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Author Topic: thoughts about a soon to be constructed cpanel, connections and flexibility  (Read 1947 times)

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reel

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Hi. I'm new here.. this is my first post.

A few months ago i bought a x-arcade two player stick.. It is working but hangs from time to time. probably due to the ps2 port on my computer (it is working other computers).

To make the story short.. I have some other issues with it as well. mostly that it is to small to actually let two people sit right infront of the sticks. I will construct my own system instead.
I will probably buy all parts from ultimarc since they seems to be of very good quality (and andy is very helpful aswell). I have never had easy access to real arcade games so the x-arcade is my first longer usage of a (general) control panel and it has given me some thoughts about construction and feel in different style of games.

After browsing through many designs I'm pretty sure how i want the actual layout and size of my control panel to be but there are some other thougts that i havent figured out fully yet.

When I play fighter games with my friends the long travel of the x-arcade sticks (that are more or less a happ super copy from what i understand) is very nice.

However when I play most or at least many of the other games (mostly in mame) I have come to the conclusion that a shorter travel would make the controls nicer (not a 4/8-way issue) so I might want to build 2 separate panels because of this (and also to be able to play 4 player games). I belive that a stiffer stick might not be as fun playing fighter games but I can be wrong here since I am just guessing. You just have to correct me if I'm wrong :)

I also want the freedom to not have everyting wired up to the ipac and optipac but to be able to make alternative adapters to consoles and other applications.
I have come up with a system that would be like on the attatched image.
I want to be able to have the control panels on a distance from the ipac-optipac box so that 2 panels could be used as a 4 player system.

If I use 3m standard VGA-cables meter cables between the connection box and the control panels that would lead to up to about 300m of total cable length if ALL possible connections are connected. I wonder if that might make certain controller circuits to not be able to give enough power?? I havent calculated on this at all but it shouldt be a problem, or can it be?

Any ideas or suggestions or comments on anything that i have written here is more than welcome?
« Last Edit: December 27, 2003, 10:00:15 pm by reel »

reel

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Re:thoughts about a soon to be constructed cpanel, connections and flexibility
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2003, 08:16:16 pm »
I have read the threads in the FAQ regarding these things and they seem to tell me that I am doing this right but I would be glad to take suggestions anyway!

One thing that I have also thought of is not to use the same type of connection for the optipac and ipac so that i dont connect a joystick to the optipac and send electricity through a button and back to the optipac and by mistake destroy it.

I'm a little unsure about the placement and number of the trackball buttons.. is there any use for more than 3? How should they be aligned and positioned relative to the trackball?

Just a little more explanation of the picture:
the color-bars on the middle of the picture is referring to the color-markings on the panels below (might not be obvious).
Each color represents a own DSUB connector cable.

« Last Edit: December 27, 2003, 08:49:15 pm by reel »

Sasquatch!

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Re:thoughts about a soon to be constructed cpanel, connections and flexibility
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2003, 12:33:31 am »
Suggestion #1: GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY dude, that image that you attached is HUGE.  I can't read your thread without maximizing my browser window, and I'm at 1280x1024.  Shrink that bad boy down, please!

Okay, okay...on to your real questions.  ;)

So you want to have the IPAC in a separate box from your control panels right?  I don't see that wouldn't be doable.  I have no idea if there's a limit to how long the cabling can be before the signal degrades though.  Maybe Andy can field this one?

reel

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Re:thoughts about a soon to be constructed cpanel, connections and flexibility
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2003, 05:32:52 am »
About the cable length.. i just got an email from andy about it. I will paste it here if anyone wants to know this in the future (didnt find any post on the board about it).
I will post my results later on as well. I could always use shorter cables between the cp and the controlbox when using trackballs.. Time will tell.

"The I-PAC should be OK. The Opti-PAC it's difficult to say. It depends on
what type of controls you are using. The Happ trackball should be fine as
this has driver chips on the boards. Our trackball I would not guarantee but
would be about 75% sure it would work.

I think it's worth a try anyway.
"
« Last Edit: December 28, 2003, 05:46:00 am by reel »

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Re:thoughts about a soon to be constructed cpanel, connections and flexibility
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2003, 10:37:22 am »
Hi. I'm new here.. this is my first post.
Welcome aboard!
Quote
I will probably buy all parts from ultimarc since they seems to be of very good quality (and andy is very helpful aswell). I have never had easy access to real arcade games so the x-arcade is my first longer usage of a (general) control panel and it has given me some thoughts about construction and feel in different style of games.
There is also the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com, but since your graphic mentions USB and I take it you're not sure of your PS/2 port, the I-PAC might be a better choice.
Quote
When I play fighter games with my friends the long travel of the x-arcade sticks (that are more or less a happ super copy from what i understand) is very nice.

However when I play most or at least many of the other games (mostly in mame) I have come to the conclusion that a shorter travel would make the controls nicer (not a 4/8-way issue) so I might want to build 2 separate panels because of this (and also to be able to play 4 player games). I belive that a stiffer stick might not be as fun playing fighter games but I can be wrong here since I am just guessing. You just have to correct me if I'm wrong :)
I don't play fighters.  Short travel is much better for older games like Pac-Man.  I will try the Omni-Stik Prodigy from www.groovygamegear.com, (short travel, medium spring) but won't have much to compare it to other than it should work tons better than my $2 analog PC gameport joystick.

YMMV.

Of the Other sticks, basically it's
Happ Super - Long travel, light spring, circular motion.
Happ Comp - Long travel, light spring, defined diagonals.
Happ Ultimate - Avoid
Omni-Stik, Euro-Stik - Short travel, medium spring
T-Stik - Shorter travel than Omni-Stik, stiff spring
J-Stik - long travel, light spring

 (I'm not sure I would want a longer throw on my P1 and P2 sticks than P3 and P4, b/c it makes the third and fourth players at an advantage/disadvantage.)  Depends how often you play 4-player games, though.
Quote
I also want the freedom to not have everyting wired up to the ipac and optipac but to be able to make alternative adapters to consoles and other applications.
I think the only concern here is you don't want the system to be connected to BOTH the console and the I-PAC at the same time.
Quote
I have come up with a system that would be like on the attatched image.
I want to be able to have the control panels on a distance from the ipac-optipac box so that 2 panels could be used as a 4 player system.
I eventually plan to do something similar.
Quote
If I use 3m standard VGA-cables meter cables . . .
This will work, but you can get DB25 10' cables for $1 or $2 each on www.pricewatch.com.  Look for RS-232 extension cables.  Much cheaper.
Quote
. . . between the connection box and the control panels that would lead to up to about 300m of total cable length if ALL possible connections are connected. I wonder if that might make certain controller circuits to not be able to give enough power?? I havent calculated on this at all but it shouldt be a problem, or can it be?
No problems, each individual circuit is going through the 10 meter length.  The fact that you have 28 paralled DC circuits has no impact.
Quote
Any ideas or suggestions or comments on anything that i have written here is more than welcome?
Post back if you have more questions.
It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go. - R. Travis.
When all is said and done, generally much more is SAID than DONE.