Control Panel Shapes

[DaveMMR]

Okay, so I'm starting a second cabinet (using parts from the first cabinet) sometime in the near future and have been looking at control panels (both the CP thread and actual panels on KLOV).  Looking through them, I noticed a lot of panels are the overhanging-the-sides variety with that half-octogon design.  

Like this:  \___/  ...except better

I'm curious where that came from - I didn't find many commercial panels with that design - except maybe a Golden Tee and a Tekken.  But often they were straight edged.  Other than for 4-player panels (for those liking to angle), is there a reason for going with that design (e.g. comfort, aesthetics, etc.)?  Any other examples of real world cabinets using this design?  

[Donkbaca]

I ended up copying the design of the x-arcade shape. Don't know where that came from

[TopJimmyCooks]

If you like pinball buttons keep your sides lined up with the cab sides.  That angle would be strange to play with.  I went with straight sides and a curved front edge, which I am enjoying.  Simple and easy to use but looks finished. 

[Vigo]

I always chalked up the half octagon design popularity due to some common 4 player designs. A square control panel would jab into player 3 and 4's gut when 4 people are crowded around a machine. The controls were not diagonal, but it allowed players to not have to stand 90 degrees to the side.

My trog cabinet has the octogan CP. It works great, but the machine is designed for everyone to be crowded around it. I'm sure with home cabs, people like a little more elbow room.

[DaveMMR]

I always chalked up the half octagon design popularity due to some common 4 player designs. A square control panel would jab into player 3 and 4's gut when 4 people are crowded around a machine. The controls were not diagonal, but it allowed players to not have to stand 90 degrees to the side.

That's what I was guessing too (though, curiously, the most famous examples of actual 4-player CP's were all rectangles and even squares - Gauntlet).  I've seen that shape on more 2-player panels though and it has always struck me as a little strange (note: I don't love it or hate it - and I think it even sometimes looks good on some cabs; though a little strange on others). 

[LeedsFan]

Isn't that half Hexagon and not Octagon?  Forgive me being a geometry nazi   :p

[Vigo]

Well, it could be either depending on which control panel we are talking about.

My trog that I mentioned IS a half Octagon:



Put two of those CP's together and you have a nice stop sign shape Octagon. I think the 1/2 Octagon design is a bit more popular than 1/2 Hexagon.

The Shape Dave drew was a half hexagon though. Here is my horrible attempt at fixing that:

_____
|       |
\____/

^_^ Taa Daa!

[DaveMMR]

Isn't that half Hexagon and not Octagon?  Forgive me being a geometry nazi   :p

You are correct but I was referring to the half-octogon. I didn't add the sides perpendicular to the front in my ASCII drawing, my bad.  Vigo fixed it for me, thank you.

And yeah, that Trog cabinet is a perfect example.  Interesting here, though, is that the shape is mimicked on the front design as well where the panels I usually see incorporate that into a (more or less standard) flat front.  And also, it is a 4-player cabinet.

I'm further guessing it a LuSiD design standard that a lot of people base their cabs off of (panel shape and all) and even the X-Arcade stick (and other commercially available panels) followed along.  It seems like such an odd design for two players.   Anyone with this design (two-player panels in particular) loving it or hating it?

[Gray_Area]

It's also a bit easier cutting straight lines than even curves.

[rackoon]

I'm not sure where it came from, but I took both into consideration when I built my cab because I wanted to save space. The straight front makes you stand up agaist the cab when your arms get tired.

 I can tell you this, its nice to be able to rest your wrist on the cp after a few minutes of game play. I even put a slight tilt to mine so it would be ergonomic.

[Gray_Area]

I even put a slight tilt to mine so it would be ergonomic.

Which side of the panel is tilted, monitor side or player side?