Advice needed on control panel

[mgb]

I'm trying to finalize my control panel and I would like some opinions.

First off, to clarify the layout, it will wrap around a metal cp so that the logo will be on the front like this:

(pay no mind to the buttons under the cp)

attached is a the layout of the cp. The button layout is because it is an existing cp from a dataeast cab.
I've been struggling with where to put the spinner. I'm currently showing it in the middle. I think it looks kinda weird but it doesn't block any graphics that way and it seems to be the most out of the way.
Any Sugestions




I'm also toying with the idea of filling and redrilling this cp for a different layout but I haven't been able to come up with anything that really fits with the design.
If anyone has suggestions, I've also attached a blank cpo.

[drventure]

It seems kind of odd that one player will play righthanded, and the other lefthanded.

Is that intentional or just the way the buttons are arranged for looks?

[mgb]

No, the buttons are ambidextrous. each player actually has 2 buttons that can be played eaither left handed or right. I will however wire them all to seperate inputs so they can be used as needed.

by the way, its a vertical cabinet so I won't need too many buttons per player. it will mostly be played as a single player.

I'm also trying to upload my latest cpo pics, showing the full layout but for some reason they will not attach or upload to photobucket 
I guess I'll try again tomorrow.

[mgb]

Ok I was able to get my cpo pics up.
I had the jpeg encoding set to lossless so it wasn't uploading.
all set now, they are in the original post
Thanks

[LeedsFan]

Is that a spinner in the middle of the CP on the second picture? It doesn't appear on the first pic so I'm not sure. If it is a spinner then the players wrist is gonna be resting on those two buttons... whether they play right or left handed.

Personally I would not lay out the buttons like that either side of the joysticks. It's personal choice of course. I always like to have a little space where I can rest my wrist while playing and on this setup the left sided player (if using joystick in left hand as most would) will not have any wrist area with the buttons.

What type of buttons are you going to use? I ask this because your CP bends over at the front and there are buttons very close to the front of the panel. If you are using Happs style buttons they may bottom out againt the underside as it wraps back round.

I really like the style of your artwork and the design of the cabinet shape. A cabinet like that would look really cool. But if I'm brutally honest I think the joystick and button layout is pretty poor.    And I don't want to sound bad there... it's just my honest opinion. Is anyone actually left handed that is going to use this cabinet regularly? I'm left handed myself (for hand writing) but I was brought up on cabs in the 80s and so play them the "normal" way.

[drventure]

No, the buttons are ambidextrous.

Ah.. Ok, that makes sense, and I see the point now. Still not sure how it'll pan in it practice though.

Plus, with the sticks spaced like that, it means that two players will be pushed closer together. On a standard width cab, that might be uncomfortable. If the buttons were to the right of both sticks, you could move the left stick farther left, giving both players more elbow room.

[dfmaverick]

With the buttons at an angle, a couple are real close to the edge.

I would think someone's hand may get tired without being able to rest it a little on the CP.  


EDIT Oops. I could have just quoted Leedsfan. 

[gatordad]

Looks like its smiling at me 

[mgb]

Yeah the thing about the button layout is that it is an existing control panel. its from a heavey barrel (which was a kit, it was probably originaly a bad dudes)
I really want to fill the control panel in and redrill it.
Its a pretty heavy weight metal, so I think it can be welded with no damage.

I'm just really hung up on how to layout the control panel. I would like to have a typical 3 button per player layout with the buttons to the right of each joystick (like normal)
This is a vertical cab (27" monitor) so fighter controls aren't needed (though some horizontal games will be modified to play on the vertical monitor)

I'm thinking about redesigning the control panel to be a single player panel, but with 2 joysticks because I really like Rescue by Stern and other 2 joystick games.
Truth is, I don't really have a need for a 2 player panel.
I just find that other layouts don't look good with the artwork.

Btw, my buttons are electric Ices and they fit fine.

[mgb]

Well now I'm messing around with a single player control layout.
at least it will allow me to use my trackball, but I'm not sure about where to place the spinner.


This layout is basically like the Multicade cp but with an extra joystick.
I'm thinking maybe the buttons need to be lowered?

[LeedsFan]

No, you don't need to lower those buttons. They are in a perfect place right now so that the player can rest his wrist, plus it looks good as it is. Will you really use the trackball? How many vertical games used a trackball? I'd just use the spinner for classics like Tempest and Arkanoid.

[mgb]

Thanks for the input

How many vertical games used a trackball? I'd just use the spinner for classics like Tempest and Arkanoid.

Yeah thats what I'm tossing around in my head. I already have both the trackball and the spinner.
At first the spinner was more important to me and I was gonna skip the trackball but now I'm kinda into the idea of having the trackball for centipede and bowling.
I also plan to play Missile Command, it looks fine modified to fit the vert screen with black bars on top and bottom. (remember, this is a 27" vert, so it plays at normal size)

[LeedsFan]

Thanks for the input

How many vertical games used a trackball? I'd just use the spinner for classics like Tempest and Arkanoid.

Yeah thats what I'm tossing around in my head. I already have both the trackball and the spinner.
At first the spinner was more important to me and I was gonna skip the trackball but now I'm kinda into the idea of having the trackball for centipede and bowling.
I also plan to play Missile Command, it looks fine modified to fit the vert screen with black bars on top and bottom. (remember, this is a 27" vert, so it plays at normal size)

Yeah Centipede.... how could I forget that classic?   

The layout is something you need to be happy upon yourself. As it is now I cannot see any problems with the build or comfort. You might have issues with your hand hitting the screen in an exhuberant trachball game... but I never had that problem myself. Then again I just suck at TB games anyway.   :p

[mgb]

Yeah I don't anticipate issues with the trackball and hitting the screen because it will be used for classics, not Golden Tee.

[LeedsFan]

Take a look at this post just in on Projects Announcements page....
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=112316.0

Looks like he just picked up the same cab you have and someone has already made the button arrangement you originally planned. You could ask him how it plays etc.

[mgb]

Yeah I checked it out, its a Data East cab, same as I got.
That goofy button pattern that both his and my control panels have is from Bad Dudes.
I used it for Heavy Barrel, it is a very lame pattern but I was just being cheap and lazy, but now I'm set on filling and redrilling the control panel.