Quality Control Panel supplies

[JudgeRob]

Hi guys,

I'm doing a first build.  I've been reading through a lot of these threads and I am ready to buy a trackball, 4/8 way switchable sticks and RGB LED buttons.  Where is the best current source for parts?  I was looking at Ultimarc.  Anywhere else I should consider?

Thanks,
JudgeRob

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, JudgeRob.   

There are quite a few good vendors to chose from.

Odds are, you'll order from several of them since many offer unique specialty items.

The main thing is to plan your build before you order to avoid having to place a second order to the same vendor for some small piece that costs a fraction of what it costs to ship it to you.   


Scott

[monkeybomb]

http://www.arcadeemulator.net/ has all the Ultimarc stuff and more.  Shipping direct from Ultimarc is faster, but expensive.

If it's an LED project, you should definitely take a look at www.groovygamegear.com   If memory serves, he really got the whole LED thing going in the hobby and he offers all or most of what you will need.

Tornado Terrys sells through e-bay and they are fast and reliable.  All my orders from them were Happ joysticks and buttons.  http://stores.ebay.com/TORNADO-TERRYS-ARCADE-PARTS-SUPPLY

[JudgeRob]

Hi,

Thanks for the warm welcome and suggestions!

The main thing is to plan your build before you order...

I'm trying to research the components (trackball, sticks, LED buttons and interface) but I'm having trouble finding up to date information.  A lot of it is either really old or spread out all over the place.  Is this information consolidated somewhere?  I've started plowing through the control panel database, but there isn't a whole lot of info comparing the parts.  I feel like I'm missing a sticky thread somewhere... 

My wish list:
Versatile sticks 4/8 way switchable.  I like the idea of motorized switching (if reliable).
LED Buttons
Standard Buttons
Volcano Buttons
Trackball (not sure what size, but I'd like to try and play Golden Tee)
Interface like I-pac4 or keywiz.  Not sure what other options there are or if they are any better...
2-coin door

I guess I could just power through the reviews section if that's my best bet. 

[jtslade]

I had the Ultimarc switchable mag sticks. They were absolute junk. No throw and they chew themselves up.

Stick with a bunch of great 8way sticks from Parsdise Arcade..

Then get one great 4way that is either pacman style (leaf pro) if you like that or donkey kong Nintendo micro switch style..




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[PL1]

The main thing is to plan your build before you order...

Check out the design process here in the FAQ.

Versatile sticks 4/8 way switchable.  I like the idea of motorized switching (if reliable).

Ultimarc makes one variety and, IIRC RandyT from GGG makes another, but you might need to PM him for details.

Trackball (not sure what size, but I'd like to try and play Golden Tee)

3" is the most common size.

Interface like I-pac4 or keywiz.  Not sure what other options there are or if they are any better...

There are lots of options here in the wiki -- many people choose a keyboard-style encoder.

I don't think the Ultimarc Ultimate I/O has been added to the wiki listing yet.

Go through the design process linked at the top of this post to help you pick what games==>controls==>encoder(s) you want/need.


Scott

[JudgeRob]

Cool, thanks for the feedback guys.  The wiki should help a lot; I'll give it a read.

jtslade, you mean like adding a third stick (4-way) somewhere up above the left stick?  Is that where people typically put it?

[jtslade]

It's tough for me to advise because I don't personally like control panels that try to have something for every game and every control scheme.

Two 4 way sticks with a couple of buttons is what you want for Joust and Mario Bros but for almost every other 4 way game it's a switch player game with one joystick (pacman, Galaga, DK, Eyes)

On my cocktail it's a ms pacman so I have pacman style (micro switches I know it's not leaf) joysticks.

On my Horizontal cab it has a neo geo layout and 8 ways from Parsdise..

When I decide to get into vertical shumps, I'll build a vertical cab with a 25" arcade crt, and two 8 way sticks with three buttons. I'll of course match the Gunsmoke button layout cause that is what I like most.. 

If I want to have a trackball setup it will be tough, cause I want to do Golden Tee and Misslle command so the 3" trackball has to be there. But if I want centipede and coors bowling I'll have to put a 2" or so trackball on the vertical cab.

Point I am making is you can not have it all and still provide a control scheme that makes it fun to play, you end up with something that your brain knows is not right. Now if you never play the original arcade game it's not as bad, but really you have to play the original just to be able to figure out if your setup is close or not.




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[JudgeRob]

I hear you.  I'm kind of torn because I want some versatility but don't want it to get to cluttered.  I also don't really want to mess with modular panels.  And I only have room for one cab!

[paigeoliver]

I have never been happy with any of the top switchable sticks.  Guests are always in the wrong mode, they all seem to be based around something I don't think will wear well, and none of the ones I tried were outstanding in either mode. With that said I have shipped all the popular top switching sticks to clients with no complaints.

[jtslade]

1000% to what Paigeoliver said.. I wish when I started my 1st cab I had really thought about what was important to me (crt, arcade resolutions, original as possible appearance, control scheme).

I (and) my wife don't love the fact that the Hyperspin Horizontal Neo Geo cab pretty much needs you to teach every person who walks up how to start a game, select a game, the controls, etc, etc)

While the ms pac cocktail with GA is like 10 seconds I explain how to add credits (or I just leave a pile of quarters as the coin switches both work) and that's it. I don't have to help anyone and can enjoy the party.  The top adjustable mag sticks only added another level of explanation and my assistance every time they switched games.

Btw what cab are you using or are you building something?


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[JudgeRob]

Thanks, everything you guys are saying makes sense.  I was thinking of doing exactly what you did, where I make a cocktail with a very narrow selection of classic 4-way games that will be much more user friendly.  I have ruminated about how to make my first one easy for people to fire up on their own, but I am starting to see how that might not be possible.

For this build I am using OSD's design up in the sticky section.  So, it will be medium size, somewhat shallow.  I don't want it to be a beast, but I would love to have some versatility in terms of playing 8-way, 4-way and trackball games.  But... I also want to get sticks with the best feel!  Even though I don't want to clutter it up too much, I am looking at getting some Dominux 8s and seeing about squeezing a PacPro up on the top somewhere.  Then again, I don't think I will like to "reach" too far to play the 4-way games.  If I can't get it where it feels just right, then I'll probably just put the PacPro in the closet until I build the cocktail.  Someday.... 

jtslade, since you brought up coins... I definitely want an operational coin door.  Any suggestions on a door/mech combination?  As I shop around I am surprised that there are "dummy doors" and so I am confused about which are the real deal.  (and the returns have to be red)