NES Zapper games? (please advise!)

[Animan]

Someone else also mentioned Baby Boomer.

 

I played it one time. It's like Crossbow, but it features a baby. The box even says "Best Rated Light Gun Game".

[jamesk]

Yes, no rapid fire with the gun, and thanks to how the trigger works, a slower rate of fire on top of that. Having to use the controller and the gun as the same time for grenades makes it worse. I found Operation Wolf NES to be better with the controller since there's an option to adjust the cursor speed, it allows for rapid fire, and no extra controller is required for grenades.

 

Reading this thread got me thinking so I took my zapper apart.

I made some modifications to the internals of the zapper. I removed one spring, a small piece of plastic and added some hot glue. Now it shot without that loud click action. The only problem then was the gun only fired when the trigger was released. After taking it apart I looked at the switch and found that it was a SPDT. Unfortunately the NC (Normally-Closed) terminal looked like it was never added. I could see just a bit of the NC so I added a blob of solder to it. Then I moved the red wire from the NO to the NC. Now my gun works exactly how I want it to in Duckhunt. Operation Wolf works a WHOLE lot better. The trigger doesn't need to be pulled as far back as it did so you get faster shots.

 

It may need some more modification. I should lessen the pull to reduce finger strain. Then maybe a semi/full-auto switch and a grenade button.

Edited September 18, 2010 by jamesk

[jamesk]

I removed the trigger return spring. There's a smaller spring that will return the trigger, but not all the way so it feels a bit loose. So while this is a big improvement to finger strain and playable, the feel is kind of odd. I'll try to find a lighter spring and see how that works. A ballpoint pen spring might work.

Edited September 18, 2010 by jamesk

[e5frog]

That's the only thing that differs it from the other lamer lightguns - the click. You don't actually have to push the trigger all the way down until it clicks, just a little bit and then release it will work fine - if you mind the click.

 

When I got lightguns for my C64 and Amiga I was a bit disappointed - the triggers were like pushing any button, that click of the Zapper is what makes it more fun - it can be a bit tiring for the shooter finger though...