Building my cabinet but I have questions

[Creeper]

So I'm finally building my Mame cabinet and I've been slowly doing research over the last 4-5 months. I've gotten nearly everything I need but I wanted to go over my list of supplies with you guys to see if I'm missing anything.

It's a 4 player cabinet with a primary focus for fighting games.

I have:

A decent PC running XP
1 IPAC4 from Ultimarc
1 ArcadeVGA PCIe from Ultimarc
2 Happ Perfect 360s for 1p and 2p
2 Happ Ultimate sticks for 3p and 4p
A tonne of Happ buttons

and hopefully this week I'm ordering a Wells Gardner 27" D9800

I'll worry about speakers later on.

Once I have the monitor I'm building my cabinet instead of refurbishing a used one. I do CNC work for a living and have unlimited access to some fun, expensive toys.  

Am I missing anything? Any advice from you pros would be welcome.

[Blanka]

Do you like centipede, arkanoid or tempest?
Spinner and trackballs I like better than P3 and P4.

[Creeper]

Those games are great but I decided against the spinners and trackballs and decided the space would be better utilized for drink holders. If I add anything it will be some light guns in the future. I'm aiming for a good beat em up, fighting game system. (Simpsons Arcade/Street Fighter)

I'll post some layout pictures of my proposed cp shortly.

[Creeper]

Here's what I plan on milling, still trying to get everything balanced out for comfort and aesthetics.

[Blanka]

I would really advise not to go the direction of Pac the ---smurfing--- Matt.
As you can see here, a real Simpsons 4P is not terrible wide. >1m wide is really huge!
And for the cupholders.... If I'm into a game, there is no need to drink (ever seen MDF or chipboard swelling of liquid?), and if I ever go for a Kill Screen, I'll have the lady bring a glass of water.

You can also let P3 and P4 use a BlueTooth gamepad. I know it is cursing in the church, but how many days do you have 3 buddies around to beat the crap out off?

[javeryh]

Those games are great but I decided against the spinners and trackballs and decided the space would be better utilized for drink holders.

Now I've heard everything!   

I agree with Blanka - your CP seems WAY too wide and I'd ditch the drink holders and add the spinner and track ball at least (I'd also get rid of P3 and P4 but that's personal preference and another topic).

I am jealous you have access to a CNC machine - that is going to make it really fun.  Also, if you don't like something it will be easy to redo.  Good luck! 

[opt2not]

If you must have cup holders, get ones that attach on the back-side of the CP, the part that jettisons from the side panels. That way, condensation or spilled drinks can fall onto the floor. Not onto the CP.

Another thing to consider, the CP corners sticking out for p3 and p4 are going to be very uncomfortable to play on. If you can get that edge to be flush with the player, it would be much more comfortable.

My El Diablo Mechanico is pretty much the same type of cabinet you're building. A fighting game/beat-em-up cab. 
Here's a shot of the CP, notice P3 & P4 has a nice edge to lean against:

[Creeper]

Alright, I'll ditch the drink holders. The CP will be made of birch ply so I have no need to worry about MDF swelling but I can still foresee a disaster when drinking beer and trying to frantically execute a super in Street Fighter III: Third Strike. The width I'll bring in as much as possible. I just worry about elbow room between 1P and 2P for fighting games.

I personally don't have much need for a spinner or trackball. The only game I could see wanting to play is Golden Tee but it doesn't justify a track ball for me.

And javeryh, you are totally right. I can literally mill a new CP in 10 minutes with a bit of CAD work.

opt2not, that's essentially what I'm aiming for. Do you find that 6 buttons for 1P and 2p are enough? I see some people have 7 or even 8.

I'll mod my design and resubmit in a little bit.

Thanks for your feed back guys

[opt2not]

opt2not, that's essentially what I'm aiming for. Do you find that 6 buttons for 1P and 2p are enough? I see some people have 7 or even 8.

6 buttons is definitely enough.
I never understood why people put more than that on their cabinets.