G'AIM'E × TIME CRISIS by Tassei Denki Co., Ltd.

[Sweatlord_STG]

https://www.tasseidenki.co.jp/gaime

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ta ... modern-tvs

Does anybody know more about this kind of light gun? Are there already other light guns which make use of the same technology? If so, how good are they compared to the real deal (old light gun arcade games that run on CRT)?

[it290]

The Sinden uses fundamentally similar hardware, using a camera and translating the image via software into screen coordinates. It does require a small white border to be drawn around the screen which reduces effective screen size slightly. I didn't see a similar border in the G'AIM'E promo video, so I'm not sure if it isn't there or if it's just not shown for marketing purposes. It could be that G'AIM'E is using a different technique in software to recognize the borders of the game space and produce coordinates accordingly (like maybe using image recognition to differentiate between 'game' and 'not game' for example—the term 'AI' has been applied to so many things at this point in marketing-speak that it's borderline meaningless).

Sinden does offer a pedal for sale as well—although it's quite expensive and not really needed because you can just use the buttons on the gun, but it's nice for immersion. There is not, as far as I am aware, any way to do split-screen functionality for arcade Time Crisis as the G'AIM'E video seems to be suggesting, but you can of course use the split-screen options in the console ports.

In terms of accuracy, I'd say the Sinden is probably 95% or so compared to an arcade gun, although it's difficult to know how much of that is the gun and how much is emulation and/or display lag. It's vastly better than my mangy Dreamcast guns on HOTD2, but I would say not as good as a GunCon2 on a CRT. Still what I'd consider very playable. The build quality is not fantastic but it's well within usable. My biggest beef with it is probably the weight, which can get tiring even with the recoilless model. Would have preferred a more compact, Zapper-like build, but this is a little bigger due to the extra controls which more or less are modeled after the GC2.

Another thing to consider is the software ecosystem—Sinden can be used for PC games, emulation, and on a MiSTer. I primarily use mine with a custom Batocera image loaded onto my Steam Deck, and can comfortably play games up to PS3 as well as some newer arcade titles via Teknoparrot. The Wii version of HOTD3 is a dream with this setup. It's not clear how open the G'AIM'E will be, but based on how they're marketing it you may be limited to just the licensed titles.

As far as other options go, I haven't used them, but the GUN4IR and Reaper guns are supposed to both be very good. They do both require IR sensor mounting, though. I would steer clear of the Aimtrak guns—their sensor setup basically requires that you stay in one place without moving or you'll lose calibration. They're serviceable for games that use a cursor like T2 arcade, but don't really meet the mark for true lightgun games.

[Sweatlord_STG]

not as good as a GunCon2 on a CRT

That's a shame. Do you think there is a chance that this product will be better than the Sinden as this is specifically and only made for the games featured?

It's not clear how open the G'AIM'E will be

This has been asked and unfortunately they made it clear that there will be nothing else in the future, not on this system at least. The hardware has no wifi and there will definitely be nothing like additional games that you can purchase later. So from that point of view one could say it's expensive because you can definitely only play the games that come with it.

However, they said something that this release will serve as a test to see how it will be received, hence similar projects may follow in the future. Where you can buy the guns and everything again, only to play the games that will be featured that time, lol.

[BrianC]

It's vastly better than my mangy Dreamcast guns on HOTD2

PAL or NTSC? Even though the PAL version supports 60Hz the brightness needs to be turned up for the calibration to work, which is not the case with the NTSC versions (though the US version needs a different gun like the Madcatz and stupidly blocks out the official one. Madcatz gun isn't bad, though).

[Sweatlord_STG]

There is something wrong with the DC when it comes to light guns: viewtopic.php?t=64989

Also: viewtopic.php?p=1378901#p1378901

[xEbb1993x]

I'd rather have a console port of Time Crisis 5...

[Sweatlord_STG]

I'd rather have a console port of Time Crisis 5...

And play it with the PS5 controller?

[Koa Zo]

https://www.tasseidenki.co.jp/gaime

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ta ... modern-tvs

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
I'm starved enough for some good light gun action that I went ahead and backed this. Fingers crossed that it isn't laggy or inaccurate!

I never did see the Steel Gunner games in an arcade so that was a significant draw here, plus who doesn't love Point Blank?! Time Crisis is great but really I've played enough of it and would prefer part 3.

$225 shipped to USA for the 2 gun, 4 game set. No bargain, shit better work well. We'll see.

Also have to wonder about the US repeal of de minimus exemptions. We need a separate thread to discuss and monitor the impact for importing... from the little I read, starting August 29th of this year, it seems we'll have to pay the additional tariff rate, or a flat $80 per shipment!

[xEbb1993x]

I'd rather have a console port of Time Crisis 5...

And play it with the PS5 controller?

Controller or light gun peripheral, I just want the game ported to consoles already.

[it290]

That's a shame. Do you think there is a chance that this product will be better than the Sinden as this is specifically and only made for the games featured?

I mean, I think the Sindens are like 95% as good as the GC2, which is the best console light gun ever made. I think the differences are more down to the emulator and monitor than the gun itself. No flat panel is ever going to be as good as a CRT for this type of game.

PAL or NTSC? Even though the PAL version supports 60Hz the brightness needs to be turned up for the calibration to work, which is not the case with the NTSC versions (though the US version needs a different gun like the Madcatz and stupidly blocks out the official one. Madcatz gun isn't bad, though).

NTSC. I have the Madcatz guns and they aren't good, and also need the brightness turned up. I also have the Pelican gun and that one is quite a bit better.

[RoboArmy]

That seems to employ actual new technology instead of rehashing or stealing what's already available out there. There are no borders, they have been demo'ed publicly plenty and you can find videos online. There's just one catch... the image processing is probably done by the game unit itself and not the gun, so you're going to be SOL for PC and stuck to four (admittedly excellent) games.

I've seen reports that the gun isn't as accurate as the better IR solutions already out, but who knows really. I can say I'm really happy with the Retroshooter RS3 as it's more precise than my experience with CRT lightguns, the only downside being the guns being heavy AF.

[neorichieb1971]

I pledged day 1 for the Gaime and already paid up on Friday (22nd Aug).

I've not heard a single bad review and I don't expect there to be one. Namco and Gaime are collaborators on this project so Namco wouldn't put their name on it unless it was 100%. The original creators of the arcade machine are involved also.

If you consider Time Crisis came out in something like 1995, you just have to accomplish the same outcome as 1995 tech, you don't need to compare to 2025 standards because the original game is that old.

Its the arcade versions of the games, so they are all 60hz, no PAL support.

They will not put extra games on the unit because of licensing, if they made a 2nd box it would most likely be a licensed unit with Sega totally independent of this project, except for perhaps gun and box modifications.

I supported this project, simply because gun games have gone off the market. I can't support a game market with out gun games. Even if you don't like this project or find its lacklustre, it will surely boost the popularity of the genre going forward.

[Sweatlord_STG]

I've not heard a single bad review and I don't expect there to be one.

There are no bad reviews (and no good ones either) because it's not out yet?!

[neorichieb1971]

I've not heard a single bad review and I don't expect there to be one.

There are no bad reviews (and no good ones either) because it's not out yet?!

Loads of videos of folk playing with it at shows. Nobody said anything bad.

[Sweatlord_STG]

I've not heard a single bad review and I don't expect there to be one.

There are no bad reviews (and no good ones either) because it's not out yet?!

Loads of videos of folk playing with it at shows. Nobody said anything bad.

Probably the same people who happily play Mario Kart on their TV that has 10 minutes of input lag, with a Bluetooth soundbar where the audio is not even in sync with the game, but they don't notice any of these things.

I'm just saying I'll remain sceptical until I hear the opinion of someone I trust

[neorichieb1971]

There are no bad reviews (and no good ones either) because it's not out yet?!

Loads of videos of folk playing with it at shows. Nobody said anything bad.

Probably the same people who happily play Mario Kart on their TV that has 10 minutes of input lag, with a Bluetooth soundbar where the sound is not even in sync with the game, but they don't notice any of these things.

I'm just saying I'll remain sceptical until I hear the opinion of someone I trust

I understand its not cheap cheap. Has a gun game had lag before? I understand a STG having lag is an issue because of the pixel measuring going on but a light gun game has tons of movement anyway.

[Sweatlord_STG]

https://youtu.be/efKxU5MtCYk?si=OzLGwJljEqqzhfNU

He says it's just ok, not as good as CRT/real light guns.