LEDBlinky – Arcade LED Control Software For use with LED Controllers from Groovy Game Gear, Ultimarc, and Wolfware Tech. Integrated support for the following front-ends: MaLa, AtomicFE, Attract-Mode, GameEx, PinballX, HyperSpin, LaunchBox/BigBox, Maximus Arcade, CoinOps, or RetroFE. Stand-alone operation for any FE. Trial Version ------------- The Trial Version of LEDBlinky is functional with limitations; Animations can only be enabled for the FE Start-up and FE Active events. Pixelcade features can only be enabled for the FE Start-up and FE Scroll events. Joystick Digital Restriction features are not available. High Score features are not available. Cabinet LEDs features are not available. The LEDBlinky Animation Editor will only save the first 10 frames. Additionally, the trial version includes a visual/audio/splash window which is displayed for a few seconds each time LEDBlinky is started. How To Purchase --------------- To purchase LEDBlinky and all LEDBlinky support applications, please use PayPal via this Link; https://www.LEDBlinky.net/purchase.htm. Purchasing the software will remove all Trial Version limitations, including the start-up splash screen. After the transaction is complete you will receive two (2) Registration Files via your PayPal email address. You should receive the file within 48 hours (usually much sooner). Place the Registration Files in your LEDBlinky folder. Internet access is required the first time you run LEDBlinky to link your PC to the Registration Files. Registration Files can be used on up to three (3) PCs. The Registration Files are personalized to your name and email - they can not be distributed to any other person. Thanks! How To Install -------------- Download the latest installation package here; https://www.LEDBlinky.net/download.htm. Run the LEDBlinkySetup.exe program. If your front-end software is MaLa, GameEx, PinballX, AtomicFE, or Attract-Mode then install LEDBlinky into the front-end \plugins folder and select the relevant front-end plugin. Otherwise you may install LEDBlinky into any folder. Note: If your front-end is LaunchBox or BigBox, do not install LEDBlinky in the \plugins folder, otherwise you may receive "Bad IL Format" errors when running LB/BB. How To Upgrade -------------- Download the latest installation package here; https://www.LEDBlinky.net/download.htm. Run the LEDBlinkySetup.exe program. The installation folder must match your current \LEDBlinky folder. Only updated files will be installed and your existing configuration will not be altered. Usage ----- Note: This is very basic documentation. Please refer to the "Install and Config.pdf" for complete documentation. Basic Setup: Recommended for anyone using LEDBlinky for the first time. Run the LEDBlinky Configuration Wizard (LEDBlinkyConfigWizard.exe). The Configuration Wizard will guide you through the process of creating your input map and setting other required options with step-by-step questions. When the Configuration Wizard is complete, run your front-end and a few MAME games to see LEDBlinky in action. You can then move on to the Advanced Setup to enable and configure additional features. Using the Configuration Wizard is optional. Advanced Setup: Recommended for more experienced LEDBlinky users. The advanced setup provides many more LEDBlinky features and is necessary for lighting controls for non-MAME games. Follow these general steps; Step 1) This step is NOT necessary if you have previously completed the Configuration Wizard. Run the Generate LEDBlinky Input Map app (GenLEDBlinkyInputMap.exe) to create your input map required by LEDBlinky, the Controls Editor, and the Animation Editor. The LEDBlinky Input Map defines the connection between the LED Controller (hardware) ports, and the Input Codes (Keyboard, Trackball, Joysticks, etc). It also defines the three ports used by each RGB LED (if any). This mapping should never change unless you rewire the LED Controller or reprogram your keyboard encoder. Step 2) Run the LEDBlinky Configuration app (LEDBlinkyConfig.exe). This app is used to configure all LEDBlinky features. If you have previously completed the Configuration Wizard, some LEDBlinky configuration options will already be set. 2a) From the "FE" menu; Select your Front-End software (current options: AtomicFE, Attract-Mode, CoinOps, GameEx, HyperSpin, LaunchBox, MaLa, Maximus Arcade, PinballX, RetroFE, or Other). 2b) From the "MAME Config" tab; Set the paths to the required (and optional) MAME files and folders. If you wish to set the LED colors based on the actual game control panel, set the path to Colors.ini. You may skip this step if you do not intend on running the MAME emulator. 2c) From the "Game Options" tab; You can enable LEDBlinky to blink each button and speak the button "action". You can also configure LEDBlinky to play an LED animation, speak the game name, and speak a custom message, all before the game starts. Other Game options are available. 2d) From the "FE Options" tab; You can configure various "Attract" features when the FE starts, when the screen saver is active, and when the FE quits. MaLa, AtomicFE, GameEx, PinballX, HyperSpin, LaunchBox, Maximus Arcade, Attract-Mode, CoinOps, or RetroFE specific features are also available. Note: Features are only available for FE's that support these events (Start, Screensaver, Quit); see Stand-Alone usage below. 2e) Additional options, features, and integrations are available on the "Audio", "Misc Options", and "Integrations" tabs. Step 3) If your FE is configured to launch any non-MAME emulators, run the LEDBlinky Controls Editor (LEDBlinkyControlsEditor.exe). The LEDBlinky Controls Editor will allow you to configure the controls, colors, voices, and input codes for the FE or any emulator or game. Unlike MAME, other emulators must be configured manually. If an emulator or game is not configured, no controls will light up. You can also define default colors/intensities and define controls as 'Always On'. 3a) Optionally you can install and run RocketBlinky. RocketBlinky is a third-party app which will automate the configuration of over 160 non-MAME systems. Please see the Readme.txt in the RocketBlinky folder for installation and support options. It's Not Working? ----------------- LEDBlinky will report any major configuration errors when you exit your FE. If LEDBlinky is not displaying any errors, but it's still not working as expected, the first place to look for help is the LEDBlinky Support page; https://www.ledblinky.net/Support.htm. Next, try using the LEDBlinky Troubleshooting application; LEDBlinkyTroubleshooter.exe. The app is self-explanatory and may provide a solution to your issue. As another option, you can post questions to the Software group on the ArcadeControls.com forum. The current LEDBlinky support thread can be found here; http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,73905.0.html. If you start a new thread, please include the word “LEDBlinky” in the subject. If you're still having problems and you would like help, turn on the debug log; From the "Misc Options" tab, check the "Enable Debug Log" option. Run your FE and any game that is not working as expected. This will generate a Debug.ZIP file containing all your configuration and debug files. Email this file (debug.ZIP) along with an explanation of your problem to arzoo@LEDBlinky.net. Note: RocketBlinky is a third-party tool optionally included with LEDBlinky. Support for RocketBlinky is NOT provided by LEDBlinky. Please see the Readme.txt in the RocketBlinky folder for installation and support options. Running LEDBlinky in Stand-Alone Mode ------------------------------------- Any FE that supports the ability to launch an external application and pass parameters (e.g. Rom name) can use LEDBlinky. Commands can also be sent from the Windows CMD or Run dialog, or using a batch or script file. The LEDBlinky stand-alone program file is "LEDBlinky.exe". If your FE cannot launch an external application prior to starting a game, you can still use LEDBlinky with MAME; from the LEDBlinkhy configuration app, check the 'Use MAME to Trigger the Game Start/Stop Events' option on the 'MAME Config' tab. Then launch LEDBlinky with the FE Start parameter (see below) prior to starting your FE. You can even use this option without any FE, just using MAME or any variant that supports MAME output messages. You should only enable the LEDBlinky features for events that your FE supports. For example, if your FE can launch LEDBlinky.exe when the FE first starts, then you can use the FE Startup Animation and other Startup options. If your FE can launch LEDBlinky.exe when it starts/stops a screensaver, then you can use the LEDBlinky screensaver options. The LEDBlinky application can be launched multiple times (once for each command) but only one instance will remain in system memory. LEDBlinky command line syntax: Game Start Event LEDBlinky.exe LEDBlinky.exe Note: Use double quotes around parameters if the parameter values may include spaces. Note: If you start a game without specifying the emulator, the last selected emulator will be used, or MAME is the default. Game Stop Event LEDBlinky.exe 4 Screensaver Start Event LEDBlinky.exe 5 Screensaver Stop Event LEDBlinky.exe 6 List Change Event LEDBlinky.exe 8 LEDBlinky.exe 8 Note: Use double quotes around parameters if the parameter values may include spaces. Note: If you don't specify the emulator, the last selected emulator will be used, or MAME is the default. FE Start Event LEDBlinky.exe 1 Note: FE Start is the default when no parameters are specified. FE Quit Event LEDBlinky.exe 2 Animation Start LEDBlinky.exe .lwax