Control Panel - Advice / Critique / Thoughts required

[UFO]

Hi All,

Please find my control cab layout for my 3/4 sized cab.

Its only one player, but I am concerned about button placement etc.

The shaded area is a 'no go area' due to underneath battening and the front of the cab.

What do you think of the button and joystick placement? Any thoughts?

Additionally, I need to ask if you guys have any advice / links about using just one 'admin' button. I would like to have NO admin buttons (I also have a coin door), or maybe place them at the back.

Thanks chaps...

EssJay

[McHale]

If you're going to keep it one player, I'd probably toss on the last 2 buttons (two rows of 4).  I use admin quite a bit but it's hidden behind the coin door.  I do have a keyboard at the ready as I'm still setting up controls here and there.

[yotsuya]

Additionally, I need to ask if you guys have any advice / links about using just one 'admin' button. I would like to have NO admin buttons (I also have a coin door), or maybe place them at the back.

Thanks chaps...

EssJay

If you're using an I-PAC, you don't need any admin buttons. None of my cabs have them.

[PL1]

Get your front end software and emulators running and see what functions you need to run them the way you like.

Then decide what functions you want to give a dedicated button on the panel.

P1/P2 Start (1/2), P1/P2 Coin (5/6), Pause (P) and Exit (ESC) are common choices -- avoid Menu (Tab) if you have kids or drunk/idiot friends using your cab.

Be sure you plan your shifted functions, if any, well so you don't accidently trigger a function. (Less common occurance with a 1-player panel than a 2-player panel, but still possible.)

You should have plenty of dedicated inputs whether you're using an IPac, KeyWiz, or KADE, so shifted functions are not needed unless you really want them.

IMHO the wise move is to make an informed choice based on your specific circumstances and some temporary test panel playtime.


Scott

[DickTurpin]

You might want to go with a different layout. You could with a 3/4 size cab get away with two joysticks.
1 Joystick with 3  buttons for older games / 4 ways and an eight way one with six buttons. You would be able to cover most bases then.

On the admin front. You need to have a button to map as escape to exit the game(mame). and you could map one or more of your normal buttons to do the navigation/admin in mame etc.

 

[BadMouth]

If you're going to keep it one player, I'd probably toss on the last 2 buttons (two rows of 4).

I wouldn't bother with more than six unless you're going to be running emulators that require it.
There are no arcade games that require more than six unless you count mahjong panels or pseudo-keyboards.
I don't even like allowing the extra buttons for PC fighting games like SSFIV.  The extra buttons just post combinations of the other buttons and they weren't on the original arcade game.

I think you should shift the joystick and buttons right to center up the player better.
I like having an exit button and that's about it for admin,  dislike having to tell guests button combinations they'd have to remember.
For maintenance, I break out the wireless keyboard.

Don't let anyone talk you into building something other than what you want.

[UFO]

Thanks for you input chaps...

I too am not sure about another two buttons - I've been racking my brains to think of a reason why I would need all 8, and really don't play many games with above three!

@scott Thanks for the wise words. I have been running through some of my favourite games, and for the first time, picturing what buttons are needed to play the games. I like the idea of a test panel, I may build one this weekend. Thanks again...

@BadMouth I will be running emus on it, but again, I'm struggling to think of games that would require all 8 buttons. I absolutely want to keep buttons to a minimum on this... There is still an option of a trackball / spinner at a later date too.

Thanks for the amended 1p & 2p suggiestion ... I love it and will definitely be going with that. Its funny how you can get so involved, you miss the obvious! Thanks for pointing that out ...

@DickTurpin this is something I have struggled with long and hard! I have made the decision for now to go 1p, but the cp is pretty easy to remove and update is 2p is something I really want in the future. 

[DickTurpin]

Hi UFO. I didn't mean 2 player. I meant 2 joysticks. 2 different set ups.

1 for old games (4 way with 3 buttons) and 1 eight way for modern games (with upto six)

You then have a fully funtional control panel that will work with most games released. As some of the older ones I know such as Pacman and Pheonix work better with a four way

[UFO]

Hi Chaps,

Ok, here is the design completed...

Took me hours, but every button is pixel perfect in location.

Going to print it and see how it looks overlayed...

Thanks again for you help guys!

[Cynicaster]

The only suggestion I have is to watch the spacing between the stick and buttons.  At first glance it looked a bit wide to me, but on a generic cabinet it really comes down to preference.  The usual suggestion is to mock up a full scale CP using cardboard to see how it “feels” before you cut or drill anything.  You might be surprised at what you find. 

[UFO]

The only suggestion I have is to watch the spacing between the stick and buttons.  At first glance it looked a bit wide to me, but on a generic cabinet it really comes down to preference.  The usual suggestion is to mock up a full scale CP using cardboard to see how it “feels” before you cut or drill anything.  You might be surprised at what you find.

Totally understand that Cynicaster .... it was something that I struggled with looong and hard. Its a 3/4 size cab, so I am already on a shortened CP...

I had a look through the CP thread and at the space taken up by a one player group of sticks and buttons, so it has been a lot of planning.

Here is a draft printout overlayed on the CP...

[UFO]

Ok, there is an update for my CP and marquee...

I've tried to match it up more with colours / hue etc...

I'd appreciate any more input from you guys...

BTW... the left 'admin' button has now gone, and the right "P1" and "P2" buttons are separated a little bit more.

 

[ppv]

I like it a lot! Highly original! The only thing I would change is keep a constancy between the text from the marquee and the one from the control panel. Great job though!

[ark_ader]

My weecade has the same button layout and it is really comfortable, you could make it an eight series, but six just feels right.  You might want to add a spinner later on, so I would put you coin and player buttons on the front.

[UFO]

I like it a lot! Highly original! The only thing I would change is keep a constancy between the text from the marquee and the one from the control panel. Great job though!

Thanks PPV...

Didn't notice the text colour change... will repost when its done! )