CP width question

[Stobe]

Hello all,

I'm starting my first project (which means lots of questions!).

This one is not going to be my "masterpiece", but I still want to take some pride in it.  I have planned a bar-top design using a 17" monitor, and the width of the whole thing will be around 17.5" (inside width, not counding the width of the sides).

My question is about the CP.  Has anyone ever seen a joystick/button layout for 2 players that fit within 17" or so?  I'd like to have a 2 player neo-geo type layout, but I'm not sure if there's enough room.  Maybe I'll just make a 1 player setup with 2 sticks, and save the 2player idea for a big cab?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Stobe

[Tilzs]

I don't think you'll be able to physically fit  a 2 player neogeo layout into 17".  Even if you can manage to  fit it into 17" (it'll be really tight) you need to ask yourself "is this comfortable".

[Bgnome]

i thought it was a trick to fit 2 players within 20 inches..
i believe most bartops are made for single player use only so in your situation, i would go with a single player layout with perhaps a spinner/small trackball.
if you are really stuck on the 2p cp, i suggest you try it out on some cardboard cut to 17.5" and have a buddy sit next to you.  i would throw out the standard neo-geo layout from the start since it would take up too much room.  you should try experimenting with maybe a 2x2 button layout or place the buttons below the joystick..

[RayB]

It'd be kind of awkward for two people to sit on stools and have to lean in to play at the same time...

Unless you expect them to be standing...

In which case, why not make it a caberet upright?

Ray

[Stobe]

Thanks for the input!

I know I read somewhere to design the CP first, then build the rest around it, but I disregarded that advice for this project.  I was more interested in fitting the cab around the monitor I had set aside.  But the good news is that I have only cut the sides thusfar.  I can always adjust the width of the cross pieces to give me more room on the CP.

Perhaps I'll scrap the 2p idea, and made a 2 stick, i player CP with a trackball?  Then I can always skip the 2p design and go straight to 4p when I build a full upright.

This is just a learning experience for me.  I've only invested about $20 in wood.  If this design ends up stinking, I can always just gut it out and start new

-Stobe

[pointdablame]

I'm in the middle of a very similar sized bartop right now, and I considered the same thing.  I thought to myself that if I could, I might as well put in controls for 2 players.  I then drew up some CP sketches and realized it is just not doable.  It is too close for 2 people to use comfortably, and it just doesn't, IMO, feel right on a bartop.  Instead, I opted to make my CP a bit longer than I originally planned (from monitor to front of bartop) so that I could add a spinner, and perhaps a small trackball.  Still not sure about the TB though.

[Nannuu]

I have a two player Street Fighter panel in an 18" cabinet (inside).  You could add a Neo button if you moved the sticks up.  I have played 2 man games on it for quite a while with no problems BUT they were classics and not using all 6 buttons.  I think if you were, you would definitely be smacking some hands in the middle.  It is made for a friends grandkids to play with, not meant for the big people.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=13366;start=0