Need advice and opinions on Controller

[Wyluli]

Hi all,
I've been reading and thinking about the controller I want to build.  I'm thinking about building a two player controller out of MDF and having the layout like what I have (horribly) pictured below.  (see?  I need all the help I can get).  What I was thinking was having a two player controller with 6 buttons each and in the center there, having a 4 way controller with single fire button next to it to use on games like Galaga, Pac-man, Space Invaders, and all the others that only require the stick or stick and one button.  Do you think this setup will work ok?  I know you can buy the switchable 8way-4way sticks, but I kinda like this idea better.

Also, does anyone know what the difference is between the Happs 8 way Competition joystick and the Ultimate joystick is?  Does it matter which one I get?  Does Happs have the "ball on top" joystick (instead of the bat shaped ones)?  I kinda want to go with the red ball 4 way for my center stick.

I think I am going to use the I-pac card to interface this controller with my pc.  Anybody forsee any problems with this?  

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions guys!!!

[Puds]

I once read a complete review comparing competition, super, and ultimate happs joysticks.  Unfortunately I didnt bookmark it but be sure to do a search on this forum for Happs Joysticks.  I would suggest you choose the competition joystick, the reason I suggest the competition is because it has a square actuator at the bottom rather than a circle, the square actuator allows you to easily hit diagonals whereas the circular actuators make it harder to pinpoint diagonals yet gives you the "360" feel.  

[MameJunkie]

Yea. competition is better than the ultimate.

If you want to reduce controls, you can use the existing P1 buttons as the Galaga button.
People map those buttons for the trackball/spinners also.

As for the balltop 4-way, you can either pickup the Ms Pac remake for ~$18 in eBay or pick up the ultimarc j-stik 4/8 way for ~$15 + $12 shipping.  I personally pickup the J-Stik because I was already picking up the Mini-Pac.  Gives me more options just in case I was to put it in a mini cab with only 1 joy.

[MameJunkie]

Linky to joystick review

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/joycompare/joyreview1.shtml

[teef two]

Why not get the 4/8-way switchable t-sticks and put a spinner where the 4-way would go?

Oh, and no problems at all with choosing the ipac. For this panel you'll only need the ipac2. If you go with the spinner as well, get the usb interface cable from Oscar to go with his spinners. It'll save you having to buy an opti-pac.

[Matt Berry]

There are also reviews available at http://retroblast.com/ . Your layout is a good start, but I would highly recommend building a couple of prototypes until you get the feel right. A dedicated 4-way is available at Happ it is the Ms pacman aniversarry stick, it is under the amuesment section (mounting for this should be with metal) and yes it is a ball top. There is a longer version available from Betson part# 47-9075-07 I can't give you all the details on these as I'm still waiting on thier arrival. I also highly recommend the Ipac for the interface. Another option for a spinner (if you add one) is the tornado from slikstik http://www.slikstik.com/ . I have one and it exceeded my expectations for it. As for 8-ways I'd also take a look at the Supers from happ. You may also decide to add a trackball to your panel - cheap side 2 1/4 from ultimarc expensive but nice happ 3". Good luck

[Wyluli]

Why not get the 4/8-way switchable t-sticks and put a spinner where the 4-way would go?

Yeah, I was originally going to put a spinner there, until I saw how much they cost!!!  I want to keep the price down on this two way setup.  Maybe later, when I have more moola coming in, I'll build another setup with a spinner and track ball..... Unless you can tell me how to build a cheap one out of toothpicks and elmers school glue or some old doggie chew toys...  
:-)

[RayB]

Yeah, I was originally going to put a spinner there, until I saw how much they cost!!!

Ebay. Or build your own. All you need is an optic.

[Kremmit]

Yeah, I was originally going to put a spinner there, until I saw how much they cost!!!  I want to keep the price down on this two way setup.  Maybe later, when I have more moola coming in, I'll build another setup with a spinner and track ball..... Unless you can tell me how to build a cheap one out of toothpicks and elmers school glue or some old doggie chew toys...  
:-)

TheNasty has a tutorial on how to build one out of Nestle Quick containers and dead PC parts:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=17522