Blamcon Overview
Blamcon is a new generation of modern light guns. Designed by a passionate team of specialists Blamcon develops firmware, PCBs, mechanical designs, and software all in house giving us complete control over our ecosystem. We use cutting edge design and development processes unconstrained by traditional methods to bring you something unique.. and awesome.
What Makes Blamcon Special?
Light Guns
Blamcons use state-of-the-art additive manufacturing, with designs and functionality unachievable using traditional methods. Rather than creating just one design and being stuck with it in perpetuity, iterative production methods free us from locked-in molds and outdated processes. These methods let us bring you dozens of different light gun models – ranging from rapid-fire submachine guns to pump-action shotguns – and we have new designs being released all the time.
Blamcon Core
At the heart of every Blamcon is the core. This all-in-one hardware design has an onboard Raspberry Pi Pico W and all the required electronics for rumble, recoil, and the easy connections that power all Blamcon light guns. All functions are accessible from our onboard menu with no third-party software required. Calibrate your light gun in-game, or customize dozens of features on the fly. Our upgrade process allows you to load the latest Blamcon firmware at the touch of a button.
Community
Blamcon puts the power in YOUR hands. All Blamcon light guns are available for you to 3D print yourself and optionally source the parts you need, or you can use our kits and just print the parts you need. We’re dedicated to bringing back this awesome gaming technology for the masses, and our detailed build guides and videos cover everything you need to make a Blamcon. Blamcon designs are glue-free and modular. Create your own upgrades and even mount real optics. The only limit is your imagination!
Blamcon Features
All Blamcons use the same Blamcon Core. The difference is in the ease of building and the features available.
Blamcon Base
Blamcon Base light guns all share the same feature set, making them easy to build. If you are taking the do-it-yourself route, you will need at least the features of the Blamcon Base. These are USB only, easy to build, and a great project for family projects or beginner builders.
Blamcon Advance
Blamcon Advance has all the features of Blamcon Base plus extended features and often unique functions. All advance Blamcons require external 12V power, which is safe to handle but you need to take care to not miswire it. Some advance models are surprisingly easy builds but at the same time we recommend you look at the manual carefully and know what you’re getting into.
What you Need to Get Started
Set up the way your light gun behaves and responds and assign keys for critical functions.
LED Emitters
Start by placing the LED bars at the bottom and top of your screen, making sure they are straight and level. By default, Blamcon is set to ‘quadrilateral’ mode, meaning it’s looking for ‘two up’, and ‘two down’. If you choose a ‘crosshair’ configuration, placing one LED at the middle of each edge of your screen, then be sure to change the LED mode using the onboard menu and re-calibrate before you start. See our LED setup page for more information
Playspace
Your Blamcon should be far enough away from your screen for you to see all four IR sensors. You can check this by entering calibration mode and pointing your Blamcon at the screen. If the light gun LED turns blue or green, it can see all four IR points; yellow means it can see less than four; red means it can see no IR points. Hold the light gun very close to each IR point to ensure they are working correctly. If you see red, check its connection. Your distance away from the screen should be at least twice, or ideally 2.5X, as far away as your screen is wide, but you can use a wide-angle lens to play closer. Again, see our LED setup page for more information
Blamcon Advance Cable
Plug in the 12V adapter to the jack beside the USB cable. The GX16 connector should be screwed firmly into the jack on your Blamcon – and be careful to align the notch or it won’t fit correctly.
Learn more about pre-built Blamcons or building your own. Or why not check out the store?