Control panel layout for new build

[psxstudio]

Hi,

I've been a long time lurker and never got around to making an arcade cabinet due to kids and work.  Now, boys are getting bit older (10 and and got the okay from wife to build an arcade cabinet.  The arcade cabinet is going to be in the office room and full sized cabinet is not viable.  I'll probably go with pedestal style with old 32" LCD TV mounted on the wall.

I've looked at many great builds on the forum and they are awesome.  I love to do a 4 player control panel but it's too big in the office.  I've decided to go with 2 player (2x8 way joysticks w/ 7 buttons and 1x4 way w/ 3 buttons) layout with Trackball and a spinner (w/ wheel attachment) to play various classic arcade games.  I've designed the control panel on Photoshop using Jarrett's cpanel layout for ideas.  The control panel dimensions are 34x18.  I'm having a hard time deciding where to place the spinner...  I've moved it around with the mock up of steering wheel and best place I've found is the current location on the picture (attached).

Any suggestions/ideas on the control panel layout?  Thanks!

JB

[AzureKnight]

One thing I will comment on is to keep in mind the under side of the CP as well.  Depending on what trackball you buy some of them have a pretty big footprint.  Make sure it is going to fit without hitting the joysticks/buttons around it.

Same thing with those top buttons, the back of the cp box is going to be coming up underneath them and it could  be close (you could also have plenty of room as I'm not seeing this in scale).  I just thought I would point it out.


IMO, your best bet is to buy the components you want, build the cp in cardboard first and get a feel for where it will all be and then finalize the art.  Some people even wire up the demo version.  I didn't do that with mine but I did mock it all in card board and I have to admit I changed the layout 3 times because of it.  I was so glad I did it that way.

[harveybirdman]

Make a list of 25 games you MUST be able to play....  Then design a panel that will play those games.

I mean I get it, you have limited space and you want the most bang for your buck....


However in my opinion there is no way to make a panel with 7 buttons per player and a trackball and a spinner and a 4 way that is going to look even remotely good.

If you keep the Art, loose the logos..

[Fursphere]

Most spinner games can be played with a trackball.

You can get a switching 4/8 joystick to get rid of the dedicated 4 way.  Or use an octagonal restrictor on an 8 way.

[psxstudio]

One thing I will comment on is to keep in mind the under side of the CP as well.  Depending on what trackball you buy some of them have a pretty big footprint.  Make sure it is going to fit without hitting the joysticks/buttons around it.

Same thing with those top buttons, the back of the cp box is going to be coming up underneath them and it could  be close (you could also have plenty of room as I'm not seeing this in scale).  I just thought I would point it out.


IMO, your best bet is to buy the components you want, build the cp in cardboard first and get a feel for where it will all be and then finalize the art.  Some people even wire up the demo version.  I didn't do that with mine but I did mock it all in card board and I have to admit I changed the layout 3 times because of it.  I was so glad I did it that way.

I ordered TT2 and Electric Ice Trackball from GGG w/ the mounting plate.  I got the measurements of the mounting plate and worked around it when placing buttons and joystick.  As for the top of the CP, good point.  I think buttons on the top barely clears the box from underneath.  I like to have bit more room...  Yes, definitely a mock up for the cp... I printed out the B/W copy of cp design from Office Depot, and man... it's huge!  I have few 1/4" MDF laying around from other projects so I'll be using it to make a mock up of the CP.  Thanks.

JB

[psxstudio]

Make a list of 25 games you MUST be able to play....  Then design a panel that will play those games.

I mean I get it, you have limited space and you want the most bang for your buck....


However in my opinion there is no way to make a panel with 7 buttons per player and a trackball and a spinner and a 4 way that is going to look even remotely good.

If you keep the Art, loose the logos..

Yeah, I did make a list of "must" have games...  other than SF, rest of the games in the list would play much much better with a 4 way.  Lose the logos... got it.  I thought it was bit much too.   

JB

[psxstudio]

Most spinner games can be played with a trackball.

You can get a switching 4/8 joystick to get rid of the dedicated 4 way.  Or use an octagonal restrictor on an 8 way.

I see... How well does it play with the trackball?  Yeah, unfortunately due to limited budget, I ordered Sanwa JLF's instead of UltraStick 360.     How is the octagona restrictor with the fighting games like Street Fighter?

JB

[AzureKnight]

Most spinner games can be played with a trackball.

You can get a switching 4/8 joystick to get rid of the dedicated 4 way.  Or use an octagonal restrictor on an 8 way.

I see... How well does it play with the trackball?  Yeah, unfortunately due to limited budget, I ordered Sanwa JLF's instead of UltraStick 360.     How is the octagona restrictor with the fighting games like Street Fighter?

JB

I know that everyone feels differently about joysticks and it is very opinion based.  Personally I am a fan of Street Fighter but by no means a competitive purist, that being said, I would hate the feel with a restrictor but other may feel differently.

[lamprey]

If you want to keep the spinner, I'd move it up in line with, what I presume to be, the 4-way stick and buttons.

[psxstudio]

If you want to keep the spinner, I'd move it up in line with, what I presume to be, the 4-way stick and buttons.

Yeah.  I did a mock up on a cardboard and didn't like the spinner where it was.  I moved it inline with the 4 way and it feels much better.

JB