Building a new CP, need your input!

[tjterrill]

Hey guys,

  So what are the MUST HAVES for a control panel?

Im doing a VERY basic custom, two player CP for a home arcade. I will prob be using the Ipac-2, and either Maximum or HyperSpin for the FE.

 Im in the process of laying out my CP before sending the layout to my woodworker, and I just want to make sure I get everything right the first time, as there are no second chances.

So far I have:
- a stick, and 7 buttons per player
- a coin and player indicator button for each player
- a Start button
- a Exit button
- a Trackball

  I have looked over and over again at all 15 pages of the "show your CP" thread, trying to look at everyone elses layouts. Alot of them just have way too many buttons for my taste, and others who have little amounts, its hard to tell what their buttons actually do.

 So do you think I need anything else? Can I control volume easily if I put in a Vol Up/Vol down set of buttons? Do I need a "select" or "Pause" button? Its just hard to tell what I can and cant do with these programs until I get them up and running.

 First cab, I wanna get it right. Thanks for your input!

[DashRendar]

If this is for MAME, you'll want an "Admin" or "Menu" button.

Otherwise your list looks pretty good.

[tjterrill]

I plan on playing Arcade games, as well as the nintendo, sega and atari consoles.

[javeryh]

I'd lose the 7th button for each player.  How many Neo Geo games actually use all 4 buttons?  Plus, you can map that 4th button to the top row or something.

You don't need vol up/vol down buttons - you can shift those functions.

I'd add a dedicated pause button.

Also keep in mind you don't need the admin buttons directly on the CP - you could always place them below the monitor or something.

Post your final design here - it will be easier to critique.

[Gatt]

I think that sounds just fine.  I wouldn't really do too much more,  because this is an addictive hobby,  and you're just going to expanding your project in a year.

Trust me,  it all starts with joysticks and some buttons...then a trackball...then a bunch of games make you want a spinner...and maybe a set of dual 8-ways for each player.  Then you start thinking about flight sticks...and Tron...then you see how cool the LED panels are...4-ways...q-bert...Star Wars...

Have fun with it!  This hobby's a blast   Plus,  it's a great way to make visitors jealous

Btw,  for serious bragging rights and if you decide to add C-64 to the mix...google Legacy Engineering and Atari,  they've some nice Atari joystick repros that hook up via USB and really are pretty inexpensive.

[WhereEaglesDare]

I'd lose the 7th button for each player.  How many Neo Geo games actually use all 4 buttons?  Plus, you can map that 4th button to the top row or something.

A lot of the good fighters use 7 buttons.  MK4 has the run button that you have to have.

[javeryh]

I'd lose the 7th button for each player.  How many Neo Geo games actually use all 4 buttons?  Plus, you can map that 4th button to the top row or something.

A lot of the good fighters use 7 buttons.  MK4 has the run button that you have to have.

I thought MK4 only uses 6 buttons?  HK, HP, LK, LP, BLK and RUN.  I don't know of any fighters that use 7 buttons!  I don't have any of the modern ones set up though.  SFIII and KI are as recent as I get...

[WhereEaglesDare]

<(--- Moron.  duh sorry



Its a 5+1 Setup not a 6+1.. i dunno what I was thinking, my world has been rocked, everything I know is a lie.

[tjterrill]

next question... where does every go online to buy their CP hardware?

Looking for the easiest site to browse, selection, and of course price.

What brands are most common for buttons and joys?

[milkit]

i use www.groovygamegear.com after growing tired of dealing the the nonsense at arcadeemulator.net
i always just get happ buttons and competition joysticks.

for led buttons, i get those from http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101244.0

artwork - www.mamemarquees.com

those 3 places should have everything you'd possibly need.

Ice-t trackball + led wiz from GGG = epicness

[ArcadeKO]

for led buttons, i get those from http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101244.0

+++

artwork - www.mamemarquees.com

+++

If you are looking for cheap parts DirtCheapTrading has $9 joysticks and cheap buttons - but its worth it to get the lit buttons.

[WhereEaglesDare]

By the end of it, 14 lit buttons, 2 sticks and a led, player 1,2, coin buttons lit, with all the appropriate boards,youre spending a lot of money right?  like 200-300 dollars

[Epyx]

You don't need Pause, Menu or any other Admin buttons on your CP. Imo, all you really need are start and your action buttons. I would place the coin button somewhere else under the lip of your CP to keep it clean. 

Remember, that with IPAC or GPWiz etc you can program multiple buttons and create shifted keys so that you can have your action buttons work in combination with your P1/P2 Start.

[bkenobi]

The GPWiz does not have a shift function, but the KeyWiz does.  Either way, it's possible to program MAME to use key combinations, so it doesn't really matter.