A whole new kind of extended panel.

[paigeoliver]

I have always disliked extended panels for various reaons. Mostly because they poke out past the front of the machine, ruining the profile, and secondly because they usually feature some poorly placed controls.

After a bit of work I was able to get around both issues and do an extended control panel that had the standard SF II layout, 4-way trackball, spinner, and extra bank of buttons without going outside the machine, and without sacrificing the usability of any of the controls.

I do believe this machine might be an actual first in the area of control panels.

Obviously I am not done with this machine yet.

[paigeoliver]

main panel

[paigeoliver]

ANother picture.

[paigeoliver]

Final shot.

This took me all day on monday, and it still isn't wired yet.

Never make the mistake of installing all the controls BEFORE you wire. This is going to take me twice as much time to wire now.

[paigeoliver]

Ok, I forgot to mention what the controls actually are.

Bottom panel. NOS Wico microleafs, long handled.

Top panel.

Ms. Pac/Reunion joystick on handmade mounting plate.

Imperial 3" PS2 trackball, on Happ mounting plate with groovygamegear upgraded encoder wheels installed.

Oscar Vortex spinner with a knob on it!

All the buttons are just sort of sitting there in the holes for now. I haven't actually decided what colors I want to use yet.

[Tiger-Heli]

Great idea Paige, I really like it!

[Buddabing]

This is a nice layout. A few comments:

Don't you want top-fire joysticks if you are going to use a Battlezone cabinet?  

Will your arm clear the bottom left joystick when you are using the top left joystick?

Ergonomic considerations when using top panel...

You don't have any "follow through" room if you want to play Golden Tee on that trackball.

Do Tempest and other spinner games have buttons on the left or on the right?

Nice job so far!

[paigeoliver]

The top panel is raised up the exact height to clear the joysticks on the lower panel. There is no clearance issues there.

The rear panel actually extends the entire depth of the cabinet, you can whack the trackball as hard as you want, and anyway, the real Golden Tee isn't in Mame anyway.

Spinner games vary, most were ambidextrous, I prefer my buttons to the left of my spinner.

As for top fires, well, I haven't decided what to do about that yet, I think I will just have battlezone set up with the built in 8-way hack that is already in Mame.

I was trying to fix EVERY issue when I designed this panel. Every control is in perfect position, nothing is in the way of anything, and you have PLENTY of room behind the trackball.

I actually came quite close to using top fire sticks. I still might, as I do have a pair of them, but they aren't wicos.

EDIT.

It is hard to see in the pictures, but the top panel extends like a foot past the trackball, more room than on a real Golden Tee.

[patrickl]

Isn't the reason why people extend their control panel outside more that a 24" panel is a tad too narrow to have 2 people stand (comfortably) in front of.

[rockhopper]

I hope that crappy looking rubber overlay is just a temporary thing (I'm pretty sure it is). Once you get a real overlay on there it will look sweet.

well done.

[paigeoliver]

About the rubber.

Yeah, it doesn't look too hot. That stuff looks great on small panels, but didn't come out so great on a large complex one. I wasn't happy with it, but I am going to have to do some serious work to use some other sort of material.

So, yeah, I will eventually switch that for something else, but not until well after I finish the machine, and finish all my other projects.

It actually looks better in person than it does in the pictures. The flash makes it look awful, while in person it doesn't look that bad. More than passable, but far from perfect.

[Magnet_Eye]

do believe this machine might be an actual first in the area of control panels.

hehe. have you seen the SUPERCADE?

http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade/

 

[paigeoliver]

Yes, I have seen that one, that is how I got the double decker idea. But what I meant about doing something NEW, was the fact that I extended my control panel INTO the machine, rather than OUT of the machine.

[Spaced Invader]

Great idea,  Paige. I'm gonna have to copy this one...minus the rubber.  

[Goz]

What kind of rubber is that on the CP? Is it the rubber used to cover toolboxes? or carpet runner? Not knocking it, as I can see how it might look good under certain circumstances. Just curiosity as I am working to design a CPO and am looking at all options.

-Goz

[paigeoliver]

It is carpet runner. I have used several different kinds of it in the past. It usually has one texture on one side, and a different texture on the other.

It looks great on completely flat control, doesn't do too well when it has to go around corners. I might cut it into sections and use metal corner trim on the corners on that panel, it will probably look MUCH better then.

[froggerman]

After a bit of work I was able to get around both issues and do an extended control panel that had the standard SF II layout, 4-way trackball, spinner, and extra bank of buttons without going outside the machine, and without sacrificing the usability of any of the controls.

Great job Paige, I like the idea of extending inward. Now tell us about this 4-way trackball.  

[Minwah]

Isn't the reason why people extend their control panel outside more that a 24" panel is a tad too narrow to have 2 people stand (comfortably) in front of.

Maybe, but many old 2 player cabs were no wider than 24" and were just fine.  My CP is 24" wide and I've found it great so far...

Interesting idea Paige, let us know how it plays when you finish it

[Aceldamor]

there was another arcade out there that did kinda the same thing...it was a double decker also on a small cp (however, i'm not sure that it went "into" the cab)...it had Star Trek artwork on the cp...can't remember the site or who built it though....

[Stingray]

Mine is 23 inches wide and two players can play on it just fine. The only problem is anyone trying to watch the game can't see past the players.

-S

[patrickl]

I haven't tried any 2 player games myself just yet, but seeing as I'm about as wide (at shoulder level anyway) as the whole panel, I assumed 2 people won't fit in front without touching each other or the players need to stand at an angle to the cab to fit. Either way, that doesn't sound "comfortable" to me

Actually, it's just something I read as a reason (in a Project Announcement) from someone who bolted a wider CP on a gutted cab.

[Wade]

I think the double decker idea is reasonable and might work well.  Having room for the trackball to follow through is good, assuming that would really work (it looks questionable to me, looks like people would be hitting their wrists on the monitor shelf).  Newer Golden Tee's aren't in Mame but we play Horseshoes on my Mame a lot, great for parties.  Some people like to play bowling, darts, etc.

The thing that I see with this panel that makes my back hurt just *looking* at it... is the way the panels go INTO the game instead of out... combined with the fact there is a step there, which would make you have to stand even FURTHER back.  I greatly prefer panels that stick outward as it makes it much more comfortable, plenty of room for your feet and you don't have to reach your arms outward very far.  Hands rest closer to the waist.  Now, if you have 4 foot long arms this might not be a problem.

I don't believe there is a "perfect" panel, it is just like everything involved with mame.  It's all just a series of compromises.

Wade

[paigeoliver]

The upper controls are not too far back, even with the step. Although I might still be removing the step.

[Generic Eric]

Your "upper deck" kinda reminds of gyruss, how its under the monitor

[andrewonawall]

This is a great design. I too am building a two level CP, but mine is more like the supercade design. I do have one problem with this particular design.......you used a cab for the best game ever developed!!!!   My bias is that Battlezone is my fav all time game. If it were up to me, all Battlezone cabs should be restored to their original splender and worshiped by all. Shame one you  . If you arent' as biased as I am, you would then think that this is a brilliant implimentation of multiple controls. Good Job.

[Spaced Invader]

A battlezone without a monitor isnt worth restoring...unless you use a raster monitor and a PC/MAME...

Just my opinion...

[andrewonawall]

A battlezone without a monitor isnt worth restoring...unless you use a raster monitor and a PC/MAME...

Just my opinion...

Very true, I just wish they all could be  

[paigeoliver]

Finally found a spare second to work on this.

I have begun working on this again. Started the long process of switching over to using generic Capcom overlays, as this panel is just too complex for the rubber. I will have to cover the upper panel with sheet metal too, in order to use the Ms. Galapac stick without a mounting plate.

[RayB]

Hopefully you're leaf joys are the type that can use my soon to be available red balls with firebuttons..   (...so you can play Battlezone on this)