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School Desk Controls
NAH:
I have a school desk cocktail cabinet, yet I have never played on a schooldesk arcade cabinet. The way the controls are usually mounted are so the joysticks point at the player instead of up to the ceiling. I was wondering who has played many schooldesk cabinets and if the controls are uncomfortable. And if they are uncomfortable, do they warrent making a custom CP with a more comfortable angle.
These pictures stolen from:
Ultimate Arcade Machine Mark III
The Cocktail Lounge
NAH:
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Trenchbroom:
I haven't used one in years, but they never seemed to be a big deal to me--perfectly comfortable. Keep in mind that I haven't used a "school desk" cocktail on 8-way games or games that used multiple fire buttons.
I seem to remember a "popeye" style white-topped Nintendo cocktail was very common for all types of games when I was growing up (I remember playing Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Pleaides on that type of cab): it had one Nintendo 4-way and one fire button on each side and that's it. Worked fine for the games of the time.
Trenchbroom:
KLOV's Donkey Kong entry has the table type I remember (black top instead of white though):
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=D&game_id=7610
Minwah:
I have a Galaga cocktail very similar to the Ms PacMan table pictured.
I have to say that even tho it just uses left/right + fire, it is pretty uncomfortable after a while. The left/right is fine, but hitting a button rapidly is tricky - I never know whether to use my thumb or finger...in some quick-fire moments like the bonus levels I actually stand up, rotate sideways and use my forefinger to hit the button.
I think for a 2 or 4-way stick (ie classic games) the directions will be ok, for an 8-way and buttons (especially if >1 is required) it could be a bit uncomfortable/tricky to use.
Personally I do like the look of these type of cocktails tho, including the controls. I don't think the controls would look right the American horizontal way on this type of table (used mainly in Japan + UK I think).