Avoiding a Frankenpanel...

[Malenko]

Quit dooshing up threads!  

Bunch of garbage snipped.

aww but you snipped a legit post of mine, the wheels are both 45* vertical and 30* horizontal

[NipRing]

My new panel. Frankenpanel? Yea or Nay? I did my best to not make it look frankenpanel but space was very limited. I spaced the art so it wasnt cluttered up but kept the original feel.

[scofthe7seas]

My new panel. Frankenpanel? Yea or Nay? I did my best to not make it look frankenpanel but space was very limited. I spaced the art so it wasnt cluttered up but kept the original feel.

If you can explain the 8 buttons per player, it may help your case against it being a frankenpanel..

[eds1275]

My new panel. Frankenpanel? Yea or Nay? I did my best to not make it look frankenpanel but space was very limited. I spaced the art so it wasnt cluttered up but kept the original feel.

If you can explain the 8 buttons per player, it may help your case against it being a frankenpanel..

My guess is that he does consoles as well.

[Donkbaca]

Not too bad, the 1p button and 2p button are in a weird place, and is that 1 1/2 inch trackball functional?

[NipRing]

Yes my cab runs a full frontend with about a dozen or so emulators. And the p1 and p2 buttons went where i could only go with them. Yes my 1-1/2" trackball is fully functional. I have a thread in project announcements with plently more pics.

[Jack Burton]

8 buttons is definitely for console play.

In a lot of console fighting games the 2 extra buttons, be they LT+RT, or L1+L2 or whatever are useful for navigating menus and doing other administrative functions.  If I were setting up a cab for Xbox 360 or PS3 use I'd definitely have them on there somewhere.  Maybe not next to the other six action buttons though.  

Those start buttons could cause problems though.  In many fighting games the start button is the taunt button.  You don't want a random taunt coming out mid-match.  Same goes for if you ever decide to consolize and don't want a random pause during the match. 

I think I would instead use that pause button there for 1P, and the Credit button for 2P, and then drill another hole next to the 2P button for credits.

[scofthe7seas]

Hey NipRing, what's going on with the rectangular area at the top of your panel? Next to the 100 Yen sticker? What's that do?

[drventure]

@Nipring

That's looks about as non-frankenpanelish as you can get yet still play a nice selection of games.

I'd say Nay.

and it looks great to boot!

 

[NipRing]

Hey NipRing, what's going on with the rectangular area at the top of your panel? Next to the 100 Yen sticker? What's that do?

Thats where a move strip would go.


And Dr.Venture, thank you!

[drventure]

If I'd only known what U360's were capable of when I was first designing my CP, it'd be a lot less frankenpanel-ish.

It's still be a total frankenpanel, just a lot less of one 

But now, I'm in with both feet. Might as well push the limits (within a certain realm of taste and decorum, of course) 

[telengard]

My new panel. Frankenpanel? Yea or Nay? I did my best to not make it look frankenpanel but space was very limited. I spaced the art so it wasnt cluttered up but kept the original feel.

I really like the color scheme and button looks in this one!  Very cool.  I don't think it looks "franken" at all other than maybe having a few too many buttons (but I imagine some games need this many).

IMO the way to avoid a franken-panel is to go modular.  You can use all the original controls if you want and not have to have them all on at the same time.  It is a LOT more effort, and a small amount of work when you want to swap, but it is well worth it (to me at least).

~telengard

[Paul Olson]

Hey telengard, long time no see! Definitely worth the effort. I know we have talked about this quite a bit over the years, but I still couldn't imaging not having the modular panel.

People keep getting hung up on having to swap panels, but it is a non issue. If you don't feel like swapping panels...don't! Play the games that work with the setup you have. I still have my Robotron setup mounted, and I played a quick game of Galaga the other day by mapping fire to the right stick/left. If I really wanted to play a full game of Galaga, I would have changed it.

It is just nice to have the option to change them out to anything you want.

I really need to get busy designing the new cab to go with the LCD TV. I can't wait to get it all up and running again. Playing Robotron is hard when the CP is not bolted down. lol

[Xiaou2]

People keep getting hung up on having to swap panels, but it is a non issue. If you don't feel like swapping panels...don't! Play the games that work with the setup you have.

 How could it not be an issue when people Do want to play other games?  Thats like saying.. Well, theres leftover meatloaf ready Now... eat that instead of cooking up the steak you REALLY want.  And after that, for dessert, eat the jello instead of the Chocolate creme pie you Really want. (that also isnt ready Yet)

 Ok, so you cant take another day of meatloaf?  Then take the time to cook the steak.  No, its not ready 'now', it needs to be seasoned & cooked...


 Thats the whole point. Time and effort spent swapping, when one could just INSTANTLY, without any effort, grab the correct controller and play.  No Cook time.  No cutting veggies up. Its Bang-on ready to go exactly when you want it, with no effort required.

 This thread will be a "Never-Ending" (unless people start to get-it)...
because theres no right or wrong.  Its all about Personal Opinion.

 Theres a plus and a minus to Every alternative.

 If your happy with your swap time, or lacking of swapping... then thats good for you.
Doesnt mean that everyone else will ever feel the same way.   Just like Im never going to like Liver and most all Seafood.

 Just let it go. 
 You put your opinions out, then drop it.  They are well noted by those who actually care.

 Stating the same Opinions over and over again, doesnt change anything.  Nor does the number of like minded people change anything.  Its all personal, and individual, OPINION.
And thats all it will ever be.  It will never be absolute truth,  fact, Right or Wrong.

 Enjoy it your way. 
 And let others Enjoy it Their way.

[Nephasth]

Thats like saying.. Well, theres leftover meatloaf ready Now... eat that instead of cooking up the steak you REALLY want.  And after that, for dessert, eat the jello instead of the Chocolate creme pie you Really want. (that also isnt ready Yet)

I tell the kids this every week!

Just let it go. 
 You put your opinions out, then drop it.  They are well noted by those who actually care.

 Stating the same Opinions over and over again, doesnt change anything.  Nor does the number of like minded people change anything.  Its all personal, and individual, OPINION.
And thats all it will ever be.  It will never be absolute truth,  fact, Right or Wrong.

 Enjoy it your way. 
 And let others Enjoy it Their way.

Sometimes I think you don't hear yourself talk, or if you do, you just choose not to follow your own advice...

[Cynicaster]

I briefly considered the swappable panel route but ultimately I decided to go for a design that can play most of the games most important to me.  I'm totally fine living without Tron and Star Wars.  I decided that the only appeal I would see in swappable panels would be the "science project" challenge of it getting it to work.  As in, "hey, look what I built!  Neat, eh?"  After that, I just know myself--I'd end up with panels sitting in the closet collecting dust.  Not only that, but half the fun for me is having guests over to play on my machine, and if I had to swap panels every 10 minutes it would ruin the pick-up-and-play experience I think.  

On paper the idea of having multiple clean, purposefully built panels sounds great.  But in real world use, maybe I'm just lazy, but the swapping process couldn't possibly be simple and convenient enough--it would always be a pain.  

Now, before everyone gets all upset, I'm just speaking for myself--YMMV.

[telengard]

Hey telengard, long time no see! Definitely worth the effort. I know we have talked about this quite a bit over the years, but I still couldn't imaging not having the modular panel.

People keep getting hung up on having to swap panels, but it is a non issue. If you don't feel like swapping panels...don't! Play the games that work with the setup you have. I still have my Robotron setup mounted, and I played a quick game of Galaga the other day by mapping fire to the right stick/left. If I really wanted to play a full game of Galaga, I would have changed it.

It is just nice to have the option to change them out to anything you want.

I really need to get busy designing the new cab to go with the LCD TV. I can't wait to get it all up and running again. Playing Robotron is hard when the CP is not bolted down. lol

Yep, I still poke around in here from time to time (usually when I'm adding a new control to the cab or upgrading MAME).  Working on the Sinistar 49 way as of late.

I can totally understand why modular wouldn't work for some folks.  For *me* personally, I like having as close to the original layout/controls as possible (probably OCD) so modular was my only option.
And yeah, Robotron not locked down HARD can be ugly.     

~telengard

[rohan]

Rcub3 should totally do this:


Of course my cab has no admin buttons (all shift functions utilizing an i-pac) because frankenpanels are really fugly.  

[Xiaou2]

If you dont like it, dont look at it.

[Bootay]

Rcub3 should totally do this:


Of course my cab has no admin buttons (all shift functions utilizing an i-pac) because frankenpanels are really fugly.  

I would hope those steering wheels are removable. Could you imagine how uncomfortable those must be when playing non-racing games?

[Donkbaca]

I am just glad someone finally had the sense to put 9 buttons per player for all four players!  I am sick of not being able to play 9 button - four player games.

[Bootay]

I am just glad someone finally had the sense to put 9 buttons per player for all four players!  I am sick of not being able to play 9 button - four player games.

LOL

[yotsuya]

I am just glad someone finally had the sense to put 9 buttons per player for all four players!  I am sick of not being able to play 9 button - four player games.

That must be for run left, run center, and run right for 4-Player MK3.

[mgb]

personally I enjoy having steering wheel jammed in my crotch while using the joysticks, its good if I have to ich

[Vigo]

Also great for some great 1 player Lucky and Wild. Steer with your crotch, shoot with both lightguns.

[Donkbaca]

You guys are a bunch of haters.  Did you not see the chairs?  You sit and drive with your knees!  Its great for playing outrun while eating cheeseburgers.

[lordnacho]

Reminds me of Thundercats lair for some reason

[Vigo]

NASA called, they want Houston Control back.

[yotsuya]

If you dont like it, dont look at it.

If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.

[ABACABB]

Where the hell is his microphone for Karaoke in GameEX?  Surely it's in that mess somewhere!

[CheffoJeffo]

If you dont like it, dont look at it.

If you don't like the post, don't respond to it.

 

[Hoopz]

If you dont like it, dont look at it.

If you don't like the post, don't respond to it.

 

Yeah, like that works around here.   

[CheffoJeffo]

If you dont like it, dont look at it.

If you don't like the post, don't respond to it.

 

Yeah, like that works around here.   

You're just a troublemaker!

[Xiaou2]

Constructive Criticism  -vs-  Destructive Trolling

 One way benefits the hobby, strengthens the community, and makes people feel good.

 The other, pushes people away from the community, and shuts people down from sharing, helping, or caring.

[TPB]

I would hope those steering wheels are removable. Could you imagine how uncomfortable those must be when playing non-racing games?

What, those are steering wheels ?  I thought X2 put them there as crotch massagers.

[leapinlew]

Constructive Criticism  -vs-  Destructive Trolling

 One way benefits the hobby, strengthens the community, and makes people feel good.

So says the guy who trolls any of my posts that involve using a spinner instead of buttons.