Opinions on my control layout

[Doug]

Nothing in this picture is to scale (or lined up exactly right) and I'm probably not going to use those colors but this is my general idea for the control panel in my first cab.  Since this is my first cab I have no expirience with how to position things to make a great control panel.  Do you guys see anything I should move?

The white buttons up top are the players 1-4 buttons and the insert coin buttons.  The yellow buttons are administrator buttons. I may add one more on each end.

(If I've done something wrong and you can't see the cp, I've put it up at http://www.fanboyssuck.com/controls.jpg )

Thanks for your opinions.

[johnnysmitch]

the only potenital problem i can see is the  player 1 and 2 joysticks getting in the way of using your trackball & spinner.  Might want to offset those a bit (spinner and tb, not 1 & 2 sticks)

[GGKoul]

The spinner won't work where it is.  As the joystick gets in the way... Trust me.. I tried it that way.  Also get rid of the single 4 way and by 8/4 way joystick.

And I would put the trackball between Player 1 & Player 2.

[krick]

...and put all 4 joysticks in a line so you can play 2 player SmashTV and TotalCarnage.

[DougHillman]

I agree with the comment to dispense with the dedicated 4-way stick.  In this era of Ultimarc T-Stik Plus switchable 4/8 ways,  there's really not much reason to include one.

I really don't think you'd have a problem with your spinner where it is, despite what others have said.  Your arm won't be coming into the spinner from a directly 180 heading.  It's gonna come in at an angle from the left, which would allow it to reach around the joystick.  

If I wanted to stick close to your layout, I'd probably move the trackball over to where the 4-way is now.  Put 3 buttons in between the spinner & TB (Missle Command).  I'd probably angle the P3 & P4 groupings a bit more so that each player has a bit more standing room.  (In fact, I did.    )     http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=23028


If you line the sticks up horizontally, you're gonna end up with an even wider panel.  If that's not a problem, good.  Personally, I think that the panels that are twice as wide as the cabinet look aweful.  I've found that you can comfortably play 2-player Smash TV and whatnot on a panel with sticks that aren't even.  Your body and mind adapt fine.


For aesthetic and funtional purposes, I'd place all of your control buttons in the top middle of the panel.  Easier for any player to reach all buttons that way.  

After alot of reasearch (there've been several threads discussing this), I went with a similar but different 7-button layout than you have planned.   I used:

1234
456

Any other layout will require some reprogramming of the buttons within games.  If you're gonna use your lowest left button as B1 and continue the Neo-Geo layout across the bottom you'll hafta reprogram all the Street Fighter layouts.   Not necessarily a problem, but something to think about none-the-less.


Here's a VERY useful tip.  Go to your local office supply or art store and buy a piece of foamboard.  Cut out your CP shape and controls (SHARP razor blade).  You can then move stuff around to your hearts content.  Place it at the level and angle you're planning on mounting the CP.  Pretend you're playing games (make sure there are no witnesses).   Get some friends to stand next to you and make sure you have room to move.  I've got foamboard representations of most control types available which comes in very handy every time I design a panel for a cab I'm building.   Here's about the only pic I have though.



 Note that this layout was completely rejected.    The trackball is basically unuseable by anyone who wishes to spin it with their right hand.  Here the P2 stick DOES get in the way.  Remember folks, your arm has a left to right or right to left angle when reaching for the controls.  

[Doug]

The 1-4 player joysticks are P360s.  That's why I'm planning to add a 4-way; I don't want to have to get under the control panel and flip the actuator everytime I want to use it as a dedicated 4-way.

I was planning on doing something like the foam board idea only I was going to do it with the actual parts.

[GGKoul]

Note that this layout was completely rejected.    The trackball is basically unuseable by anyone who wishes to spin it with their right hand.  Here the P2 stick DOES get in the way.  Remember folks, your arm has a left to right or right to left angle when reaching for the controls.  

Hey, that how I have my control panel laid out. And there's no issue with people play golden tee. See pic below.

One thing to note with having a spinner or joystick above the trackball.  Trust me, your going to hit your hand when your playing Golden Tee.

[Robopede]

Here's my opinion, since you're asking (I did the same thing with my cp idea and got some really good suggestions from these guys...) I would not be happy with that design. It may look good represented two-dimensionally, but when I visualize the actual controls positioned like that it seems awkward.

Here's a suggestion that has helped me in similar situations. Work up two or three completely different designs, starting from scratch each time. Then select the best one and continue refining that one. I know it's hard to "start over" when you think you're finished, but in the end you may come up with something you like better.

In any event, before you build this control panel, I would definitely make a mock-up like others are suggesting to make absolutely certain those joysticks aren't in the way. And even then, once the game-playing gets fast and furious, you may find yourself wanting more room.

Good luck!

[Buddabing]

Nothing in this picture is to scale (or lined up exactly right) and I'm probably not going to use those colors but this is my general idea for the control panel in my first cab.  Since this is my first cab I have no expirience with how to position things to make a great control panel.  Do you guys see anything I should move?

The white buttons up top are the players 1-4 buttons and the insert coin buttons.  The yellow buttons are administrator buttons. I may add one more on each end.

(If I've done something wrong and you can't see the cp, I've put it up at http://www.fanboyssuck.com/controls.jpg )

Thanks for your opinions.

You might consider:
1. Aligning the sticks for each player to facilitate two-joystick games. Single player robotron, two-player smash tv, etc.
2. Have only three buttons for player 3 and 4. Only one game I know of uses four buttons for players 3 and 4, and the most popular ones (NBA Jam, TMNT, Gauntlet, etc) use three or fewer. Then put the three buttons inline instead of in a triangle.
3. Put player one on the far left, then player 3, then trackball, then player 2, then player 4. That way the three buttons for player 3 will work well with the trackball for Missile Command and other trackball games.

[DougHillman]

You might consider:
1. Aligning the sticks for each player to facilitate two-joystick games. Single player robotron, two-player smash tv, etc.
2. Have only three buttons for player 3 and 4. Only one game I know of uses four buttons for players 3 and 4, and the most popular ones (NBA Jam, TMNT, Gauntlet, etc) use three or fewer. Then put the three buttons inline instead of in a triangle.
3. Put player one on the far left, then player 3, then trackball, then player 2, then player 4. That way the three buttons for player 3 will work well with the trackball for Missile Command and other trackball games.

1:  This was already suggested to him above.  I'll restate my opinion again though, saying that this unnecessarily widens the panel and your body/mind adapts fine to them being offset.  We can play 2-player Smash TV with offset sticks, no problem.  The aesthetics of the curved panel far outweigh the benefits that might be gained, IMO.

2:  Are the WIP games that may have 4 buttons for P3 & P4?  

3:  Ugh.  The HUGE majority of games played on any cabinet will be one player only games.  Do you raelly want to be way over on the left instead of centered (or very close to centered) in front of the screen?  

Just my $.02