Looking for CP size/config suggestions

[Darkstalker]

I made a CP layout in the past, but I'm heavily considering adding a spinner and trackball to the CP now and I don't see a way to do it without it looking Frankenpanel.  Not to mention it looks like it's going to wreak havok on the artwork I put together (Although I'm considering redoing it anyways, I don't think it looks that great).

The original dimensions are 29"x12", so I've scaled down a picture of the layout to something more appropriate for the forums.

I could get away with just a spinner pretty easy, but would a trackball be too much?  And would I need to add more buttons or could I get away with using the P1 and P2 buttons?  I'm curious to see what others think on this.

[neuromancer]

I think you already answered your own question -- In your heart of hearts, you know you're not going to fit a trackball on that panel.

Bob

[CthulhuLuke]

Trackballs are nice but they are very space consuming.  What I highly suggest is to space the two players as far apart as possible but still close enough to see the screen clearly, because the best way to play fighting games, etc. is when both players have a comfortable amount of shoulder room and can still stare directly at the screen.  Also if you are limited on space with your cp, you might consider swappable control panels, because my guess is you're going to be mostly playing one style or another in a sit down session aka: a friend comes over for fighting games, so you play with 2 joysticks, 6 buttons for that night.  next day you want to enjoy some centipede and missile command, switch it to the other panel.  So best way for you I'd think is one fighting game panel, and one trackball/spinner panel.  And swappable controls is really easy, just search the forums or the tutorials on it and you can find out all the info you need.
      -good luck

[hunky_artist]

a friend comes over for fighting games, so you play with 2 joysticks, 6 buttons for that night.  next day you want to enjoy some centipede and missile command, switch it to the other panel.  So best way for you I'd think is one fighting game panel, and one trackball/spinner panel.

I agree with the above.

I'm planning a Taito style upright, and when I first started looking at the idea of doing it, I was going to have a 2 player CP, because that was mostly what i was seeing... but then I realised that I wouldn't be able to play tempest, centipede etc.. unless I just used the jostick. which I didnt want to do.

So I'm going to have the main panel, which will be joystick, buttons, trackball and spinner....... and then for the once in a while when I want 2 players (having a party etc) I'll put the 2 player CP on