Hacked Hobbit Pinball Machine Joins IoT, Broadcasts Itself Over Twitch (lachniet.com) 45
Random web surfers could send a text message or even upload an image to be displayed on the back glass of Mark Lachniet's pinball machine, according to Mael517, while the machine itself webcast footage of both its playing field and backglass using Twitch. Interestingly, all the extra functionality was coded directly into the machine, according to Lachniet, who added only the webcam and an ethernet cord. The Hobbit [machine] has a whole bunch of hardware that I don't really understand and can barely fix... However, it has a computer in its guts, and this I can mostly understand.
After identifying the pinball machine's motherboard, CPU, operating system (Ubuntu) and an SQL database, Lachniet was able to backup its software, and then create his own modifications. He envisions more possibilities -- for example, the ability to announce high scores on social media accounts or allow remote servicing of the machine. Lachniet even sees the possibility of a world-wide registry of pinball game scores with each player's location overlaid on Google Maps "so you could view pinball hot spots and where the high scores were coming from," and maybe even networking machines together to allow real-time global competition."
After identifying the pinball machine's motherboard, CPU, operating system (Ubuntu) and an SQL database, Lachniet was able to backup its software, and then create his own modifications. He envisions more possibilities -- for example, the ability to announce high scores on social media accounts or allow remote servicing of the machine. Lachniet even sees the possibility of a world-wide registry of pinball game scores with each player's location overlaid on Google Maps "so you could view pinball hot spots and where the high scores were coming from," and maybe even networking machines together to allow real-time global competition."
Pinball games are MADE IN THE USA! (Score:1)
Pinball games are MADE IN THE USA!
what am I missing ? (Score:2)
Essentially, upon discovering that the pinball was an Ubuntu machine, he connected it to Twitch?
what am i missing? if it is basically that, it does not appear to warrant too much boasting ...
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Stern is better! (Score:2)
At least they don't have a full PC running a full os in it. Just an ARM board.
High score list based on how it's configured? (Score:2)
High score list based on how it's configured? What about the non software setting configs? Or just glass off cheating.
remotely diagnose? more like remote reports as (Score:2)
remotely diagnose? more like remote reports as diagnosing stuff is hands on with pinball as it's the parts them self's that can go bad get out of alignment.
The game is not tied to that 1 MB will work with a (Score:2)
The game is not tied to that 1 MB will work with any PC MB that has right ports.
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I wish we could but no, we cannot. This is merely a start.
Appliance manufacturers have a problem. You're using your appliances for too long. When do you buy a new fridge? Well, when the old one doesn't keep your beer cold anymore. And the new stove is due when the old one doesn't get your sausages warm anymore.
And they look in envy over to the TV makers who get to sell you a new one every other year, despite the old one still being quite ok and fine. And they want in on that game. Not to mention all the swe
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Most pinball games are slow to get OS updates (Score:3)
Most pinball games are slow to get OS updates and in to days world it's the thing that I really do not want to be on the network 24/7.
Just think of the games on site that get hacked to free play mode and that may be one of least damaging things that can be done to them. Others things that can be done are over driving coils hope that your fuses blow before you burn something out.
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But when you have stuff like Apache running on a system you want updates and this is linux.
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Yes the JJP games are a bit big on the video and it's to high up.
Stern games are running arm Linux on them.
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Other then that pinball 2000 stuff. PS that pinball 2000 emulator stole code from qemu and tried to pass it off as there own with them selling it and more.
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In pinball 2000 it got in the way some what of the play field. With JJP it's more like a big DMD but it's to far up.
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and it was to much up the middle.
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Meh, too easy. (Score:2)
Now this is cool: http://spritesmods.com/?art=twitter1943 [spritesmods.com]
Guy hacked a 1987 arcade game by coding up another Z80 "processor" on an ATMega to share bus-mastering duties with the other two already there, in order to periodically mess with the RAM for the purpose of saving/restoring high scores and tweeting. He made a board that just plugs in between the CPU and the board and gives total Ethernet-ready control. It's easily adaptable to other machines, too.
Rest of the guy's site is neat too, like his hard disk c [spritesmods.com]
Go Figure (Score:2)
Let's just hope they don't make a hobbit of it.
worldwide arcade video game scores (Score:2)
There is a module to put into your own arcade cabinet to share your scores online. Turning any arcade machine into an IoT device. Currently the arcade machines upload scores, but it is not possible to connect to them from the net.