Spy vs Spy Control Panel

[spkywlnt73]

Hey guys, Having Just finishing up my last project I've decided to make some changes on my old Arcade cab. I never liked the buttons on the old panel, so i wanted to change them out for some IL concave buttons. Thats all I set out to do, but then some ideas popped in my head and all I can say is "here we go again"! My first thought was I wanted to do a black and white theme, and then I thought, what would be a cool theme in black and white. This is where "Spy vs Spy" comes in. So I ran the idea past my buddy who does the artwork for me, and so far it's starting to take shape. We're just some trouble coming up with some ideas for the background, and thought this would be a great place to ask for some advice or thought's on whats good and what needs to be different. So I'll post a pic of what we've got so far, and I'll wait to hear what you guys think. Thanks!

[Nephasth]

Windows in the skyscrapers.

[DaveMMR]

That's pretty cool.  If you can work the grey female spy somewhere in the background that would be awesome.

[spkywlnt73]

That's pretty cool.  If you can work the grey female spy somewhere in the background that would be awesome.

I thought about that, but I have two little kids in the house and think I should keep it tamed down a bit. lol

[Vigo]

I personally liked the Spy vs Spy without the Gray Spy, she always won. I really like this art. I'd say keep the Spy vs Spy logo straight on instead of angling each "spy", and make it more pronounced. Maybe a outline instead of drop-shadow.

[lanman31337]

I used to play a ton of Spy Vs Spy on my commodore 64 when I was young.  One of my favorite games.

[Vigo]

Same here. You should think about adding them to a favorites list on your machine even if you don't already have the C64 set up on your machine. (I know it came out for NES and some other systems as well, but the C64 version was really good IMO and the C64 also had Spy vs Spy 2 and 3 which were not bad either.

[eds1275]

I used to play a ton of Spy Vs Spy on my commodore 64 when I was young.  One of my favorite games.

I was a fiend at those games, 1 and 2. Never played 3, but I liked how the first one led into the second one [escape in a plane, get shot down and stranded on the island]

I would lose the M.A.M.E. thing, reminds me of the old batman... Shark Repellant, Bat Computer, etc.

[lanman31337]

Same here. You should think about adding them to a favorites list on your machine even if you don't already have the C64 set up on your machine. (I know it came out for NES and some other systems as well, but the C64 version was really good IMO and the C64 also had Spy vs Spy 2 and 3 which were not bad either.

I had them all.  In the 3rd one you could throw snowballs.  it was so much fun.

[TAG]

I would lose the M.A.M.E. thing, reminds me of the old batman... Shark Repellant, Bat Computer, etc.

I assumed he was going for the feel of the MAD Magazine logo.

[spkywlnt73]

I would lose the M.A.M.E. thing, reminds me of the old batman... Shark Repellant, Bat Computer, etc.

I assumed he was going for the feel of the MAD Magazine logo.

Yes he was. Thanks for noticing! Even if I decide not to use it on the cp, I think I'll use it for the marquee.

[Vigo]

I got the MAD magazine vibe from the title right away.   

I always am one for custom names above using MAME as a header though. Although in this case, it does look pretty good.

[spkywlnt73]

I used to play a ton of Spy Vs Spy on my commodore 64 when I was young.  One of my favorite games.

I actually wasn't even thinking about the game when I came up with the idea. But I do remember playing the Nes version when back in the day. I never new the other games existed! I'll have to check them out now though.

[spkywlnt73]

I got the MAD magazine vibe from the title right away.   

I always am one for custom names above using MAME as a header though. Although in this case, it does look pretty good.

Yeah, I really like it too. When I decided to go with this theme, I was dead set on not using any colors at all! My buddy said it would really be cool to have hints of red throughout! I'm glad I listened to him because having that red in the logo makes it really pop. I'm also thinking about a red trackball. What do you think? Oh, and for the controls I was obviously thinking black buttons and ball top on one side, and white on the other.

[spkywlnt73]

I'm surprised that I haven't gotten any feedback from Boba yet! I was sure this would be right up his alley. 

[eds1275]

Man how did I not see that? MAD magazine was something I wasn't allowed to read as a kid, so naturally I tried my best never to miss an issue! Now that I see the connection it fits so much better!

[spkywlnt73]

Hey guys, we took some of your suggestions and added them. Which ones do you like?

[Le Chuck]

I like buttons2.jpg

Nice update 

[MTPPC]

I like buttons2 or buttons 3. But I think you can get rid of the button nearest the joystick for each player. I guess it depends if you are going to use emulators that require 8 buttons. I don't think there are many mame games that people actually play that use more than 6 buttons.

[Drnick]

Number 2 gets my vote.

[bkenobi]

2, 3, or 4.  I'm not sure the MAME logo helps since it sorta clutters up the top of the buildings.  I'd probably leave that for the marquee if it were me.

It's a shame that you are puttin 8 buttons per player cause that forces the bomb and dynamite to get covered.  If it were me, I'd probably eliminate those buttons and shift P2 to the right so the image looked better.

Looks great though!

[Dalgaard]

Definately number 4...the MAME thing doesn't really do anything. The Spy vs Spy text on the other hand does. Go with number 4.

[BadMouth]

If you go with the MAD stuff instead of sticking to strictly Spy vs Spy,
I'd like to see "What, Me Worry?" worked into there somewhere.  
(I always bought CRACKED because I had to be different)

In all honesty, I think it look better if limited to Spy Vs Spy.
....off to youtube to look up the cartoon from MAD TV. 

[Nephasth]

I like where this is going. Too bad the bombs are covered by the hardware. You might mix up some white and black button barrels and plungers for the controls. Maybe black plungers and white barrels for the left side and white plungers with black barrels for the right.

[Le Chuck]

I like where this is going. Too bad the bombs are covered by the hardware. You might mix up some white and black button barrels and plungers for the controls. Maybe black plungers and white barrels for the left side and white plungers with black barrels for the right.

+1 to the button changeup.  That'd be pretty tits. 

[spkywlnt73]

I like where this is going. Too bad the bombs are covered by the hardware. You might mix up some white and black button barrels and plungers for the controls. Maybe black plungers and white barrels for the left side and white plungers with black barrels for the right.

I like that idea better than what I had in mind. I was just gonna do white on black and black on white.

[DaveMMR]

I'd like to see "What, Me Worry?" worked into there somewhere.  

If you add that, you have to add Alfred.  I don't think their paths ever crossed much (except maybe a cover or two).

I vote for 4.  I think the MAME or the MAD clutters it up too much but the Spy Vs. Spy logo somehow adds to it.  I also vote to remove the TAB button, but that's not what you're asking.  Also maybe lost a pair of buttons for each set and you'll get more of the artwork.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Love the CP art!    I was a big fan of Spy vs. Spy in MAD when I was a kid.

I like buttons2.jpg

Nice update 

+1 for buttons2.jpg

I like where this is going. Too bad the bombs are covered by the hardware. You might mix up some white and black button barrels and plungers for the controls. Maybe black plungers and white barrels for the left side and white plungers with black barrels for the right.

Great suggestion on the buttons... and I agree about covering up the bombs.  I might see how it looks without the bombs since they're largely covered.

Either way... this is looking great.

[spkywlnt73]

Here's a pic of the button's adjusted so that you can see the bombs. All the feedback is really helping out guys. Thanks!

[Dawgz Rule]

Love the spy vs spy with the new buttons.  The Mame logo on the panel covers up too much. 

[Le Chuck]

Get GGG handcandy balltops in white and black.

[spkywlnt73]

I already have a black and a white ball top. We just haven't added it to the artwork.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Here's a pic of the button's adjusted so that you can see the bombs. All the feedback is really helping out guys. Thanks!

Very nice! 

[Woodshop Flunky]

Just an idea...  But, with the MAME gone... could the "SPY vs SPY" be more pronounced?

Rough work... but you get the idea.

[XtraSmiley]

Looks good, but I don't think all of the windows need to lit. Leave some off to make it look more natural. Of course, this may look odd, but I think you should do it to see how it looks.

[spkywlnt73]

Ok guys, Here is the a pic of the final adjustment. Thanks for all of the input/feedback on this. It really helped out alot! Feel free to add any last comments, or  last minute changes you might think I need to make.Thanks again! Oh I almost forgot, I should point out that the buttons will be setup like Nephasth suggested with the black plungers in the white barrels and vise a versa. Does anybody know if they make white dust covers?

[spkywlnt73]

Update on the the final pic, we added some shade to the image. This is how it will look before the buttons go in.

[Dervacumen]

I may be late to the party, but I think Spy vs. Spy would look better at the top with MAME stuff smaller and at the bottom to draw attention to the theme.  But this is a great theme and I dig what you've got going there.

[Dawgz Rule]

Awesome......

[Vigo]

I like this revision of the black and white spy much better. The shading looks more natural, and giving them more of a flesh tone really looks a bit nicer. 

As far as a white dust washer goes, I guess you can make your own, possibly take some white acrylic plastic, attach it on the end of a drill, and spin it against a sander.