Which controls to include on 20" wide panel

[paigeoliver]

Ok. I am forking this from the thread about cutting a cabinet out of one sheet of wood because that mission is accomplished.

However I am not going to be able to fit all the controls I want on the panel. Pictured below (left to right) is my ideal control set for the project (at least ideal control set without buying anything), a Midway 8-way stick, a wico 4-way, a trackball of some sort and an Oscar Vortex spinner.

I don't see any room there for buttons. So something has to go, but what?

Not pictured I do have a bunch of happ supers and one of those weird joysticks that goes through a button hole and can switch from true 4 way to true 8way under the panel.

This is a vertical monitor cabinet. I already have a 27" upright with a frankenpanel.

[elkameleon]

I think you need to thin the herd here a bit and try not to get too ambitious with the controls. Nothing wrong with being a little specialized. I understand the spinner, I understand the trackball, but I will never understand having more than one dedicated arcade stick. If you wanted a dedicated 4-way, make a dedicated cabinet for 4-way games. Every frankenpanel I see with 4-5 different sticks just to "mimic" that nostalgic arcade feel makes me wanna ! End rant.

[DaveMMR]

I know what I'd keep and ditch based on what I'd want to play, but what games are "must plays" for you?   Arkanoid not important?  Ditch the spinner?  Don't care about Centipede?  Ditch the trackball.  Four way is a must however and I'm learning towards just two sticks (4 and 8 way) and some buttons.

[paigeoliver]

I feel that both the 4-way and the 8-way are must have items. I dislike the concept of the sticks that switch between 4-way and 8-way from the top because guests always end up playing with it done the wrong way (and switching them from the bottom is out of the question anyway). I know someone seems to have invented some sort of auto servo mechanism jobber that does this automatically, but I blew my whole budget on a sheet of wood, a piece of glass, a can of stain and a set of leg levels!

So it really comes down to trackball vs. spinner. Trackball makes life easier. However vertical spinner games are far more common than vertical trackball ones.

[DaveMMR]

So it really comes down to trackball vs. spinner. Trackball makes life easier. However vertical spinner games are far more common than vertical trackball ones.

For me I thought of one trackball and vertical game that matters: Centipede
Conversely, I thought of at least three spinner and vertical games that matter: Arkanoid, Tempest, Super Breakout (Maybe even Tron if you don't mind using your foot to work the fire buttons - or stretching your hand awkwardly.)

Then again, the trackball could be a spinner in a pinch - but it's a poor substitute.

I'm leaning towards spinner if I were choosing. 

[paigeoliver]

Hmm, looking through vertical mame games in .73 (what I have installed at the moment).

I find you basically have Centipede, Millipede, Quantum, Bowling (assorted), Golf (assorted), and American Horseshoes using a trackball. I cannot off hand think of any horizontal trackball titles that would be acceptable with aspect ratio squashed to vertical.

While you have dozens of assorted arkanoid rip offs, Tempest, Break Out, Bomb Bee (and sequels), Kick-Man, several playable driving games, and a few more obscure vector titles. There are also a small number of horizontal spinner titles that would be acceptable squashed to vertical, Avalanche, several arkanoid rip offs, possibly most horizontal vector spinner titles.

[mytymaus007]

I would make 2 hot swap panels solves that problem

[Well Fed Games]

I found a dedicated 4-way + spinner + 2 buttons was the sweet spot for me, just depends on what games you want to play the most. For me, that was Pacs, Gee Bee (and sequels), Qix, etc.

[Donkbaca]

Ditch the trackball, it takes up themost real estate and has the least amount of utility, unless you absolutely LOVE centipede.

I say ditch the 8 way and just make a dedicated 4 way vertical classics cab with a spinner

[nitz]

+1

I say at least ditch the 8-way if not the trackball as well. Shooters aside, most of the good vertical games are 4 way. The ones that aren't can be played at a decent size on your 27" cab.

[paigeoliver]

Ok, I bashed together a panel today (mounting that short handled Midway stick in a wood panel was interesting).

[mytymaus007]

i would go with the trackball who needs buttons 

[eds1275]

Mine spinner is going on the front.


I really feel that if the trackball does not go in the centre, it doesn't feel right. I personally, in your situation, would go either trackball and spinner with a few buttons, or spinner on the front, one joystick, and buttons.

[yotsuya]

Mine spinner is going on the front.

Eds-

Have you tested that out? How does it feel?

[BadMouth]

Some ideas I'll throw out there, good or bad:

The player 1&2 buttons can go on the front of the cab.
or..
On the scaled down cab I built, I put them on the left side since they aren't really used during the game and don't interfere with joystick movement.

I always liked the idea of a trackball in a flip-down panel, so it's out of the way when not being used and is farther away from the monitor when it is being used.
There's one that way in the CP examples thread.

Are all 6 of those buttons to be used during gameplay, or are the top 3 player/admin?
They seem aweful far apart for gameplay, but close enough to be confusing if admin.

[mytymaus007]

Thats Cool I would PUT a sterring wheel on the right side and gas pedal on top so when u lean over you can use your head for the GAS

[eds1275]

Have you tested that out? How does it feel?

I have played around with a mouse hack spinner I made, not with the real one I'll be getting when I have some fun money laying around. I play it a little different than I would a top mount spinner, by resting the side of my finger on it and rolling it up or down. I plan on getting the GGG spinner that has the mini steering wheel attachment for extra fun.

[paigeoliver]

Progressing nicely I think, although the monitor bezel is going to be a pain in the butt to construct.

[Donkbaca]

Making the bezel was the least favorite part of building my rig