Couch controls

[clok]

So, what are people using for "couch Controls"? I know a 360 gamepad works, but I'm interested in arcade controls.  I have seen alot of 360's made into arcade panels, and being wireless this seems to be the route to go. but I'm interested in designs, what people did. A big old square box is fine, but I was wondering if anybody has went the extra mile and made it "better". The Old 360 wheel for the Xbox, had a base that formed to your legs, a base like that might be an idea. Again, just looking for some thoughts, ideas on this. I love sitting at my machine and playing but as an OLD man i have the standard Back issues we all do, then add a car accident and mid-evil ways they fixed stuff in the 80's (fuzed a few vertebra ), siting on a easychair or couch is the way to go for me.

[vwalbridge]

What type of games do you play most? Racing? Fighters? Classics? That will help everyone make a suggestion for you.

Also, what kind of viewing angle do you have playing from a couch?

[clok]

I was thinking the standard 6 button setup, maybe a spinner. But that is really the deal,  has anybody come up with something that does a ton and isnt going to feel like a load of bricks? I really have only seen the square shoe box looking stuff. With all the incredible ideas i want to steal from the project area, i was sure somebody had come up with something. I was leaning towards a spinner as Tempest is my favorite game. stick and 6 buttons should cover almost anything that doesn't take a specialized control.. Maybe 2 sticks so i can do some Carnage,Battlezone?  But then do i get into that TOO MUCH area?

Really just looking for ideas, if you could do whatever you wanted for this, what would you do?

[harveybirdman]

You could always go full on transformer....

http://www.eamontales.com/archiveddomesticatedarcades/coffeetable/index.html

Don't go full on transformer

[yotsuya]

You could always go full on transformer....

http://www.eamontales.com/archiveddomesticatedarcades/coffeetable/index.html

Don't go full on transformer

Bideo gamez!!!!

[thomas_surles]

from the title I thought you were going to build controls INTO your couch. now that would be sweet.

[SavannahLion]

There's this thing which won an unofficial award of sorts...

http://gadgetdon.smugmug.com/Video-Games/Arcades/52382_Mudht/1814879_DKD2J#!i=1814879&k=THnq5fm

[mgb]

Have you searched "fight sticks"
That may be more of what you're looking for.
There are many good sources of ideas online for them

[clok]

I was a bit more active here when the Transformer control set was first  linked in the boards. I was pretty keen on it back then, but since have changed my mind. The transformer is still sorta a bolt upright setup. I need something with a BACKREST (not controller, but so i can use backrest of my couch/chair), it sounds lazy, but I just need the support, I am sure I could modify it to come back more but again, I'm leaning towards some kind of lap box. I have been looking at some  (not sure what to call them) eat in bed trays for ideas, but most of them have no need for room under them so they are just legs (no place to put wires/buttons under it).

[PL1]

Amazon search using keywords "bed tray table" brings up some possible options.

If you get one with a lip around the top, you can build a fightstick to fit.

 

"Lap desk" provides more options, including some with a cushioned bottom instead of legs.

 

"Storage lap desk" brings up some like this one.   




Scott

[mgb]

Not particularly sexy but what about the hospital style tray tables that would allow you to sit back with the controls right there.

[vwalbridge]

I love the stuff that 8bitdo has been making. Their controllers are legit and I can personally vouch for the NES30. (They had a booth at E3 this year)

They have 2 arcade joysticks on the bottom of their homepage. However, I think only the FC30 is available in China right now.

I now realize that I've just suggested something you can't readily buy but worth a quick look none the less. 

EDIT: forgot to mention the nice things about their controllers is that they have upgradable firmware and are fully programmable and work great with apps like Xpadder.

[mgb]

I recently looked at those 8bitdo controllers online.
They look cool but the product pics all looked like just very nice renderings. They're real products?

[vwalbridge]

They're real products?

They are real and I own the NES30. Really great controller. Readily available at Amazon

[mgb]

Good to know.

[clok]

Hmm the computer ones look interesting, and believe me I have looked at the hospital bed ones.. that thing, a tv mounted just right, and a lazy boy.. man i might live in it..  Lots of good idea's here I will have to do some brainstorming. Right now I'm in the middle of MAMEing a Final Blow, once thats done I will revisit this.. keep the ideas coming, and thanks!

[jeremymtc]

This is my couch stick. Pretty basic, but it works great and isn't too heavy on the lap.



It was an X-Arcade Solo that I picked up cheap on Craigslist and gutted out. Stick is a Sanwa JLW with a Paradise Arcade adapter plate, buttons are IL, and spinner is GGG Turbo Twist 2. Encoder is XinMo. The overlay is a remnant from a Data East reproduction CPO from GameOnGraphics.