What do you think? Digital Ball Count Displays

[JamesM]

I'm deciding between two types of digital ball count displays.

Idea One would be a single six digit display that begins at six zeros,
and counts down your ball losses below zero in red.
When balls are won, the display counts up the won amount toward zero.
When your winnings exceed your losses(ie count is above zero),
the display is mostly counting up, not down, and is displayed Blue, not Red.

Idea Two is two independent six digit displays;
one in red counting up your losses, and one in blue counting up your wins.

The display will be installed in a routed cutout in a piece of wood moulding.

Idea One might be too depressing; usually showing only how much your losing,
but the sudden change from red to blue would tell you instantly when your at a profit point.

Idea Two is more busy looking, and maybe more entertaining when spurts of wins tally up on the blue side.

Which idea do you like best? Which would encourage play? Which sounds most fun:?:

sidenote; I'm still waiting for signs of life from Gamecabinet guy

[arbycoffee]

Ok,

Why the need to count the balls ? I just play for the fun of it. I am more concerned that the ball tray on top stays full to pay out.

But on the other side of the brain, I see where a lot of players want to know if they are ahead or behind. I would than pick the first one.

IMHO, you can ask my wife!

[JamesM]

I think it's fun to imagine a value to the balls.
--it adds an investment to the game, and makes every shot matter.
Noooooo. I can stop now, I'm too far behind :!: :!:

[arbycoffee]

I grasp it :lol:

[Bilko44]

JamesM,

Do you have a source for the counter displays and can they be reset?

Will they reset to zero every time the game is turned off?

Will voltage be a problem since the games are 24v?

[JamesM]

Bilko44,
I looked up circuit designs in electronics books, and bought components through retail.
So far I just have it rigged up on a breadboard, but I have the circuit board design ready to etch.
Large led's over 20mm are expensive, so I'm parting out two Sony clock radios.
They have large compound displays, not true leds, but are big & bright
It's all waiting in a box until I get my game stand

[azlew]

Idea One would be a single six digit display that begins at six zeros,and counts down your ball losses below zero in red.When balls are won, the display counts up the won amount toward zero.
When your winnings exceed your losses(ie count is above zero),
the display is mostly counting up, not down, and is displayed Blue, not Red.

Glad to see you are working on this still. It really sounds great !

I would also tend to lean towards Idea One.