What do you think of my custom Street Fighter II: CE MAME Pedestal?

[kaneda]

Here's a question- from the intial picture, it looks like players 3 + 4 aren't actually standing against the angled side, but rather on the corners of each angle. Was that intentional? Because if they stand against the angled side, then angled sticks are really out of whack. If they stand parallel to the controls, then they have the corner sticking them in the gut. Just curious.

It was intentional.  Was the only way I could detect if you have a penis or not.  Guessing the corner will just be hitting air.  Any other questions?

[opt2not]

 

[yotsuya]

Here's a question- from the intial picture, it looks like players 3 + 4 aren't actually standing against the angled side, but rather on the corners of each angle. Was that intentional? Because if they stand against the angled side, then angled sticks are really out of whack. If they stand parallel to the controls, then they have the corner sticking them in the gut. Just curious.

It was intentional.  Was the only way I could detect if you have a penis or not.  Guessing the corner will just be hitting air.  Any other questions?

Yep. Thin-skinned. You've taken over the reins from Sandheaver as the biggest ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- on this forum. And she was a woman.

You obviously didn't take anything into consideration when you designed this thing. It was purely OMG LOOKAT MY ARCADE ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---!!!!1!. And you succeeded there.

[ark_ader]

I don't like the it.  I think you could do better at a high school wood shop or community college.  You could make it yourself there with some night classes.

I would ask for a refund if I was you, in this day and age $800 is a lot of money.

But you are from NY so I guess it is lunch money.

I would see myself getting back ache.  If you are committed please buy some bar stools for your extra players.

[kaneda]

You're right...I totally failed to consider a right way to make a control panel.  Everything is wrong.  How will I ever play a game on this thing!??!?!??!   Seriously, get a life.   This was designed primarily for 1vs1 Street Fighter matches.  Maybe you didn't notice the Street Fighter art.   Player 3 Player 4 angles?  Um. Yeah, maybe a bit of an after thought...but angled joysticks aren't the end of the world, like many on here believe them to be. 
 

[Nephasth]

What were you once told on KLOV?

Oh, yeah...

You're the worst kind of troll... the kind who doesn't even seem to have a clue enough to realize YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.

[yotsuya]

You're right...I totally failed to consider a right way to make a control panel.  Everything is wrong.  How will I ever play a game on this thing!??!?!??!   Seriously, get a life.   This was designed primarily for 1vs1 Street Fighter matches.  Maybe you didn't notice the Street Fighter art.   Player 3 Player 4 angles?  Um. Yeah, maybe a bit of an after thought...but angled joysticks aren't the end of the world, like many on here believe them to be.

Right, but do you want something stellar, or do you want something "good enough"? That's what we're trying to point out here. Even my question about the placement of 3 + 4 is a legitimate one. Listen, and stop getting defensive. You're the one that put your fingers in your ears and started going blah blah BLAH.

[kaneda]

I don't like the it.  I think you could do better at a high school wood shop or community college.  You could make it yourself there with some night classes.

I would ask for a refund if I was you, in this day and age $800 is a lot of money.

But you are from NY so I guess it is lunch money.

I would see myself getting back ache.  If you are committed please buy some bar stools for your extra players.

Bar stools already ready.   And come on, $800 is worth less today than 10 years ago.  You guys who 'build' your stuff don't realize the time/value of money proposition.  For the amount of time it would take me to learn / build something like this, I could make $10,000 at work.  Make sense now?

[Nephasth]

For the amount of time it would take me to learn / build something like this, I could make $10,000 at work.  Make sense now?

Makes sense. It'd take you 1040 hours.

[Ginsu Victim]

It doesn't make sense. You didn't explore your options and spent way too much.

You came HERE expecting us to somehow love it. We've learned from our mistakes and see them glaringly all over this unit. You will learn....maybe. Just listen to us. We've been down this road.

[Drnick]

For the amount of time it would take me to learn / build something like this, I could make $10,000 at work.  Make sense now?

Makes sense. It'd take you 1040 hours.

  

[opt2not]

Heh, the guys at KLOV also agree with most of what we said here too!
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?p=2608555&posted=1#post2608555

[DarakuTenshi]

The point is, yes it has a few flaws. As for the 6 button rectangular positioning some of us are used to that. I grew up in the arcades and never had a problem playing games on that button layout... I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[kaneda]

Ok...well...look I appreciate all of the feedback / concerns / insights / insults / and input.   You guys are right.  I should have investigated more before diving in head first.  But I did.  Sure, I'm mad at myself for not gathering the right intel before handing funds over.  I've been burned on more than just this MAME cabinet, trust me.   So maybe I'm searching for some silver lining in all of this.   I don't think the pedestal will play poorly, especially for Street Fighter.   And hey, I just trusted the builder to make it right, which they clearly didn't. 

Would be awesome if some of you guys opened up shop and sold products the right way.  Because trust me, there aren't many people offering expert builds at the retail level.   And yes, I wish I could build this stuff from scratch and I wish I had the room and the know - how...I know it's not that hard...but I just don't have the time. 

Let's all hug it out.  I'll suffer the slings and arrows of my angled joystick machine.  I'll develop the blisters trying to reach the Street Fighter buttons...and hopefully, it will be good enough to play hours and hours of games. 

I'll share pictures of the final build when it arrives.  And if anyone in the NYC area wants to swing by, feel free.  But I got Guile.

[harveybirdman]

Look at it this way bro, at least you didn't ruin a classic Williams cab by strapping an aircraft carrier made from 2x4s that was painted as if it were coated in black nail polish.  Or make something with so many admin buttons it lioks like Darth Vaders chest plate. It could be much worse.

[yotsuya]

\me hugs it out, ---smurfette---.

I don't particularly enjoy conflict, nor do I like to criticize other's projects, but you specifically asked "What do you think of my custom Street Fighter II: CE MAME Pedestal?" I take that as an open invitation for honest feedback. No one is going to do you a service by simply kissing your ass.

I don't think your project is a total loss. I don't think your casual buddies will notice at first glace. But don't be surprised if someone complains about control in TMNT or Simpsons once you start playing. That's what we're trying to accomplish - to prepare you for that.

Other than the joysticks and angling, I have no other issues with it. Again, if it makes you happy, that's all that matters. 

[kaneda]

\me hugs it out, ---smurfette---.

I don't particularly enjoy conflict, nor do I like to criticize other's projects, but you specifically asked "What do you think of my custom Street Fighter II: CE MAME Pedestal?" I take that as an open invitation for honest feedback. No one is going to do you a service by simply kissing your ass.

I don't think your project is a total loss. I don't think your casual buddies will notice at first glace. But don't be surprised if someone complains about control in TMNT or Simpsons once you start playing. That's what we're trying to accomplish.

Other than the joysticks and angling, I have no other issues with it. Again, if it makes you happy, that's all that matters. 

I get it...man, just wish my builder would have said, "you may want to re-consider these angles."  But I'm a nice guy (really) and when my friends are over, i'll jump on one of the 3-4 player spots.  I do appreciate your feedback.  You guys are just looking out for the final product and want it to be done right.  I was just acting like a ---smurfette---.  My bad.

[yotsuya]

I'm surprised the vendor didn't offer anything up about it, either. You figure they'd get some questions about it.

[opt2not]

You don't need to be completely DIY. 
There are guys here that have CNC services they offer, for put-it-together kits (with some nice laminate options too). It would have at least got you out of needing to cut any wood, just assemble and go.  Wiring is easy. Art is easy to apply, harder to create (but with that theme, it's a no-brainer arrangement of existing art, so it wouldn't be too bad).

The only big hurdle, IMO, would be setting up the software...which is really just time involved. Plus people here would help you, as we have in the past.

I personally have stopped trying to do any wood-work in my small apartment. That's why I tend to restore/renovate existing cabinets, rather than build one from scratch. Plus the hippy side of me feels better for being greener. I have neither the space or skills to bother with a scratch-build.

[CraftyMech]

You've caught a lot of flak, but take comfort that your build could have been so, so much worse: http://mame-cabinet-archive.koenigs.dk/mameshame.htm

[Louis Tully]

Ok...well...look I appreciate all of the feedback / concerns / insights / insults / and input.   You guys are right.  I should have investigated more before diving in head first.  But I did.  Sure, I'm mad at myself for not gathering the right intel before handing funds over.  I've been burned on more than just this MAME cabinet, trust me.   So maybe I'm searching for some silver lining in all of this.   I don't think the pedestal will play poorly, especially for Street Fighter.   And hey, I just trusted the builder to make it right, which they clearly didn't. 

Would be awesome if some of you guys opened up shop and sold products the right way.  Because trust me, there aren't many people offering expert builds at the retail level.   And yes, I wish I could build this stuff from scratch and I wish I had the room and the know - how...I know it's not that hard...but I just don't have the time. 

Let's all hug it out.  I'll suffer the slings and arrows of my angled joystick machine.  I'll develop the blisters trying to reach the Street Fighter buttons...and hopefully, it will be good enough to play hours and hours of games. 

I'll share pictures of the final build when it arrives.  And if anyone in the NYC area wants to swing by, feel free.  But I got Guile.

Man... if it's not to your liking, have them fix it. You're the one who has to live with it and use it. Don't settle. If it's too late to have them fix it, ask them how much it would cost to make a new top. The build is over and the hardware is already paid for. Even if it cost another $100, you're already in for quite a bit now, what's a little more for something that you dig 100%? Take a little time and plan how you want things mapped out.


edit - If you've got Guile, I've got Sagat.

[opt2not]

Man... if it's not to your liking, have them fix it. You're the one who has to live with it and use it. Don't settle. If it's too late to have them fix it, ask them how much it would cost to make a new top. The build is over and the hardware is already paid for. Even if it cost another $100, you're already in for quite a bit now, what a little more for something that you dig 100%? Take a little time and plan out how you want things mapped out.

This is great advice. I'd look into it if I were you.
I know you said you're a nice guy, but don't be a pushover!  It's your hard-earned cash, get them to make it right!  Especially if it's their reputation on the line.

I just took a glance at their website:
http://www.dreamhomearcades.com/oursystems.aspx?gallery_cmd=load&gallery_index=00000007

Looks like the angled joys is their staple. eeeeeeks!  If anything, we should be sending this feedback to them directly, rather than putting it on you.
Send them this thread and the thread on KLOV.

[yotsuya]

I agree with Louis. Ask them to recut it. Even if it costs you a bit more, it will save you a lot in the long run. And I'd seriously look at those corners and the position of players 3 + 4.

Oh, and to show you I'm not talking out ---my bottom--- about angled sticks, I did test the angled theory a while back IRL and saw that indeed, it was true.

[pbj]

All aboard

[yotsuya]

Too late, bro. We've hugged it out.

[Typefighter01]

I thought people would find the pedestal to be more cool and fun

Not always in this place 

Do yourself a favour, call over your buddies, plug it in, have a great time and never read this post again. Constructive criticism has turned into needless hate, once again. I actually didn't see any issue with your monitor post either, but, ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, you took it on the chin with that post too. I have seen people on this forum inherit ready to go MAME cabs, glass, coin doors, the works and no matter what they paid ($100), they still get the "you got ripped dude ".

Brush this thread off and move on, thick skinned or not, it has turned into another ridiculous thread in a long line of ridiculous threads...

[yotsuya]

Constructive criticism has turned into needless hate, once again.

Yet it takes two to tango....

[pbj]

How many forums do y'all live on exactly?

[opt2not]

All 'a dems.

[Nephasth]

How many forums do y'all live on exactly?

I've got 3 primaries, and a couple other vacationers...

[opt2not]

Oh, and to show you I'm not talking out ---my bottom--- about angled sticks, I did test the angled theory a while back IRL and saw that indeed, it was true.

Nice, I didn't see that thread before. Good field testing yots!
Would have helped me with El Mechanico.

**actually, I just re-read my old thread, and it originally had straight 3P and 4P joysticks.


Compared to this:


I remember thinking, that edge on the CP should line up with the controls. But as soon as I had it operational, that was the first thing people told me they didn't like about it. Later, I found that people weren't playing the 4-player games as much because of it.
Oh well, that project is done and gone. Lesson learned.

[mmg1design]

Oh, and to show you I'm not talking out ---my bottom--- about angled sticks, I did test the angled theory a while back IRL and saw that indeed, it was true.

Nice, I didn't see that thread before. Good field testing yots!
Would have helped me with El Mechanico.

**actually, I just re-read my old thread, and it originally had straight 3P and 4P joysticks.


Compared to this:


I remember thinking, that edge on the CP should line up with the controls. But as soon as I had it operational, that was the first thing people told me they didn't like about it. Later, I found that people weren't playing the 4-player games as much because of it.
Oh well, that project is done and gone. Lesson learned.

Exactly what happened to me. I think I can re-position the switches underneath the joysticks so that "UP" will be towards the screen.

[kaneda]

Believe me, I've already had it out with these guys a number of times over mistakes.  I'm just concerned that things are too far along to say "do it again"...

I asked for the joysticks angled, but now that I think about it, that's only because almost all of their pedestal joysticks are angled.  I just went off of their examples when designing mine.  From what you guys are saying, they never should be suggesting angled joysticks in the first place.

Look, I want it to be right, but here's my dilemma...they made what I asked for, even if it wasn't the ideal layout, they built it.  Do I wish they would have stepped up and provided the kind of insight you guys have, yes...but from the looks of their other builds, they don't care...they build a lot with angled layouts. 

The button spacing isn't a big deal or game breaker...I'll hardly notice that (i think).   

So here's the point I am at...do I pull the plug on my build?  Even though it's like 95% done.  Do I ask them to make changes (which honestly at this point I don't think is an option since I've already made so many changes)...Or do I live with it, knowing it's not perfect but for what I want it for, will get the job done. 

Also, if I were able to pull the plug, could anyone on here build something like this?   Or How's this for a solution...could someone on here make me a new CPO with all of the parts of this one?  I really just don't want to deal with these guys anymore.  Their customer service is just the worst.   

[yotsuya]

Here's what you do- go though with the build, take delivery. Try it. It could be that you and your buddies love the machine, it's not an issue, and you never have to give it another thought. 

If you don't like it, work with Macattack, ebarlow, Rick, or HaRuMaN (all guys here who make CNC-cut products) on getting a new one CNC'd to your specs. These guys are players as well as builders and would probably be happy to work with you. I know from personal experience that HaRuMaN has helped make a 4 player control panel. I'm sure the other guys can do it, too.

[kaneda]

Here's what you do- go though with the build, take delivery. Try it. It could be that you and your buddies love the machine, it's not an issue, and you never have to give it another thought. 

If you don't like it, work with Macattack, ebarlow, Rick, or HaRuMaN (all guys here who make CNC-cut products) on getting a new one CNC'd to your specs. These guys are players as well as builders and would probably be happy to work with you. I know from personal experience that HaRuMaN has helped make a 4 player control panel. I'm sure the other guys can do it, too.

This is great advice.  Thanks.  Also makes me feel better, so thanks for that too.  Man, this has been a rough thread.  But well appreciated.  I'll post pictures when it arrives and give my impression of how it plays. 

[Ginsu Victim]

The answer to all your questions:
HaRuMaN

[Xiaou2]

 Well, I think I know what that button layout site did... 

 I believe they scanned a Streetfighter button template, and thought that the circles represented the outside diameter of the buttons.   Instead, the circles represent the exact diameter of the hole-saw needed to drill into the CP, for the button to fit. 

 The buttons outside edge LIP rest well beyond that circle template diameter... and so in the end... each buttons outside diameter lip, will be about 2mm away from each other... rather than a half inch.  >.<


 I believe you should have then rework out CP... especially considering the playability issues.   Its not easy to play a game with angles sticks.  Even the best gamers would have difficulty in controlling a game like that.

 
 As for the sheer size of the pedestal... that doesnt phase me.  Thats mere cosmetic opinion.   You will have more elbow room, which is always a good thing... especially if your friends are not rail thin 8yr olds.

 Playability issues are key though.    Unlike Mellonheadko, I dont say these things to insult.  These are just factual design characteristics, proven over years of development and play testing, in the Arcades.   The very few examples where these logical expressions were ignored & negated.. caused a lot of earnings problems.    Factory idiocy was usually 'fixed' by Ops as the end result.

[Malenko]

Unlike Mellonheadko, I dont say these things to insult.

Judges?





points for originality, slight deduction for it being such a stretch.
I enjoy the fact I literally agree with you point for point on a topic and you still wanna be on the other side of the debate 
FYI, Malenko is Russian slang for small package (the wrestling move) so Im "implying" I have a tiny penis. Dunno if the nick requires editing to be more insulting. Thanks for not making it Xuushy though, and curses to Saint for making Xiaou2 get changed to your nick via language filter. But its brilliant too.

Ive thought of some better ones, feel free to use em : Ma-stanko, Malenk-hoe, even the OBVIOUS FEMALEnko (FEMalenko).



to OP, I may not have ran an arcade for 77 hours a week , 53 weeks a year for 6 years but I know you should ask the "builders" to redo the top.  Id start with you redoing to the art to reflect a better layout. Also, I didnt say what I said how I said to insult you. He likes to imply ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- like that , if you read what I posted, I never insulted you. The pedetable is over sized, and you are paying too much. I dont see how thats insulting

[Dawgz Rule]

Enjoy, and a belated welcome to the forum!

[kaneda]

I don't know what to do.  I can't send them this thread and be like, "HERE, SEE!"

Now something's wrong with the art?  What's wrong with the art?  It's lifted right from the SF II Bezel design. 

Will the buttons being far apart effect game play?  I get there's a little more space between buttons, but hitting all three at once, will that be problematic? 

Could someone write me a concise and professional assessment of what's wrong with this control panel?  Something I could forward on to them?  I would really appreciate it.  Because you guys are right, if things are really wrong and problematic and going to make gameplay not fun, I'm not sure it makes sense to pay what I'm paying. 

So bummed out these issues happened.  I'm not as concerned about the 45 angle as the buttons.  I got this primarily to play street fighter and if that's going to play awkward now, I need to know.  What do you guys think?