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Modular controls panel discussion
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DougHillman:
Looking through the old posts, I know there's a handful out there.  Who's got 'em?  How're you attaching them?  What are the different layouts you're using on your modular pieces and the panel as a whole?

My cabinet is started (though on hold, as I build a 4-player cab for a friend) and I'm at the point where I need to really finalize my CP plans.  I've planned to go modular all along as I want the CP contained within the sides of the cabinet for that old-school aesthetic, yet I'd still like to be able to play 2-Player and controller specific stuff without it being a jumbled mess.

I'm thinking that some sorta 1/2 turn Dzus type fastener may be the way I attach things.  Should give a good solid mount.  Just gotta figure out what the mounting requirements for them are.  I've never used them on anything other than thin panels like a motorcycle body panel.  


So far, my planned pieces will include:
[*]4  x  4/8 Way sticks
[*]2  x  7 button groups    (Probably will change the layout from the one pictured below)
[*]2  x  trackballs  (likely 2 1/4")
[*]2  x  Track & Field 3-button groupings
[*]1  x  Tron style trigger stick
[*]1  x  Spinner  (This may actually become 2 spinners)
[*]4  x  2" spacers
[*]2  x  1" spacers
[/list]

Possible other modules could include button specific layouts for games such as Defender, Asteroids, etc.   Though I could get away with using the Tron type stick & a regular one, I may go with a matching trigger stick for Battlezone.

Here's a quick 3-D rendering of some layouts possible with the above listed modules.  Total panel width is 30" with the room for the modules being 26" wide.  This may seem a little tight, but I never had trouble playing 2-Player games next to someone at the arcade in the 80's.  Though I'm not quite the same size I was in the 80's, I suppose. :)   I'm gonna lay this out on foam board tonite, if needed I can go a little wider for the modules.

From top to bottom:
[*]2-player general
[*]2-player trackball
[*]Robotron
[*]Track & Field - Centered spinner
[*]Normal 1-Player mode (would be left this way most of the time.)
[/list]




Tilzs:
My biggest concern for you is have you really thought about what games you intend to support on you machine and what is needed for those games. For example you have one with 2 trackballs, there are only a few games that use 2 trackballs at the same time. Also one would really like track and field to have a dedicated cp for that type of game when you'll probably fine one of your other buttons might work out just fine.

SirPoonga:
It looks pretty good.  Having 2 tballs is good.  The point of modular control panels is to support as many games as possible without having a frankenpanel.
DougHillman:

--- Quote from: Tilzs on March 08, 2004, 05:49:37 pm ---My biggest concern for you is have you really thought about what games you intend to support on you machine and what is needed for those games. For example you have one with 2 trackballs, there are only a few games that use 2 trackballs at the same time. Also one would really like track and field to have a dedicated cp for that type of game when you'll probably fine one of your other buttons might work out just fine.



--- End quote ---


Marble Madness dude!  No other reason to build a 2 trac panel, but more than enough incentive to. :)


You obviously didn't grow in the 80's or at least didn't spend much time in arcades playing "Track & Field."  If I don't have the space to place my left hand between the buttons and use one of these



(colored red of course) as a lever so I can run faster, it ain't "Track & Field."


As has already been said, you make modular panels so that you can have more arcade realistic control setups without using a crapload of space and making the thing look beastly.  (IMNSHO)


{Please note that the colors & stuff of the modular panel peices in the rendering are only there to differentiate one from the other while I'm arranging things.  The final product will be covered with vinyl or lexan with a CPO.)




D
Tilzs:
Well you can do what you want. I was in the 80's and know the pencil trick in tnf. The point I was trying to make was to make sure you thought about your cps before you put them all together. I've seen a bunch of people put buttons on things just for the sake of putting buttons. You it seems have thought about it.
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