If your playing an intense game, the last thing you want is to get killed due to response delays in wireless controls.
Or even batteries running out as your about to kill the end boss
...as well as the whole aspect of having to work out a charging scheme.
Paul has an entire wall dedicated to controllers (and for most non gamer woman, that wouldnt fly too well, as its not very 'pretty'
) Even put into panels, the extra wood work, would still equate to a wall, if not more space.
I have pretty much the same stash.. Maybe more... but Pauls pics are cut off, and who knows if hes hiding more controllers & panels elsewhere.
The modular makes swaps even more time consuming, and a pain... but, you can at least get to play a panel without any compromises. If you only had to swap a few controllers, it may not be an issue. But a wall worth.. its a different story.
Your animated gif example is 3 panels, of which 1 is a frankenpanel. Xeth-head said he's do FIVE panels. In what world is doing the math and construction of 5 separate panels joined onto 1 bingo ball dispenser easier than making 2 or 3 swappable panels?
Good things are not always Easy. In fact, the most difficult things, are usually the most rewarding. I personally love the challenge of designing and building things that do not exist.
I said, if I were to do a vertical rotator, in a cab shape, it would probably have to have at least 5 sides. Thats partly due to the number of controllers Id want to put on it... and partly, to give the center enough space to actually house deep controllers internally. Of course, Ive not tried a scale mock up to see if thats even feasible.
I originally did a triangle mockup, realizing that there was no space for deep controllers. Thought about a 4 way, but there wasnt enough space for all the controllers I wanted to use. Decided on a 6way pedestal, based on the size needed, ease of the geometry, and the maximum number of panels that could be used without any comfort or technical issues.
But, Ive since changed my mind about the standing thing... so it will be a horizontal rotator, possibly with 6 or 8 panels, and each panel might have the ability to flip over... or be spun around, giving twice the mount of possible controller configurations.
How long would it take to lift up a magnetically or industrial velcro'ed panel, unplug 2 or 3 DB9 connectors. Plug in 2 or 3 DB9 connectors, and sit control panel back on cabinet. This time could be reduced by having the DB9 connectors line up on the bottom of the panel.
Such connectors are very unfriendly to tons of connections and dis-connections. You typically dont change your monitor 20x a day. Nor are they smooth and easy to connect. Some are way too tight. But even typical DB9, the tolerances are very high for mating. Meaning, you would have to be a master machinist, and have expensive linear bearing slides, in order for a slide-in-place locking system. Otherwise, everything will be done via hand... and eventually, those tiny wires will break from all the moving. Furthermore, that 9pins. Not many things can be done with 9pins.. unless your buying a separate USB encoder for Every panel you make.. which would be quite expensive. Especially cause you would have to buy the more expensive encoders for all the analog controllers / trackballs / spinners.. etc.
The Arcades used the Jamma slot connectors, because they are huge.. and so do not have tight tolerances. (slides in easy, even if your blindfolded) The wires are large, and less likely to break from pulling boards on and off for repairs, cleanings, and game swaps.
But even those connectors are low in pins... and I believe they may be a bit expensive. Also, you may need to find the male ends... or have a circuitboard place make you custom male solderboards.
Anyways, the highest bit of accuracy in a rotating control panel is the locking mechanism. I tried a pin system, but I didnt have the skills and tools for perfect accuracy needed. I then decided to make a disc brake system, using a modified vice grip. When properly clamped, nothing could make it move. Still, theres similar ways to make something like this in a more compact and pleasing way. A combination of cable driven spring pins, and a pressure brake lock.
how long would it take to tilting up the base of the monitor, opening the coin door area, rotating to the desired panel, locking the panel, closing the coin door, tilting the monitor back in place.
Now how much more time does one take over the other? even if it took about the same time (which it probably would) how much easier is the design and implementation of one over the other?
Your over exaggerating again. If the LCD panel is on a track, it will auto rise as the panel is rotated. The rotation would take 5 to 15 seconds max, on a cab which has a need for a pull out, """IF""" you have the pull out section on a simple spring lock. Opening the coin door to reach for latches, would be a dumb idea to for a rotator.
On the other hand... you have a more traditional swap panel setup.. and your probably doing just that. Open coin door.. unclench the spring clips, drag panel off, while wrestling to disconnect all the connectors... drag new panel out... put the old panel back, grunt the new panel in place, attach those horrid connectors again... and then reach up into the 'blood sacrifice' box, and snap the clasps back in place.
Being a former arcade manager, I HATE coindoor entry to control panels, with a passion.
I never understood why people with swap panels didnt make an external release. Its not like you have to worry about theft of the controller in own your house.. and even then, you could easily put a key lock in a discrete place, such as under the CP lip.
I think the major issue here is how many panels would you actually need. 5 seems far fetched, the standard 2 player 8 way and 7 buttons takes care of a TON of games. Is the plan to not use just the neogeo layout for standard jamma games? Realistically, excluding various wheel panels (your driving cab should be dedicated IMO) 3 should cover pretty much everything which to mean would eliminate the need for a rotating panel.
You pretty much answered your own statements.
If your doing a Streetfighter panel.. theres little need for a rotator.
But if you want to play Tron as well.. then you need a trigger stick and spinner.
Assault (one of the best tank games ever), you need Two 4-way trigger sticks.
SuperSprint.. 2 to 3 optical wheels.
Marble Madness 2 trackballs.
Terminator 2 - Two T2 guns with recoil coils.
And driving game can be played in standup mode. Many were made in sitdown and standup cabs. But how many people have room for a dedicated dual driving cabinet? And if you decide you will only ever drive alone.. (as you have no friends?) ..thats still a lot of space dedicated to one kind of game. Space that not everyone can afford.
Yet that still begs the question how you will play 3 player Supersprint? 4 player Warlords, 4 player HotRod, and many other unique and fun games that use interesting controllers.
Also, if you want to play a 360 degree racer... how will you play Spy Hunter? Spyhunter needs you to work the shifter, steering, gas, and usually two weapons at once... sometimes all of them. Machine guns, Smoke, Oil, Missiles. Trying to use buttons that are away from the wheel.. isnt going to work well at all. Furthermore, Spy Hunters wheel itself, is so much different in feel than a typical PC or even arcade analog wheel. Its specifically designed to be slammed full force, for bumping the baddies. The faster you move the wheel.. the more force that is applied on impact.. and thus the enemy will be bumped further away. Bump to slowly, and they will either not be phased, will not be moved far, part of their bump power cancels yours out, and or their bump is more powerful.. and so moves you instead. So, IMO, the original wheel is required to play this game.
Same for StarWars. Theres No controller that can play this game in a fun and accurate manor than the original. Period.
Starwars could be used for Spyhunter... in that it has enough buttons... However, its not quite as Sturdy, nor as nice a feel for that particular game. Also, you would have to hook a pot to a pedal set, cause controlling the gas via wrist roll is too clunky, and will easily get you killed in this highly precise and brutally difficulty game.
Then theres basic stuff.. like Wico Leafswitches vs Micros. And custom layouts, such as a perfect Asteroids Deluxe button configuration.. as well as Defender layout with real 2way mini stick. And 4 & 8 way wico leaf joysticks. Robotron just doesnt operate will without the real Wicos. And classics dont control nor feel good without the leaf controls. Especially fast fire games.. where micros are so much more fatiguing.
The All-in-One controller solutions just dont hit the mark. They may save space.. but they dont give you the feel and control of the originals. Nor are they built with the same level of industrial durability, and thus high quality feel.
So, your perspective probably comes from your younger age.. where you didnt experience these different games in person.. and dont really know what your missing... and why people go to such great lengths to get the matching setup down pat.
These games in their original form, were like the most expensive and elite sports cars... and when you put the wrong controls on them, it changes them into car that been in a serious accident. It never performs the same way. The mechanics dont respond quick or tight.. theres slop and delay, and you cant make the car do what you want and or Need it to do. Therefore, your enjoyment is squashed. (And if it were a car, your crashing into a tree due to a mechanical issue would really tick you off) Finally, if you have decided you cant play this game at all.. because everyone said not to install the controllers, due to looks... you see the car sitting pretty in the gameroom (mame game list) ... but you cant drive it because theres no steering wheel, pedals, nor shifter. All you do is end up weeping internally.
To close... you just cant tell me what my, or others passions and or sacrifices should be. Just as I dont tell people they Should love martial arts and do it 5hrs every day. Nor tell them how to do it, and what methods they should or shouldnt use. Especially if Im pretty new into the arts, and dont even know the history, depth, and reasons, for the multiple arts unique techniques and training methods.
We each have our own levels of passions and desires, and you should accept and embrace that fact, rather than trying to change that. You cant change Me. Nor can you change others. The only person you Can change, is yourself. And that SHOULD be good enough for you. Im sure you dont like it when someone tries to tell you how to think, feel, and do things... and puts you down for being what they consider 'crazy', 'unnecessary', 'a waste of time & money', 'childish'...etc...
So in a most basic example, Im saying, that if someone says they Loved Tron as a kid, and its still their favorite game.. dont tell them your opinion that Tron Sticks are ugly on a control panel. It has no bearing, is negative, and its not going to change their passion about that game. And ruining that passion, over your penchant for how someone elses cab looks, would be a crime indeed.
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Topic: Rotating control panels in the CNC age... why so rare still? (Read 10202 times)
