4P Modular Panel Plans

[jerryjanis]

I've been thinking about a 4 player modular control panel for a long time.  I started out with pretty complicated ideas, and was never satisfied.  I have finally come down to a very simple one, and I wanted to run it by you guys before I start cutting into wood:


Here's the basic layout.


Rendition of what it might look like if I had 3 friends.


This should show how big it will be in front of my 27" wide cabinet.



Here are what some modules look like.

I have a 2 player version more or less completed.  It will be easy to remove the 2 player panel and plop in this 4 player version for nights when several guests come over.

The corners are rounded, so that everyone can shift around to find a balance between being to close to each other and comfort on the controls.

It's very important to me that I have a decent Karate Champ Vs. layout.

It's also very important to keep it as small as possible.

I tried to make sure that there was plenty of room so that players can rest the palm of their "button pressing hand" on solid wood no matter where they are standing.

(* edit *) The biggest problem that I can see is that the space is just too tight for 4 trackballs, particularly for frantic games like Soccer or Atari Football (the only 4P trackball Mame games).  Short of building a 4 player cocktail cabinet like the original, there's really nothing I can do about that. (* /edit *)

Am I overlooking anything obvious?  Can you guys offer any suggestions for improvements?  All comments welcome.

Thanks,
Jake

[jerryjanis]

I also wanted to refer to some of the panels that made me accept the idea of compressing a 4 player panel this way:

Xiaou2's design from this thread:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=10157;start=msg77579#msg77579


Xiaou2's 4 player panel


AD&D Shadow of Mystara


AD&D Tower of Doom

[DaveMMR]

I have something like that except not individually modular.  The middle 24 X 13 (total size is 42 X 15-1/2) piece removes while the left and rightmost joysticks remain in place (and a little 2 inch piece for the start buttons above the removable panel).   It's pretty much what's left over from the aborted rotating panel.  It's going to remain in place by a hook on the wood that it sort of tilts and slides into and some sort of clips up front.   Sorry I don't have pics yet.

But I like your idea, would like to see how that turns out.

[Xiaou2]

 Hiya,
   
   I think i should make a note...

  The button placement on my panel was a bit of a mistake.   I made an incorect measurement and adjustment at the last second... which made it a bit uncomfortable.

  To correct this.. move the buttons about 1/2 to 1 button width to the right of the center of the control:  

.               .
.   o          .
.               .
.     o o     .
.     o o     .

  Im not really a big fan of modular.   I had the idea once.. but scrapped it because of possible damage to parts... time to swap...ect.

  I think there are other ways to institute more controls using the empty space under the CP... like pull out trackball drawer.   And flip-up front panel... and side or vertical swing arms with wheels..ect.
 (transformer style)
 
 
  Anyway... Good luck on your desigion and project.  

   

[jerryjanis]

The button placement on my panel was a bit of a mistake.   I made an incorect measurement and adjustment at the last second... which made it a bit uncomfortable.

What was the problem, exactly?

Im not really a big fan of modular.   I had the idea once.. but scrapped it because of possible damage to parts... time to swap...ect.

For me, it's the only way to go.  I'm a clumsy impatient doofis, and by modularizing my panel, I modularize how much damage I can do in one fell swoop.  Rotating panels are a big no-no in my life.

[DaveMMR]

For me, it's the only way to go.  I'm a clumsy impatient doofis, and by modularizing my panel, I modularize how much damage I can do in one fell swoop.  Rotating panels are a big no-no in my life.

I'm with you on that.  Especially after my bout with a dissapointing looking rotating panel (oh well, I'm sure the wheel came out triangular first time it was worked on).  Besides, with the luxury of swappable/modular panels, I can now have a plethora of different control options.  Plus I'm making a storage for them right in the cab.

As for minimizing damage, you can always design some sort of protection for the parts that get moved around.  I was going to add a wood casing around the underside to keep the controls from getting ruined while swapping, though I put that idea on the "perhaps when it needs to be added" pile.

[Apollo]

He he I had a dream last night and have found the answer to all the swappable/multiple/modular/rotatable CP problems ever raised on this forum. Unfortunately you will all have to wait for about a year till it's finished, sorry.
By the way I'm serious.

[telengard]

He he I had a dream last night and have found the answer to all the swappable/multiple/modular/rotatable CP problems ever raised on this forum. Unfortunately you will all have to wait for about a year till it's finished, sorry.
By the way I'm serious.

Aww man.  This isn't a soap opera cliffhanger!    
We can't wait that long to hear about it if it's that good.  At least a hint.

[Apollo]

Well I want to do it myself and if I tell then someone with more money than me will build it first. The only reason I can't do it now is because I'm working on my first cab and don't have the cash to do this yet.
I want it to be my contribution to the MAME community, ya know?

[Xiaou2]

The button placement on my panel was a bit of a mistake.   I made an incorect measurement and adjustment at the last second... which made it a bit uncomfortable.

What was the problem, exactly?

Im not really a big fan of modular.   I had the idea once.. but scrapped it because of possible damage to parts... time to swap...ect.

For me, it's the only way to go.  I'm a clumsy impatient doofis, and by modularizing my panel, I modularize how much damage I can do in one fell swoop.  Rotating panels are a big no-no in my life.

 
  If the button is directly under your stick... you sometimes collide your wrist into your button hand.   If its moved over a tad then it works very well.   Hmm, but my button were really close to the stick... so maybe it wont be a prob with yours.   Test by mounting the controls in some thicker cardboard to make sure tho.

 I prefer rotation... but its really just my preference.  

 

[hooded_paladin]

one thing I've been thinking...

I have neither the time or money for this, but I think that a 2-player control panel with swappable modules, like this idea, and with additional 3 and 4 player areas that clip onto the side of the board, would be a really good solution.  You don't need a bulky 4 player panel most of the time, and for the side areas you'd probably only need to make an 8-way and a 4-way (or a switchable) panel as few specially controlled games had more than two players.

At least I like that idea.  It seems to solve a lot of the problems people present.

[Apollo]

Well the perfect answer to the problem is only 12 months away.

[Xiaou2]

 There is no such thing as a Perfect solution.

  Its purely your opionion of what you think would be best.

 Also..  who cares if someone else makes it before you.  I could have made my rotating panel a long ago... but am a perfectionist without the funds needed to do it right yet.   So I let my designs out there for anyone to see and use.

  I was inspired by others... and others may be inspired by me..   but its not about 'ego'... its about helping others in my opinion.  

  For example... you might not even have thought of the idea if it wernt for the hard work of others before you.

[paigeoliver]

Rendition of what it might look like if I had 3 friends.

You know, that line has to be the saddest thing I have ever heard.

Don't worry, I'll be your friend!  

Also, assuming you are player one. Does having six fingers give you an edge in those six button fighting games.  

[jerryjanis]

I think that a 2-player control panel with swappable modules, like this idea, and with additional 3 and 4 player areas that clip onto the side of the board, would be a really good solution.

Hmmm, that  would be ideal.  That's what I pictured when I first started thinking about the 4 player setup, but I think that I was so overwhelmed by all the other design details that I decided against it.  Now that I've got the basic design figured out, I can start thinking about that again.

The only trouble is figuring out how to attach them.

...for the side areas you'd probably only need to make an 8-way and a 4-way (or a switchable) panel as few specially controlled games had more than two players.

[Lilwolf]

You might get away with a little down, and to the side...

Notes...

Don't rotate the 1st and 4th joystick to point to the screen when they are on the side.  Why?  I thought it was better myself... but every kid I ever had play on it just got confused...

Also... then you can't get 2player smashtv to run... and this is VERY important (maybe more important then getting 4players going.

If you have a hotswappable control panel... make one 4players only.  It really helps to have 4 player with 4buttons each max.  the extra room from removing the extra 2 / 3 buttons in player 2 / 3 are worth it.  

4players will almost always have to smash together some.  Its part of the game.

[jerryjanis]

Don't rotate the 1st and 4th joystick to point to the screen when they are on the side.  Why?  I thought it was better myself... but every kid I ever had play on it just got confused...

It's a good thing I thought about this long and hard, otherwise I definetly would have rotated the joystick.  However, I couldn't believe it at first, but I noticed that every 4 player game, no matter how cockeyed the controls look, always have the joysticks aligned like a pacman joystick.

Also... then you can't get 2player smashtv to run... and this is VERY important (maybe more important then getting 4players going.

It's getting near 2 years that I've been holding off on playing Total Karnage, waiting until I have a proper control panel.  I'm not likely to screw that up now!

Thanks for the ideas everybody!

[CitznFish]

Rendition of what it might look like if I had 3 friends.

Also, assuming you are player one. Does having six fingers give you an edge in those six button fighting games.  

:rofl:

[Hammerbot]

I just cut my CP that has 2 player with trackball and spinner on the main board and 3 player and 4 player that clip on the outside of the cabinet.

This seemed to be a good compromise to keep the cab looking like a retro game while allowing all night Gauntlet 2 marathons with 4 players.

I'll put up pictures when it is complete.

BTW, I highly recommend a 3 axis CNC mill for cutting the control panels. Nothing like round holes that are in the right place...

[jerryjanis]

Can I get a preview of how players 3 & 4 clip on?

I was thinking of something like the way a phone will clip onto a holder on the wall.

[Hammerbot]

Attached find a jpg of the cad drawing I have been working from. It is similar to the "Phone clip" you mentioned.

The P3 box is made from MDF and the clip carbon steel.

I made the first clip this morning and it didn't turn out so well. I will remake it and make the other later this week.

The disk thingie (a technical term) on the right is what will attach to the main cab and slide into the clip. This way the main cab only has the little button showing when P3 and P4 are not in use.

I am using a DB25 cable, 10' long to attach the P3 box to the control panel. It will come through the back of the cabinet so it can be hidden away when not in use.

We will see how well it works...