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Atari Showcase 33 Cab button and stick replacements
Demo85:
Do you have any opinions on this lay out? I have some 1/4 ply I'm gonna mock up some layouts on to try before I move to the metal for my cab
For my speakers, I want to keep the speakers in the cab. I know that's limiting but it's what I want to do.
Xiaou2:
Dont Do it !!
I once built a control panel with a Curved button layout like that. It was AWFUL.
It looks like it would fit your fingers Ergonomically. However... the problem is.. you dont lay you
hand Flat, when using buttons.
When you type on your Keyboard.. look at your fingers. They are vertically bent downwards at the
first knuckle. Thats why every key is in a straight line.. so you know exactly where they are, even
if your eyes were closed.
When you try to use a Curved button layout on a Control Panel... you end up hitting the edges
of the buttons, instead of the center of each button. Also.. you might even accidentally Miss the
button altogether
You would not save more than any inch of space, by curving buttons. And, you would seriously
regret doing it. Just use the Straight Line rows. Trust me on this.
Many people have made the same Mistake... but they are too proud to rebuild their control panels,
and have suffered for it, as a result.
Xiaou2:
--- Quote ---For my speakers, I want to keep the speakers in the cab. I know that's limiting but it's what I want to do.
--- End quote ---
Nothing wrong with that. You can always transplant drivers from any speakers, into any arcade cabinet.
The sound might be altered because of the larger cabinet size... but thats how most Arcade Machines would have sounded
anyway.
That said... you could also make an internal speaker box, inside of your cabinet.
Or leave a smaller sized speaker in its own box... with the speakers simply mounted behind the speaker grills.
That again, is something you can do live tests with. Test both some music, as well as some actual Arcade games, to
see the differences in how things sound.
Demo85:
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on January 12, 2026, 11:52:59 am ---Dont Do it !!
I once built a control panel with a Curved button layout like that. It was AWFUL.
It looks like it would fit your fingers Ergonomically. However... the problem is.. you dont lay you
hand Flat, when using buttons.
When you type on your Keyboard.. look at your fingers. They are vertically bent downwards at the
first knuckle. Thats why every key is in a straight line.. so you know exactly where they are, even
if your eyes were closed.
When you try to use a Curved button layout on a Control Panel... you end up hitting the edges
of the buttons, instead of the center of each button. Also.. you might even accidentally Miss the
button altogether
You would not save more than any inch of space, by curving buttons. And, you would seriously
regret doing it. Just use the Straight Line rows. Trust me on this.
Many people have made the same Mistake... but they are too proud to rebuild their control panels,
and have suffered for it, as a result.
--- End quote ---
My plan now is to build a box out of scrap with easy change deck (or whatever you call the top) to try a few patterns out before I try anything with the metal on my cabinet. Not even worried about saving space since the Atari Showcase 33 has such a large playfield. Waiting for the buttons and sticks (yes I bought a few to test) to build it. Also just had a melt down over my printer not printing so now i'm waiting on a new printer as well lol.
Xiaou2:
I have a Theory why certain Japanese cabinets used Curved buttons.
Their cabinets likely needed more control panel space for each players arms
Also.. as far as Ive seen... their buttons are either Flat Topped, or Convex (raised bump)
(I personally hate flat or raised buttons. Convex is so much nicer feeling)
Being flat topped would make it less of a problem to press a buttons anywhere on its surface, rather than its center
Add to that, micro-switches that take less activation force.. might allow them to lay their hands flat, while playing
(I cant confirm this, because Ive only owned a Japanese stick.. not their buttons)
But even if all that is true... its still vastly inferior to simply bending your fingers vertically over the buttons...
because you get a superior mechanical advantage. Better strength, speed, and better control.
Again, you never lay your fingers flat, when typing on your keyboard
Another thing that partially may have effected Japanese Cabinets... is that they are Sit Downs. The problem with
a sit down fighting cabinet... is that if you are too short, your hands/wrists might be strained, trying to angle them
upwards on the Control Panel. This is why most US Standing Arcade cabinets have a slight Angle on the Control
panel... to allow people of shorter heights (children), to be able to reach the controls with comfort.. rather than
their forearms being scraped on the sharp front edge of the cabinet.
But As said... even if you were to use all Japanese buttons / parts... Id still recommend using a Straight Line
alignment. Its simply easier to tell where the buttons are, without accidentally hitting the wrong button...
and you get better strength, speed, and control, with slightly bent fingers.
Ohh, and As Ive said before... if you are not planning to use Japanese parts.. you can use wood for the control
panel.. rather than having to have a new metal part cut + drilled. This also means, if you wish to change / remake
a control panel... its that much easier. No need to ever cut metal again.
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