Skeez Ball
Skeez Ball is built from the carcass of an ICE Iceball game, retaining the cabinet, sensors, and ticket dispenser. A less-featured, more family-friendly version of the game might also reuse the power supply and ball solenoid, if available.
The game involves up to 3 participants: one bowler and two who are rewarded when the bowler receives points. In addition to a standardish Skeeball, there are variations that indicate bonuses on the game's display, and adjusts points (and other rewards) based on correct hole and/or timing. There's even a two-player competitive game, allowing a fourth participant.
Rewards are given by driving a wired vibe or insertable egg using pulse-width modulation ("PWM") to adjust intensity. Compatible devices have a 3/32" = 2.5mm jack with a 5V drive. We had some "dancing eggs" custom-manufactured by Ningbo Echo Int'l Trade Co., Ltd with a 2m cable; also compatible are 6V drive (4 batteries) such as the CalExotics Sterling Collection, and 4.5V drive (3 batteries), such as the now-discontinued Good Vibes King, Queen, or Ace bullets. Vibes must not have embedded electronic controls, which are incompatible with the PWM supplied by the game.
An adapter allows use with 3V vibes such as the Cal Exotics Dr. Laura Bergman Collection without burning them out.
Skeez Ball also supports plugged Wands, but these only start and stop for periods (no PWM/intensity variation). An adapter to convert PWM output to a line-level audio signal for use with TENS units is also available.
Each recipient is given a "consent handle", which allows them to switch-off participation if it becomes too much. Vibration is stopped by two mechanisms: electromechanically by a relay that cuts power when consent is removed, and via software that reads a separate signal returned by the consent handle. There will be no Therac-25 sequels on our watch.
This game made its premiere at the Rochester Erotic Art Festival in April 2024, and got its first major workout at Camp Crucible starting Memorial Day weekend.
Year | 2023-2024 |
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Platform | RaspberryPi |
Additional kit | Custom made PCBs 12V LED lighting panels +5/+12/+24V power supply PVC electrical enclosures Stepper/motor controller hat/bonnet for RaspberryPi Relays Solenoid 27" widescreen monitor |
Sensors used | GPIO Original Iceball opto-sensors |
Connectors | AMP 2-, 4-, 6, 12- and 15-pin connectors (to cabinet) molex 0.093 series 2- and 4-pin connectors (to cabinet) JST XH 2- and 4-pin (internal) 0.1" (2.54mm) pitch pin headers (internal) Avionics 4- and 6-pin connectors (consent handles, button panel) 2.5mm TR phone jacks, tip positive (vibes) |
Participants | One or two bowlers, two recipients, two vibe channels per participant. |
Subgames |
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DL-1275 Ticket Dispenser (dispenser.html)
The Deltronics DL-1275 ticket dispenser and its integration with Iceball/Skeez Ball. - Skeez Ball Cabinet
(cabinet.html)
The cabinet, power supply, and lighting for Iceball and Skeez Ball. - Skeez Ball Connectors
(mainboard.html)
LEDs, connectors, pinouts, fuse ratings, transistor types used by Skeez Ball. - Skeez Ball
Plug Panels (plugpanel.html)
Connectors and pinouts used by the user plug-panel.