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Control Panel Mock Up

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Jehde:

Yeah you guys are right, I realistically wouldn't use player 3 and 4 as much as I'd want to, and I could just use gamepads to fill in anyways, so I'm gonna rethink things a bit around a 2 player setup instead. Thank you for the link to Slagcoin PL1, it looks to be a very valuable resource for this stuff. I'm also gonna rethink and tone down the admin buttons a bit, but I would prefer to avoid using weird button combos. Dunno if I want to give up the dedicated asteroids buttons either...

Xiaou2:

Heres some ideas...

1)  By moving the sticks diagonal, with maybe just a hair more space than I added, you can operate both sticks equally well, without having to reach very deep into the panel.

2) To operate a trackball for gaming.. you want 8 to 12 inch diameter of freespace... else you will hit tall controllers or the monitor glass.  (buttons and spinner are short, so are fine there... as you tend to upswing after a roll)

3) Id keep the asteriods layout, and use real leaf buttons for them.

 4) Note the arm positions. You want to try to make sure that you will be comfortable when playing.  The only downside here... is when using the spinner, your arm will rest on some buttons.

 5) Lessen the overhang as much as possible, to give you more controller & hand space. (not shown)

 6) Place buttons as close together as possible, else fighting games will be too difficult and straining, for people with smaller hands.

 7) If you want more space, you might be able to mount spinners to the front of the cabinet, in a horizontal method, like stereo volume knobs.  Could be used for 2 to 4 player spinner / driving games.



Xiaou2:

A few more things Ive came up with over the years...

 1)  Expandable panel

      By using slide rails, the panel, which has things too close together.. can expand to a larger and more spacious panel when needed.

 2)  Twirl Panel

     If your panel is on a pedestal, you could put a center pivot on it,  and spin or lift and rotate it to the other side.  Horizontal rotation, instead of vertical.   In this way, for example, you could have fighter sticks in front of you, and dual trackballs near the monitor...  and when you wanted to use them, just lift and spin the CP.  Basically, its like 2 control panels in one.   The main benefit is space savings.. but also, you gain comfort in that you dont have to reach deep, or rest your arms on top of use certain controllers.

3)  Folding out Panels

    If you wanted, you might be able to make a section under the control panel that folds upwards and locks in place.  For example, player 3 & 4s mini panels that flip out of each side.   Or a fold out dual trackball panel that flips to the front of the cab.

4)  Pull out control panels

   Similarly, you could make control panels hidden, and rolled out on slides

5)  Water Wheel rotating control panels

6)  Transformer Cabs

  You mentioned not having a lot of space for a large control panel...  but if you have 4 people standing in one place.. its going to take up the same amount of room.  The only consideration then is just finding ways to reduce that space when not in use.  That could be done in many ways.  A lot of furniture, and even bikes, are built like that. (Folds smaller when not in use)


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