Prototype CP - Please Comment - Possible future offering.

[RandyT]

As the subject says, looking for some feedback on the mini-cp design.

Checking for interest in these as a "bare-wood" CP kit.  Would include CNC machined panels and all hardware for assembly, plus pre-installed joystick mounting hardware, etc.

Also as fully built units functioning as either a USB HID Joystick device or a programmable PS/2 keyboard device using a KeyWiz Eco2.

Thanks in advance,
RandyT

*edit*  Another angle:

And one more:

[SeaMonkey]

Nice! I want one...for the living room....because sometimes the computer room is too far to walk...

Looks nice. Sharp and tight.

How much?

[Gunstar Hero]

Pretty cool!

Maybe do a spinner/trakball one?

[Daniel270]

great idea on those CPs.... 

Another suggestion.... what about varying the designs (trackball, spinner, 4 way, 8 way.... etc)? 

[Xiaou2]

 While i have no need for such a thing, i will comment on the design...

    You may be better off getting rid of the curved front sides.   I used to work at an arcade... and T-moding used to pop off after a while... esp when in short sections and curved sections.    The material is fairly stiff, and it creates pressure to pop out of the slot.   The wood will weaken its grip after a while as it gets tossed arround,..  and the enviornental contractions/expantions...ect.    Imop - it dosnt look so hot either.

  Id straighten the button layout as well.   Most all arcade fighters use  a straight pattern.   Same goes for the very keyboards most of of use to type here.   You get better performance from the straight button layout as well.   Not to mention that many people fingers are different lengths... which can make it even more trouble.   Most notable troubles arise when 3 buttons have to be pressed at the same time.. on either the lower and upper section.   If at a diag - you might press 2 buttons from the top - and accidentally slip off the middle button into the spave in between the buttons - or even hit a bottom button on accident.   Play something like xmen vs streetfighter to see what i mean.   I had to redo a panel i made because of the same mistake.

  Button color scheme is a bit odd... being that the tops are all blue and the bottoms are rainbow.   Maybe make the top and bottom dual raainbows... or, just make all one color for them all... that matches the joy color - or complements it -( like blue stick + all orange buttons)

 Not sure what the middle button is.. but it looks odd and lonly out there in the middle feild.   I think its a pinball plunger?   I think it would look better near the left or right sides either way.
 
 Cost seems to be a big factor in anyone buying a product like this.  To drop costs - you could really remove all the tmolding except what is  circling the top.   

[Hiub1]

Everybody has got some good suggestions. One thing that I noticed was that the ball top is just extremely tall, it almost looks awkward. Maybe it is just my personal preference, what do you guys think?

Other than that, I think cost will be the biggest factor here, so keep it under $60-70, $50 would probably be ideal since it is almost half the price of anything else, but I have no clue how much it costs you to make them.

Keep up the good job!

Fred.

[RandyT]

Thanks for the input so far.  I guess I need to address a few of the things that have come up.

Looks nice. Sharp and tight.

How much?

No price has been decided upon yet.  Too many configuration options to set a single price, but it would be on par with what the market has shown to be reasonable. 

Pretty cool!

Maybe do a spinner/trakball one?

If I start doing these, then other models will definitely follow.

Another suggestion.... what about varying the designs (trackball, spinner, 4 way, 8 way.... etc)?

I will certainly have a version available for the Prodigy line. (4/8 way switchable)   The other designs will follow some time afterwards.

 You may be better off getting rid of the curved front sides. I used to work at an arcade... and T-moding used to pop off after a while... esp when in short sections and curved sections.

The T-molding has been properly relieved for both radii.  Had I not done that, it would not even had stayed in the groove long enough for the picture .  It's currently not under any stresses that would cause it to pop out of the groove.

Id straighten the button layout as well. Most all arcade fighters use a straight pattern. Same goes for the very keyboards most of of use to type here. You get better performance from the straight button layout as well. Not to mention that many people fingers are different lengths

While I wanted the panel to be able to be used for fighters, it wasn't the main goal of the design.  The pattern is only subtly off straight and nowhere near some that I have seen.  I have a very similar pattern on my cab and it has never caused me the problems you speak of.  And while most peoples' fingers are different lengths, it would be tough to argue that their middle fingers aren't at least slightly longer than the others.

Button color scheme is a bit odd.

It was 5-second decision.  Went for a Neo kind of thing with the colors and filled in the rest with what was unique to the other three.  These would be built to order with an individuals color preferences anyway.

Not sure what the middle button is.. but it looks odd and lonly out there in the middle feild. I think its a pinball plunger? I think it would look better near the left or right sides either way.
 

Yeah...A PINBALL plunger.  That's the ticket!  Umm......sorry

No, but that would be a good use for it too!  My thoughts were more of a "shift", "Shazaaam!", etc... type of button.  If I didn't need to take a picture of it, I would have chosen black.

Cost seems to be a big factor in anyone buying a product like this. To drop costs - you could really remove all the tmolding except what is circling the top.

We're talking pennies for the amount of T-molding that is on the side of this panel.  And probably only about 10-minutes to prep and apply it.  IMHO, it's worth it for what it adds to the appearance.

But that brings me to something else...

This was an attempt to make a very small, very functional and attractive panel using real arcade controls and construction methods.  I'm not looking to go head-to-head with Pelican or even X-arcade for the bottom rung of the market.  For example, the joystick in the unit you see pictured has a polished Stainless Steel shaft and a custom translucent red ball fitted to a Happ "Competition" base, while the sticks on the bargain units can be purchased overseas for $2 each (or less) all day long.  The buttons use Cherry microswitches, and so on.

This product would be geared toward an individual who doesn't have the time or skill to build it themselves, but has the desire (and means) for a quality unit that won't take up half of the living room.  That's not to say that I won't eventually look into some low-end components for an economy version, but someone looking to save cash will always be better off building for themselves.

One thing that I noticed was that the ball top is just extremely tall, it almost looks awkward.

The bottom of the ball is about 2" off the surface of the panel.  The top would be equal to a Happ stick if it were mounted in a metal panel. 

In practice, it feels fine.  No knuckles scraping on the panel, etc...  Currently, there is a recess in the bottom of the panel.  I will probably do away with it in a production model, which should drop the ball down a little.


Thanks to everyone who commented so far.

RandyT

[NIVO]

heya Randy, looks good so far. I just have a minor issue, and it really is an issue that can be ignored by most folks im sure. Where your 7 button layout is; personally I prefer the six buttons to be in a straight line and not arched. Now I know it wouldnt be cost effective to you to run two layouts(1 arched, 1 straight). Just something else for you to consider. Again, its really not a serious issue, just how I prefer to play(the old fashioned standard way hehe)

[RandyT]

Where your 7 button layout is; personally I prefer the six buttons to be in a straight line and not arched. Now I know it wouldnt be cost effective to you to run two layouts(1 arched, 1 straight). Just something else for you to consider. Again, its really not a serious issue, just how I prefer to play(the old fashioned standard way hehe)

I actually own and run the CNC machine that cuts these panels, so having several panel design options is not out of the question.  While custom layouts would be a bit of a pain,  keeping a stock of several options wouldn't be that bad.

I'll put it on the list.

RandyT

[krick]

I could care less about the straight vs curved layout.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'd second the "stick's too tall" comment.
While most arcade cabinets can sport a stick like that without looking out of place, most handheld/lap-type controllers have a much shorter stick (more like a pac stick height).
THAT is why I think it looks so out of place.
I'm sure it will PLAY fine at that height, it just looks funny to me.

The two layouts I would put as options are:
1) A 3-button/stick/4-button setup, so that it will play Asteroids, and can be used with either hand.
2) A Stick/6-button/Stick setup, so that it can be used for dual stick games.

[MoonDog]

if having a couple different panel designs is an option (like you said) i like NoOne's suggestions.  i think having buttons on the left for classic games is a great idea, but usually i'm in the minority on that one.

overall looks good.

[Shape D.]

I could care less about the straight vs curved layout.  I can adapt to either one.

What I *would* change is the color of the buttons.

something like this...

 YGB
 YGB
R

...or this...

 KKK
 YGB
R

R=red, Y=yellow, G=green, B=blue, K=black

Basically, anything that includes the standard neo geo color layout for the bottom 4 buttons.

You can make the top three buttons any color really.  Throw in Purple, Orange, White if you want.

Button color scheme is a bit odd.

It was 5-second decision.  Went for a Neo kind of thing with the colors and filled in the rest with what was unique to the other three.  These would be built to order with an individuals color preferences anyway.

[Shape D.]

They look nice, theyre kind of like what I was planning on building for my computer room that has no extra space.

[NIVO]

another point i'd like to add is that this: this kind of kit and the size of the controller is perfect for someone who wants to show their child how to build something. I think you could market this that way. I think their is a niche in the market for this. Nice to find something in kit form, and you and your son/daughter build it together. I could see this sparking interest in young ones eager to help dad in the garage. Quality time and common interests with the kids is all but forgotten alot nowadays. Perfect to get the kids involved. Hell, get the ole lady involved!! Might make her playing Ms. Pacman all the time feel even sweeter. And that can only help us(as guys) out as well in other areas!!