*I Some games might look good with the more expensive magnifiers, such as Scramble (looks fine as it is, except for streaking during the third area with the meteors). Strange that several of the originally-released games (Mine Storm, Berzerk, Star Trek) don't seem to have much, or any of an effect to them.
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