Control panel help from the experts...

[skanndelus]

So, I'm at a bit of a loss here.  I've been going back and forth in my mind trying to make some decisions so I can make some purchases and finish this project and play.

I essentially have a blank canvas for my control panel, it was a SlikStick unit with the CO2 control panel layout. 

Here is a picture from their website that shows the type of surface I'm working with


I was unhappy with this layout, so I removed all the controls and plugged the holes, so I'm starting fresh.

I can't, for the life of me, figure out what to do next.

I am going back and forth between making it two players with the trackball in the middle, 3 players, with the trackball up top, or four players.  Two players would seem to leave a lot of open space, no one seems to do 3 player systems, and four players might be too crowded.  Obviously some cons to 3 or 4 players is more money.

The dimensions of the panel are as follows
45” L X 18 1/2” W , though it was 17in wide when I measured it.

They offered a four player setup that was only a couple inches larger in each direction.

See it here


I did keep the trackball and two of the 8-way joysticks.

Both of the above setups were too crowded for my tastes.  I'd like a clean look with functionality as well.

If you guys can help me figure out the setup, I have a whole 'nother list of questions about what parts to buy.

I would appreciate any help!

[AzureKnight]

I think you are stumped because you are focusing on the answer instead of the questions.  Figure out your needs/desires first, then try to solve those.

1)  How many people will regularly play on the cab?  Is more than 2 important to you?  Is 4? - you can fit 4 players on that size, my cp is 42" and is four players.
2)  What games do you want to play, is a four way important?  Trackball?  Spinner?  Dual joystick support?  Trigger Joystick support?  You have a lot of controls already, do you need or want them all?

Once you know how many players and what games you can then decide which games are the most important.  If Golden Tee is your favorite game ever then you want a lot of room around the trackball.  If however the only trackball game you play is Rampart, then maybe it doesn't need as much room.  Etc...

[yotsuya]

Either do 2 players or 4 players.

[Saneless]

I personally went with 4 players simply because it wasn't that much smaller with 2 and based on my cabinet width of 30", having it be 46" was only a slight bumpout on each side.

You can make more room by eliminating the probably never gonna be used 5-7 buttons on the 3 and 4p spots.  Move the stick over instead and keep what is now in button position 2,3,5,6. (1-3 top row, 4-6 second row).

Is the top stick a 4 way?  It has issues here.  1, that's not a good stick for 4 ways.  2, that button below it is in a terrible spot.  Even if you disable it your hand will be on it constantly and will be beyond annoying.  It looks like it's just there to handle some symmetrical OCDs but isn't thought of functionally.  Plus that's just an awfully long way to reach.

[skanndelus]

I had the set up in the top photo.

I didn't even consider that I wouldn't need all the buttons for players 3 and 4.  That solves a lot of issues.

There will probably only be one player, sometimes two, rarely 3, and rarely or never 4, but that isn't a reason to not make it four players I don't think. 

I don't think I'll need a spinner or trigger joysticks.  I'd like to keep the trackball for games and to use as a mouse.

Is there a 4 player template I can use?

[Yenome]

for four players people will suggest player one and two with 6 buttons and 3 and 4 with 4 buttons. just make sure you have the 3 and 4 player joystick with up vertical to the screen.

[AzureKnight]

The trackball and spinner do not need their own buttons either.  You can just use P1 or P2 buttons when playing one of those games.

[skanndelus]

Ok, I threw this together in Photoshop

What do you think of the button spacing and placement?

Am I missing any buttons?

I used the SlagCoin placements.

Any suggestions?

[yotsuya]

I like how you push the dude's bellybutton to coin up the game for P3.

[Malenko]

here is how I did my 4 player layout, only thing I'd change would be to move the player 4 buttons up and over a bit

[AzureKnight]

Be careful of the edges. P3 joystick looks a bit close and P4 buttons might  be too.  Keen in mind that you may have some CP overhang compared to the "box" below it.  Which also means you have to account for the sides of the box.  Depending on the joystick you buy you will have some footprint for it's mounting base.

Basically, make sure you are thinking about what is happening below the CP as well as above it.

Also, what are those two button below the trackball for?  They also seem close to the edge and I can't imagine you could use those and the trackball at the same time?

If you like Golden Tee you will also hear people say that you will crash your hand into your spinner if you put it there.  I don't like golf games so I wouldn't know if that is true or not, just repeating an oft heard statement.

[skanndelus]

here is how I did my 4 player layout, only thing I'd change would be to move the player 4 buttons up and over a bit

closer to the joysticks?  yeah i guess the spacing isn't as important for them

[yotsuya]

One thing on your art there --- Wolverine is outlined with a white line, but none of the other characters are.

[AzureKnight]

One thing on your art there --- Wolverine is outlined with a white line, but none of the other characters are.

Thanks yots...now that is all I see.... 

[yotsuya]

One thing on your art there --- Wolverine is outlined with a white line, but none of the other characters are.

Thanks yots...now that is all I see.... 

The mining lamp on top of the Hulk's head is what jumps out at me.

[horizon]

Who is uppercutting Spidey?  Juggernaut?  I'd remove that personally.

[yotsuya]

Who is uppercutting Spidey?  Juggernaut?  I'd remove that personally.

Who's the female cop with the Player 2 eyeball?

[horizon]

Chick from Virtua Cop 2, maybe?

I couldn't think of another game, and googled, found one called undercover cops that had a female in it, but the art isnt like that.

[AzureKnight]

Who is uppercutting Spidey?  Juggernaut?  I'd remove that personally.

Ironman?  It looks like there is someone cut off on the other side too...

[skanndelus]

Be careful of the edges. P3 joystick looks a bit close and P4 buttons might  be too.  Keen in mind that you may have some CP overhang compared to the "box" below it.  Which also means you have to account for the sides of the box.  Depending on the joystick you buy you will have some footprint for it's mounting base.

Basically, make sure you are thinking about what is happening below the CP as well as above it.

Also, what are those two button below the trackball for?  They also seem close to the edge and I can't imagine you could use those and the trackball at the same time?

If you like Golden Tee you will also hear people say that you will crash your hand into your spinner if you put it there.  I don't like golf games so I wouldn't know if that is true or not, just repeating an oft heard statement.

If I remove some of the space between the P3 and P4 buttons and joysticks then I should be OK on room. The buttons below the trackball, I was thinking, would be if I use it as a mouse as well.

Any suggestions on where to buy this stuff?
Will also need an I-pac type board with enough inputs. I'm in the US.

[skanndelus]

I'm less focused on the artwork, that can be changed.

[horizon]

I would put the buttons above.  Who wants to accidentally right click when playing golden tee?

Other than that, purely from a stand point of layout, I dont see anything I would change if I choose that concept.

Should totally let us know who the characters are though.

[AzureKnight]

In terms of spacing/layout the only other thing that jumps out at me is that you moved the player/coin buttons much closer to the actual controls.  That seems to be something not commonly done, what was your reason for doing so? 

Any worries that people will be hitting them instead of their actual buttons when they get excited and start button mashing?  If you do use an IPac and keep the admin functions turned on that could possibly be an issue.

[Saneless]

You'll definitely hit the spinner on games Luke Golden Tee.  More importantly though you're wrist will be resting on the ball while you use the spinner.

I'd move it more to the side to take care of both problems. If symmetry is a must make its equal on the other side a button.

[skanndelus]

I made an error on the dimensions of the area that can actually have controls. I'll get back to you guys with another mock up, and take all of your comments into consideration!

[skanndelus]

Should all the joysticks be 8 way?

Should the sides just be 4 way?

[Saneless]

8.  Maybe switchable for player 1.

Also I bought everything from ultimarc (trackball, ipac, wiring kit), and groovygamegear (sticks, buttons, leaf switches, spinner).

[Yenome]

Who is uppercutting Spidey?  Juggernaut?  I'd remove that personally.

Who's the female cop with the Player 2 eyeball?

I almost want to say its jill valentine from RE haha

[skanndelus]

Ok, I reworked it to account for the edges.

Let me know what you guys think, and if you have any more suggestions.

Don't mind the artwork, I'm going for a Marvel vs. Capcom theme, does anyone suggest any different artwork?



Also, I have 4 kind of mix and match joysticks, and maybe some of you can tell me if I can make them work for this.

I believe I have these

1x http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-0346-00 with replaced knob
2x http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-8000-10?SS=ON but it looks like they have 4 way plates, can I get different plates? Can I replace the metal rod and knobs?
1x what I believe to be this http://na.suzohapp.com/all_catalogs/joysticks/50-7608-160, with replaced knob, but also seems to have a 4 way plate, maybe it's this version? http://na.suzohapp.com/all_catalogs/joysticks/50-7604-160

I'd like to make them all 8 way and change the knobs if possible.

If you don't think it's possible let me know which ones you suggest I replace and with what.

Thanks!

[skanndelus]

Who is uppercutting Spidey?  Juggernaut?  I'd remove that personally.

Iron Man

[Saneless]

Nicer artwork. But those buttons around the spinner. The one you want to press will be too close. The other your spinner hand will hit constantly.

[skanndelus]

Nicer artwork. But those buttons around the spinner. The one you want to press will be too close. The other your spinner hand will hit constantly.

Thanks I didn't think of that.

Any idea on the joysticks?

Any low to mid range buttons you can recommend?

To get LED buttons or to not...

[Saneless]

Joysticks have a million conditions and preferences.  Everyone will tell you something different, I'd suggest scouring the forums for posts.  I read about everything I could find over the last 5 years and got a good feel for it.  Ultimately I went with the Happ Competitions for now.  They're cheap ($9), familiar (in American arcades), and got me started.  I figured I could always trade up later.  I probably will, since they're average at best sticks.

As for buttons, I got mine from GroovyGameGear.com and went with the ClassX and True Leaf switches.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=359

Buttons (2.10) + switch (1.50) added up pretty quick.

But the Arcade Prime buttons at $1.20 with the standard microswitches are nicer than most places' standard buttons.  Probably the best value I've seen.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=347

I've gotten switches from other places that were loud and tough but the basic models from GGG are actually really nice.

[skanndelus]

Joysticks have a million conditions and preferences.  Everyone will tell you something different, I'd suggest scouring the forums for posts.  I read about everything I could find over the last 5 years and got a good feel for it.  Ultimately I went with the Happ Competitions for now.  They're cheap ($9), familiar (in American arcades), and got me started.  I figured I could always trade up later.  I probably will, since they're average at best sticks.

As for buttons, I got mine from GroovyGameGear.com and went with the ClassX and True Leaf switches.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=359

Buttons (2.10) + switch (1.50) added up pretty quick.

But the Arcade Prime buttons at $1.20 with the standard microswitches are nicer than most places' standard buttons.  Probably the best value I've seen.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=347

I've gotten switches from other places that were loud and tough but the basic models from GGG are actually really nice.

Thanks! I actually have 4 sticks, and listed them above. Just trying to figure out if I can make them 8 way, if they already are, if I can buy different posts and knobs for them.

[horizon]

I went with the GoldLeaf buttons and the Happ competitions as well.  I am about at the same area, but instead of PS, I used cardboard to mock it all up.  Might be worth grabbing some cardboard to see how it feels.  Might change your mind on the design aspects.

[skanndelus]

Also, I have 4 kind of mix and match joysticks, and maybe some of you can tell me if I can make them work for this.

I believe I have these

1x http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-0346-00 with replaced knob
2x http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-8000-10?SS=ON but it looks like they have 4 way plates, can I get different plates? Can I replace the metal rod and knobs?
1x what I believe to be this http://na.suzohapp.com/all_catalogs/joysticks/50-7608-160, with replaced knob, but also seems to have a 4 way plate, maybe it's this version? http://na.suzohapp.com/all_catalogs/joysticks/50-7604-160

I'd like to make them all 8 way and change the knobs if possible.

If you don't think it's possible let me know which ones you suggest I replace and with what.

[skanndelus]

Who has the Competition sticks for 9 bucks?

[AzureKnight]

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=287

[DeLuSioNal29]

Where are you located?  I'm downgrading to a smaller panel and my quad panel blank is for sale.  It has a cutout for the flight stick but since you're changing the overlay you can easily cover that up.  PM me, I can also throw in the comps and buttons.



DeLuSioNaL29

[clok]

Only thing i see is Player 3 (first joystick on left) is angled.. NO SMASH TV/ROBOTRON games with it like that if you play 2 player- 2 stick games. Its so dang hard to get a good layout when you "want it all". My panel which I built in 98-99? when this whole cab(MAME) thing was pretty new, this page had 13 examples when I put mine up (long gone now) Frankenpanel it was (and still is). I wanted 4 player, but so i could use them for Smash TV (2 player rocks).. I originally had them angled a bit to make more room, but people pointed that out to me back then.  I'm 99% happy withmine except one thing you did do Player 3124, Mine is 1324. other wise mine looks pretty much like a cross between your first two pictures.. lower shape, upper layout (with a few more things).