Multi-Purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (M.A.C.S.)

[badinsults]

I finally got around to making an article on this. Thanks to 98PaceCar for giving me the pictures! If anyone has additional pictures or comments, I will add it to the page.

http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0901

[Baloo]

So does anyone here on Digitpress own one of these?

[DreamTR]

I have both carts, the gun, and the only existing operation's manual so far...

[badinsults]

It was on my "to buy" list, but I am soon losing my job and likely going back to school.

Hey DreamTR, are any of the carts you have different versions that the ones I have scans of?

[DreamTR]

Evan, not sure, I would have to dig them out.

[98PaceCar]

I have both carts, the gun, and the only existing operation's manual so far...

I'd still like to work out at least seeing that manual sometime!

@EvanG,
From what I have gathered, the MACS Multipurpose Arcade Simulator version 1.1e and MACS Basic Rifle Marksmanship Program Version 1994.0 are the same thing. I have the 1.1e cart and the title screen reads that it's Basic Rifle Marksmanship. I'm guessing the 1994.0 is just a later version. Would like to compare it to mine, but not at a $500 BIN!

[udisi]

I also have the gun and both carts. I'd have to check my version numbers

[ventrra]

I finally got around to making an article on this. Thanks to 98PaceCar for giving me the pictures! If anyone has additional pictures or comments, I will add it to the page.

http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0901

I'd like to add a few comments: I used one of these while I was in basic training in 1998 at Fort Leonard-Wood, but the setup was somewhat different. For example, the light-gun component on the ones we used at FLW were simply duct taped to the front of a rubber training rifle, also instead of tvs, all of them I saw were hooked to Commodore monitors. (I'm not going to say for certain that this was anything like standard, but all of them in Delta Company were like this.) Another thing, we certainly didn't set at any tables like the soldier in the picture, these were set up in our commonrooms on the floor where we were sopposed to use them while lying prone on the floor.

[ProgrammingAce]

The thing i always wondered about this system, i didn't think that light gun setups were all that accurate. It can't help when you're using a 13 inch TV either.

I mean, if you're going for a cheap way to pratice, wouldn't something like airsoft or bb guns make more sense? They're not that accurate either, but when you're only shooting from one side of the picknick table to the other, it should do well enough.

[badinsults]

I'd like to add a few comments: I used one of these while I was in basic training in 1998 at Fort Leonard-Wood, but the setup was somewhat different. For example, the light-gun component on the ones we used at FLW were simply duct taped to the front of a rubber training rifle, also instead of tvs, all of them I saw were hooked to Commodore monitors. (I'm not going to say for certain that this was anything like standard, but all of them in Delta Company were like this.) Another thing, we certainly didn't set at any tables like the soldier in the picture, these were set up in our commonrooms on the floor where we were sopposed to use them while lying prone on the floor.

If it had Commadore monitors, chances are you were using the version of MACS designed in the 80s for the Commadore 64.

[PACHUKA]

HOLY SHIT! The army brought these to career day when I was in high school. I remember wishing they sold the game in stores. They kept pushing "The army is like a real life video game!"

[98PaceCar]

The thing i always wondered about this system, i didn't think that light gun setups were all that accurate. It can't help when you're using a 13 inch TV either.

I mean, if you're going for a cheap way to pratice, wouldn't something like airsoft or bb guns make more sense? They're not that accurate either, but when you're only shooting from one side of the picknick table to the other, it should do well enough.

I don't know exactly how this one works, but it seems to be very accurate. Much more so than any other lightgun I've used. Somewhere I read about the technology behind them, but I can't seem to find it now. I'll post if I run across it.

[ProgrammingAce]

Most light gun setups i've seen seem to have a magnifying glass at the end of the barrel. I would assume that's to set the size the photo sensor detects color. I guess you could set it up with a second lense and point it like a telescope. A 13 inch screen is still pretty damn small though...

[98PaceCar]

Most light gun setups i've seen seem to have a magnifying glass at the end of the barrel. I would assume that's to set the size the photo sensor detects color. I guess you could set it up with a second lense and point it like a telescope. A 13 inch screen is still pretty damn small though...

Even playing it on a 27" tv, much closer than what they were supposed to be, it's hard to hit the targets. Of course, if it were set up to be fun, it likely wouldn't be very effective as a training tool (that and I can see the Army being too cheap to spring for bigger TVs).

[ventrra]

If it had Commadore monitors, chances are you were using the version of MACS designed in the 80s for the Commadore 64.

Nope, guaranteed not. They just had the SNES plugged into the video port and an audio port on the monitor. (From what I've read on the various gaming message boards, a few people use the same sort of set-up at home.)

[atari_wizard]

I finally got around to making an article on this. Thanks to 98PaceCar for giving me the pictures! If anyone has additional pictures or comments, I will add it to the page.

http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0901

I will send you a scan of Basic Rifle Marksmanship Program Version 1994.0 for your web page.

[TougeNinja]

I hope you all don get mad for me bringing up a dead thread. I happen to have "acquired" two 1994.0 cartridges from my time in the army but no guns and i am having the hardest time tracking down any guns or different versions(my google fu is very weak) i would be willing to trade a cartridge for a gun or different version. Thanks in advance.:snipersmile:

[toasty13]

i have everything in my possession , im at fort bragg and just borrowed one of ten for the army training center....i cant post pics due to my probationary period but i will link it or whatever i can to help.

[toasty13]

uploaded

http://www.photobucket.com/macssnes

[toasty13]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/toastyjuggalo123/MACS/100_1979.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/toastyjuggalo123/MACS/100_2005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/toastyjuggalo123/MACS/100_2018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/toastyjuggalo123/MACS/100_2035.jpg

[badinsults]

We still need to get these dumped. Anyone willing to loan us their carts so we can dump them?

[toasty13]

im going to sound stupid and ask, what is dumped and i would if i could

[badinsults]

Essentially "dumping" is copying the contents of the cart, so that it can be played on an emulator. No emulator supports the MACS yet, but this is largely because we don't have confirmed dumps of the games! You need a device such as a Retrode (http://www.retrode.org/) to copy the contents. If you can't mail the cart out to someone and can't get a dumping device, I'm sure someone would be willing to loan you one.

[toasty13]

I would if i owned it and it wasnt the army's...i would have to get direct permission.

[DogP]

I would if i owned it and it wasnt the army's...i would have to get direct permission.

Ask to take it for "recruiting" purposes for the day... and I'll meet you outside of Bragg. We can then "play" it in my super cool dumper device. ;)

DogP