NES Zapper connected to PC

[StefanPN]

Few months ago I got an idea of interfacing NES, FAMICOM or FAR-EAST copy of the named console’s Zapper to my PC. I've accomplished the task and written test programs in FreeBASIC and VisualBasic (by using library that is written in FreeBASIC).

You can read the full story and download samples here.

I hope that this belongs to FB Games forum because the thing is done so I can write games that use NES Zapper in FB.

Any comment will be appreciated.

[Brick Break]

Well, it has been done before, but this is amazing! To have alternate means of controlling the game in FreeBASIC is always a good thing. The only problem I see is that not everyone has a Zapper, and not everyone is able to hack their zapper to do this. Maybe in the future a similar light gun will be sold in stores. Cool!

[StefanPN]

Thanks for replay,

I am planing to explain how to build your own Zapper out of a toy gun and few more components, also want to show how you can interface it to PC via USB or PS/2 port.

It has been done before but a bit more complicated, and anyone who understand how NES Zapper works would see why there would be hard to implement NES Zapper for use in 3D FPS, especially if it is fast placed with many characters on screen simultaneously. The article you provided have terse description with no any additional info. I am not familiar with any PC game that uses NES Zapper. Although there was a thing called Lightgun for PC and a dozen games written for it.

[Brick Break]

Thanks for replay,

I am planing to explain how to build your own Zapper out of a toy gun and few more components, also want to show how you can interface it to PC via USB or PS/2 port.

It has been done before but a bit more complicated, and anyone who understand how NES Zapper works would see why there would be hard to implement NES Zapper for use in 3D FPS, especially if it is fast placed with many characters on screen simultaneously. The article you provided have terse description with no any additional info. I am not familiar with any PC game that uses NES Zapper. Although there was a thing called Lightgun for PC and a dozen games written for it.

I'm looking forward to that tutorial. By the way, would it be possible to use the PC's Lightgun for the same purpose, with the same library? Just a thought.

[StefanPN]

Here I am after some time (had some prolonged holiday).

Actually library just provides access to I/O registers, but I am thinking to write a driver so Zapper could be detected as computer joystick.

I've been researching on the topic, Sega's Virtua Cop series and House Of The Dead series do use light gun for PC, just it do not work same way as NES Zapper, they have some special sync hardware which is connected between VGA output and monitor cable.

[darkhog]

How about Zapper vs. LCD thing? If I remember correctly Zapper can't be used with LCD screens, e.g. you can't play DuckHunt on LCD tv.

[StefanPN]

Sorry for late response,

If I can remember right I've tried out Zapper on a few LCD screens and the results are following:
- On 3 of a few Samsung LCD screens Zapper did not work proper - latter I assumed that it may have something to do with brightness or color settings.
- On 2 tested Philips LCD monitors it worked as it should.

I must say that I was using simplified version of Zapper with different photo-diode, so the actual Zapper maybe not working with those LCD screens. But actual Zapper worked great with big, old CRT monitor (which I do not have anymore - and for I lack LPT port also).

Anyway I gave up on this project, partly its doomed anyway, and because I have a job that makes me busy almost all the time. I've left the desktop scene and moved to Web and mobile platforms - it is what makes money. But that decision gave me new opportunities and knowledge.

Still when having some spare time, which happens rarely, I work on alternative ways of control in games, I was recently inspired by Wii-mote, XBOX 360 Kinect and PS3 Nunchak so I am developing something in FB (using N3XTD engine), which uses Your body moves and a web cam to act as game input device. I know there are few project already running TrackIr, HeadTracker with Wii-mote, FreeTrack... But this is something different and far less complicated - it just runs with no need for additional "hardware", wires and so...