Control Panel Build, Need Input

[tkropp17]

I'm starting a control panel build and I've laid everything out the way I think I'd like it, but I'm looking for suggestions. P1 and P2 will have two joysticks for games like Smash TV. There are 3 buttons above the trackball with what will be a 4 way joy on the left and a spinner on the right. The top 4 center buttons are Hyperspin controls.

Opinions welcomed!

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just make sure that when you install the player 3 & 4 joysticks, they are parallel to the monitor.  Don't install them angled.  (I did at first but then it was an easy fix to rotate them afterwards).

Good luck!

D

[PL1]

Just make sure that when you install the player 3 & 4 joysticks, they are parallel to the monitor.  Don't install them angled.

+1.

Green = good.  Red = bad.




Scott

[tkropp17]

Very good to know! I wasn't 100% on how that should be done. This is my first time with button spacing. Anything I should know from the layout I posted?

[DeLuSioNal29]

If you're using dual sticks for P1 and P2, you need to "double-up" the inputs by sharing the right side joysticks with P3 and P4; there is no need to make them separate inputs.

Using the iPac4 by Ultimarc as an example:
You can get 8 additional slots if you double up the 3 & 4 player joysticks.  The same is true for buttons.  (You simply have 2 wires in the same screw terminal and you can double up as many as you want - In my case, I had it tripled up:  My 8-way, 4-way and flight stick were all wired into the same input 1p U,D,L,R as well as my player 1 and 2 buttons and my pinball buttons:  1p SW1 and SW2).

In my setup, I have player 1's second joystick on the same input as player 3's joystick.  I also have player 2's second joystick on the same input as player 4's joystick.  You never use both joysticks at the same time for any games, so it's OK to share the same inputs.  (For example if you play The Simpsons, and you touch the 2nd joystick on player 1, you will move the 3rd player since it's using the same inputs.  But normally, when player 1 plays they are only touching the player 1 joystick, so player 3 has their own).  For games like Smash TV, technically player 4 is mapped as the "fire" joystick for player 1.  However, this isn't an issue since it's only a 2 player co-op game.  As far as I know, there are no "dual joystick" games more than 2 players out there for MAME.

Hope this helped!

DeLuSioNaL29

[tkropp17]

If you're using dual sticks for P1 and P2, you need to "double-up" the inputs by sharing the right side joysticks with P3 and P4; there is no need to make them separate inputs.

Using the iPac4 by Ultimarc as an example:
You can get 8 additional slots if you double up the 3 & 4 player joysticks.  The same is true for buttons.  (You simply have 2 wires in the same screw terminal and you can double up as many as you want - In my case, I had it tripled up:  My 8-way, 4-way and flight stick were all wired into the same input 1p U,D,L,R as well as my player 1 and 2 buttons and my pinball buttons:  1p SW1 and SW2).

In my setup, I have player 1's second joystick on the same input as player 3's joystick.  I also have player 2's second joystick on the same input as player 4's joystick.  You never use both joysticks at the same time for any games, so it's OK to share the same inputs.  (For example if you play The Simpsons, and you touch the 2nd joystick on player 1, you will move the 3rd player since it's using the same inputs.  But normally, when player 1 plays they are only touching the player 1 joystick, so player 3 has their own).  For games like Smash TV, technically player 4 is mapped as the "fire" joystick for player 1.  However, this isn't an issue since it's only a 2 player co-op game.  As far as I know, there are no "dual joystick" games more than 2 players out there for MAME.

Hope this helped!

DeLuSioNaL29

Mind Blown! I haven't even ventured into wiring and that is incredibly useful information. I follow what you're saying and fully see how doubling up works in this case. Thank you for offering the info!

[tkropp17]

Here is an updated view. I went with the second option on http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html It looks to be an American Standard, just slightly closer together. I play a lot of Mortal Kombat and think the tighter spacing would be a good fit.
 
Thoughts on if I'll need more room between the Joysticks and Trackball?

[tagbone]

Schlsux,

Just a thought but do you think you might ever be interested in Discs of Tron, and at that point would need a yoke?

If so maybe install your spinner a little closer to center and that way you would leave space for a yoke if you ever changed your mind and wanted to install one.

Otherwise I think everything looks good, but my opinion isn't very high as I am just about to attempt my first build. Very similar to yours.

[tkropp17]

Schlsux,

Just a thought but do you think you might ever be interested in Discs of Tron, and at that point would need a yoke?

If so maybe install your spinner a little closer to center and that way you would leave space for a yoke if you ever changed your mind and wanted to install one.

Otherwise I think everything looks good, but my opinion isn't very high as I am just about to attempt my first build. Very similar to yours.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've went back and fourth on that idea and ultimately decided against it since I don't play that game or many that use a yoke or flightstick.

[yotsuya]

Schlsux,

Just a thought but do you think you might ever be interested in Discs of Tron, and at that point would need a yoke?

If so maybe install your spinner a little closer to center and that way you would leave space for a yoke if you ever changed your mind and wanted to install one.

Otherwise I think everything looks good, but my opinion isn't very high as I am just about to attempt my first build. Very similar to yours.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've went back and fourth on that idea and ultimately decided against it since I don't play that game or many that use a yoke or flightstick.

You are a very wise man.

[tagbone]

What are the dimensions you are running anyway?

[tkropp17]

48"x21" I can send you the file if you'd like.

[tagbone]

48"x21" I can send you the file if you'd like.

That would be great, much appreciated.

[AzureKnight]

Make sure you take into account what is happening BELOW your control panel.

Most likely what you are mapping right now will lose some of the side space to overhang (some cps have little to none while others have several inches) in addition to the thickness of the wood for the side of the cp.   The joysticks all have a rectangular mounting base and need some room for wiring the switches.  Make sure you leave enough room between your joysticks and the sides (including the "front") of the cp as well as enough space between the button and the joystick.

I'm building my cabinet now and I made some of those a bit tighter than I should have.  I was lucky, it all fit, but just barely.