Emulation.

What was once a fun project for MIT students, as become a huge gaming behemoth. As soon as a new game system comes out, two things happen:

1. Someone tries to emulate it on a PC
and
2. Someone tres to emulate other systems on it.

When it comes to games of yore, there is no beating the real thing. Playing ports of your favorite Arcade games on inferior hardware just lacks the same feeling you had spending your allowances 25 cents at a time playing the games.

This is not a guide to tell how to run emulators. Nor, is it a guide telling you where to get them, and ROMs to run on them.

This is a guide on how to get the best expirence possible playing them.

So, you have MAME, a copy of your favorite ROM, and a computer system that can run it full speed, and looking beautifully. So, why are you playing it with a $15 generic USB controller? Even a top of the line Logitech pad or Xbox 360 controller isn't the same as the original arcade controls.

So, how to you remedy this?

Well, you can either buy a specialty controller (which we will look at a few.) or you can make your own.

Let's start with the easier, and probably more expensive, route; buying one.

There are tons of controllers out there, from many different manufacturers. Today I am going to focus on 4 of them.
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HanaHo HotRod
(http://www.hanaho.com/Products/HotRodJoystick.php)



Specs

Size: 24w x 11d x 6h (68 x 28 x 15.25 cm)
Buttons: 18
Interface: PS/2 Only
Programmable: No
Software: Capcom Classics CD
Warranty: 90 days
Price: $99.95 + S/H

The Hot Rod features genuine Happ Controls' joysticks and buttons, which are what I would consider the "arcade standard." Specifically, the Hot Rod uses Happ "Super" joysticks, which are very nice (they're not as nice as the Happ Perfect360 Optical joysticks, but good none the less.)

One interesting feature of the Happ Super joystick is the fact that it can be switched from 8-way to 4-way operation by flipping over the actuator in the joystick. It isn't easy to get to (you have to open up the controller, to start), but the option is there if you want a true 4-way joystick for games such as Pac Man.

The Hot Rod frame is solidly constructed of melamine-coated wood, with arcade T-molding on the edges, and features a "custom polycarbonate top," which is basically a textured purple vinyl overlay with the Hot Rod logo.

The button spacing is generally well thought-out, with the Hot Rod using the unofficial 7-button layout that has become almost a standard configuration for arcade controllers: the six-button 3x2 layout used in countless "fighter" games, and an additional 7th button in the bottom left-hand corner that has come to be known as the "NEO GEO button," since it replicates the 4-button curved layout of the NEO GEO arcade system.

The only gripe that most people have with the button layout is the placement of the pinball buttons. The side-mounted pinball buttons on the Hot Rod are placed towards the back of the controller. This causes a bit of a problem because the player's palm actually rests on some of the top buttons when using the pinball buttons.

The unit is well-sized for desktop use, but it is a bit on the small side if you're considering it for a MAME cabinet project. Also, because of the relatively compact size, playing two player games can get a bit.well, cozy . It is a very nice size for single-player use, however, especially for two-joystick games such as Robotron.

The Hot Rod, at $99, is the 2nd cheapest controller in this roundup. "You get what you pay for" turned out in some ways to be the theme of this roundup - the feature set of each controller roughly corresponded to the price of that controller.

That said, about all that you lose with the Hot Rod is the flexibility of having a programmable encoder and the alternate connectors such as USB or console connections. The use of real Happs arcade parts is a big plus. If you can live without the extras the other controllers have, the Hot Rod is a really great bargain, and well worth the price.

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X-ARCADE
(http://www.x-arcade.com/two-player.shtml)



Specs
Size: 24w x 11.5d x 4h (68 x 29 x 10 cm)
Buttons: 20
Interface: PS/2, USB, X-Box, Playstation, Gamecube, Dreamcast
Programmable: Yes (3 programmable modes)
Software: None
Warranty: Lifetime, 30-day money back guarantee
Price: $129.95 + S/H. (You get one free adapter when you buy it: USB/PS2, PS1+2, XBOX, Dreamcast, or GC/Wii. You have to pay an extra 19.95 each for more adapters.)

X-Gaming uses their own custom-manufactured joysticks and buttons, which are very similar to the Happ Controls parts in most aspects. There are twenty buttons on the X-Arcade, with an 8th button being added to the button layout for both players. (There's also a 21st button on the back dedicated solely for programming the unit, but I'm not counting it as it isn't related to gameplay).

The joysticks and buttons feel (and sound) slightly different from Happ controls: The buttons "ping" instead of "click" when pushed. These details, it should be noted, are just for a "joystick connoisseur", as both the joystick and the buttons work fine in gameplay. I don't know how durable these controls are compared to the Happs versions, but with a lifetime warranty, it probably doesn't really matter.

The X-Arcade is constructed solidly of wood, and all exterior surfaces are covered with a textured black vinyl or plastic similar to the top surface of the Hot Rod. The joysticks are mounted using very small, low-profile black bolts, a definite improvement over the Hot Rod's bolts, but not as nice as not having any bolts at all. A red LED sits in the upper right-hand corner of the panel, a nice touch that shows you if the X-Arcade is properly connected to your system (the LED is also used in programming the unit, more on that in a minute).

The X-Arcade, like the Hot Rod, uses its own custom keyboard encoder. Unlike the Hot Rod, however, the X-Arcade's unit has three programmable modes in addition to a regular pre-programmed setting. The X-Arcade is actually fairly simple to program, and only requires an attached PS/2 keyboard (the unit has a PS/2 keyboard passthrough on the back).

To program the X-Arcade, you first slide the 4-position mode switch on the back to one of the programmable positions (2, 3, or 4). Next push the black programming button the back of the unit, then push and hold the button on the X-Arcade you wish to reprogram and the button on the attached keyboard that you wish to assign the X-Arcade button to match. When the LED on the front of the unit flashes, everything's programmed. The X-Arcade uses flash memory, so your custom key settings are saved even if the X-Arcade is unplugged.

The button layout is overkill, at least from a MAME standpoint. The extra 8th button does feel a bit in the way, but it shouldn't really affect gameplay that much, and it is an essential addition if you are planning on using the X-Arcade with a gaming console like the X-Box. The pinball buttons are perfectly placed, and the extra "flare" at the front edge of the control panel gives you plenty of space to rest your palms.

The unit is well-sized for desktop use, and the low-profile design makes it look very sleek. Like the Hot Rod, however, it is a bit on the small side if you're considering it for a MAME cabinet project, and you'll probably want to be good friends with whoever you play with in two-player games, as you'll be bumping shoulders during frantic moments.

The X-Arcade costs $149, which is a very good price for the features included, especially considering the fact that it can be used with a variety of gaming systems. If you want a controller you can use with console systems as well as a PC, the X-Arcade is a great choice.

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SlikStik Classic Unit
(http://www.slikstik.com/detail.aspx?ID=6)



Specs
Size: 35w x 17d x 4.75h (89 x 43 x 12 cm)
Buttons: 27 (31 with optional dual pinball buttons)
Interfaces: PS/2, USB
Programmable: Yes (Unlimited programmable settings by loading different "profiles")
Software: Installation CD with manual, programming software, and MAME controller profiles.
Warranty: One Year, 30-day money back guarantee
Price: $499.95 (Only for the hard core enthusiast!)

As with the Hot Rod controller, the SlikStik Classic uses Happ arcade controls, which (at least to me) means arcade-true feel and operation. The SlikStik Classic uses Happ Competition joysticks, which have a different handle shape than the Happ Supers used in the Hot Rod, but are otherwise fairly similar in feel.

The SlikStik frame is constructed of ¾ high-density particle board, which gives it an exceptionally heavy, solid feel. The exterior surfaces are covered in black formica, which has the advantage of being very durable. Unlike the textured surfaces of the other controllers, the formica will show fingerprints, however. There are no logos or other artwork (not even a product name) anywhere on the controller, something some people may prefer.

The SlikStik is a joy to use, with a roomy control panel that seems designed for two player action - there's plenty of room for two adults to play at the same time and still keep their personal space boundaries intact. While the large size may not be best suited for most desktops, it is ideal for a MAME game cabinet.

The button and joystick layout on the SlikStik is logical and intuitive, there are thoughtful touches like the inclusion of buttons in the classic "Asteroids" layout, coin buttons, and a much needed "pause" button. The optional dual pinball buttons are mounted towards the front of the controller, and if you're a rabid Visual Pinball player, I'm sure you can appreciate the value of having "nudge" buttons on each side of the controller!

The SlikStik is the ultimate "no compromises" arcade controller choice, when you absolutely, positively have to have it all. It's definitely the best choice of the three controllers if you're buying a controller for a MAME cabinet, as well as if you like to play a lot of two-player games with friends.

The SlikStik Classic goes for $499, nearly three times the price of its nearest competitor. Like I mentioned earlier, however, the theme of "you get what you pay for" applies here. Do you get three times as much controller for the money? Yes, whether you count the number of controllers, number of cubic inches, or weight by the pound.

One additional factor in favor of the SlikStik is the fact that the SlikStik can be customized when you order it — you can choose the button colors, change the type of joysticks used, and more (even custom formica colors are available). If you're looking for the ultimate in personalized control panels, the SlikStik is what you want.

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Pelican Real Arcade Universal
(Pelican no longer list this item on its webpage.)



Specs:
Buttons: 11
Interfaces: Playstion 1 & 2, X-Box, Gamecube.
Programmable: Through MAME
Software: None.
Note: To use with PC, you need a GC,PSX, or Xbox to USB adapter.
Price: Pelican no longer sells it, but you should be able to hunt one down on e-bay for around $40-$60.

First and foremost, know that the Real Arcade is a universal arcade stick, meaning you can use this one stick on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube without the need of additional sticks or cords; a godsend of a feature for owners of multiple consoles. The look of the Real Arcade is sleek; the unit is very solidly-constructed, with a real wood cabinet, responsive buttons, and one of the best sticks we’ve laid our hands on. The heft of the Real Arcade further exemplifies its sturdy construction; this doesn’t feel cheap.

Pelican’s Real Arcade is very ergonomic. The buttons and joystick are well-placed, but the large-sized unit helps by allowing you to rest your forearms on it while playing; critical to the arcade feel, especially when placed on your lap (which is very comfortable). The buttons are appropriately loud when clicked, with a springing sound to them when jammed on. They are extremely responsive, just like they should be. The stick is even more impressive though. Not only does it offer a comfortable grip, but its also responsive and contains click points that will subtly click when the stick recognizes a direction change. This makes the stick feel much more solid than others on the market. The Real Arcade also supports full digital mode with the simple press of a button.

Pelican’s Real Arcade is quite the package for the fighting game lover, and for those just out looking for a good arcade stick. It’s got all kinds of snazzy features that are subtle and seem unimportant, but are in fact crucial to the feel so many other arcade sticks lack. Pelican even included some small touches, like a compartment to store your cord, and a slot for your Xbox memory card.

The Real Arcade is a tremendous value. If you’re currently in the market for a good arcade stick, it may do you well to give Pelican’s Real Arcade serious consideration. Unfortunately, Pelican no longer sells the Real Arcade, but if you search hard enough you will find one for a fair price.

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Making your own.

There are plenty of resources online to help you construct your own Arcade contoller from scratch. The upside is building your own, you having every control and button you want, exactly where you want them, and bragging rights amongst your friends and family. The downside, is you have to make it yourself.

You can build one from scratch, buy one, or you can "hack" a PC controller to use as your (Stick/Buttons -> USB) interface board.

Here are a few resources to help you:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm
http://wrongcrowd.com/arcade//
http://www.happcontrols.com/
http://buildahomearcade.com/planning-and-design/planning-the-control-panel
http://custom-arcade.com/controllergallery.htm
http://www.geocities.com/rogimeister/control.html

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UPDATE!

Just saw these over at Play-Asia.com:

Saulabi SCS-2000 USB Arcade Joystick



It goes for $49.90 + S/H, and as gotten 5 stars from 5 different customers. It may be a good alternative to the Pelican Real Arcade. It also comes in white:



I also like how it has on it in broken english in huge letters: "FOR POWERFUL GAME".

Now, shut the hell up, Sock!
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EMS LCD TopGun Review (Barretta)



Review by Jeff Smith
August 2006

Three joysticks, two six button fighter arrays, a dedicated four-way red ball top joystick, spinner, trackball—all this on my Franken-panel was not enough. I needed a gun! Playing Area 51 with a mouse just isn’t right! So, get a light gun! But which one? One for a computer, arcade monitor, or one for a TV? MAME 107 supports around 80 light gun games so if you want to access every single game in the catalog, you definitely “gotta get a gun”!

I researched the light guns from Lik Sang and Act Labs and they were all specific to a display configuration, and I hate being locked into a configuration. What if I bought a CRT version light gun and then found a great deal on a 32” TV? What if I got one for a TV and I want to hook it up to my brother-in-law’s 62” projection TV? Or run it on the projector from work? Can you imagine Area 51 played on the wall 7 feet wide? I can! I want a light gun to do it all and take out the trash when it’s done!

Enter The EMS LCD TopGun (TopGun), a light gun with a twist—it can be used with any display you want to slap it on. That’s right! Arcade monitor, Flat Panel, TV, CRT, Projection, Plasma, even an image shot up on the wall with a presentation projector. Not only will the TopGun work with any screen, but the TopGun is a multi-platform light gun with connections for Playstation2, PC and XBOX. EMS LCD TopGun has also won the 2005 Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Consumer Product Design Award.

This is a review of the EMS LCD TopGun as connected to my home-built PC based Arcade system. For techies or the inquisitive, my arcade rig is built on an Athlon 3000+, GeForce 5500 AGP video, 1gig of RAM, 250gig HDD, XP Professional, MAME 107, GameEx front-end, 27” RCA TV with SVideo input, and Logitech 40w 5.1, housed in a home-built cab.

The TopGun comes in a full color box with instructions on the back, and contains;

A setup CD
The gun
2 LED light stands
Connector for powering the LED light stands
Mounting clips for the LEDs

What makes the TopGun universal in application is that it uses a sensor to read the LEDs mounted on the sides of your target area. Once the TopGun is calibrated, it tracks your movements across the target area. It has a laser pointer you can turn on and off to see where you are shooting. The working range with the included LED stands is 5m, but an add-on LED light stand with super bright LEDs is available for up to 7m, and is recommended for 60” or wider displays with MSRP of US$6.99 (plus shipping).

Damages

The grand total for the gun was $52.80 from www.lik-sang.com. $34.90 for the TopGun, $17.90 for economy shipping from Hong Kong and 7 days from placing the order to arrival.

First Impressions

The included instructions are hard to follow. See the links section below for the manual, forum, official site, and an excellent setup guide by Silverfox (which I wish I had read before I tried to set mine up). There are over 40 pages of discussion over at the Build Your Own Arcade Controls forums. It took me an evening to setup the gun and get it all tweaked out.

The gun sculpt is nice, full-size “real gun” based on a Barreta Pietro, with a laser pointer in front of the trigger guard, sliding recoil, and lots of buttons. There is a D-pad, select, start, a, b,c, and d/trigger buttons, a laser pointer on/off switch and a single/burst/reload-continuous fire switch. The gun weighs in at 660g. There is a single 9ft. cord coming from the butt end of the gun, with an LED link, USB/PS2, XBOX, and recoil power connectors. The gun feels like a toy and the recoil action is a little cheesy as it shuttles back and forth and clicks—a cool feature, but I won’t use it permanently in my application.

Issues in setup

I am a serious manual reader—I usually download a manual before I buy something so I can get a head start when (or if) I actually get an item. But I was so excited to get the TopGun up and shooting I rushed and tried to figure it out and quickly got irritated. I should have read the directions fully before setting up the TopGun. My initial reaction was frustration, but after sitting down (and calming down) I finally got it. Here are the problems I had in the setup.

After I plugged the gun into the USBs (both for now) and let the OS install it as a GunCon HID device, I switched on the laser and it didn’t work. The manual says to hold the A and B buttons (located on either side of the Topgun) for three seconds. I did this and nothing happened. I did it again, still nothing. I even tried looking at the laser—not good idea, but it was not working at all. It turns out that the Gun2Mouse v. 3.2 driver must be installed before the gun will calibrate. So I uninstalled the Guncon driver.

To install the proper driver, I unpacked the LCD TopGun drivers to a folder onto the C drive and plugged in the Topgun. At the “Install New Hardware” menu, I selected “Let me choose the driver to install” and clicked the LCD TopGun v. 3.2 drivers from the menu. After a required restart, I calibrated the gun with the laser and LEDs. It checked out fine. Then I ran Gun2Mouse.exe and it went into test mode where I could push all the buttons and see them move on a screen replica of the gun. Everything checked out great. I clicked the START radio button in the Gun2Mouse window and the app minimized to the system tray. The gun/mouse now tracks beautifully across the screen. The laser and mouse pointer are practically joined at the hip. There is only a small lag when darting across the screen, but the tracking is right on.

One cool thing I noticed was with the laser pointer: it shuts off when you point it anywhere except in the screen area. Aim at the wall behind you or even your hand, and the laser should be off, aim at the screen and the laser should be on.

Usage

I have used the LCD Topgun now for over a week, and I am happy with the performance. I played about half of the 80+ light gun games MAME 107 supports and all seem to work fine. I tried using WinGun instead of Gun2Mouse, but the tracking did not function as well as the supplied EMS driver, which works really well. I am very impressed.

Darker environments work better than lit ones and I think the laser pointer is a good addition to a light gun. In my arcade cabinet, I have a piece of Plexiglas in front of my screen and the plexi refracts the laser a little as it passes through to the TV screen. It is noticeable, but not overly distracting. At first I thought this may impede the tracking of the gun, but then I realized another beauty of the design of this little pixel blaster, it is not looking at the screen, or even the laser. It is sensing the LEDs on the stands. The more I think about it, the more impressed I am at the design.

You have to stand a fair bit away from the LED stands for the gun to function well. I found the sweet spot 6-8 feet away and directly in front of my cab, in a fairly dim room. Lights to the sides seem to be okay, but any lights from behind (aiming into the barrel of the gun) threw the sensor eye off. I have a 27” TV in my arcade box, so six feet back is not bad, but on a smaller monitor, the screen would be so small and so far back it may not feel like a good solution. Your mileage may vary.

The recoil action is a little cheesy. It is not a metal gun, and the plastic top shuttles back and forth with the trigger pull. One gripe I have is that the gun draws power from the USB connection for recoil, so a powered hub or a USB extension is in order to power the gun’s recoil feature. You may opt to eschew the recoil and blast away without it, just don’t plug in the additional USB connector—thereby also reducing your USB demands by one half.

The setup is cumbersome, but after a few times I got the hang of it and I can now calibrate it in less than a minute (and you must re-calibrate every time you plug/unplug ghte USB. I love that EMS did a comprehensive driver that installs the Topgun as a mouse in one fell swoop without having to use the Gun2Mouse 3.2 driver in addition to WinGun or GunCon2 steps. There is no white screen flash when pulling the trigger either!

The cord seems to be rather short for my application, but maybe for XBOX and PS2 it would work okay. I will use a long USB extension to get a little more cord length.

For both the recoil and the gun/LED power, the connections plug into two USB connections on your PC or hub, taking up two spots for one item—which bugs me but not enough to unplug it all and use it only occasionally. Most likely, I will leave the recoil unplugged. The documentation also says that the life of the LED’s is approx. 1000 hours, so they will eventually need to be replaced. You may want to pick up the optional super bright LED stands as a spare, and also to make it possible to use the gun with larger displays.

Overall

I love this gun. I like the price (at about half of some others), I like the full-size-for-adult-hands feel of the gun, and the fact that it can be used with any display and on PC/PS2 and XBOX is a real plus. For me, the ability to play almost every game in the MAME universe now, is very cool. It works well and there are some great free apps out there that let you blast away at the desktop with all kinds of neat little flash and java games.

Pros

Lots of screen types to work with!
Low price—about half that of other light guns
Laser pointer is a cool feature
LED Stands are unobtrusive—blend easily with arcade cab
Lovely tracking when using Gun2Mouse
No screen flashing
Cons

Cheesy recoil
Covers 2 powered USB slots for full functionality

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ACT-LABS PC USB Light Gun for MAME32



The Adrenaline Vault (Review)
Review by: Patrick D. Cox Published: October 9, 2002

System Requirements:

- Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP
- Available USB port


Technical Specifications:

- Adaptor box connections: USB cable, VGA cable which attaches to your video card, and a female VGA port which your monitor connects to
- Product requires an external power supply
- Gun includes calibration function to setup light gun for different screen resolutions and refresh rates
- Tested screen resolution support up 2048 x 1940.
- Compatible with VGA video cards and CRT monitors
- 3D video accelerator support
- Compatible with a wide array of gaming software
- MAME compatible

Features:

- Easy USB plug and play setup, no drivers required
- Compatible with Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / and XP
- No expansion card needed
- Extreme pixel accuracy
- Screen resolution support up to 1600 x 1200
- Compatible with VGA video cards and CRT monitors
- 3D Accelerator support
- Compatible with a wide array of gaming software
- Trigger - Left mouse button signal
- Left side gun button - Right mouse button signal
- Right side 2-position switch - Calibration ON/OFF
- Shoot Off screen - Right mouse button signal


Have you ever been to the arcade and played a coin-op game with a pistol?

Do you remember how fun it was to blast away at zombies, aliens, and other assorted bad guys by simply pointing the pistol at the screen and pulling the trigger with an eager grin on your face, that stack of quarters burning a hole in your pocket ready to feed the hungry slot every time you missed a shot?

How about all those long hours on the original Nintendo console, blasting away at bad guys in cowboy hats or pesky pixilated ducks?

I know I did, and this has been something I have missed over the years on my PC. Sure, some of these great games make their way to the PC as some kind of coin-op to computer port, or on some kind of emulator like MAME, but the fun factor was never there because a mouse is no substitute for a light gun. While there have been a long list of consoles with light guns over the years, there haven't been too many options for PC gamers.

Well, that is until ACT Labs came onto the scene in 1999 with the GS Gun system. While innovative and award winning, the GS Gun system has never gotten much market penetration or support by software developers, thanks for the need of extensive code additions or changes needed to enable support for the pistols. A few titles have been released with GS support, and a few third party developers produced significant modifications for major titles like Quake 2 and Half Life, but the overall availability of products that support the GS system has been low.

Worse still, the GS system was never really meant to be used for arcade ports and console emulators. The GS system included functionality for 3D FPS games and a steep price tag that put it in a class far above the owners and fans of simple arcade shooters. To meet the growing demand of game enthusiasts, ACT Labs has taken the basic pistol design found in the GS Gun System and produced a second, far less expensive product targeted squarely at arcade and console enthusiasts.

Dubbed the USB PC Light Gun, the new system sports a USB interface without a hand held secondary controller. Better still, it requires no driver support in a modern OS and has a price tag that is only 1/3 of the original GS Gun System.
Out of the Box

The ACT Labs USB PC Light Gun comes well packaged in corrugated material inside a simple box. Empty the box and you will find a CD as well as the gun itself. The PC Light Gun is tethered to a control interface box on a long cable that gives you plenty of reach, accommodating a wide range of possible setups.

The interface box has additional cabling for the USB connection and the go between plugs that intercepts your monitor line. Everything is built of solid materials and feels able to take a moderate amount of abuse. The gun has large no-slip grips and adequate sights, as well as a curious and unexplained detachable compartment cover at the top rear of the pistol body.
Installation

The PC Light Gun requires no drivers so installation is simple and very straightforward. You start by powering down your PC and disconnecting your monitor from the video card; then connect the monitor to the Light Gun adapter. The adapter sports an analog VGA cable that you plug in to your video card. The last connection is the USB cable itself, which of course plugs into an available port on your PC or hub.

Lined Up in Your Sights:

Before you can shoot at your targets of choice, you have to calibrate the PC Light Gun system. To calibrate the gun you simply activate the screen calibration routine using the slider switch on the right side of the pistol. Calibration is achieved by pulling the trigger and holding it while waving it in a cross-shaped pattern that encompasses the four screen edges, then releasing the trigger and switching back to normal mode.

The actual calibration process is documented in video format on both the provided CD and on the ACT Labs website. It took me only a few attempts at calibration the first time to get it right and once you have it down it's a simple matter to do before your gaming session. Failing to calibrate the light pistol, or calibrating it incorrectly, will result in horrible inaccuracy and lackluster gaming performance so it's important to remember to do this before you get into the game!

The only real fault with the PC Light Gun is how often you have to calibrate the system to achieve accuracy when shooting at your onscreen targets. The system does not remember its calibration from session to session, which can be frustrating if you forget to calibrate before entering a new game. I don't see this as a design flaw, but rather a limitation of this older technology.

Gaming Experience:

Web Titles: There is a linked list of over 80 available titles hosted on the Internet that are fully functional with the PC Light Gun. The Game Support Listing page hosts a full linked list of offerings that can be played. Most are Shockwave, although there are some Flash and Java titles as well.


Pretty much all of the games that I tried out worked well with the PC Light Gun. Obviously some titles are better than others, with some being more of a curiosity than a real game. A few games that were linked led to dead pages, and a few links actually produced questionable or inappropriate banner advertisements or pop-ups.

House of the Dead 2: I bought HotD2 about a year ago for my wife who really loves these kinds of games in the arcade. Playing House of the Dead 2 and similar titles on your home PC with a mouse is very boring, a fact that my wife and I both concluded soon after our enthusiastic purchase.

When I received the PC Light Gun from ACT Labs, I thought that it would be a natural for HotD2. The ACT Labs provided documentation is certainly adamant about how great the two go together. The claims are true and now House of the Dead 2 fills our home with the sounds of hungry zombies and bad voice acting, much to the delight of my wife and the chagrin of our two cats.

The PC Light Gun is perfectly suited to gameplay in titles like HotD2. After a quick, if repetitive, calibration of the gun system you are off on a city wide zombie shooting spree. The gun is very accurate when calibrated correctly, and it greatly enhances the arcade feel of this title. Most important is the fun factor, and the PC Light Gun gives HotD2 a new lease on life when compared to playing it with a mouse.

Other Offerings: While I don't any own other appropriate or supported titles for the PC Light Gun, I thought I would mention some games that are currently supported.

- Art Is Dead
- Cyberia
- Ed Hunter
- Mad Dog McCree
- Rebel Assault 2
- Who Shot Johnny Rock?

Unfortunately the original House of the Dead, along with games like Virtua Squad and Top Shot, are not supported by the PC Light Gun due to a software issue that cannot be resolved. ACT Labs insists that most future titles in this genre should be fully compatible with the PC Light Gun, but it's a shame these venerable releases are not supported as many people still have them sitting on their shelves.

MAME Support: I have no means of testing MAME support as I do not own a copy of MAME or any console games for it. However, ACT Labs has an extensive listing of supported games here.

Conclusion

Overall: This is a great product that harkens back to the early Nintendo console and games like Hogan's Alley. With MAME support for popular titles, dozens of simple but fun Shockwave and Flash games on the web, and mainstream PC titles in an ever growing list, you won't soon run out of things to shoot at with the ACT Labs USB PC Light Gun. My only real gripe, and a minor one at that, is that you have to calibrate the gun before each game session.

If you are looking to revitalize your arcade ports like House of the Dead 2, or relive your old school memories of classics like Duck Hunt or Wild Gunman, look no further than the ACT Labs USB PC Light Gun. This is money well spent if you want an authentic arcade or console experience on your home PC.

Update (7-2-07)

Just came across this arcade stick from SEGA for the PS3. I have heard that it also works with PC. (It is USB after all.)



http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-zl-49-en-70-1rjw.html

If it's as good as SEGA's arcade stick for dreamcast, then this could be another sweet deal!