button placement and Control Panel questions

[heyyouguys]

I have spent the last few days going over what I want and what is out there and trying to layout buttons to fit what I want. To get all the items below on CP, I am thinking of 19-20" wide. Is this too wide for bartop with a 19-19.5" monitor?

One of my biggest issues is that I am not sure how far to make the joystick from left side? Any suggestions?

The cabinet pattern I will use will be similar to weecade sides or more like jahilton2002 (premier arcades) space invaders bartop sides. I really like the look of his cabinet sides.

Also which brand of trackball to go with? Definitely one that is no bigger than 2 1/4" (they seem to take up a lot of underside of CP real estate. I would also like to just see the trackball not have square mounting plate show

Decided that I want for 1 player control panel (these will be removable but starting with player 1);

1 - 4-8 way joystick (debating on mag stick plus for ease of switching from 4 and 8 way), not sure what brand to get otherwise?

Buttons need to light up on which ones to use (this is key for my family) for each game.

6 buttons (straight or curved pattern, whichever fits better) Not sure which brand to buy?
1 2 1/4" trackball (love the trackball games) brand?
1 spinner for tempest ( and the few others that use it) will be the kind that fits in a 28mm button hole.

I will also do the standard buttons needed like 1-2 player, coin, power, pause, enter, esc (if needed) these may be on front below CP or below screen.

Thanks for the help,

[ChanceKJ]

I have spent the last few days going over what I want and what is out there and trying to layout buttons to fit what I want. To get all the items below on CP, I am thinking of 19-20" wide. Is this too wide for bartop with a 19-19.5" monitor?

Nope.    <----- (SUBJECTIVE!!!)


One of my biggest issues is that I am not sure how far to make the joystick from left side? Any suggestions?

Here, use this...  http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

The cabinet pattern I will use will be similar to weecade sides or more like jahilton2002 (premier arcades) space invaders bartop sides. I really like the look of his cabinet sides.

Also which brand of trackball to go with? Definitely one that is no bigger than 2 1/4" (they seem to take up a lot of underside of CP real estate. I would also like to just see the trackball not have square mounting plate show

Personally a big fan of the U-Trak, but thats subjective. and a 3" ball. Do you need a trackball? http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html


Decided that I want for 1 player control panel (these will be removable but starting with player 1);

1 - 4-8 way joystick (debating on mag stick plus for ease of switching from 4 and 8 way), not sure what brand to get otherwise?

Meh, if you really know the diffrence between the feel of each.  Again, you have a million options, do some solid research on this question, as its been asked a MILLION times. Besides, if you don't like it, buy a different one. or hell, buy a couple to start and sell what you don't want. Sticks are cheap.


Buttons need to light up on which ones to use (this is key for my family) for each game.

This can be quite expensive, and it can take a long time and effort. you're going after the same reasons I'm doing it for.  IL from Paradise and CLASSX from GroovyGameGear are both favourites around these parts. depends what you want the buttons to look like. clear, or opaque. do you want a soft light, or a hard light?  Do you want them to have chrome on them? You need to ask these questions to yourself. then what installation system for the lighting you want to work with.

6 buttons (straight or curved pattern, whichever fits better) Not sure which brand to buy?

Again, depends on the look.  I have CLASSX leaf buttons on one project, but then IL Concave on another. the buttons are the "same" its the microswitch vs the leaf in this case. i wanted a particular look with my IL buttons for my Flynn build, and a particular feel for the ones on my PacMan build.  There are people that HATE more the 4 buttons per player here. Seriously, its up to you. if you feel that you are going to need 5-8 buttons i'd keep that to players 1 and 2.  I built one project based on contingency so i wouldn't have the feeling that i spent all the time and money on something just to need it down the road. but my other project is based on simple needs where two buttons work at the most.

1 2 1/4" trackball (love the trackball games) brand?

See above comment

1 spinner for tempest ( and the few others that use it) will be the kind that fits in a 28mm button hole.

I will also do the standard buttons needed like 1-2 player, coin, power, pause, enter, esc (if needed) these may be on front below CP or below screen.

Again, People hate and will hate on buttons. telling you to "use shifting options" or "you want need all those admin buttons". I say: if you feel that you really need it, and it won't get in the way and you don't care about the extra money and time for a few more then go for it. I'd rather have one and not need it just to give it a job i rarely use then be wishing i cut an extra hole in my CP.



Thanks for the help,

Here is the BEST advice i can give you. Make a list of what your needs are: Games you want to play, design goals (like the light up controls), and then Research. Research until your eyes turn to mush and bleed out of your head. write down some key terms you want to investigate and use the forums search feature. Read as many build threads as you can. make a list of ideas you like and will work for your needs. If you do a little digging you may find 3 or 4 different ways to accomplish something or answers to a question. Most of this place is subjective to the builder. If you're really stumped on something we are all willing to help you. (well, some people are jerks, but then again that does it for them and thats ok )

[PL1]

Also which brand of trackball to go with? Definitely one that is no bigger than 2 1/4" (they seem to take up a lot of underside of CP real estate. I would also like to just see the trackball not have square mounting plate show

Ultimarc and ArcadeEmulator.net both have 2-1/4" trackballs -- not sure which kind meets your needs.   

You can route out a pocket for the mounting plate and cover the CP/plate with artwork, but the 2-1/4" trackballs aren't designed for no-plate mounting like the UTrak.


Scott

[heyyouguys]

@ChanceKJ, that is some good advice along with some helpful information, thank you. I am following your Flynn wants and needs style of organizing for my wants and needs.

When you say (in reference to the switches lighting up for which is needed for each game), that "this can be quite expensive, and it can take a long time and effort". How expensive are you talking? It seems like the buttons are not much more? And the LED output card/controller to drive them isn't too bad for pacdrive or pacled64. Also, do you have to program the lights for each game or are there predone '.ini' files (for lack of better name)? Do up use LEDBlinky for this other?

For buttons amounts, i can build and rebuild the control panel or layouts over and over if need be (have access to all the plywood/wood and tools carpenter shop at work also access to sheet metal shop with aluminum, stainless, and galvanized sheet metal). Also CP will be easily removable so I can swap out to a 2 player CP when needed.

Good info on buttons and I like that you have used LED buttons so you have some experience other them. Personally, I am mot worried to much. If I had gun to head, I would say not chrome rimmed or clear but would go with opaque. With that said clear would prob be fine also. Will have to research soft or hard light. I don't want to be blinded or focus taken away from screen with a too bright of light.

For button style, just the standard concave style like most 80s games. I like that kind of feel, but if they aren't exactly like it, no biggie (from what I have seen, they are not very pricey).

I am not really looking for any other style of games then mame/arcade ones. Not looking for emulators on it. If there were to emulators, it would be NES and 2600. If I want to play all the other emulators including those, I will just boot up modded xbox with xbmc and play it that way, as the controller is better for it. I want this bartop to be what it is, a mame coin op cabinet.

(Trackball is a yes along with spinner. Even if I play only one game with each). I will also research more on joysticks like you said.



@PL1, great idea on router out for mounting plate. Funny thing is that I think I was using the template for u-trak but said 2 1/4". I thought it was 2 1/4" when laying out CP for 1 player.



I haven't seen this is I will ask now, what is a good amount of space for hands to rest on below the buttons and joystick?

[ChanceKJ]

When you say (in reference to the switches lighting up for which is needed for each game), that "this can be quite expensive, and it can take a long time and effort". How expensive are you talking? It seems like the buttons are not much more? And the LED output card/controller to drive them isn't too bad for pacdrive or pacled64. Also, do you have to program the lights for each game or are there predone '.ini' files (for lack of better name)? Do up use LEDBlinky for this other?

Well it depends. You can get simple off the shelf kits that add an RGB LED into the bottom of your button, they have generic length wire harnesses for all the RGB LEDs and they easily plug into a lighting controller.  I've gone the more detailed and custom way. IL buttons with PradiseArcade LED's, connected to a Molex plug, connected to a custom length 4 circuit wire (for a neat and tidy wire job), connected to a PAC64. I didn't realize all the little connectors and wires add up for time and money. Just something to think about. Cost wise I lost track. I stopped caring when I accidentally committed to buying a $100 roll of 300 male pins so I could build my own header harnesses for my two PACLED64's

I will be using LEDBlinky. I was playing with it today for the first time and it looks pretty cool.

I haven't seen this is I will ask now, what is a good amount of space for hands to rest on below the buttons and joystick?

Really no rule of thumb (pun intended). Prototype it up with a chunk of cardboard that fits the size of your control panel and print off your layout on a sheet of paper. Try a few times till you find something your happy with.