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New user & looking for control panel layout feedback
DaveMMR:
--- Quote from: Paul Olson on May 16, 2014, 10:38:22 am ---If you are planning to swap panels, you may want to make start, coin, pause, and any admin buttons part of the cab so you don't need to add them to each panel.
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Agree on that. Though I'm going to add that I'm a weirdo stickler for aesthetics and whenever I've planned multiple panels, each one got it's own set of start buttons. I was never a fan of the look of "off-panel" buttons as you see in rotating/modular panels. But again, that's just me and this is not about me. ;)
cryoguns:
--- Quote from: PL1 on May 16, 2014, 01:23:36 am ---Since you are planning on having several consoles (PS and N64), are you planning on using the original controllers for them?
For the PC, have you installed/configured the emulators you want to use?
You may want to do that before you finalise your choice of admin buttons.
Check out some other suggestions here.
Scott
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For right now, I am planning to use the original N64 & PS1 controllers for those consoles. I originally thought about building separate panels for them, but they involve upwards of 8 buttons and I had seen a lot of feedback that many people didn't find them overly comfortable to use (especially with shoulder buttons, etc).
The PC I will be using using did have emulators on it previously before I put it in storage 3 years ago due to boot problems. I'm currently sorting out the boot issue and wiped the HDD due to a corrupted boot sector. I didn't plan to include a lot of admin buttons (Pause, Exit Game, and occasionally Reset Game were the only ones I used from time to time). I will definitely check out the linked article as well...thanks!
--- Quote from: Paul Olson on May 16, 2014, 10:38:22 am ---I would probably put a single pause button in the center. When you need to use the pause button, it is usually needed quickly, and you are probably going to mash other buttons as laid out. The exit and restart buttons can be shifted to other buttons. I have a coin button and a pause button on each side of my CP, so they are not cluttering up the top. I shift ESC on one of them, and tab on the other. The coin return idea would work well for the coin inputs as mentioned. I think that the restart game button will probably keep you from ever finishing a game. I know I would start over if I died early and had that available.
My original cp had mouse buttons, but they are a pain to use. For anything you need mouse buttons for, just grab a wireless mouse. It is just easier to use.
If you are planning to swap panels, you may want to make start, coin, pause, and any admin buttons part of the cab so you don't need to add them to each panel.
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Thanks! I do like the coin return idea for a 'reset game', but didn't really consider that before I bought the dummy coin door. I didn't plan to rig up the game to actually require quarters, so that's why I didn't get anything fancier than the blank coin door. I do have the same feelings as Dave in that I prefer to keep my buttons on the control panel rather than the sides. I wouldn't be opposed to putting a 'reset game' on the back of the cab where it wouldn't be seen, though.
The single pause in the center is definitely being considered since I am losing the mouse buttons, but I don't want to have it close to the 'exit game' button. That sounds like a great accident waiting to happen...reach to pause a game and accidentally kill it :angry: If I mash the wrong button when it's close to the player 1 start or player 1 coin...well, no big deal.