CP/Marquee help, Information OVERLOAD suggestions please!!

[Arcadiac]

I gott admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed.  I've started a cab project

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=17788

and while waiting for my I-pac and t-molding I have been considering the many different CP layouts and am thinking that putting as many buttons/trackballs/spinners as some of you have would for me be a bit of overkill.  I would like to possibly stick with the metal Cp that came with the cab, using some updated (as necessary) controls including perhaps some additional items.

My questions are:  
How many buttons, possible layout using the ones already placed.  
4/8 way switchable sticks?  
Is a trackball really supported by many games as to make it necessary?
Spinners?
What kind of general layout would give me the most use?
Restore/modify or replace CP?  What is available for this Atari cab?
How can I design/resize/print a marquee/sideart without spending $700 for Illustrator?

BTW, I would prefer a classic/retro look for my cab artwork and would possibly name it ARCADIAC

Help Me Please!!
Brain Hurts!!

Thanks bunches, Arcadiac

[patrickl]

My questions are:  
How many buttons, possible layout using the ones already placed.  

You better first start playing with mame to figure out which games you like best. If you only want to play the classic 4-ways then a single joystick and 2 buttons (apart from coin and player start buttons) would get you a lot of milage. If you have friends (or are thinking of acquiring some with your new deluxe cab ) two sticks would be fun since you could play some games together. If you like fighters you needs lotsa buttons

4/8 way switchable sticks?  

Yes. Get the Ultimarc T-Stick plus (and go for the balltop handle).

Is a trackball really supported by many games as to make it necessary?
Spinners?

Again see which games you like. If you want all that on such a small CP area then you should think about using some form of replacable panels. Look at Stingray's cab (it's on he Project Announcements). He also did a cool cab with retro looks and a "smallish" metal CP using a gutted cab.

How can I design/resize/print a marquee/sideart without spending $700 for Illustrator?

Illustrator is free to try out for 30 days

[JoyMonkey]

The trackball does come in useful, you can use it for spinner games too. How about something like this:



It's been working out pretty good for me, I rarely use the fourth fire button; but it's there just in-case. It's only 22" wide, an extra inch either side might have been a little more practical.

[kldavis]

Whoa!  That's exactly what I need!  Could I pay you to make a replacement metal control panel for me, with holes but without controls?  I have a street fighter control panel right now that looks like this...

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/10/1067369067.jpg

I want to cut the number of buttons per player down to 4 each and make room for a trackball, but I basically need exactly the same shape and size metal panel so it fits my cabinet and I know nothing about metal work.

[Arcadiac]

Thanks for the ideas, please keep 'em coming!

patrickl: I have tried many of the MAME emulated games and I like a lot of them from old-school to the newer fighters.  I may need more buttons for Neo-Geo/Capcom games.  For this first timer's cab I'll probably stick with 1 player mode although I really like the cp example that JoyMonkey posted below a lot.
4/8 ways from Ultimarc with balltops look good to me, gotta have that Pacman action!
Replaceable panels may be the way to go, except for the expense and my lack of wiring experience.
This thing has already gotten out of hand!
Illustrator is also, unfortunately over 100 MB download, I only have dial-up so I can't tie up my line that long.  I have VERY basic drafting/design experience (from over 25 yrs. ago, high school!) and usually use M$ Publisher when I need a print project.  I tried Poster 7 but couldn't get the printing right.  I may just go for a pre-printed Marquee and other art.  Any suggestions?

JoyMonkey:  What type of sticks are those?  I assume that the button on top would be a useful firing button for Afterburner and similar games?
You are obviously using a metal CP, steel or aluminum?  Do you do work for others (for hire of course)? Adding 2 more buttons (for fighters) would be a stretch wouldn't it?  I have  23 1/2 X 6 inches to work with.  Also have 3" on the front edge and about 3" on the bottom side as the cp is rolled steel in a kind of C-shape.  Its an Atari cab.  Are sid ebuttons for pinball emulation possible on the sides of the cab itself?  Which pinball emulator would use them?

Thanks again for all of your help, I really appreciate it!  Arcadiac

[Arcadiac]

Found a good resouce for plotting out different CP Layouts:

http://www.move360media.com/mame/icpd/Launch.htm

Used ICPD, screen capture and M$ picture it to come up with this scheme, tell me what you think.  Left some of the buttons move to the front of the panel to give more space on top but its still crowded.  LMK what y'all think of the layout.  Thanks! Arcadiac

[JoyMonkey]

Take a look at this thread. In the middle of the thread I posted a drawing of the same panel with a 6 button layout. I ended up using plain old 1/8" aluminum.

The sticks are Wico top-fires (manufactured by STC). RandyT also sells them here.

Sorry, I can't make any CPs for people. I was lucky that my boss let me use the CNC machine for my own CP, he's pretty touchy about using it for non-work related stuff and I'm sure it'd cost a fortune to have the same thing done. If you had a good hole saw and some .090 aluminum you could probably do it by hand.

I've been using CorelDraw for layouts,  it's simple to use and works well with the CNC machine's software. You should be able to find an old version on eBay for pretty cheap.