Using / converting my Interplay cab for MFME

[slotsmagic]

So my T7 PC died, and since the Interplay was... Well... a bit like a low-budget T7, I decided to take the guts out and keep them for spares. I'll use the PC for my other T7, the MPU6 for the same (but it'll need different software), and the Vega note acceptor / recycler for one of my Astra cabinets. Can't say I haven't got my value out of it.

I've kept the looms and things intact - albeit removed - but can't see me converting it back at any point. The only wiring left in place is for the monitor, PC power, earth, that kind of thing. Interplay had about 22 games in total, with my HASP having 5 licenses. Nothing special really apart from Hot Hot Hot £70, Crackpot Jackpots which was basically a £70 version of the RR with shots and bonus gambles, and Shanghai Surprise which I believe was like It's Amazing but also on £70.

So I'll be turning the Interplay cabinet, now gutted, into an MFME cabinet.

It's got a few positives -

7 physical buttons. The originals were RGB LED but I can't think of an easy way to implement that, so I'll be sticking which white LEDs and possibly adding decals or coloured acrylic or similar.

It's already got a rather large (32" I believe) touchscreen. Not sure of resolution but probably only 1366x768. I'm really only planning on running lo-techs anyway!

It's currently got an SR5e coin mechanism in, however I assume that - when I go for coins in/coins out, it should be an easy swap for an old Cashflow / MARS mech, whichever is best.

It's lovely and roomy inside. As you can see in the photo, it opens up and you can pretty much climb inside.

All I've done so far is get the cabinet in the house and gut it, but as I do little bits and bobs I'll update the thread

... (edit 17:15 11/04/23)

Have decided to shove my old Alienware Alpha desktop in it. It's small, it works, it has decent graphics and CPU, but is a bit old hat now.

Only teeny issue being that to use the existing kettle plug inside to power it, I've had to order a kettle plug to cloverleaf adapter... grand total of £3.50 delivered by Kenable.

I could make one myself, but since I only have moulded plugs, it wouldn't be tidy.

I can still test it for now though. Also the PC will eventually be mounted in a more solid manner... but since it's so small and light, I'm just going to hang it in place for now!

One quirk of the Alpha is that it has optical digital output. So I might buy a cheap little DAC and AMP, and use the original speakers built in to the cabinet. They sounded pretty decent to me, might as well use them!

Edited April 11, 2023 by slotsmagic

[spa]

Can I have the interplay hopper? lol

[slotsmagic]

1 hour ago, spa said:

Can I have the interplay hopper? lol

Possibly, but I did eff up the socket in the cabinet (well, didn't eff it up, but surprised they'd soldered and heatshrink rather than just using spade connectors. I just snipped the loom at that point).

The hopper is unaffected. Pretty sure it's just a single £1 universal hopper without the 10p hopper you normally get in a T7, not sure if that'll be an issue for you?

Edited April 11, 2023 by slotsmagic

[spa]

Well, one of my T7s has a hopper fault, think the 10p one..... so might be useful to swap bits off

[slotsmagic]

2 hours ago, spa said:

Well, one of my T7s has a hopper fault, think the 10p one..... so might be useful to swap bits off

The Interplay doesn't have a 10p hopper, so not sure how much use it would be

Back to the Interplay - I've put the PC in and have been playing about in Windows, and I've hit a bit of a snag.

The touchscreen only works correctly in landscape mode (which doesn't look right, as obviously this machine had the screen mounted in portrait mode).

If I change the display output in Windows to portrait mode, then graphics and things display correctly - but then the touchscreen doesn't function correctly (it acts as though the screen is still in landscape - see attached vid for example).

 

I can't get it to calibrate in Windows when in portrait mode either.

This is running on Windows 10 on the Alienware Alpha, so a sort of PC / laptop hybrid of sorts. Wondering if anyone has come across a similar issue with screen orientation and touchscreens before and might have a suggestion.

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by slotsmagic

[slotsmagic]

I'm a bit busy today but am determined to get this touchscreen working... First thing I'll do is get the Interplay image loaded up and see what drivers it uses and hope there is a Windows 10 version of those drivers.

I totally forgot that I'd ordered an amplifier last night too. Just a basic one which runs on RCA and 3.5mm in.

Of course I've just checked the Alpha and it doesn't have a 3.5mm output... so I might have to dig out an old DAC or get a little USB powered DAC to use with it. 

... Should have just paid more and got an amp and DAC combined

(another edit - 16:15 on 12/04/23)

I do have some spare old computer bits... I'm wondering if I just sell the Alpha on and use some of my old bits. I've an old AMD (pre-Ryzen) with iGPU, mATX form factor, and an old Xeon 6 core which is ATX.

The Alpha is a lovely, cute little machine which I could pretty much velcro in to the case. But it's so tied down. With a normal case I can chop / change and experiment more.

Hmmm...

Edited April 12, 2023 by slotsmagic

[spa]

Thats odd, mine has one

[slotsmagic]

14 minutes ago, spa said:

Thats odd, mine has one

... yeah, I just checked mine and turns out it does have one too! I was convinced it didn't.

I'd be surprised if the hopper in yours is actually faulty. Have you done the usual - taken it apart, cleaned it e.t.c.?

I've lost count of how many times I've found random screws, nuts, bolts, and random odds and ends in the hoppers

Edited April 12, 2023 by slotsmagic

[spa]

Nope lol I dont really use them as they need to much money in them, handpay, noting in the hopper, job done. But, be nice to have them working if need be

[slotsmagic]

Little bit of progress on this one : 

1) Gave the hoppers to Spa (might need the metalwork back in the future if I attempt to do coins in/out with a Universal hopper... or not! Will depend on if and when I go the payout route, and if I use an old Universal hopper or use an Azkoyen...)

2) Have today installed a PACdrive and iPAC to run buttons and lamps - all is working correctly! 

I was planning on installing the amplifier and getting sound working today, but that'll have to wait 'til tomorrow as I'm going to switch the PC in it for one with a 3.5mm output and put the Alienware Alpha back in the front room.

Oh, forgot to mention, I got the touchscreen working fine too, was just a case of finding the manufacturer of the panel and luckily they still make Windows 10 drivers. Using the calibration software in the driver package I was able to calibrate the screen for portrait mode - that's another issue sorted!

I'll probably share some pics of my dodgy wiring and stuff tomorrow. A bit knackered now though

Edited May 1, 2023 by slotsmagic

[slotsmagic]

So I'm at this point now. Quite happy with it so far! 

 

[slotsmagic]

Wow, this thread got old. Unfortunately I started getting a bigger machine collection - but I'm currently in the process of selling most of it so that frees up time and space for me to finally work on the Interplay

Now - the Concept Go For Gold - that I was planning on keeping purely as it has bugger all value - I realised I could actually use some bits from it... The coin mech is a 126DFX which looks like the correct type. But I'm wondering if this is a parallel hopper? I hope so. It doesn't look like CCtalk or anything daft like that.

If so it gives me a few options - use it as a donor, or possibly (and this is a bit mental) keep the cabinet intact but add a PC, stick a monitor on the reel shelf and monitor on the shelf and use it for lo-techs, with the 'reels' on the monitor visible through artwork on the front glass

Haven't decided which but the main thing is seeing if it's the right hopper

Edited December 20, 2023 by slotsmagic

[davep180]

Hopper looks good matey.

[slotsmagic]

1 hour ago, davep180 said:

Hopper looks good matey.

Brilliant, thanks!

Possible change of plan. Since Vegas Strip is dead, and it's an Electrocoin themed cab with Electrocoin buttons, and already has an Azkoyen hopper (albeit wrong type) I fancy putting the Go For Gold bits in there. Would remove the need to make a lot of physical adjustments to make the hopper fit and pay out

That would get a thread of its own

Back on the topic of Interplay I'm going to get the metalwork for the hoppers back from Spa (don't need the hoppers but think Spa did), and use one of the old Parallel MK4 Universal hoppers from a skill with prizes cabinet in it. Again, that would save me from needing to 'make' metalwork and whatnot for the coins to pay into the payout tray, as it should all line up correctly as-is. In theory I could also add a 20p hopper down the line in place of the original 10p hopper that would have been fitted adjacent to the Universal hopper. But I'm not planning on double hoppers at the moment.

At this rate I'll end up with a garage of MFME cabinets lol

Edited December 21, 2023 by slotsmagic

[Martinb]

As I mentioned I have an Interplay coming I plan to convert. I'll be making good use of its Mk7 PC for other projects so thats coming straight out.

I'm thinking of having a crack at making my old T7 PC (Mk6) work in the Interplay cab so I have started to see if I can get Windows running on it - looks like it will only install 32bit but I think thats OK for the emulator - did you try using any of the old T7 kit with your experience of building the cabs? I am not being tight its just a shame not to use it if it cold work? What you think?

Apologies for jumping on to this thread hopefully start my own once I get going. At least this one is about Interplay conversions