Need Feedback on my CP

[eyal8r]

Hey guys-
I am trying to narrow down all my options here, and have hit the wall. I need some feedback as to what will work, what configuration, hardware, software, etc for what I want to accomplish, and KNOW that it'll work before I build and order parts. Man, I hope this isn't too much to ask!  Here we go...

I would like, basically, almost everything!  LOL...  I want:

-4 player CP: 2 player w/ 7 buttons and 8-way, 2 players with 4 buttons, 8-way.  BTW- can 2 of these 8 ways be 'switchable' to 4-ways, so I don't have to install separate 4 ways?

- 2 light guns
- 2 3" trackballs
- 1 or 2 spinners (do I need 2???)
- 1 or 2 flight sticks for Tron (again, do I need 2?)

Will I be able to run all this, or are there limitations that I don't know of? I was planning on running XP, but...

Also- I'm looking to see if this is even possible to run all this. If it IS possible, what keyboard encoder do I need? What other equipment do you reccommend?
Thank you guys!!!
D

[TalkingOctopus]

Those are way too many controls for one panel so you will probably need to make swappable or modular control panels.  Check out the tstick from Ultimarc (http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.htmlplus) for a switchable 4way to 8way joystick.  I think it is possible to run all of that.  The buttons and joysticks can hook up to an Ultimarc jpac4.  The Optipac can handle the 2 tballs and spinners.  

Good luck.

[BarontheFirst]

Well unless your CP is huge I dont see much of a chance for you to fit all of that. Most of the time you will only need one spinner and one trackball.  As far as the sticks for Tron you can probably add them easily to the top of my CP layout. If you haven't seen it I will post the pic. It is a work in progress. Now as far as all of it working it depends on what you use. I say use a opti-pac and a I-pac. Now this is just a start I know you want a 4 player layout but this is to give you the idea of how big you will have to go. You might need even bigger than a 32 inch screen so everyone can see. Alone 2 3' trackballs with plates can kill half of a average size control panel. Just trying to help you out a bit so you think about what you need and dont need. I am sure you would like to play a game and not keep hitting other buttons and joysticks.

[daywane]

players 3 and 4 would do fine with 3 buttons each

[eyal8r]

ahhh- ok- so Players 3 and 4 only need 3 buttons? Are there any games that need 4 buttons on those 2 players?  I plan on using Gauntlet, Simpsons, Spiderman, and others...

As for the space issue- I was planning on doing a 2-level panel like the SuperCade setup. That should free up some space a bit. I know I can play marble madness and possibly Missle Command as 2 players at a time with the trackballs (I know there's others as well), which is why I wanted 2 TBs. BUT- not sure if I need 2 spinners or not- can someone clarify that for me? Are there any games that would require 2 spinners at the same time? I'm ok switching positions w/ 1 spinner, just didn't know if there's a need for 2 spiners at the same time. Anyone?

Qbert- I know he jumps off of diagonals, but I don't remember if he just had a standard 8 way joystick and you had to hit the diagonals yourself, or, if he had a 4-way joystick sitting at an angle. Can someone clarify that for me as well?

4-ways- if I use those switchable 4/8 way sticks for player 1 & 2, I shouldn't need any other 4-way spots on the CP, so that frees up some much needed space. Right?

Last thing- on the trackballs-  I notice that most CP designs I've been seeing don't leave much room behind the TB, there's usually another set of spinners or joysticks right behind it. I know on games such as Golden Tee, man, people get a huge windup going and there hand goes way past the TB itself after they spin it. So, for those of you who have TBs with controls directly behind it, have you been hitting your hands on the controls, or are you ok?

Thanks for all the help!
D

[owj]

Blasteroids can be played with 2 players and two spinners.  Some driving games can be played with spinners also like Championship Sprint.  Of course for the driving games you'd want pedals too.

There's some Sonic the Hedgehog game that can use 2 or 3 trackballs... Marble Madness of course can use two, and Rampart is another game that can use up to 3.

..and I think the Capcom 4 player D&D use 4 buttons per player.

But in designing your controls, you really should consider whether or not those are the kinds of games you are going to play.

One way to avoid complex frankenpanels is to build more than one machine.  Of course, this drives up your monitor cost quite rapidly  

My first CP was for two players only but had 5 joysticks... dedicated 4 way, and 2 8-ways per player... so I could support 2-player smash tv!  All about priorities....

[eyal8r]

Hmmm- good points. Really, the 2 TB games i mainly want are for Marble and Missle Command. Maybe it's not worth the extra trackball real estate, who knows. I don't know if I'd ever need 2 spinners, other than there's a game that is a little like Tetris, but it uses Bubbles/Balls- I think that MIGHT use a spinner, I don't recall. Any ideas?

BTW- how do the 'convertible' 4/8 way joysticks work?  I thought I read that you just pull up and turn them to switch between 4 & 8 way use. Has anyone had any problems with these?
Thanks!
D

[daywane]

there are many versions of a 4/8 way
I do not have one but (like you , when I started out I wanted everything) I found at least 3 versions.
1 ) you lift and rotate
2 ) a disk on the bottom
3) a slide that sticks above the cp
I have seen others but I just can not think of them now. getting tired.
I think the franken panels are cool, but I did not want to explain everything over and over again,
I am going with 4 or 5 arcades and that should cover all I want.
I think I will turn the Nintendo vs uni into a 4 player. that way 2 players on each side are right in front of both monitors
a vertical for my 4 way games
a horizontal for the 8way, track ball
the spinner will probably go into a work station a Factory had tossed with a tron stick
as far as the driving games I will use my desk top for now with a sidewinder steering wheel

Like I said I do like the Franken CPs but there not for me

[pointdablame]

Your plan seems like the perfect candidate for either swappable/modular control panels, or multiple machines.  I have yet to see a control panel with that many controls that looks good.  More times than not, they look pretty bad.... very user unfriendly, and it would seem to scare away ppl when first looking at it.  Plus, your CP will be either MASSIVE or overly crowded.

Don't let that stop you from trying... these are just my opinions.... but I really think you should consider multiple machines (if thats an option), or multiple CPs.  It would look much cleaner, be much more user friendly, and you could get things up and running quicker if money is a concern.  You could create a simple 2p CP at first, then build more CPs as time/finances allow.

Just my .02

[eyal8r]

Hmmm- maybe you guys are right. Well, I'm sure you are- you've built machines already, I have not. LOL...  So on aa swappable CP- how exactly does that work? How does it connect all the wiring back to the machine- isn't that a major pain in the butt? Or is there an easy way to do all that?  Also, how does the CP sit on the machine? Is there an easy, yet solid way to do that as well? I read somewhere someone used VELCRO to do it- not too sure about that...

One last thing- is the SuperCade CP design too crowded? That's what I was hoping to use...
Thanks guys!

[javeryh]

There is something called a molox connector that you can run all of your wires through that allows for a quick disconnect.  As for attaching the CPs, there are clips you can buy that I think would be very secure but there is also very strong velcro that people swear by.  I think either way you will be fine...

[DougHillman]

Some ideas in this thread.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=16932