Opinions on Control Panel Layout?

[2600]

I am really begining to loathe this part of the process.   Maybe those with controls or opinions can help me out a bit.  

The 1st and 2nd player are eight ways(P360), the joystick to the right of P1 is a 4 way(Eventually Tstick Plus).   The joystick at the top is a top firebutton.  And the Spinner is above P1.  It's a bit more cluttered then I originally had planned, but just found out I should have the top firebutton and acess to the spinner for Ikari and of course Tron, etc.  So I really think I will only be using that with my right hand,  unless there are some other things I am missing.  I've got this setup using Cardboard, but I still don't know.

So what do you all think?  Is it doable?  Uncomfortable?  Or am I out of my damn mind?

Thanks

[shmokes]

Well...I think you've got a bunch of extra buttons that can go, to free up some space.  Pretty much all of the buttons above the trackball can go.  You don't need the three directly above the trackball.  Just use the bottome three buttons from the player-1 or player-2 Street Fighter layout as your missle command/right,left,middle mouse buttons.  The other four, if they are 1player/2 player start buttons they can be moved to the corners.  If they are specifically for that top-fire joystick, once again, there's no need for them.  Just use the buttons in the 6-cluster Street Fighter layout.  That would free up some space to move the spinner over there, or to move the topfire stick over there and move the trackball a bit to the left.

[2600]

Well...I think you've got a bunch of extra buttons that can go, to free up some space.  Pretty much all of the buttons above the trackball can go.  You don't need the three directly above the trackball.  Just use the bottome three buttons from the player-1 or player-2 Street Fighter layout as your missle command/right,left,middle mouse buttons.  The other four, if they are 1player/2 player start buttons they can be moved to the corners.  If they are specifically for that top-fire joystick, once again, there's no need for them.  Just use the buttons in the 6-cluster Street Fighter layout.  That would free up some space to move the spinner over there, or to move the topfire stick over there and move the trackball a bit to the left.

The 2 buttons next to the Top fire have to stay, I'll have one hand on the spinner and the other on the top fire.  The other two I accidently left in this picture.  If I moved the trackball in the center and the top fire to the right of that, I would hit P2 joystick.  And if I move the spinner over there then I would have to use my left hand on the top fire and would hit the 4 way joystick.  Unless you all are playing Ikari Warriors some other way.

  The ones above the trackball I agree can go.  I only put them there, because I didn't think they were causing any harm, and may be an easier reach for the 4 way if someone wanted the buttons on the right.

Thanks for the input, but still totally unsure.

[alphasqorner]

Here is my layout..  It seems we have just about the same amount of components and I can add just about all of them without it being too crowded or having some components in the way.



I ending up putting the spinner on the top left side (instead of the top right side, as pictured) so that I can add a top-fire joystick(or maybe a tron-style joystick) on the top right, to play those tron games!  

The dimensions are exactly 37 3/4'' x 12''(excluding the triangle edges).  You can download the PSD of my template  here: http://www.alphasqorner.net/projects/alphasqontroller/AQrev3_layout_whole_2.rar
It is a full size pic so at 100%, it is actual size (and it's all in scale).  

This layout leaves a good amount of room underside(for the wiring) as well as on top side(for convenient game playing).

Hehe, I guess we used the same template....

[2600]

Actually, I used your design as a template.  Using yours saved a lot of time, so thank you very much for posting it.  I was having trouble with some of the other templates that are out there for some reason or another.

I see some plusses on your design, but a couple of minuses.  The spinner location in the picture seems to be out of the question, becuase of P2 joysticks being in the way.  The same could be said, for the joystick to the top left and its buttons.  Have you used this design, Is it working for you?

[alphasqorner]

Actually, I used your design as a template.  Using yours saved a lot of time, so thank you very much for posting it.  I was having trouble with some of the other templates that are out there for some reason or another.

Awesome.  Glad I was able to help someone with it!

I see some plusses on your design, but a couple of minuses.  The spinner location in the picture seems to be out of the question, becuase of P2 joysticks being in the way. The same could be said, for the joystick to the top left and its buttons.  Have you used this design, Is it working for you?

I totally understand you on this one.  Couple things to bring up first(new pics have been added to show the revised layout at www.alphasqorner.net -> alphasqontroller):
1)  I ended up switching the spinner control and putting it on the top left side, instead of the top right (for Tron control purposes).  
2) And the double joystick per player(one is an 8-way the other will be an Ikari Warrior style (ls30) joystick) idea was gotten from metalslug's control panel (Thanks metalslug!!!).  It works fine that way.

Anyway, I got the idea for the  location of the spinner from someone else's control panel (I forgot who's)  and took a chance on it.  And, to be honest with you, it's been working like a charm.   With the spacing I put between everything, nothing seems to get in the way.  People who come over( to play with it) don't seem to mind the spinner control's location.


If that's still a problem with you, I originally had the spinner  next to player 1's joystick (where the ikari warrior joystick will be now).


(I added it later so that's why it's not aligned). That worked fine with me, but I wanted to implement ikari joysticks so that's why I re-did my layout.

All in all, i know, it could've been done better, but so far it's working good.  I just wanted to put as much as I could on one layout so that I didnt have to make multiple CPs (yet....)

Good luck with yours!!! and please post it after you're done.  I would like to see it!! Cheers  

[alphasqorner]

I am really begining to loathe this part of the process.   Maybe those with controls or opinions can help me out a bit.  

The 1st and 2nd player are eight ways(P360), the joystick to the right of P1 is a 4 way(Eventually Tstick Plus).   The joystick at the top is a top firebutton.  And the Spinner is above P1.  It's a bit more cluttered then I originally had planned, but just found out I should have the top firebutton and acess to the spinner for Ikari and of course Tron, etc.  So I really think I will only be using that with my right hand,  unless there are some other things I am missing.  I've got this setup using Cardboard, but I still don't know.

So what do you all think?  Is it doable?  Uncomfortable?  Or am I out of my damn mind?

Thanks

BTW, you're layout looks good.  You're "tron section" (spinner and joystick on the top)  looks like P1's controls will not get in the way.  Bringing down P1's and P2's controls a bit would help, IMHO.  Just leave enough for the players to rest there wrists while they play!

 FYI, I have 3 buttons mainly for the trackball because my trackball also comes with 3 mouse buttons in the form of arcade pushbutons (bought from ebay).  That's why I have those 3  buttons below my trackball(the trackball acts as a regular mouse in windows ).

[alphasqorner]

Hehe, one last thing.

With my PSD file, I have made all the components fit with enough room on the underside of the panel board.  Now with the spinner, you may use a different brand (I plan to use a slikstik tornado so I allowed enough room for that exact spinner to be put on my control panel, including the base.).  

Since all you see on the top of the panel is the knob of the spinner, dont forget  that you also have to consider the amount of room the base of the spinner needs and usually that takes up a lot more room underneath (than the knob on top).  

Not sure if I'm clear on this one.....