Advice on CP layout

[inky613]

Hi all,

I've been browsing these forums for a while now and figured i'd do a first post. I've been planning an arcade pedestal similar to the ones sold at dreamhomearcades. Most of the building plans done and I got all the parts with the exception of the Bliss-Box. I'm ready to start building..... But before i start cutting...... What do you think of this CP layout? The top buttons are admin with a shazam key in the middle. In the center you have left and right mouse buttons, turbo twist spinner, ICE-T trackball, Zippyy joystick set on 4 way and two buttons. On the bottom i have a set of Sanwa JLF's with player start, credit and game buttons. As for the player buttons I don't have my arc decided...

Comments and suggestions welcome.

[PL1]

Interesting layout, Inky613.

Since you haven't decided on the player button layout yet, Slagcoin should be your first stop to get the button layout and spacing worked out and tested on cardboard.

Once you choose a layout, do a full mockup on cardboard, 1/4" hardboard, or similar.

Several things to look at:

1. Will there be enough room for wiring on P1 joystick?

2. You have P1/P2 start, P1/P2 coin, a Shazzaam button, and 4 other admin buttons?  What are the 4 functions and what functions will you use the Shazzaam button for?

3. is there enough room to rest your wrists in front of P1/P2 joystick/buttons?  Will the front edge cut into your wrists?

4. Will your left arm hit P2 joystick when you're using the 4-way?

5. The admin buttons are pretty tight in the upper left.  Consider shifting them a little to the right and increasing the spacing a bit.   

6. Consider moving the trackball closer to the player.   


Scott

[inky613]

The picture was just to show where everything was going to go. The control panel will be wider than the picture and will have plenty of wrist space under the buttons. Good call on the trackball, that should be dead center.

As for the admin buttons i was thinking (Load 1&2), (Save 1&2), Shazam, (Exit/Reset), (Enter/Admin), maybe even add a pause button (Pause/)

[PL1]

As for the admin buttons i was thinking (Load 1&2), (Save 1&2), Shazam, (Exit/Reset), (Enter/Admin), maybe even add a pause button (Pause/)

Are you thinking about using the Shazam to activate the functions marked with an *?

Button - MAME default Key

Exit - Escape
* Reset - F3 (IIRC)

Pause - P

Select - Enter
* Menu - Tab

Not sure if Load 1+2 require separate keypresses.

Same for Save 1+2.

If only one keypress is needed for Load 1+2 or Save 1+2, is it worth having the Shazam button since you only need 1 button more for all dedicated?


Scott