SmartyPi –Emulation PCB replacement (SEGA edition)

[smarty]

Hi All.

You may have seen on Facebook that I have been shipping some boards. - I'm going through the list of those who showed early interest in the project and those that I know through the hobby.

I now have an online store at smartypi.co.uk - Currently everything is shown as out of stock. Once I've work through my list, any future boards will be available from the webstore, I will post here when there is availability. There is also a Guide section on the site covering setup and configuration if you want to understand what you'll need to do.

You will also need to supply a Pi4B 2 or 4GB version.

Testing in an Out Run DLX cab is taking place soon, hopefully there won't be many adjustments needed to have it fully working.

I've also made a cab adapter for anyone out there with a Racing Hero Cab (Don't all hold your hands up at once!) This will play the Hang-On Range of games and of course Racing Hero, which is also supported for Hang-On/Super cab owners, I think I've mentioned this in the past.

Thanks.

smarty2022-02-23 12:42:19

 

[sclark]

Amazing news about the DLX cab testing, I (and I'm sure many others) remain in awe of what you're doing.

 

[karlcdoe]

Hi,

Was there a price this for this piece of kit somewhere? I had a quick scan through the thread but there's a lot to read, and I can see the adaptor price on the website but not the price of the main unit. Anyway, looks great, the only problem I can see in the short term is the dire supply of new raspberry PI units

-K

karlcdoe2022-02-24 01:07:23

 

[smarty]

Hi Karl.

The SE PCB is £190 delivered in the UK - tracked, insured etc. (Postage uplift for non uk shipping) the user needs to supply a Pi (4B 2 or 4GB version), I provide everything to get it connected and working. From the two main UK suppliers of Pi's (The Pi Hut & Pimoroni), Pi Hut has had stock this week and the last few weeks, but you need to be quick as they sell out within hours.
smarty2022-02-24 07:39:27

 

[karlcdoe]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the information. I had checked PiHut saw they were out of stock but didn't realise they still had stock from time to time so I'll keep an eye on that. I guess I'll send you a PM at some point regarding your most bodacious project

Cheers

K.

 

[smarty]

Quick Update - I expect to be shipping another 10 PCB's in the coming week. I will then be ordering my next batch, those boards will become available directly in my webstore.

I spent Friday testing SmartyPi in a DLX cab - Here's a video Running CannonBall in test mode, where it checks motor position and limit switches. It was a good start and now gives confidence we can get this fully working for Out Run DLX owners. Thanks to Vaccer Tin for the use of the cab and to Chris for software updates adding compatibility from CannonBall to the SmartyPi interface.

 

[sclark]

Absolutely amazing news Martin - there will be many orders I suspect when they hit the site, first two for space harrier and outrun mini here, then another for the dlx

 

[2huwman]

Great news - I shall buy one for my dlx when available - in preparation for the next time my PCB fails!

 

[smarty]

Couple of new videos showing Gameplay and the initial test of SmartyPi in an After Burner cab - Tested earlier today. Some minor tweak here' and there but we had good game controls, Shaker Motor and lamp control.

Next up a gameplay video from Taggster, Running in his racing Hero cab, games played as follows: Racing Hero -> Hang-On -> Super Hang-On ->Enduro Racer.

I have a few PCBS left to build from my last batch of 30, a new load will be ordered and then they will go on my webstore. - I shill have some people from my imaginary list to contact, once that's done with all sales will be via webstore.

Thanks for all the support and messages I continue to receive.

Cheer's Mart.

 

[davwallace]

Hey Smarty, do you still think Afterburner DLX is a non-runner? Would definitely order one if it can work as those custom chips keep failing. I had a quick look in MAME and it looks like the outputs are there, at least to some degree.

 

[griffo83x]

could someone please make something like this for a sega model3 driver please

 

[smarty]

Its been a while since I updated this thread. I have been more active in the SmartyPi User Group on Facebook, not wanting to be spamming 'Vac as a selling point for the PCB. I will post here when the new boards are available if there's any remaining interest here.

I've shipped 90 PCBs globally and have what I think will be enough to fulfill any remaining demand.

I've got a update coming out in a few weeks, which ads some new games, YouTube video of those in action shown below.

Changes coming in the new update:

Galaxy Force II added for After Burner users. Integrated into the AB Gamelist.

HangOn2 Rom added for Sitdown bike - Integrated into existing Gamelists.

Out Runners & Super Monaco Grand Prix added - Limited Functionality (Auto Gears). Available as part of a 'EGG' gamelist or 'CU' Custom list.

Non Sega games added. Top Speed, Chase HQ, Continental Circus, WEC Le Mans, Big Run. Available as part of a 'EGG' gamelist or 'CU' Custom list.

GP Riders added (for Hang-On/Super Hang-on users - Limited Functionality (Auto Gears). Available as part of a 'CU' Custom list.

Fixes to Custom gamelist code. You can now have up to 12 games in a custom list, see the notes in setup.txt for full instructions.

'TORmc' gamelist fixed to correctly select Power Drift.

The Microcontroller updater has been improved, automatic updating is now available for users without the Arduino IDE installed.

Thanks for the support, the project has gone further than expected and been received with lot of positive comments.

Regards, smarty.

smarty2022-07-20 10:00:11

 

[Lastspaceship]

awesome. will keep my eye out for next batch.

 

[muddymusic]

Where are people getting their Pi from these days? I had one on order with CPC but they cancelled it saying they don't know when more are coming, but it's likely end of 2023!

 

[smarty]

Muddy keep you eyes on https://rpilocator.com/?country=UK&cat=PI4 - enable auto refresh , play sound. They have been available in the UK over the last few days, but the stores must have very limited numbers as they sell out very quickly. You can change the filers by county or version of Pi you are looking for.

 

[yoganuggy]

smarty, it looks like mister will have outrun support soon. Could your micro-controller board be customised for mister (and for a PC groovymame setup?)

 

[smarty]

Aren't the DE0-Nano's required for Mister just as scarce as Pi's a the moment?

I saw the FPGA side out Out Run was progressing. So essentially you're asking for an interface of connections and controls leaving the Game/Video output and be run from Mister. Sounds like a great project for someone else

SmartyPi is so much more than just Out Run, I appreciate FPGA could have an (marginal) improved experience over MAME emulation. but I'm not sure that's worth my effort when I'm two years into this project as is, and TBH the Multigame support, along with Cannon Ball really puts SmartyPi as close to perfection as I want it to be.

What's the cost of a Miser setup these days? Buy in cost for Mister and any addon may also make it a cost prohibitive project. Happy to discuss further, but I don't think I will be providing something like this.

 

[yoganuggy]

It was more food for thought. You may have a big market if your micro-controller board was adaptable to other systems. Your system is unique in that it drives the outputs to the cab.

The mister user base seems to be growing at an exponential rate and all IO boards for it are for input only, no outputs.

Likewise for the PC emulation, all the io boards on the market are input only.

Surprisingly nobody has produced a standalone IO board that even does basic force feedback to interface with Happ or Sega cabs. They are all DIY hacks of logitech wheels or similar.

I have my original twin rave racer cab controls interfaced with PC's using the ultimarc uhid with JAE connectors I crimped myself to the cab controls but there is no force feed back output options.

I asked Andy from Ultimarc would they consider doing a version of their UHID IO device with force feedback but he said no.

 

[smarty]

SmartyPi update 3a August 2022

Anyone who has purchased a SmartyPi system to date, should have received an email from me regarding updating it to add the latest features. If you have not received and email please message me and I will forward on the information. (Vaccers who I dealt with direct may have been missed off the email list, send me a pm with an email and I will forward the download link over)

If you have any questions about the update please use this thread to ask questions, this will make it easier for everyone to see any success stories or issues that you may see. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

A copy of my email I sent is shown below.

Hello SmartyPi users.

Please see below for a link to the guide for updating your SmartyPi PCB & a link to download files that are required for the update. Download the file packs and extract the contents to a folder on your computer.

There are three steps to the update, I recommend you complete them in the following order. Microcontroller update, MicroSD configuration update & close out the process by updating the RaspberryPi's MicroSD card image. Detailed instructions are included in the README files with each part of hte update.

The update makes a few behind the scenes alterations along with the changes listed below:

• 
  Hangon2 ROM added for sitdown bike - Included in some Gamelists.
• 
  Galaxy Force II added for After Burner and Thunder Blade cabs.
• 
  Super Monaco Grand Prix - (Automatic gears only)(Custom Gamelist only)
• 
  GP Riders - (Automatic gears only)(Custom Gamelist only)
• 
  G-Loc - (NO 'Afterburner' Control)(Custom Gamelist only)
• 
  Non Sega games added for Out Run / Turbo and Power Drift cabinet users. Chase HQ, Top Speed, Continental Circus, WEC Le Mans, & Big Run. (Custom Gamelist only)
• 
  Custom gamelist increased to twelve games, new parameter to configure in MicroSD setup.txt file.
• 
  Other things I've probably forgotten to mention
  

Each part of the update has instructions, follow them step by step and everything should work fine. I have based the update on using a Windows 10 or 11 computer, set to English language, the only part that may be affected by non English language settings is the Microcontroller update. If you have issues, please install the Arduino IDE and try using the update script as automatic or manual update mode.

How to Update SmartyPi: http://www.smartypi.co.uk/products/Updating-SmartyPi-c137009377

Download file pack: Link removed for the UKvAc post.

smarty2022-07-31 21:13:51

 

[sega_man]

Really hoping Super Monaco GP gets added to the list soon I've got an Airdrive cab that I would be more than willing to provide for testing purposes. I may have found a replacement board for it but we all sadly know these boards all die some day!