Gonna build a stand alone desk controller, tell me what you think about my plan

[jkonami]

Hey guys, in preparation to build a full size cabinet down the road, I want to practice by making a desk controller.

Here's what I'm thinking:
1P
2 Servostiks (for Smash TV) - I like the 4/8 way automatic switching
14 buttons, IL translucent/clear with black plungers:
  - 8 face buttons (for versatility)
  - 1P coin, 1P start
  - Two pinball buttons on each side (flipper and one for nudging)
2 more regular black buttons hidden in the back
  - One will be a shift button, hold it down to change coin and start to ESC and F3 (Reset)
  - The other will be pause
I-Pac2
Pac-LED64
14 Pele LED Rings (I really want to play with colored buttons and LED blinky because its what I want to do when I build a full cab)
Maybe a TT2 spinner depending on funds

My questions for you guys:

1.) I only wanted one cable hanging out of the enclosure, but I see that won't happen now - if I get a small power strip and a USB hub,
I think I can attach everything inside the box and only have the power strip cord and one USB cable outside.  What do you think of this?
I am going to find a 5V universal power supply for the Pac-LED64 that will be plugged into the strip inside out of sight.

2.) I'm thinking about getting some premade cables for the Pac-LED and pele rings, I found this at Paradise Arcade Shop and haven't yet
received a reply about it from them:

http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/jamma-harnesses/301-4-wire-100-header-wiring-harness.html

It looks like this has the right ends for both the pele rings and the Molex housing that comes with the Pac-LED, but the comments say:
"all you need is 4 telephone splice quick connects and a pair of pliers."  I had to look up what telephone splice quick connects were, why
do I need them?  I don't understand why I need anything, I thought the .100 end fit directly onto the pele rings, and .187 ends were ready
to be placed inside of the molex housing with the crimp connectors and everything.

Thanks and suggestions welcome!

[GeoMan]

You don't need all those buttons. Here's my desktop Dual Controller:



The right joystick is a MagStickPlus (switchable 4/8 way from the top) and each of the 6 buttons has a second function activated by a button on the back of the box. It is driven by a single MiniPac, so only one cable comes out of the box.

[jkonami]

I like the 7 button SNK/Capcom layout, plus just 1 more for systems like PS1, just in case.  Pinball buttons are self explanatory - unless someone else has a better way to do nudging.

What I really wanted to know was if my plan to use a USB hub and hook up the two sticks, the ipac, and the pacled (and maybe spinner) would work out ok.  I was just doing this with portability in mind.  Shouldn't hamper anything, should it?

Also, I am always eager to hear more opinions on the Servostiks, for anyone that has used them, am I making a good choice?

[chopperthedog]

The servostiks are a great product (got a pair on a table with vertical screen). But 8 way mode with a square restrictor for games like Smash TV, Total Carnage and Robotron imho suck. I often found myself dying while trying to find up, down, left and right during game play since the originals used a round restrictor.


good day.

[jkonami]

The servostiks are a great product (got a pair on a table with vertical screen). But 8 way mode with a square restrictor for games like Smash TV, Total Carnage and Robotron imho suck. I often found myself dying while trying to find up, down, left and right during game play since the originals used a round restrictor.

Oh really?  I was thinking about the U360s also.  I really like classics, beat-em-ups, and shooters.  Fighting games probably come last, though now and then I like to play them, they are just low on the priority list.  Would that be a better set of all around sticks?  I know the holy grail for robotron is the Wicos, but I wanted something with a decent 4 way mode too.