Control Panel Advice

[thrasherx]

Notes:
- My design for my CP is based on the Space Paranoids layout. 
- The CP width is 48", and the cabinet is going to be a 43" wide slim. 
- I plan on playing Arcade + XBOX360, hence the choice for 8 buttons. 
- Ignore the artwork... it needs plenty of work. 
- No coin buttons as I plan on using two 2 player coin doors, and the shift button for Players 1 and 2.
- I like the curved buttons, and have a rough mock-up which I've used for the last month. 

Questions:
1) Is there enough free space around the trackball?
2) Does P3's button curve look wrong?
3) Does P1's 8-way stick get in the way of the 4-way stick?
4) How about the 4-way buttons right above the trackball?

Here's my button scheme:
MAME:
4 5 6 7*
1 2 3 4

Capcom layout:
4 5 6
1 2 3

Neo-Geo layout:
1 2 3 4

*B7 can be used as a shift key.
-This accommodates Neo-Geo, and Capcom without having to change the per game controls.   

[michelevit]

I dont like any buttons above my trackball because you want some runoff for games like golden tee golf, tiger woods golf, world champion bowling...

[michelevit]

MENU PAUSE RESET EXIT dont need to be dedicated buttons. If you want dedicated buttons for these seldom used commands, hide them on the side or bottom with microsmomentary buttons or better yet use a wireless keyboard to access these commands.

No arcade cabinet I have seen in an arcade has a dedicated pause button. (or menu, esc, reset)

[thrasherx]

MENU PAUSE RESET EXIT dont need to be dedicated buttons. If you want dedicated buttons for these seldom used commands, hide them on the side or bottom with microsmomentary buttons or better yet use a wireless keyboard to access these commands.

No arcade cabinet I have seen in an arcade has a dedicated pause button. (or menu, esc, reset)

Thanks for the input on buttons above the trackball.  Would it make sense to move them between P2's buttons and P2 start?  I know real arcade cabinets don't have those, but I'm going for convenience.  I draw the line at a dedicated coin button.  This topic gets debated every other day here and, as always, comes down to personal preference.  Thanks again!

[shponglefan]

No arcade cabinet I have seen in an arcade has a dedicated pause button. (or menu, esc, reset)

No arcade cabinet in an arcade runs MAME, either.

At the end of the day, it's personal preference.  To me it seems a bit silly *not* to have dedicated buttons for game exit and enter, since those will be used all the time on a MAME cabinet.  Pause and reset less so, but still can be convienent.  The use of smaller buttons for admin functions can be helpful in decluttering a layout, though.

[thrasherx]

I shifted the button placement around a little bit last night.  Even with a full prototype, it's hard to imagine having 4 adults around the CP.  At least I'm making it as big as possible.  (I could go bigger but let's be honest.)

The Reset button may be eliminated or replaced with something else entirely.  I'm putting the PC and XBOX power buttons on top of the machine. 

I have all of the parts, except for the motor for rotation  and the design is semi-finalized.  I'm now debating if I want to cut things on my friend's CNC, or by hand.  I'm decent with a jigsaw, but am looking for an excuse to use a CNC.  Decisions, decisions...