Control Panel Hardware Check and Artwork

[higinbotham]

Hey All,

Sorry I have been asking a bunch of questions lately.  I am about to pull the trigger (over the next week or so) on the control panel equipment and just wanted to do a hardware check to make sure I am not missing anything or that I am not purchasing something by mistake (Wow this hobby costs some money).  I am building a ripoff of Chances popular Flynn build with Jarretts "aircraft carrier" control panel.  I also borrowed some graphic design ideas from Scoodidabop  .

Here is a snip of the CP with art. Its not a clean look (just random characters) but my young son had some input and I like it - suggestions welcome.  The image is a snip off a powerpoint image so not full res and I accidentally left the old button locations turned on. If anyone is interested I can post the panel art.  Still working on the Marquee.


Control Sticks:
2 - UltraStik 360 Ball Top with USB cable (Ultimarc)
2 - J-Stik Ball Top (Ultimarc)
4 - Long Handle Shafts and hard springs(Ultimarc)
4 - Joystick Mounting Kits (5mm) (Ultimarc)
8 - Tropical Mood Light RGB 5v LED (Paradise)

Buttons:
34 - IL-PSL-L Translucent Buttons - Black Plunger (2 extra for volume control on side) (Paradise)
4 - IL-PSL-L TranslucentPlayer Buttons - Black Plunger (Paradise)
38 - IL-IlluminationRGB 5VDC LED (Paradise - not in stock but will order when available)

Trackball:
U-TRAK FlushMount Arcade Trackball (pearl) (Ultimarc)
U-Trak RGB LED Illumination Kit (Ultimarc)

Control Interface:
I-PAC 4 (Ultimarc) (Players 1-4 joysticks and buttons) (I wanted to go with the IPAC ultimate but I have to many inputs for it)
2 - PACLED64 (Ultimarc) (LEDs)

Additional
2 - neutrik USB housings for front I/O panel for future guns
LEDBlinky
4 Player Coin Door (Twisted Quarter - Already Purchased)

So a couple questions -
Am I missing anything key? 

Is the IPAC4 and two PACLED64s a reasonable option for the control interface and LEDs (is there a simpler option out there without reducing buttons)?

Any tips on wiring a clean CP?

Thanks everyone for all the help thus far.  This board is a goldmine of information with many of you helping me without even knowing it.

[Scotty_C]

Having done a clone of flynn's as well, I think you're off to a great start. Personally I went with 2 Ultimarc UIOs. Are you going expand your RGB to everything in the future? Joysticks/Joystick holes + marquee + ground effects(if you're doing those) If so 2 PACLED64's will not be enough

For a clean CP check out my electrocade build thread   Wire everything up nice and sleeve it! TONS of work but looks great. At a minimum cut everything to length and zip/tie it real clean

[higinbotham]

Scotty I dont know how I have not come across your Electrocade build page in all my time spent on this site.  It was extremely helpful (good looking machine).  On Ultimarcs page it lists the IPAC2/4 as compatible but not the Ultimate so I decided against it.  Now that I see you got it working, I went with two UIOs.  It seems like it will be the simpler option and handle all the LEDs. Thanks for posting your parts list BTW.  It is also very helpful.  Your wiring job was top notch.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[Lucky S.O.B.]

Love the artwork... I have a similar CP layout as you, I hope my artwork turns out as nice.

The only thing I could see being an issue is the angling of player 3/4, you will see the holy war of angled joysticks for players 3 and 4. Make sure up is always up not relative to the angle of the player controls

[PL1]

The only thing I could see being an issue is the angling of player 3/4, you will see the holy war of angled joysticks for players 3 and 4. Make sure up is always up not relative to the angle of the player controls

Most of the infidels have already seen the light and repented.   

Green = good.  Red = bad.



https://web.archive.org/web/20160809113045/http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Orientation


Scott

[higinbotham]

Thanks for the help Lucky and PL1. I am green on all four player joystcks (up is toward the screen, no angle).

I did have another question. I received all my equipment from ultimarc but was not able to order from paradise yet as the leds are out of stock. Anyway, now i am starting to look at the spectra eclipse with the rgb led. Has anyone used these before? I have googled and searched the forums but have only found one image of a single color 12v led on the spectra eclipse. On GGG it says he uses a custom version of the helio9 5v led for the rgb but have found zero images. If anyone has any experience with these or has an image and would be willing to share that would be awesome. I just want to make sure they look reasonably bright under various light conditions and see if anyone has dealt with them. I will be using them with 2 Pac ultimate.

Thanks

[paigeoliver]

Your control panel art is almost all console, not arcade. Pixel art should never be mixed with line art, so those ducks have to go, plus you probably don't have a light gun anyway. Is that Anime looking guy even from a video game? The Bubble Bobble character is way out of place, being far off in both scale and style as to what the rest of the art is doing.

For overall style reasons, I would drop Donkey Kong, the ducks, the anime guy, Bubble Bobble and the battletoad. Then rearrange the remaining characters (who are all drawn in at least somewhat similar styles), across the remainder of the panel. Leave the Star Wars stuff, it is a nice hint that there is more out there.

I have never liked that panel shape, it is great at jabbing people in the stomach but otherwise doesn't accomplish anything more than what a curve would.

[KenToad]

For the most part, I agree with paigeoliver's criticisms. Stylistic consistency would help. I do know who "that Anime looking guy" is, though. 

Also, I don't love the shape of the CP. I prefer a cleaner look, but those notches do lend themselves to pinball buttons.

I'm actually in the process of designing my own 4 player CP, so I'll be watching this thread carefully to see what you come up with.

I really like Mario's trackball fireball. Maybe bring Raphael over to left side. I like Ryu Hayabusa peeking out from the corner, too.

[higinbotham]

Thanks for the advice Ken and paigeoliver. It's a little late in the game to change the control panel design as it's already cut with a coat of primer on it  but I can alter the art a bit. I may revamp the entire thing to go with my sideart. My sideart is (for the most part) a good guy vs bad guy theme with each side having mostly hero's or villains from mine or my son's favorite games. I am a bit hesitant to post it now because it's a smorgasbord of different art styles and I am completely new to Photoshop and have zero artistic ability  (but it was fun to learn). I will get a screenshot and post it when I am near my pc.

The anime dude is the main character from chrono trigger, an incredible snes game. Check it out if you are in to rpgs.