Opinions on aesthetics of this CP?

[subzero23]

What do you all think about this control panel design? The Aesthetics, not really the design, but the artistic style etc...

It's meant to be sorta like this
http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade/control_panel.shtml

At first I thought of having the 1st & 4th players at a 45' angle but that would make the CP just way too wide so they can be at 90' heh

[RayB]

You want comment on the aesthetics only, or the ergonomics as well? Cuz the first and last player layouts just won't work. You have to think about the fact that the person standing there will be facing the monitor. Think about hand position in this case...

[pointdablame]

You won't have any more friends if you make them play at the outer controls.  There is NO way people will get used to playing if they are 90 degrees rotated from the monitor.  It just wont work.

Most people on the board will suggest you not even rotate the joysticks 45 degrees or any degrees from the monitor seeing as it is a bit awkward to get used to.  Mock up your control panel and try to play it like you have it... it won't be pretty.

[Goz]

Not to miss out on the obvious, but...

Step 1) Identify 3 friends that will play on the proposed machine
Step 2) Make a mock control panel (card board, etc)
Step 3) Ask the friends identified in step 1

If you cannot indentify 3 friends from step 1, scrap the 4 player idea. 

-Goz

[subzero23]

You want comment on the aesthetics only, or the ergonomics as well? Cuz the first and last player layouts just won't work. You have to think about the fact that the person standing there will be facing the monitor. Think about hand position in this case...

Nope just aesthetics, I really see nothing wrong with the ergonomics, not sure what would be wrong with hand position, they'll be standing like sideways and have their head turned towards the screen... hand placement will be normal... I'm not having the UP position on the joystick face the screens (thats just retarded)

[subzero23]

ok 1) you all kinda are hungup on this 3 friend idea... well I'm not making it to hang around for just one year... but yeah the friend/3player thing isn't a problem (besides it's not always about having THREE extra players)

2) what's so awkward about playing at an angle?
Wasn't that like what old games were like?






but yeah... i already knew you guys would probably critique the ergonomics had I asked and I already know about cardboard mockups etc thats why i just asked for the aesthetics

[Gunstar Hero]

Were Gauntlet's sticks always on the right side??

I didn't remember that...

[yourfatmama]

lotta people on the boards seem against the quad panels, i'm currently in the "research&-wish-my-wife-would-letme phase" and the quad factor is a must, but  a quad panel is a must even if 3 and 4 arent getting used that often. depends on yer game preferences of course and how broad of a selection you want to "accurately" play. i'd like to play as many as possible as accurately as possible and that means a quad panel, the 2 player panel + 2 gamepad idea just doesnt cut it for some.
go for the quad dude! just cant play TMNT and Gauntlet or Simpsons or Xmen or Avengers etc any other way! and what about Super Off-Road!

[subzero23]

Lol yeah I'm not worried about it
I don't know why these people have such a hard time finding more than one person to play with...

[RayB]

Gauntlet is a prime example really. Notice how the panel is very TALL as opposed to spreading everyone out horizontally. They did that so everyone is still close to the monitor. The outer edge players aren't 90' to the monitor, they are more like angled to it... And notice that the joys are NOT angled on Gauntlet (look at the bolts).


But anyways, you asked about aesthetics, so well, it looks nice.

~Ray B.

[pointdablame]

4p panels are NOT angled.... they will be uncomfortable.

Go mock one up and try...we're trying to help you and you just keep insisting you're right.  If you put those controls on a 90 degree angle, watch how many people will get a pain in their neck or complain they can't see the monitor well, or complain that they feel disoriented since they have to move the joysitck one way to make the character on screen move a different way.

But you're always right it seems.... right?

[DrewKaree]

*edited*
  Not fair to post something you'd be powerless to lose your mind over - that'd be baiting you unfairly.

[subzero23]

4p panels are NOT angled.... they will be uncomfortable.

Go mock one up and try...we're trying to help you and you just keep insisting you're right.

[subzero23]

*edited*

[pointdablame]

God when are you people going to quit being asses?
90' angles aren't that bad let a lone 45 degree angles for 4 player control panels

God, yes you are right!!!! I see the error of my ways thanks to your crack debating.

I guess every single arcade company/manufacturer/designer was wrong too since they hardly ever (NEVER???)  angled their outer joysticks.  They must be wrong cuz you said so.

And the many threads that have been on this board where people have mocked up CPs and said it was uncomfortable.  And that their friends got disoriented.  And it just wasnt' comfortable.  You would know that if you took the time to search the board, but as you said in your pompous blowhard attitude "nah, I'll just post threads, it doesn't cost anything, blah blah, I'm an idiot who needs answers spoon fed to me"

They were all wrong.  Along with the law makers, and the government, and Santa Clause, and everyone else, because you are the almighty PILLAR OF KNOWLEDGE in this universe.  After all, you are, in your own words, "the only person in that 1%".... the only one who is right... ever.

All hail subzero.

Why did you knock people when we give you constructive criticism?  And insist you're right without even trying our ideas?  A lot more people have come across your thoughts of angling joysticks, and almost all now agree it is no the best thing to do.  Why even ask questions if you don't want any answers but your own?

grow up.

[Pacific Ripper]

All this bickering and argument - if there can be no debate, nothing needs to be said... oh well.  Anyways, aesthetically, I find that the CP seems balanced in its symmetry but visually, it seems awkward. Perhaps you should try an aesymmetric balance, and see how that works for you - just a suggestion.

[Oddfeld]

2) what's so awkward about playing at an angle?
Wasn't that like what old games were like?

Uh, nope:

[Bones]

Yeah, this looks like it would be real comfortable....

[subzero23]

Well I've changed the ergonomics,
I don't think I'm going to keep the angles and players will no longer play at 90degrees but more like 15-30 degrees

[versapak]

Those old arcade machines were not designed ot be comfortable. They were designed for space saving, so that more people and more machines could fit in an area.


Having a nice wide 4 player panel, with players 3 & 4 at an angle gives each player a nice comfortable play. I understand that up was toward the screen on those machines, but every person I had try to play that way MUCH preferred the stick to match their angle.


It all comes down to personal preference though. If it works for you, then that is all that matters.