Looking for recommendations on controllers, joysticks

[DietCoke]

Hi,

First, thanks for such a great forum!  I am learning a lot and have been following a few books as well on how to build a cabinet. 

I am looking to build an MDO-based cabinet with the following items:

1 2-slot coin door w/ working mechs
2 8-way joysticks
1 4-way joystick
1 spinner
1 3" trackball w/ RGB light under
2 banks of 6 buttons
1 1P button
1 2P button
1 Power button
1 Menu button
1 exit button
1 pause button
2 volume buttons
4 side pinball buttons
1 LED marquee backlight

I have not decided on the type of buttons yet, but would like the option of RGB-lit buttons for at least 8 of them, preferably more. 

My main hangup is the controller.  I've seen the Howler and the iPac Ultimate I/O, but I am unclear on which would be better for a new enthusiast like me, or if there is a different controller that may be better.  I am hesitant to purchase from multiple places (Ultimarc, GGG, ParadiseArcade) to ensure that I am getting parts that work together.

Also - I'm playing games like Galaga, Pac-Man, Rampage, Assault, Aliens, SMB, NBA Jams, etc.  If anyone has a particular 8-way joystick that they think is really nice, please let me know!  I was originally going to cannibalize my Tankstick, but I think I'll go with a different type for this.

Quality is the most important item here, followed by ease of installation.  Price is a factor to some degree, but even listing the highest-end item is ok with me.  Basically I don't want to build a cabinet, then upgrade the components later because I didn't get the right item originally.

Any recommendations or pointers on what/where to get this?  Thanks in advance for any advice!

[PL1]

1 Menu button

Is anyone other than you using this cab?

Kids and drunk friends have an uncanny ability to screw up the MAME settings that you spent months tweaking -- but you probably won't notice it until guests at your next big party start complaining about your cab not working right.   

Leaving a Menu button where kids or guests can finid it is begging for trouble IMHO.  YMMV.

4 side pinball buttons

Are these for Lower Flippers and Upper Flippers/MagnaSaves?
(Search for my posts on "MagnaSave" for info on Visual Pinball related considerations)

You may also want to include a Ball Launch/Plunger button and Left, Right, and Up Nudge buttons.

Avoid using regular microswitch buttons for flilpper or nudge buttons -- both the Ultimarc Goldleaf (my current preference) and the GGG CLASSX/Electric Ice 2 with True-Leaf Pro switches (haven't tried them yet, but they sound good) don't have the reset hysteresis of microswitch buttons.

I am hesitant to purchase from multiple places (Ultimarc, GGG, ParadiseArcade) to ensure that I am getting parts that work together.

Don't worry about ordering from different vendors.

Most vendors carry various products that will meet your needs, but the odds of getting everything on your list from one vendor are somewhere between slim and none.   

Most of the parts from the well-known vendors around here will work together without any trouble.

Just post your lists of desired parts before ordering -- we'll either give you a thumbs-up or warn you if there are any potential issues.


Scott

[paigeoliver]

I have been doing mame and other arcade games since 2000 and I have never felt the need to adjust the volume on a machine outside of the initial setup. Dedicated volume buttons are not needed and fall into that same annoying guest category as the menu button does.

Put the exit button on the underside of the control panel where it isn't visible, kids and women will smack every button on the panel to try to start or continue and inevitably exit the game that someone else was still playing.

[elvis]

I have been doing mame and other arcade games since 2000 and I have never felt the need to adjust the volume on a machine outside of the initial setup. Dedicated volume buttons are not needed and fall into that same annoying guest category as the menu button does.

The problem is games aren't all the same volume.  It can be quite a startle when you've had a quiet game playing, and suddenly a new one is selected and it blasts out at twice the volume.

Put the exit button on the underside of the control panel where it isn't visible, kids and women will smack every button on the panel to try to start or continue and inevitably exit the game that someone else was still playing.

This, however, is 100% true.  And annoying.

I typically put a volume knob connected direct to my amplifier on the back of the cabinet somewhere.  That means that I can adjust the volume while others are playing, and not interrupt their play.  It also means that said women and children won't hit it in their blind continue-panic.

[DietCoke]

Definitely understand the caveats of the service buttons.  I plan on mounting the menu, volume, power and exit buttons on the top of the cabinet, back maybe 1-2 inches from the upper lip.  Should keep the kids out of that area ok for at least a few years  

Great thing to keep in mind with the pinball buttons, Scott.  Thank you for the pointer!

[DietCoke]

Ok, making progress!

GGG                 (1) Electric ICE-T™ Deluxe RGB Arcade Trackball V2.5
GGG                 (1) TurboTwist 2™ Arcade Spinner Control w/ Accu-Twist, ESC, Black Dome spinner & 7" Mini-Racer™ Wheel
Ultimarc           (2) UltraStik 360 Oval Top with USB cable
Ultimarc           (1) I-PAC Ultimate I/O Interface with full wiring harness + extension harness pack
Ultimarc          (24) Ultralux Translucent Illuminated Pushbuttons (RGB White)
Ultimarc            (4) Gold Leaf pushbuttons
GGG                 (3) Deluxe PCB Standoffs - 4pack
GGG                 (1) NovaMatrix LINX 2™ LED Marquee Light (3/40 LEDS total)
GGG                 (2) USB.EXT™ - External USB 2.0 Pathway

Any issues seen thus far?

I made some breakthroughs last night on customizing the software and making it look like I wanted, having gotten stuck on some things over time.  Really happy with how the prep is working out - thank you for your help!