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Getting a new control panel made

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pinballwizard79:

So you guys really think the 2nd panel pictured is confusing? Hmmm, look if someone arcade savvy walks up to that panel & cant figure out how to play tempest, donkey kong, killer instinct or missile command then they need their ass kicked (anyone else visiting my house doesnt count anyway).

Thats the coolest, most straight forward & cleanest franken panel ever!

Guess I am alone on that thought, oh well story of my life  :cheers:

Xiaou2:

The biggest problem with that panel, and many Frankenpanels... is that the upper controls are not easy to use.  To get to that 4way, you have to rest your arms all over the player 1 buttons... and arm bashing into the player 1 joystick shaft.

 If you stack joysticks, you can solve that problem.  They can nearly be on top of each other, with only a slight horizontal deviation, and remain perfectly comfortable, not needing to rest your hands all over other control.  Also, the joy will be closer, and no long-stretch fatigue will be present as in most FnP cases.

 The trackball is also a tad too close to the p2 joy, and a good whip of it could cause some pain.


 And yeah, I believe it would be far better to have cool dry hands than to store beverages in the control panel.  I used to work at an arcade, and cleaning One spill in a machines was bad enough... let alone the several times that it happened.

 Imop, Better to make a spill proof drink tray that mounts to a wall... or mount holders on the cabinet sides where a lot less damage can occur... as well as no need to get in the way of peoples view while swapping drinks around.


Xiaou2:

Dont know why i did this.. .but anyways, here is a design based on games you want to play most accurately... and the rough dimensions you posted.   It could be further optimized by keeping the panel edges much more squared.

 Not completely tested for accuracy of course... so some adjustment may be needed... but should be a design which does not have "arms-on-controls" issues, nor "reach-to-far" fatigue issues.



Vigo:

My .02 cents: Go with modular panels. All the variety, no cluttered frankenpanel. Plus, if you suddenly gain a passion for a different style game (like racing), you can always build another panel later.

cmoses:

Xiaou2

I have a control panel that is for MAME and is multifunctional.  It's not perfect but it allows me the most variety of games with the least amount of clutter and confusion.  I have had my machine on when friends are over, when we had parties at the house and for the most part people can just walk up and play a game.  It is very easy to look at my control panel and see 2 joysticks each with a grouping of buttons and figure it out from there.  I also have a trackball which is pretty self explanitory as well.  I do get the occassional question about buttons on a game or two, but those tend to be the more unique configurations, Defender, Stargate, Toobin.  I even setup my machine so that on single player games you can use either joystick or button group.   

Your all in one golf club arguement vs U360 is pathetic.  First off there isn't a club that can change its size, design, loft degree, shaft length for every unique shot.  The U360 can change for each game between 2 way, 4 way, 8 way, diagonal, analog and do a very good job of it.  Is it better than having a original joystick for each game you play, no.  Is it better than having multiple joysticks on your control panel, yes, most people think so.  It can't replace a trigger stick, so I can see why some people do want these on their control panels.

Your defender arguement is also bad, since he is not putting a 2 way joystick on the control panel he would still be using a 4 way or 8 way.  A U360 can replicate a 2 way vertical joystick very well.  It has a mapping that divides the full range of motion into 2 halfs, up and down, so any move in any direction would result in it registering either up or down even it it was a diagonal move.


mytymaus007,

I never mentioned having dedicated cabs, I understand wanting to get them most out of 1 machine.  I am the same way, I have a MAME cabinet because I only have room for 1 machine.       

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