CP Feedback

[TwicK]

This is my first attempt at designing a control panel and I'm just looking for some feedback. The panel dimensions are 32" x 18". Those are based on the inner most vertical lines, using the middle vertical lines it would be 33" and using the full width it would be 36", but I think I would prefer 32". The part I think could be the biggest problem is the trackball and spinner being too close. I think while using the spinner + 3 buttons to the right it would probably be easy to hit the trackball. The distance between the center of the trackball to the center of the 3 buttons is about 7" so it might be ok.

The buttons on the top 2 corners are coin and player buttons. The cluster of buttons in the middle will be "admin" type buttons top- Enter, F2, F12 bottom- Esc, Tab, `, Pause.

Thanks
Tom

[TalkingOctopus]

Looks fairly good to me.  I think the 32" is fine.  Does the spinner need its own buttons or could you just use 3 from p1 and p2?  

Alot of people don't like more than 2 admin buttons (escape and pause).  However, I put 6 on my cab and am glad that I did.  I like being able to turn up the difficulty, turn down the volume ect...  The only admin button I am missing which you have is F12.  What does that do?

Also, why 8 buttons instead of 7?  Are you planning on using a console?

[Xiaou2]

 One thing I noticed is that your going to hit your hand into the right joystick when trying to trackball with any speed.

 Youd be better to pop it closer to the left side buttons instead.

 Also... maybe think about this:

 Make the trackball and spinner on a seperate panel.  The 2nd panel would be located about 4 inches below the top panel.  The 2nd panel would pull out like a 'Dresser Drawer' and lock into place.

 This would illiminate crowding and clutter.   As it stands... you will quickly tire of the weird and stressfull positioning that will result from your current design.

 

[TwicK]

The spinner/trackball does not *need* its own buttons, but it just seems like it may be easier to use the buttons there while playing a game with the spinner.

I don't think the admin buttons are in the way of anything and my current plan is to not have to use a keyboard for anything. F12 is just used for take a screenshot/snapshot of the game while you are playing. It's not really needed, but I am planning on using a frontend that will display a screenshot for the game you are selecting from the menu, so I figured I should make it fairly easy to take screenshots.

I was unsure if any games used 8 buttons, it does not sound like any do, but I am also considering play several PC games such as EA Sport games like NHL 2002 or Madden football and I'm pretty sure I can find use for 8 buttons in those games.