Need Advice - 4 player arcade cainet.

[Yourname942]

(Edit: You can skip this quote) Does anyone know what the standard or recommended amount of buttons to have for a pinball capable mame arcade control panel? (and generally where they would be located)

I was thinking about using this design or just the prefab kit itself:
http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Quad_Kit.asp

Is it worth buying for $200 + shipping, or would I save a Lot of money just making my own? (Also, if I did buy that prefab I would take the top off and make my own bc of the button layout. (I'd make a more ergonomical button layout)

But yeah:
- How many buttons for a pinball capable CP, (with 1~2 tilt buttons [I was thinking 1 per side]
- Worth buying that prefab CP if I'm making my own Top anyway? Thanks.

(Edit: I brought the below text to the 1st post to make it easier to read)

@PL1 - Yeah you're right, I'm just going to make my own from scratch. There's no sense in spending $200 on a Cp i'd just gut anyway.

@PL1 -Yes I am sure that they are going to use P3 +P4 on a regular basis (pretty much daily).
I am building this for my older brother's friend, and he asked me to build him a 4p mame arcade machine. He lives with several people, and there is always a lot of people at his house most of the time.

However, I am worried that the lpl (low pressure laminated wood) from the UAII kit isn't going to withstand them. My older brother and his friends are very strong and large (very muscular guys) and I'd be worried that it cant withstand the 4 of them leaning on it and smashing the buttons at once. So I'd just build a cab from scratch using MDF for more stability/durability, and lower cost.


But Should I widen the cab and the CP? for several reasons: For a larger monitor, so they aren't as cramped together, and bc as it is right now there is a 20"overhang (10"on each side, which looks kind of awkward).
Here is a few images of what I mean:
http://sevencubed.net/img/CrocodILE.jpg
http://www.mameroom.com/images/UAIISystem_sample1.jpg


I'd probably use a 30" Led monitor, or larger. I have to find out what size tv he wants to use before I find out the exact width of the cab/CP.
Here is what I'm looking to do:
http://arcadesrfun.com/products/4-player-37-inch-lcd-home-arcade-game/

It looks like there is only a 5" overhang on each side and the cab looks like it matches the 4 player CP.

But should I widen the 4player CP? here is the dimensions of the one I'm thinking of basing the size off of:
Overall width: 48""
Overall depth: 21"
Overall height: 6.25"

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

[PL1]

Does anyone know what the standard or recommended amount of buttons to have for a pinball capable mame arcade control panel? (and generally where they would be located)

Rather than me retyping the same answers to the same old questions, plug "flipper" and username "PL1" into search and you'll get about two dozen pinball related posts that you may find useful, including flipper placement, wiring tips, suggested button types, and MAME/VP/FP control overlaps that will save you inputs on your encoder.

To ensure the widest functionality for VP/FP tables, use the Pinball keymap for the AVR Encoder here as a guide.

The only down side I see to the pinball part of your plan is a 4-player-wide CP makes for quite a reach and/or awkward angle for pinball flippers/nudge buttons/ball launch button.  Someone was thinking about putting the flippers on the top-right-front and top-left-front IIRC, but I don't remember if he followed through on that.

I was thinking about using this design or just the prefab kit itself:
http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Quad_Kit.asp

Is it worth buying for $200 + shipping, or would I save a Lot of money just making my own? (Also, if I did buy that prefab I would take the top off and make my own bc of the button layout. (I'd make a more ergonomical button layout)

If you're making your own top anyway why waste the money on a prefab?

Next thing is, are you SURE you're going to use P3 and P4 on a regular basis?

Lots of guys have built 4-player setups ony to realize years later that they've only used P3 or P4 4 or 5 times.   

Using several Neutrik USB feedthrus on the side of the CP will allow you to plug in gamepads for P3/P4 when needed or a keyboard and mouse for admin work.


Scott

[Yourname942]

(edit: I brought the text from here to the 1st post)

[PL1]

Since you're building a 4-player panel, you might want to consider a smaller standalone pinball controller shaped/sized like the one in my sig plugged in through one of those Neutrik USB feedthrus.

1 or 2 flippers per side -- 1 covers most tables, 2 can cover all of them.

Ball Launch button.

You can add 3 buttons for L/R/Up nudge or use a UHID-G.

Instead of the full keyboard/mouse, have coin, start, and any other admin buttons you might want on the controller.

You can also use the 4-player panel for other admin functions like starting the table, exiting the table, etc.


Scott

[Yourname942]

That sounds like a good idea.

Right now I am trying to figure out:
- The angle that the 30" Led monitor should be, and how high the bottom of the screen starts from the floor.
- How high the flat part where the control panel sits on should be. (and how high the drawer needs to be [for the keyboard/mouse]
- the width of the cabinet. (it just needs to hold a 30" led tv.
- the width of the 4 player control panel.


Does anyone have any suggestions/idea? Thanks.

[chopperthedog]

Go to a local arcade (if there is one still) with a tape measure, pen and paper. And get some real life measurements. Combine certain aspects of certain cabs that tickle your fancy.


good day.

[PL1]

(and how high the drawer needs to be [for the keyboard/mouse]

It will be a much easier build if instead of using a drawer, you just tuck a small bluetooth keyboard behind the coin door or plug into the aforementioned USB feedthru.

Once you finish configuring the cab, how often do you plan on needing a keyboard?

Does anyone have any suggestions/idea? Thanks.

If there aren't any cabs similar to what you want to design in your area, you can use Gozer's Sketchup models as a starting place for finding ballpark measurements.

Design it from the screen out.

Make a cardboard mockup like CoryBee did for Box-Cade -- yes, that's an actual coin door on his cardboard mockup -- which evolved into his Clyde's Corner build.


Scott

[Well Fed Games]

That sounds like a good idea.

Right now I am trying to figure out:
- The angle that the 30" Led monitor should be, and how high the bottom of the screen starts from the floor.
- How high the flat part where the control panel sits on should be. (and how high the drawer needs to be [for the keyboard/mouse]
- the width of the cabinet. (it just needs to hold a 30" led tv.
- the width of the 4 player control panel.



Does anyone have any suggestions/idea? Thanks.

I would check around to see if you can find specs on cabs like NFL Blitz, Gauntlet, and TMNT (http://www.jakobud.com/plan.php?id=31). If you are familiar with Google Sketchup or other 3D modeling programs, there is a treasure trove of cab examples to be had here: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?clid=4ac3dc12784cb20bd06e6be4f8954ac

Also, search the project announcement forums for "four player," lots of good ideas to be found there.