So twofold purpose for this thread:
1.) I am aware of a few video game pack builds, but has anyone installed motorized parts for all the different functions?
2.) I am going to start a build in the upcoming month or two with the intention of building such a pack. Any helpful suggestions are welcome!
There’s been talk but no one’s put motors in a pack yet. You better know a lot about electronics and programming if you’re gonna try for a full-on game build.
Well I guess the PhD doing computational physics will come in handy… Along with 14 years of electrical work.
I think it’s manageable, but the cyclotron cooling cycle may be hard to do without it being too slow.
I’d like to eventually do a venting system on the pack where just the N-Filter and the top of the Booster Tube pop out by pressing a button on the thrower as the vent sound is heard. Would be cool.
I really like that feature along with the bumper and cyclotron “cylinders” popping out during venting or overheating. That I think will be the hardest part.
I haven’t seen a pack venting system with moveable parts. But I have seen a pack that vents. The builder used the air compressor system for an air brush paint gun. It was small enough to fit in a pack and shot out mists when the vent switch was flipped.
I have a fiberglass video game proton pack shell and I have been toying around with the idea of motorized moving parts for the pack. Unfortunately I don’t have much money and I’m trying to pay down a credit card before I start investing in something like this.
I have done some research on the topic though. First, the cyclotron core tubes would be able to come out using Linear Actuators. These are heavily used in robotics, and you can get programmable servo controllers to tell them when to pop out. Just tell the servo controller to record an action, and save it. Press a button and it performs that action each time.
Second, the shock mount and bumper could be easily done with a solenoid or a smaller linear actuator. The N-filter would need a 90 degree rotating servo. They make them to only travel so far, so you just have to pick the one for the job.
Third, for the Stasis Shock ‘wings’ that come out, I would use a combination of a small linear servo and a 180 degree rotating servo. If you look at the animation closely in the game, the wings move away from the ghostbuster first a little, then rotate out. Again, the programmable servo controllers would have to record these actions done by the user, then saved and reperformed on command. Fourth, the slime pressure cylinder at the top of the pack would need a linear actuator.
Lastly, and the most difficult, the Jacob’s ladder effect for the meson collider would need a something like a lego technix or robotics ensemble to get the ion arm rods to come out and spread into a 'V." These are just ideas, and hopefully someone builds this with something that works. When I pay off my credit card, I will build this, its only a question of when…
Oh, I forgot about the lights and sound. Well, Jupiter Electronics has released some basic light kits for the video game packs, but I would have to see them in action before I buy. I have contacted a sales rep or manager there and they are willing to design a custom light kit for the packs. Someday, I am going to compile all the light animation descriptions and forward to him, but I doubt they would make them without some sort of down payment. Maybe someone with money can help make this happen. If not, I’ll do it when I can.