News & information

The "milliSoft PINterface" is a system to design you own custom pinball machine with individual game rules, audio and video output. To realize this we developed a software package and a hardware component (PCB) to use pinball machine coils and contacts for target contact input and coil driving output. The software is customizable by text configuration files and is well documented including a pinball customization document.

The best times for playing pinball was the 80'ies and 90'ies with a lot of different games presenting a lot of technical innovations year after year. The late 90'ies introduced a turn in these times and today only "Stern Pinball" is still producing pinball games for the market. The themes for pinball machines are chosen by successfull movies or tv series but there are still a lot of themes missing a pinball game. If you are interested in designing your own pinball game with your favorite game for "home use only" or commercial small series we can provide you the tools to fulfill your dreams.
Most custom pinball designers are not experienced engough to customize hardware playfield layout and this way the gamerules including sound and visual output and do not provide a set for other designers. We present a toolkit including hardware and software for everyone who is interested to build their own custom pinball game. The knowledge of common pinball repair is enough to build the own game based on our "PINterface".

The development includes a complete machine concept, a hardware component and a software defining the general game rules. This software is configured by a game describing text file in XML format and editors for this are available. A microcontroller is used for driving the coils and reading input from the playfield and a PC located in the backbox computes the game events and outputs. Playing MP3 stereo sounds effects and background music is standard as well as displaying image graphics or video animations (like DivX, XVid,...) on a LCD display.

PINterface USB PCB (detailed view)

PINterface USB PCB with other components (left to right: PC-power supply, mini ITX PC, hard disc, PINterface PCB)

freely configurable	Create your own pinball game including individual game rules, graphical output (images, videos), music and sound effects
no additional pinball electronics required	Our electronics replaces all functions of common pinball electronics and you only have on pcb for input handling and output driving. Sound and video playback including game logic and rules are done using a commercial standard pc component
for unique mashines or small production series	Design your own favorite theme for a world wide unique pinball mashine or use our electronics to realize a small production run for commercial use.
pinball for advertisement	With our partners we can plan and realize your own pinball mashine for your company. This is a perfect way for advertisement on large fairs or your entrance hall. Your customers will be astonished!

Scope of delivery:	PINterface kit including the pcb and its components, PC-software licence (existing power supply is still needed. ask us for other options)
Operating system:	Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista 32bit, Windows 7 32bit
Connection to PC:	USB 2.0
Functional overview:	-48 direct inputs for switches (Targets,..) without switch matrix -48 outputs for Coils, switchable lamps (z.B. flippers, insert lamps) -Output of images, videos (i.e. AVI-DivX) and points on TFT screen -Output of sound effects and background music (z.B. MP3) using the PC -game control using a rule set based on a XML file with graphical rule set editor for easy rule sheet creation

A game played with our electronics, Teil 1

A game played with our electronics, Teil 2

We're building some demonstration devices based on our software and hardware to prove the easy construction of a custom pinball machine.

You can download these information as product sheet here as PDF file.

The demonstration of this development was presented at pinball expos and can be shown at our office for free play (email us for more information and pick a visiting date).

Furthermore we can build your own custom pinball machine as unique machine or small series in cooperation with our partners if you are interested in an individual game.

If you have any questions please contact us at our email address.

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The milliSoft multiSwitchBox USB is an adapter to connect footswitches or foot pedals to the pc using an USB port. You can connect up to 4 switches to the external box or choose an integrated solution with 1, 2 or 4 footswitches.
The software allows to configure custom keystrokes including combinations of keystrokes individual to each footswitch to allow very individual programming for your custom needs.
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