You can almost stack two controllers vertically next to each other... if you use a small horizontal offset.
This allows them to be much closer to the player (less reaching / more comfort)
Note the green circle, the represents a minimal amount of hand travel... and still does not get close to
the other stick.
Note the wrist and arm positions, in that they do not interfere, nor do they rest on any other controls
Trackball:
- As for the Trackball... centered isnt always best. You have to be careful of a player accidentally slamming
their fingers into a joystick (mainly, the right side stick.. because its too close)
- By offsetting the ball more towards the left side of the CP.. you gain the minimal safe roll distances.
- Nearby buttons are not much of an issue, because they are so low to the CP... that your hand arc tends
to swoop above them.
- Spinners are low enough... that as long as they are just beyond a certain distance, your arm will also
arc way above them. The main issue with collisions.. are the high joystick bats.
Spinners:
Ive inserted three spinners, as a choice of: comfort vs reach vs space
- Extending the right side of the CP, allows for a spinner thats easiest to reach + use with the nearby stick
- Middle spinner, is the 2nd best option... but your arms will be a little cramped if you need to use stick at
same time.
- Left spinner isnt too bad... but your arm might end up resting on the trackball, depending on the angles.
In order to play a game of Tron or Mad Planets.. one would need a Button topped Bat... or maybe a
foot-switch button. The other option is a push-pull spinner... but you will lose some spinner control while
trying to constantly fire. It would NOT work well for TRON, as you have to shoot the MCP at mega speeds.
(You could also use two or three spinners... to play Super Sprint.. and or some other 2p driving / racing games)
EDIT:
One more thing... Id swap out One Button in each players setup, with an Original Leaf-swtich.
Either the button nearest the bottom.. or one of the first buttons nearest the stick.
A true leaf button will allow you to "Feather", and reach much higher rates of fire... without Fatigue.
Feathering = Lightly bounce the contacts.. so that they barely connect and disconnect.. with a very light "Vibration"
(instead of full pressing and fully releasing)
A perfect game to try a real leaf vs standard microswtich on... is Halleys Comet. This game is designed in such a
way that they Expect you to have to shoot at the maximum humanly possible fire rates... in order to be able to
get all of the powerups that are hidden in the rocks.
A lesser example, is Galaga. Galaga isnt nearly as demanding.. as its fire rate is far more limited. BUT... because
you are constantly tapping the button... you will fatigue much quicker when using a microswitch. With a leafswtich,
and feathering... you can play for hours without any fatigue at all.
Though.. because Leafs are not always as accurate.. they are not so good for fighting games. As such, the optimal
use is the bottom most button (your MK run buttons). These are not used that often... and are not as Critical to
precise timing.
Edit 2:
There is one other possible way to Install spinners, while using less space:
- Mount them horizontally, to the Front face of the Base of your controller.
(like Stereo Volume knobs)
Ive not tried this... but I see no reason why it would not work.
Edit 3: Final Notes
As far as Robotron goes... Nothing comes close to real original NOS balltop leafswitch sticks.
Everything else is too slow, or too clunky.
Such sticks are great for other Classic games as well.
BUT... such sticks are not good for fighting games.. as they are not as "Precise".
You would accidentally hit diagonals.. or have trouble getting the diagonals... at the worst possible time.
As such.. its a real problem if you are a purists, that needs the perfect response, to the games you love.
Other than that... Add in
- Analog Pinball Plunger?
- Analog Pinball accelerometer
- Two leaf pinball buttons per CP side (magna-saves + alternate flippers)
- Internal Headphone splitter + dual headphone jacks in the front or sides.
- Possible surround sound speakers, on each side of the base.
- Bass Shakers into the bottom rear of the CP
- Possible Shaker motors interface (from hacked gamepads), with upgraded stronger motors.
- Coin Slot buttons on the front face? (press = insert virtual coin)
- Hand Cooling vent holes, powered by internal fans / blowers
(or air blowed from the rear of the CP, from the top.. using mini blower fans?)