What is going on here?

[Spaced Invader]

Cool panel, Howard...simple is good. Nice to see you practice what you preach...and there's plenty of room to add a couple trackballs and a starwars yoke later...I mean if you change your mind or something.  

Almost forgot, that is the sweetest marquee I've ever seen...really NICE!

[rampy]

Sorry if this may be a little off topic...

Hey Howard, if possible, I would be very interested in seeing some of your work.  Almost everyone could probably learn something from it.  Although, there are allready a lot of good examples out there.

I didn't like my last panel because it was cluttered with extra buttons.  This is why I keep adding to this thread.    My new one (my 3rd)  is almost finished.  Until then you are welcome to look at my old panel on my then, unfinished cabinet.  

howardcasto.freeservers.com/ragingdragon/

Warning , pop-ups galore on this crappy webservice, and the webpage sucks.  

Hey Howard,

Where's the link to your showcase style attempt? =)

That one will really win over the folks in this thread... (I'm kidding... I'm a kidder... hey put that tomato down!)

I wonder if getting into a flame war with howard is a right of passage on byoac "regular" status.  I think I still have a mark from mine 1300 posts ago =P

I know HC, and others (myself included) mean well when we preach the fallacies of following the 4 player devil and the true path towards the absense of button/control explosion panels... but I understand why people get defensive.

Realize this, though: Despite perceived attitudes/flames/arrogance, there is some truth in what is being said or suggested regarding 4 player/franken panel... HC, Frosty, myself, etc are just offering advice based upon our experience, and what we know to work. It's a well beaten path.  You can listen to the advice and then disregard it, if you wish. Our reasoning/justification might not match yours, or your project goals (i.e. consoles, gauntlet recreation, majong)... but we're just trying to save you from yourself =)

Sometimes someone goes beyond the beaten path, and comes up with something new and unique and useful to the community (and then it gets refined by others)... other times they come up with polished turds (but THEIR polished turds, mind you)

If someone wants to know what the bolts commonly used in cabinets are called I tell them (and where to find them, and where to find them cheapest)  If someone asks about layout on a 4player panel I share from the  same pool of knowledge/wisdom and ask, "why do you want to do that" and point out the 3 or 4 bullet points discussed ad nausem in this thread.  At the least it gives the person a chance to think about their project goals and maybe make better INFORMED design decisions (oh I don't need six/eight! buttons for players 3 and 4?) ...

*shrug* I just wanted to bust HC's stones a little and got sucked into this thread, blah!

Rampy

[Inaba]

First off, Inaba, learn how to operate the frikkin board.  It's hard to read your comments when you put them inisde the quote.  

Secondly you are making assumptions, and you know what happens when you do that.  

Firstly , those pics are not what it looks like today.  It looks totally different.  

Also you have no clue what I've been up to.  I don't count my projects unless they are successful or big, unlike others on this board who post a new "project" everytime they hack a joypad to an arcade stick. (Not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm just saying.)  I've made several prototypes, but I only count three as they were used a lot. I have been building constantly for 5 years.  

I don't care what you think of my cab, but if you think it's cheesy then you must dislike mk2 cabs.  Inch for inch it's almost exactly the same.  

Besides, this is a thread about control panels.  Fit and finish aside, I challenge you to to say that it's a bad cp layout.  It's not perfect but it's definately not bad.  And it's obviously not a tacky cab.  

I refuse you comment on your comments about the web page that I spent all of 30 seconds putting up for the benefit of this thread and others like it.  You are making assumptions again, I didn't rip my page design off of anyone, it's all mine.  

This isn't a flame message, please get over yourself and get back to the topic at hand, namely bad control panel layouts and their merits/drawbacks.  

My apologies on the quote feature, Skippy.  I know how to "use the frikkin board," but apparently missed a closing quote tag.

So those pics aren't what it looks like today?  Totally different?  Then what's the point in posting them?  Regardless, as for the control panel;  Bad design?  Depends on what you are asking.  Do I think it looks ass?  Yea, I think your CP looks like crap.  I would never put those goofy big, lighted buttons on my CP.  It makes it look like a game of Whack-a-mole or something.  But if you like it, great.  

Your CP is simple (which you obviously prefer) - and I think it looks like trash IMHO.  You have this huge CP with all this space, and 3 joysticks.  If you only want three joysticks, make your CP smaller.  But that's just my opinion, if you like all that extra real estate hanging out there serving no purpose, more power to ya.  From the pictures I've seen, I don't think you can design a good CP.  Maybe you have others, and I'd think "Wow, that one is totally cool" but what you've provided looks plain, boring and not something I'd want in my house, especially with those ridiculously lighted buttons.  

Lets talk about those buttons for a moment... You yakked about aesthetics, and yet those buttons are the equivilent of plaid pants and a golf hat.  No matter which way you slice it, they are ugly, nay, fugly to the extreme.  You have no sense of aesthetics what so ever.  Please, never speak of aesthetics again, lest ye be smitted by the fashion police.

I don't care what you think of my cab, but if you think it's cheesy then you must dislike mk2 cabs.

Going back to the cab a moment, I just wanted to clarify something.  I wasn't talking about the cab design itself... it was a Lucid rip off, by your own admission.  Mine is a Lucid rip off as well.  I was talking about the finish of the cab.  But since you say it's "totally different," maybe it doesn't look so crappy now adays, I'll take your word for it.  

As for the comments on the webpage.  I was being facitious to the extreme.  I see subtley is completely lost on you.  I took exactly what you said and replaced CP with webpage.  That's your own words, sparky.  How well they fit you and your webpage design is left entirely up to the reader.

[Spaced Invader]

Whack-a-mole...now that's just fun to say.

Whack-a-mole! Whack-a-mole! Whack-a-mole!

Kay then, I'm done now...er...

Whack-a-mole!

Sorry...that last one just slipped out.  

[Apollo]

You're not doing yourself any favours here Inaba.
If you plan to spend any reasonable amount of time on these boards you need to chill out a bit.
The only flaming on this thread so far is from you. You are just showing your immaturity not getting your point across at all ( which at the moment seems to be that you just dont like HC ).
Just mellow a bit and people may start to take you a bit more seiously, at the moment you are becoming a bit of a joke.
Someone had to say it ( you'll thank me later   )

[Howard_Casto]

Inaba, lets see, you joined this board on july 18th 2003 and you've had a total of about 130 posts so far.  In other words, you just aren't a newbie, your a super newbie.  

You have not yet earned the right polish most of the shoes around here, much less give your opinion on what is the most efficient layout.  

I find it odd that since my panel is so crappy the only two things you can find fault with it are the buttons and the fact that I used luscid's design for inspiration, which has absolutely nothing to do with control panel layouts.  Of course, you are a newb so you probably don't know what a true luscid cab looks like. (I give credit to luscid because he is the man for measuring mk cabs so we don't have to, but trust me, there are so many modifications that it's only loosely based on luscid's at this point.)  In other words you have nothing to complain about because my panels are just as clean and nice as I say they are.  

If you have a problem with me I suggest you pm me about it.  Trust me, you don't want to make this public.  

Calm down man, you are just hot, if you'd step back you would realize just what good advice we are trying to give here.  Plus it's advice, so if you don't like it, get lost.  I've ran off enough newbies in my day, no sweat off my back.  

[jakejake28]

I've ran off enough newbies in my day, no sweat off my back.  

for any1 reading this, not just Inaba, that smiley does not mean that he is joking

 

[Apollo]

Yeah it's more like that smile a tiger would give you just a couple of seconds before it disembowels you and starts chewing on your liver.

[Mike]

I've been pretty much saying the same thing as howard. Here is my cab from the last picture I took. http://home.insightbb.com/~mmarchetti/Picture001.jpg.

I plan to make the control panel smaller and remove the trackball. It just makes it too cluttered. The spinner is staying. I'm also ordering new buttons all the same color as soon as i get the part in from mouser to fix the driver board in my pinball machine. At that point I will have $25 worth of stuff to justify an order from happs(need to order new pinballs and a coil).  This next one will be the 4th contol panel I've seen on this machine. This thread is all about the newbies it's learn from other's mistakes.

[shmokes]

I tend toward the four-player panel being overkill side of the debate, but I don't have many friends as enthusiastic about games as myself.  I'm much more likely to get a group of people together for doubles tennis than doubles virtua tennis if you know what I mean.

That said if I had a bunch of people over all the time wanting to get Gauntlet or X-men going regularly I wouldn't hesitate on a four-player.

I get a tremendous kick out of all the posturing going on.  I can't see the relevance.  Howard's experience building control panels or driving "newbies" away by being generally unacceptable isn't what gives him the authority (or his tactless aproach) to comment on the aethetic qualities of a panel.  Certainly he would make similar observations about different make/models of vehicles and it is unlikely he has ever built one of those.  His authority to judge its aesthetic quality comes simply from his mind's reaction when he looks at the panel.  For example, I think his panel is ugly and I haven't even made mine yet.

Importantly, when I do make mine I plan for it to look fantastic, and even if I am successful Howard may look at it and vomit.   It is the way of things.   It is why there are so many things to choose from in the world.  

That said, I'm pretty sure that my registration date and post count are still inadequate for this post to count.  For confirmation on that please PM Howard.  If he still deems me a newbie please disregard everything I have said.  I don't mind.  I love this message board and visit it multiple times per week, but I don't derive my personal worth from my standing as a BYOAC message board poster.  

edit: grammer

[DarkKobold]

You have not yet earned the right polish most of the shoes around here, much less give your opinion on what is the most efficient layout.  

Wow. Sorry, I felt the need to comment on this.

I have been watching this board for four months now. By no means the length of time that Howard has been here. I post rarely, only when I really have something important to say.

One thing I noticed about the board over the four months was the fact that it was different from almost every other board. People were nice. People were practiced extreme courtesy, even when a question had been asked for the 8 billionth time. A very rare thing on the internet these days. Usually, its a few bad eggs ruining it for the best.

However, this post left a very bad taste in my mouth. I've not seen anyone disregard anyone elses opinion thus far. I've not seen anyone claim they were more superior for any reason. Wow.

Second, never before have I seen anything other then loving hands helping newbies, no matter what they want. "Chasing away" newbies is not what I think anyone else on this board wants. This is not a snotty nosed old man's club. Its been a great board.

I sincecerly hope that Howard was just angry and fired off a post. I severly hope that others on the board do not feel this way. To all, thank you. Your help, and your kindness have been wonderful.

Oh, and I am making a four player panel. It is also  the only reason I am making an arcade machine. Without simpsons and TMNT, my dream of building an arcade machine wouldn't exist.

Howard: When you gave advice before, that was actually good advice. I'd actually like it if you would critique my panel (look for the thread: critique my panel) I just really really hope you didn't mean that anyone on this board is not welcome, to be here, to post, and to have an oppinion.

[Apollo]

I would just like to point out again that this very contentious topic was going along fine until Inaba decided he would start flaming.
Inaba started flaming and was rightly put in his place. He essentially ruined what was an interesting thread up until he joined in. HC was not threatening to chase Inaba away ( that was a joke ). It is generally accepted that people who are new to forums show respect to those who have been members on that forum for a long time. It is the same anywhere. All members of this forum including HC are more than willing to help and encourage newer members ( I myself am a noob and have received much help ). What they are not willing to do is put up with new members ( or older ones ) that destroy threads by flaming for no reason. Everyone has different oppinions on MAME cabs, CP's, frontends the works. If they didn't this would be a hell of a boring forum. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion but no one is entitled to flame for no reason. It is nothing but destructive behaviour. Unfortunately now, thanks to Inaba this thread is no longer about the pros and cons of ugly control panels ( it was never about 4 player panels per se ). It has degenerated in to something far less interesting.

[pointdablame]

Oh, and I am making a four player panel. It is also  the only reason I am making an arcade machine. Without simpsons and TMNT, my dream of building an arcade machine wouldn't exist.

Amen to that! Your whole post made a lot of sense, but I don't feel like jumping into this whole debate again. I wanted to build a cab almost JUST because of those games. However, I realized that 1)there are 2p versions of both of those games and 2) I would rarely have 3 other people interested in playing them at my house at the same time. So I have decided to go with a 2p CP.

As for what Howard said: In my time on this board *as little as it admittedly is* I have found that he is a very opinionated person, but is also pretty knowledgeable. I wouldn't doubt that he has "chased away" people from here, but I also doubt those people were a valuable asset to the board.  Just my .02

[night]

i find it odd no one mentioned my panel yet

and ive been part of this place since well back into the old boards. in case it matters

[saint]

Thank you to everyone who has kept their posts civil despite differing opinions.  For those who haven't, a reminder  to please make your points without profanity and without resorting to flaming.  If you feel you've been wronged feel free to say so, but you don't have to get nasty about it.  When that happens, good threads die.

Snippet from the rules:
Rules?  We don't need no steeenkin rules!  Well, maybe one.  Be nice to each other.  We're serious about this one.  Disagree, debate, argue at will - but please be respectful.  Messages that are antagonistic or contain profanity will likely be deleted, and repeat offenders banned from posting.

[hulkster]

you blockhead!!!  ....sorry just had to

[Frostillicus]

Mike: I actually like your panel - it seems to fit the cab pretty well.  

And in general defense of this board, any flame whatsoever is so incredibly rare here it's almost non-existent.  They quickly get extinguished anyhow by the mods.  To be fair, 99.9% it's a newbie with a shiny new alias who starts posting as if he's on some l33t 5p3aking board where dissing, cussing and huge animated signatures is the norm.   They don't last long here thanks to folks like HC.

Anyway - back to the topic...er...what was the topic again?

[Spaced Invader]

i find it odd no one mentioned my panel yet

and ive been part of this place since well back into the old boards. in case it matters

Night,

Sorry for the oversight...was busy whacking moles! Yes, there really is something deeply wrong with me.  

Your CP looks like something that was ripped from the bridge of a starship...it's big...very big...but it looks sharp and there are no awkward angles for player's 3 and 4, I like the color and...is this a run on sentence or what? It does look good but a little large/menacing for my taste (I scare easily). One question...why six buttons for player's 3 and 4? Console games? If console games why not eight? Just curious...

--snip--
I plan to make the control panel smaller and remove the trackball. It just makes it too cluttered.
--snip--

Mike,

I think your CP looks great. Are you changing it just for asthetics or are there control issues...ie. are the joysticks awkward to use? I ask because your CP is pretty much what I have in mind for my WIP cab.

[Inaba]

Apollo, you are the one who brought me into this thread.  You are the one who decided to use my CP as an example.  You need to sit down and be quiet in your corner at this point.  If you didn't want me in this thread, then you should have used another panel as your "example."  

If you think that for some reason I need to "respect" a 23 (or is it 24) year old burger flipper who's had about as much experience building cabs/CPs as I do (which is to say virtually none) just because he has a high post count, you are sadly mistaken.  Once again, we're back to the bit about giving respect to get respect.

HC comes in, claiming to be the last word on CP design and stating that everyone is wrong who disagrees with him.  He refuses to give respect to anyone.  There are plenty of respectful ways to approach a subject, Howard eschewed them all... and thus he gets absolutely zero respect, deserves zero respect.

To top that off, his CP (IMO) is ugly, and shows he has no aesthetic design skill what so ever.  Couple that with the fact that he claims he's the self-appointed god of CP design and it's time to call BS on him.  If he could produce some pictures of some amazing panels (or Cabs) that he's designed and built, then he might have a leg to stand on... but so far, from what he's shown, he's got absolutely no authority to speak about others panels, aside from the "This is my opinion, take it or leave it."

Until that point, both you, Apollo, and HC can leave me the heck alone.  Don't use my CP as your "examples."  Don't tell me my opinons are right or wrong.  Don't tell me what I can and can not do given my experience (or lack there of).  Feel free to make helpful suggestions, that's fine... but the moment you cross that line and try to make yourself out to be something more than you are, I'll be happy to step up and knock you back over the line.

Now, to address the topic at hand:

You have not yet earned the right polish most of the shoes around here, much less give your opinion on what is the most efficient layout.

You are teh g00d engrish riter!  I didn't give my opinion on what the most efficient layout is... and you shouldn't either.  Neither you nor I have any qualifications to give such an opinion.  Produce something that provides evidence that you are capable of understanding what an efficient design is, and I will accept your opinions as valid.

I find it odd that since my panel is so crappy the only two things you can find fault with it are the buttons and the fact that I used luscid's design for inspiration, which has absolutely nothing to do with control panel layouts.  Of course, you are a newb so you probably don't know what a true luscid cab looks like.

That's not the only thing I found fault with.  I find it ironic that the only arguements you can bring against my critique of your panel is the point of the buttons and my pointing out that you based it off Lucids designs...  Which, if you cared to actually read and comprehend my post(s), you'd note that I pointed out the Lucid deal because YOU moaned about how other people "ripped off" designs.  The ONE and ONLY reason I brought this up was because you did it yourself.

As for the buttons, that was a topic I touched on.  They are ugly.  They are Wack-a-mole.  But, I also touched on the topic of all that extra space you have.  You have this huge slab of wood and nothing on it.  It's ugly, plain and simple.  End of story. No arguement.  Get your facts straight before you *try* to respond to me.  So far, I've seen absolutely nothing from you that would run anyone off, just a big, whiney child who thinks he knows everything.  It's no skin off my nose if you want to flail around and throw a tantrum because the adults have slapped you back into place.  Get over it, your panel looks wretched, move on and build another one.

In other words you have nothing to complain about because my panels are just as clean and nice as I say they are.  

Once again, you seem to misunderstand me (intentionally, I hope) - I didn't say they wern't clean, and "nice" is subjective.  I said they were ugly, and all that extra space was pointless.  They are very clean (I would say austaire actually) - and I don't think they are nice at all.  But then again, that's my opinion, if you like it, great.  Go play on it, I couldn't care less.  I'm not forced to play on your panel, and I would never tell you how to build a panel.  I would offer my advice if you asked me, but since you haven't, I wouldn't presume to give it to you.

[Howard_Casto]

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=9304

[Apollo]

I guess there's just no dealing with some people.
Oh well, I hope you have fun on this board Inaba. Maybe you could start your own forum where flaming and threats are not considered totally noob and pathetic.
You have a nice day now.

[jerryjanis]

Inaba, you'd be better off posting topics that single out control panels that suck...  That's how you get respect around here, right Apollo?

(By the way, I really like Inaba's control panel from the original post...  It's perfect for that huge TV that it is sitting in front of...  It's a CP - it doesn't make a cabinet look unauthentic...  In front of a TV you would want 6 buttons for all 4 players for console games.).

[Apollo]

I have already apologised for singling out that control panel. I'm not going to apologise again. In retrospect there are much worse examples that I could have used or no example at all.
However I still stand by my comments that the panel is not a good effort. However like I have also said it's just one persons opinion. At no stage did I say the panel "sucked" and at no stage did I call it a "frankenpanel".
IMHO buttons of all different colours, multiple controls and admin buttons etc does not a good CP make.
When I post pics of my control panel I fully expect to get critiqued. Some will like it some will not.
If someone posts a pic of their control panel expecting to get only praise for it then they are sadly mistaken.
There are many opinions re MAME ( which is partly why it is such an interesting subject and makes for an interesting forum topic ), and all of them are valid as they are personal opinions.
It is unfortunate that this thread has degenerated into this.

[Geekboy]

I have already apologised for singling out that control panel. I'm not going to apologise again. In retrospect there are much worse examples that I could have used or no example at all.
However I still stand by my comments that the panel is not a good effort. However like I have also said it's just one persons opinion. At no stage did I say the panel "sucked" and at no stage did I call it a "frankenpanel".
IMHO buttons of all different colours, multiple controls and admin buttons etc does not a good CP make.
When I post pics of my control panel I fully expect to get critiqued. Some will like it some will not.
If someone posts a pic of their control panel expecting to get only praise for it then they are sadly mistaken.
There are many opinions re MAME ( which is partly why it is such an interesting subject and makes for an interesting forum topic ), and all of them are valid as they are personal opinions.
It is unfortunate that this thread has degenerated into this.
This is my last post on this thread.  

I got to ask.  Why do you even care what other people build?  What's the point?  If your not into 4 player CP's then simply don't build one.  

I'm not into the 4 player CP's.  But some people are.  Good for them.  The whole point to this site is building your own arcade controls.  So I hope everyone builds a panel that makes them happy.  Do whatever you want, and most importantly, have Fun!    Just take pics and show us!

[jerryjanis]

At no stage did I say the panel "sucked".

You're right...  Calling it "Totally crazy" and "out of hand" doesn't imply that it "sucked".  I apologize for putting words in your mouth.

IMHO buttons of all different colours, multiple controls and admin buttons etc does not a good CP make.

That's how the Neo Geo more or less does it.  The Neo Geo does it because it involves one arcade machine which plays many different games.  This way, there can be on-screen instructions telling the player how to control all the different setups...  That's good planning ahead for when Mame and/or the frontends can generate instruction cards.

[Apollo]

Ok, once and for all it's not 4 player cabinets that are the problem & it's not that Inaba's CP stuck out like a sore thumb as being particulary ugly or badly laid out it's just that IMHO it is leaning towards the absolute monstrosities below. Perhaps I should have put up one of these pics first.

[Apollo]

And another.

[Inaba]

I take it somehow poor lil' Howard has some how construed my post as a threat?  Perhaps it was a threat to his manhood, or his self-proclaimed position as the "bestus noobie beater on the planet!"  Who knows...  If I've misunderstood your link, Howie, please let me know.

Since he and Apollo somehow think I threatened him (them?) - I'd like you to point out where I've threatened anyone?

If someone posts a pic of their control panel expecting to get only praise for it then they are sadly mistaken.

This is such a misguided statement, I have to comment on this.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with reviewing my panel, or even saying it sucks.  You can say it's the most horrible vision of CP-ness you've ever has the misfortune to lay your eyes upon.  That's fine.  I posted my pics here, for good or ill, and that's my responsibility for doing so.  You are/were well within your rights to do whatever you please with those pictures I effectively made public by posting here.  

THAT is not the issue, Apollo.  What you fail to understand is, with the right to critique my panel also comes my right to respond to you.  If you expect to live in a vacuum where your thoughts and opinions are sealed in a box, and people disagreeing with you are anathema to what you stand for or believe is right, you are sadly mistaken.  You have the right to say what you want about my CP, but I also have the right to say what I want about my CP or your critiques of my CP (or anyone elses for that matter).

Don't get all flustered and bent out of shape like Howard has when someone will stand up to his BS or your egotistical comments.  You are reacting like a noob, which you eschew so vehemently, with your comments about my "flaming" and defense of peoples rights to have differing opinions.  It's a sophomoric response to any debate to delve into the waters you're already far to deep in for your experience.  Quit while you're ahead on this, trust me.

Has this thread deviated from the topic?  Yes, here and there it has.  It's fairly on topic, all things considered.  There hasn't been any real flaming going on, your (apparently) inexperienced opinions aside.  I can direct you to some forums with flames if you'd like to further your education on what a flame is... what you've seen here in this thread (and from what I've seen of the forums by extension) are not anything vaguely close to flames. Heated debate?  Some red-herrings thrown in?  Yep and yep... no flames though.

[SirPoonga]

You people are silly.

[Apollo]

I concur.

[SirPoonga]

I concur.

The first step is admitting you have a problem

[jerryjanis]

I concur.

Eeee heee ha ha!

I think it's silly how Apollo went back and edited his message to remove where he says, "This is my last post on this thread."

It's still there in the quote in Geekboy's response...

[Apollo]

God this is getting lame.

[SirPoonga]

God this is getting lame.

You are now first realizing it?

[Spaced Invader]

I thought this was over...  

Come on now, group hug...errr...need to call my therapist...

[shmokes]

Why won't this end?  

[Inaba]

We could turn this into the "Official Post Count Raiser" thread so all of us with less than 2000 posts could bump our count and we won't be n00bies anymore!  Yay!

[DarkKobold]

Wow


1st off, that second control panel... Are most of those even game buttons? What? Is that Saddam's Playstation 2_tm personal missile launching cabinet?

2nd, is this possibly the longest thread ever to grace the pages of the BYOAC message board? If so... cool!

[RandyT]

Boy am I glad my name didn't show up in this thread....err...ummm ooops!  

Oh well, as long as I'm in......

Saint said be nice.  That's the rule.  There aren't any others.  You can make your CP look like Mt. Rushmore with a 4-way coming out of George's forehead.  It up to you.  Whatever "rules" others try to inflict here don't mean squat.

Singleing out a particular person's CP is really just not a very nice thing to do.  I can fully understand why offense would be taken when someone puts down something you worked hard on, especially when it suits you just fine.

You folks might want to put yourself in the shoes of the other guy once in a while before making comments that are bound to hurt feelings.  Especially when the comments you make could just as easily be turned on you.

Man, if you could see one of my first CPs.  It had 2 WICO Red Balls, with 2 buttons per and a hacked Colecovision keypad (joystick removed, of course) next to each.  The CP was about 6 feet long (I'm not kidding, it was part of a wall unit) and stretched out in front of a 9-inch color TV.

But you know what?  That was over 20 years ago and it was still better than what any of you jokers had!  


RandyT

[saint]

And thus concludeth the thread....