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In Progress Operation Demolition Man on Steroids

Julian

Julian

Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
744
Location
Bromley
Although not an actual 'shopping' log, this will be a log on converting a DM to a Demolition Man on Steroids, the steps involved, the equipment used along the way, issues and challenges as they arise and finally the end result. Oh and some photos / videos as the project rolls on and the post necessitates.

Has anyone done this in the group yet?
If you have questions or suggestions please chip-in.

To start with my task / acquire list looks like this;

1. Purchase DMoS software & Translite (before it gets 'pulled' from the community like CCC) - Done
http://www.frequency.com/video/demolition-man-on-steroids-pinball-full/134526067/-/5-545311
http://www.pinnovating.com/projects_dm.htm
$500

2. Acquire a decent DM – Done
From this forum, thanks André
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/demolition-man.6610/
£950

3. Play test said machine to ensure all switches, coils and features work – Done

4. Install ColorDMD - Done
http://www.colordmd.com/
€389

5. Build suitable PC as interface to P-ROC board - Done
I'm using an Intel NUC as these are small and can be mounted inside and to the cabinet.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/inte...ore-18ghz-intel-qs77-express-ddr3-2x-hdmi-g-b
Adding SSD, memory, wifi card (so I can remotely control and update the PC) & Windows 7
£336

6. Install DMoS software onto PC - Done

7. Install P-ROC - Done
http://www.pinballcontrollers.com/index.php/products/p-roc/68
$329

8. Full LED conversion
€149

9. Test and trouble-shoot set-up, using initially PC speakers connected to the PC (all game sound/music will now come from the PC)

10. As the internal sound board and speakers are no longer used on a DMoS (sound comes form the PC controlling the game, thus PC speakers or the like), this step will be to upgrade the internal speakers, sub woofer, and install a car power amp to drive them from the PC

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/amplifiers/multi-channel-amps/jbl-gto-3ez-3-channel-amplifier
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/speakers/full-range/4-inch-coax-10cm/jbl-gt6-4
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/subwoofers/12-inch-subs-30cm/jbl-gt5-12

Also to install 2 x Bass Shakers, acts like a shaker motor, I have 2 fitted in Dracula!
http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/...s-Pump-III-Bass-Shaker-4-Ohm?ref=searchDetail

Oh and install playfield-glass anti-rattle tape
£274

11. Install DMoS Translite - Done

12. Enjoy
 
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Woah! Never heard of "Bass Pump" before but have now! I used to work in Maplin (nearly 20 years ago) and we used to sell lots of car audio stuff, so I used to be fairly clued-up, but obviously I'm getting a bit behind the times! Might have to look into one of these for Vector...
 
1. Purchase DMoS software & Translite
$500 = £295

2. Acquire a decent DM
£950

4. Install ColorDMD
€389 = £320

5. Build suitable PC as interface to P-ROC board
£336

7. Install P-ROC
$329 = £195

8. Full LED conversion
€149 = £120

10. Speakers, amplifer. Oh and install playfield-glass anti-rattle tape
£274

GRAND TOTAL £2,490

You probably didn't want to know that! ;) But I'm very interested to follow your work on this. The P-ROC system looks very interesting. I've got a Raspberry Pi kicking around and I've been thinking and researching how feasible it would be to use it to control a pinball. In fact, I know it's possible after seeing this: http://www.raisinggeeks.com/blog/2013/08/making-fireball-hd-pinball/.

Good luck!
 
£2490 gulp:confused:. Then factor in a grand on top for the basic machine. Why do I get the feeling that only 1 person in your house will be aware of this amount;) Maybe you also now need a second Demo Man so you'll be able to compare both games

Really looking forward to playing this at your meet
 
johnwhitfield said:
factor in a grand on top for the basic machine
Click to expand...
Total includes the £950 he paid for the DM. Basically the total cost is around £1,500 but his mods include a lot of pimping, such as the high-end audio, and not just the P-ROC altered gameplay. I'd be really interested to see this in action next to a vanilla DM when it's done.
 
Yeah its a lot of money, but its a pretty rare experience of what (from what I've seen of the video clips) looks to be a cracking game. Really nice soundtrack on it that deserves the money spent on audio upgrades.

The big question is... any chance you'll be showing this off at one of the major shows any time!?
 
Wizcat said:
Yeah its a lot of money, but its a pretty rare experience of what (from what I've seen of the video clips) looks to be a cracking game. Really nice soundtrack on it that deserves the money spent on audio upgrades.

The big question is... any chance you'll be showing this off at one of the major shows any time!?
Click to expand...

Actually just thinking that once done a show or 2 would be good.

It will be playable for the SE league meet coming up some time as I'm hosting a meet.
 
johnwhitfield said:
£2490 gulp:confused:. Then factor in a grand on top for the basic machine. Why do I get the feeling that only 1 person in your house will be aware of this amount;) Maybe you also now need a second Demo Man so you'll be able to compare both games

Really looking forward to playing this at your meet
Click to expand...

You're right about not telling the other half, as far as their concerned its on loan from you know who, along with RS! Lol

In a few months I will just have to buy them both for say 500 quid....
 
So although I could not dedicate the entire 3-day weekend to pinball (I was told to do some DIY), however I did manage to to the following;

5. Build suitable PC as interface to P-ROC board - Done
I'm using an Intel NUC as these are small and can be mounted inside and to the cabinet.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/inte...ore-18ghz-intel-qs77-express-ddr3-2x-hdmi-g-b
Adding SSD, memory, wifi card (so I can remotely control and update the PC) & Windows 7

Ok truth be told this was pretty much ready, but I added a wifi card just so I can remote control it without the need to remove the PC form the game if I needed to do any updates

I did make a slight boo-boo as the PC in question does not have an audio out, but does output audio via HDMI, so for testing I simply took the audio out from the monitor and into PC speakers.
However I really dont want a screen in my final machine as such I have ordered a HDMI to audio jack cable


6. Install DMoS software onto PC - Done
I really have to credit Dennis of https://www.facebook.com/Pinnovating his documentation was top-notch!
After 8 steps the Python, software and code were all installed, next to install the hardware.

7. Install P-ROC - Done
http://www.pinballcontrollers.com/index.php/products/p-roc/68
Again top marks for Dennis and the instructions, I did take a before and after photo, the only thing I was concerned about was the fact there was a cable that did not to go into the P-ROC, but did into the old card.
However thinking about where the cable went into I realised that it was likely to be the 'data' cable from the CPU to DMD board and thus no longer needed as the P-ROC would now handle all display output (hence the DMD cable also being moved to the P-ROC)
Finally notice that two connectors from the board above the P-ROC also had a couple connectors that needed moving these I think were flipper buttons (J905 & J906)

I double and triple checked the hardware installation, i.e. looked at all connectors to ensure they were in the correct place and not miss-aligned.

So now to power on the DM and the PC and then to connect the USB lead.

Instructions from Dennis said when the PC wants to install drives for the P-ROC say no and go through a manual process, again this went without a hitch

Its too easy I thought so next I fired up the software on the PC and bingo my DM had become a DMoS, all be it with wires for the PC, HDMI, sound, mouse & keyboard hanging out of it and no translite.... But it worked, except for the colorDMD!

The screen was not display as it should! A quick upgrade to Sigma 2.4 resolved this issue as this version now supports P-ROC.


So I managed to test play the DMoS a bit and very impressed (its a whole new experience, I just love the sound / music and feel of total immersion the game gives), next job to tidy all cables, put PC inside, then the internal speakers and amp.

Note to self the DMoS makes heavy use of GI dimming as such must take out the LEDs around the sling-shots as they flicker, planning to get GI-OCD board
http://ledocd.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7

Oh and those keen observers will notice the red flasher on the right ramp remains lit, I am told this is a bug or support issue with P-ROC and all DM/8-driver boards as such I have for now removed the bulb, planning to connect this to the Jet Flasher as per Dennis suggestion.
 

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Looking forward to the next installment.
And I wonder if the machine might make it to one of the shows this year ?
 
Great work on this, agree that it'd be great to see it at a show! The Intel NUC is such a great little machine, nice choice (once you get the audio adapter at least)! Quiet, more than powerful enough and absolutely tiny. I use one as a HTPC.
 
There is a simple fix for that flasher, we worked it on on the P-ROC forum a few weeks back but don't think we told Dennis... I'll let him know.
 
*yawn*

It has the dullest sounding jackpot soundbite on any pin ever.

It's like why even bother going for the jackpot if the people who made the game don't even care :rofl:


It's not a theme for me, but the "on steroids" version certainly looks more exciting
 
Snux said:
There is a simple fix for that flasher, we worked it on on the P-ROC forum a few weeks back but don't think we told Dennis... I'll let him know.
Click to expand...

Hi Snux,

what was the fix? I will try it out


cheers

julian
 
Julian said:
Hi Snux,

what was the fix? I will try it out


cheers

julian
Click to expand...
It's a one line fix in one of the pypinproc routines. I'm not sure how you went about building all this with Dennis, but the offending line is here :

https://github.com/preble/pypinproc/blob/master/pypinproc.cpp#L593

If you make that to

switchConfig.use_column_8 = false;

in your copy of the code and recompile it you should be good to go. I've dropped a message to Dennis letting him know too. Seeing as how he never got the flasher working, it's possible he hasn't programmed it in to any effects, so you might not see much I guess.
 
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