news'n'updates

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2.10.2008 - site went online

27.11.2008  - time for an update. 

many thanks to the people that made a guestbook entry! 

so... whats new?

removed the "quick facts" thing as it is too complicated 
to update and i lost the overview for that.

i bought some old bally pcb's for triggering solenoids and lamps.

finally decided there will be no nixie tube display (it is too expensive
and i guess the tubes wouldn't endure all the shaking and bumping),
but there will be of course union jack displays (like 7-segment with more segments).           
as the game will be controlled by a computer, no game data is displayed on the monitor, 
just the union jack displays are used.
(though i'm thinking about using the screen display for a diagnostic menu)

i mounted some metal guides to the playfield (the right loop, a big upper loop with diverter).
no targets or target banks mounted so far, i want to take time for figuring out the best placement,
as i don't want to buy a new blank playfield and start from scratch every time i screw something up.

ah yes, and there are some new pictures and a short video now too!

i must admit that in the video, the outhole and the plunger solenoids are all still
switched by hand, the slingshots are triggered by relays.

on the electronic and software side i thought a lot about rs232 protocols,
different interfacing circuits, zero crossing detection and started to write a routine
that checks the switch matrix for a valid hit and then gives data to
the scoring/sound/control part of the program.

stay tuned, more after the break!