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Critique my control panel layout please!
popester:
I thought about the pinball buttons, but the sides of my control panel box are angled away from the user (in addition to being xbox hueg), so I decided to pass. I was also thinking about mounting the coin buttons underneath, but decided having them up top would be more user friendly. Ideally the wife should be able to use the thing after seeing it used once :D
The volume up and down are also good ideas, but I think I'm going to pass. My cab is going to have a drawer with a keyboard so I'll be able to manually change it with that. My speakers are pretty weak as well, so they'll probably always be maxed. One interesting idea is to put a button on the bottom of the control panel box and have that act as the shift key. So I could shift + P1B1 to vol up and shift + P1B2 to vol down, or something similar. I'm using an ipac should that should be doable right? Any thoughts about implementing a shift button? The big issue seems to be the usability/learnability problem with them...
PL1:
--- Quote from: popester on December 12, 2012, 01:24:31 am ---I thought about the pinball buttons, but the sides of my control panel box are angled away from the user (in addition to being xbox hueg), so I decided to pass.
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One guy building a 4-player panel was recently planning to put flipper buttons on the top of the CP near the front lip, one between P1/P3 and one between P2/P4 IIRC.
The only other thing you need is a button mapped to enter to use as the ball launcher/plunger.
--- Quote from: popester on December 12, 2012, 01:24:31 am ---I was also thinking about mounting the coin buttons underneath, but decided having them up top would be more user friendly. Ideally the wife should be able to use the thing after seeing it used once :D
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On the subject of coin buttons, have you seen GGG's CDR buttons?
--- Quote from: popester on December 12, 2012, 01:24:31 am ---The volume up and down are also good ideas, but I think I'm going to pass. My cab is going to have a drawer with a keyboard so I'll be able to manually change it with that. My speakers are pretty weak as well, so they'll probably always be maxed. One interesting idea is to put a button on the bottom of the control panel box and have that act as the shift key. So I could shift + P1B1 to vol up and shift + P1B2 to vol down, or something similar. I'm using an ipac should that should be doable right? Any thoughts about implementing a shift button? The big issue seems to be the usability/learnability problem with them...
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I-Pac default shift key is P1 start. Full list of default keycodes in the right column here.
If you decide to use shift keys for functions, you'll probably want to add a sticker with directions on your bezel like this.
Scott
edekoning:
--- Quote from: chopperthedog on December 11, 2012, 08:55:28 pm ---Mount a 42" or larger screen on the wall and make the control panel a heavy pedestal about 3ft off the wall. Big control panel needs a big screen.
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I have to agree with chopperthedog. Most of these huge 4-player panels just look weird when stuck on a cabinet. You should really consider going with those USB passthroughs that PL1 mentioned. I have them for the occasional 3/4 player sessions. However, if you are really set on a big 4 player panel, then go build it! But before you do cut out the shape in a cheap/thin piece of MDF. Then drill small holes where you want the joysticks and insert screwdrivers. That way you can try out the panel first and actually grab something representing a joystick. Adjust button and joystick placement until you are happy. Oh and do not forget to test with 4 people simultaneously, preferably with the people you expect to play those 4-player games with. As was mentioned before, it makes a lot of difference if 4 adults are supposed to use it, or a mix of children and adults.
rCadeGaming:
--- Quote from: popester on December 11, 2012, 05:52:01 pm ---I'm building a four player cab
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I'd agree with everyone else who's questioned the 4 player controls. Save it for a showcase cab. I'm making a two player cab with a 27" screen. When two more want to join they can plug in a portable arcade controller (check my projects thread in my signature). I'm thinking of making some little folding stands for them to rest on.
--- Quote from: popester on December 11, 2012, 05:52:01 pm ---I think the 7th button for the neo-geo is where I want it, but I'm open to feedback there.
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The first panel I ever built had a 7-button layout almost exactly like the Northcoast Customs one. I trashed it in less than a week. IMHO, the square six layout is no good for comfort and playability, and that 7th button position makes it much worse. I was playing a lot of NEO GEO games and I couldn't stand it.
Read the page on Slagcoin that's been linked to. After trying a few things, I settled on the Sega Astro City layout. Highly recommend!
As a matter of fact I'd recommend reading through that entire site, especially the comparison of different joysticks and buttons.
You haven't mentioned what sticks and buttons you'll be using. Don't just buy a bunch of Happ stuff because you think it's "the standard" or something. The sticks we were used to in American arcades when we were growing up were in those cabinets because they were cheap and available here, not because they were the best for actually playing the games.
Whatever you choose, you'll probably be sorry if you just pick something quickly and build the final panel, and then you're stuck with it. I'd recommend building a quick and dirty test panel and trying it out in actual gameplay for a couple days, or even weeks, with all different kinds of games. It's best to go through several revisions to find what's best.
paigeoliver:
Also be careful you don't listen too much to the fanboys of the Asian hardware, who will insist that they way they did it in Japan was so much better. I have used Asian hardware extensively (Super Neo 29 and Namco Exceleena owner), American hardware (countless) and classic American hardware (countless) extensively and the Asian stuff is nothing special, the sticks are pretty precise but they feel SO CHEAP. The curved button layouts have little to do with playability (even the Japanese Streetfighter 2 layout showed the 3x2 straight layout) and everything to do with the manufacturers of Candy cabinets wanting to support SNK's specific Neo Geo layout and normal titles in the same machine, and then it sort of turned into a tradition from there. If the actual game manufacturers thought the curved button layout was superior than they would have put it on their dedicated cabinets or on the button layouts for their conversion kits, they didn't. In fact, SF IV was the first dedicated arcade cabinet I ever saw with the curved button layout and those actually used an off the shelf (predrilled) cabinet from another manufacturer. Plus most people way over do their curve, the curves on most of the real candy cabinets were very mild. Not trying to hate on Asian controls, I use them on my imported machines, but they just aren't that special.
Having used at least 100 different models I would have to say the BEST joystick I ever used is the Happ P360 with the bat stick replaced with a 4" Wico balltop handle. Followed by leaf switch Wico, leaf switch Midway and microswitch wico with grommet. The Happ /iL Universal is a surprisingly good stick (particularly in 4-way mode) for something usually seen on Skill Cranes, and you can never go wrong with the basic happ super, which has a very balanced range of movement and good overall feel.
Avoid the Happ/iL Competition and Ultimate models, their movement range favors the diagonals which makes some games difficult to play.
--- Quote from: rCadeGaming on December 13, 2012, 08:32:44 pm ---
--- Quote from: popester on December 11, 2012, 05:52:01 pm ---I'm building a four player cab
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I'd agree with everyone else who's questioned the 4 player controls. Save it for a showcase cab. I'm making a two player cab with a 27" screen. When two more want to join they can plug in a portable arcade controller (check my projects thread in my signature). I'm thinking of making some little folding stands for them to rest on.
--- Quote from: popester on December 11, 2012, 05:52:01 pm ---I think the 7th button for the neo-geo is where I want it, but I'm open to feedback there.
--- End quote ---
The first panel I ever built had a 7-button layout almost exactly like the Northcoast Customs one. I trashed it in less than a week. IMHO, the square six layout is no good for comfort and playability, and that 7th button position makes it much worse. I was playing a lot of NEO GEO games and I couldn't stand it.
Read the page on Slagcoin that's been linked to. After trying a few things, I settled on the Sega Astro City layout. Highly recommend!
As a matter of fact I'd recommend reading through that entire site, especially the comparison of different joysticks and buttons.
You haven't mentioned what sticks and buttons you'll be using. Don't just buy a bunch of Happ stuff because you think it's "the standard" or something. The sticks we were used to in American arcades when we were growing up were in those cabinets because they were cheap and available here, not because they were the best for actually playing the games.
Whatever you choose, you'll probably be sorry if you just pick something quickly and build the final panel, and then you're stuck with it. I'd recommend building a quick and dirty test panel and trying it out in actual gameplay for a couple days, or even weeks, with all different kinds of games. It's best to go through several revisions to find what's best.
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