Control panel Idea and feedback

[speedbal]

I have been on the fence about building a cabinet now for about 2 months and I have decided to take the plunge.  Of course (as you all know) this means I need a cabinet/control panel design.   I have decided to use Lucid's plans (with a few modifications) for the cabinet.  All that is remaining is to decide on the control panel layout.  Here is my first attempt at a layout (38"x 15"):

1st question:  What do you think? Where can I improve?

Some notes about the layout:  I like things symmetrical (or at least as close as possible to being symmetrical).  My first control panel will be a 2 player one (with me probably building a 4 player one after the fact).  In this control panel I would like to have the ability to play the most games possible with the most comfort.  This is my attempt at that.  The player 3 and 4 buttons on the left-hand side will probably just be white buttons (or maybe another set of player 1 and 2).  The 3 black buttons below the player buttons are for "credit", Escape, Pause, or whatever I feel like making.  

Now to the 2nd question:  How many "system" buttons does a control panel need?

More notes:  The joystick just left of center on the top I would like to be either a dedicated 4-way or a 4/8way with the switch on top (don't remember the website I saw those on) (with a top fire button??).  The buttons to the right of this joystick will be for the 4/8way joystick or the spinner (if possible).  Below these items is a 3" trackball.  I plan on using this for my mouse and whatever track ball games are available.  The 3 buttons above the trackball are the mouse buttons.

Now to the 3rd question:  Does the track ball need the 3 buttons if you plan on using it for a mouse?  (I like the panel layout much better without the 3 buttons.  If they are needed, are there any other suggestions about where to put them.

Final notes:  The remaining items on the control panel should be readily identifiable.  This is a typical 2 player setup (from what I have seen).  I have also taken not to move them up on the control panel to give the palms of your hand a chance to rest on the flat part of the control panel.  The joysticks will probably be 8way.

Please let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have will be greatly appreciated.

[TalkingOctopus]

First off, based on the pic, I don't understand your 4 player plans.

Now to the 3rd question:  Does the track ball need the 3 buttons if you plan on using it for a mouse?  (I like the panel layout much better without the 3 buttons.  If they are needed, are there any other suggestions about where to put them.

If you are only using mame, you can eliminate your mouse buttons and just make them normal player buttons.  Mame lets you map the mouse buttons.  Also, I really don't think you need a middle mouse button.

Now to the 2nd question:  How many "system" buttons does a control panel need?

There was a big post about this a while back, however, I could not dig it up.  But you should be fine with credit, pause and escape buttons.  You may consider putting them on the side of the control panel instead of the top.

1st question:  What do you think? Where can I improve?

It is kind of cluttered.  I suggest you make a card board mockup of it and see how it feels.  

You do not need 4 buttons for the 4-way joystick and that is not the optimal layout for the buttons.  I would try to have 3 buttons in a straight line.  

Ideally, you would want the area above the trackball to be clear because while using it you may accidentally hit buttons.

I have made a 4-player cab based on the Lusid plans.

Check out my website:

http://webpages.charter.net/rbecker5/

[paigeoliver]

The only 4-way game that uses more than 2 buttons is "Mouse Trap". It has 4. So it is either 2 buttons, or 4 for the 4-way, nothing uses 3.

Also, that panel could be nearly 10-12" narrower. You could get it down to 28" with those same controls in the same layout. You don't need to cut it down quite that far, but 38" is overwhelming (larger than any real cabs other than showcase ones).

Where you could trim space is to the left and right of each player station. Any space between the station and the edge of the panel is wasted space anyway, and the trackball in the middle already makes a great spacer between the stations, the extra space is not needed.

I would personally chop it down to like 34" by cutting an inch of the extra space on each side of each player station. 32" would be better (the ideal size for an oversized panel is about 32").