Control panel opinions needed...

[Chris]

I am the happy owner of a very basic MAME cabinet (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/celamantia/mamecab/images/CP_new.jpg).  Lately, though, something just seems missing... games like TRON just aren't as fun, and I never really could get into Star Wars with a trackball.  I don't know when I started feeling this way...

Oh, yeah, now I remember.  It was the moment I saw 1UP's rotating control panel!

Now, I keep thinking of all the things I don't have... true 4-way joystick action for Pac-Man and Donkey Kong... yokes for Star Wars and Spy Hunter... wheels for Pole Position and other driving games...  trigger sticks for Tron and Assault... plus my trackball being blocked by a spinner and being too close to the glass, making Golden Tee and World Class Bowling affairs of the thumb...

I was so proud of my control panel when I first built it a few months ago...



Now, it's just not enough!

The design of my cabinet precludes me from duplicating 1UP's rotating design, so I'm contemplating a few options:

- Remove the internal latches and make the control panel removable

This is a possibility; I'd have to add removable connectors for the spinner and trackball, but that's no biggie.  The question is how do you latch a removable control panel?  Do you use visible external latches, or do you just move the latches to wherer they can be accessed through the coin door?  Is anyone here using replacable panels?  If so, are you happy with them, or would you do something different now?


- Remove the trackball and spinner, and cut a rectangular bay in the middle of the existing panel

This would be easier if I didn't have that one button so close to the spinner.  It was there to make Tron playable without a trigger stick... but this may be the way to go.  I could build modules for a trackball, a yoke, a wheel, a spinner, and a 4-way stick... the Tron trigger stick would be out, 'cause I'd need the spinner module in too....


- Toss the existing control panel and build a frame that is designed to take a series of modules

This is of course the most flexible, but potentially expensive.  Has anyone here gone the fully modular panel route?  Are you happy with it?


- Sell my basic cabinet on eBay and start a new cab from scratch from 1UP's design

This would certainly be the most dramatic option, although I'm not sure if a cabinet as basic as mine would fetch much...


- Be happy with what I have and don't screw with a working cabinet

Certainly the safest route.  I could always play 4-way joy games with buttons instead of a joystick.... (color me excited!)


I know I can sift through the projects and find examples of some of these panels, but what I really need is insight and hindsight, and just plain old opinions.

Anyone have any thoughts?

--Chris

[SirPoonga]

I like 1UP's cab too, but I don't want to go through that engineering feat.

Jelloslug has done modules.  

I did the swappable panel technique.  Wroks well if you make the cp usb based.
My second panel will have, wishingly, an ls30 (maybe 2).  an analog stick.  The same joys 1UP used on the tron panel (they are left and right handed and $10)  Maybe an up/down spinner, pinball controls.
My third panel will be yoke and steering wheels.

[mtd]

I am at the same stage as you are - well kind of.  I decided to go without a spinner or trackball or wheel.  Now I am regretting that decision.  

Actually, I am completely happy with my set up.  The thought was that I could go without the few games (few being relative) that required alternate controls.  It's actually the wife that is complaining about Pole Position and Centipede that will "allow" me to take the next step.

That next step will have to be a modular panel.  The player 1 and 2 joysticks and 6 buttons each will stay stationary, but the middle of the control panel will be removable.  I'll have a spinner, trackball, and wheel modular panels that should pop right in.  Now I guess if I am going through all this trouble I should place a Tron module in player 2 spot as well.  

I guess if I were you I'd scrap your control panel and make a modular one.  It would be cheaper than making 3 or 4 compeltely different control panels.

[SirPoonga]

I guess if I were you I'd scrap your control panel and make a modular one.  It would be cheaper than making 3 or 4 compeltely different control panels.

Cheaper?  Not by much if it is.  Plus swappable is easier to make.
Though modular is cool and easier to store:)

[HeadRusch]

I have a question: Anyone know of a good analog type throttle control that could be added to a panel specifically for LUNAR LANDER or possibly even with some of the flightsim games like AFterburner and/or G_lock?

(I"m not even sure if those are emulated yet or not....perhaps encryption is an issue there)...

[SirPoonga]

I have a question: Anyone know of a good analog type throttle control that could be added to a panel specifically for LUNAR LANDER or possibly even with some of the flightsim games like AFterburner and/or G_lock?

(I"m not even sure if those are emulated yet or not....perhaps encryption is an issue there)...

Yeah, analog controls are in mame.     You can make your own lunar lander control.  It isn't hard, just a handle hooked up to a pot.  esentially one joystick axis.  You can hack a  joystick to do it.

[mikenotbob]

Yeah, I could see how it's tough to sit there and justify all of additional control types when you  sitting there with $30 worth of two joysticks and a handful of buttons that play thousands of games vs. a spinner & optics at around $100 to play less than a dozen (um, 3 in my case! ) and a trackball that will cost you at least $20 for a hack and a thousand man hours for another half dozen games.  That dozen, though, is pretty much what takes up at least 70% of my game playing, though!

I was lucky enough to do an awesome job on my panel the first time around..  I took the above into consideration (not being able to live without Tempest, Marble Madness), so I had the spinner and trackball in there from day one.  It was also convenient and cheap to have a dedicated Asteroids layout, which incorporates two of the trackball (mouse) buttons.  Two buttons on each side of the trackball, and one underneath.  These are also the buttons I use when playing spinner games.  Of course, this still wasn't enough, as I miss playing Q-Bert w/ the 45 degree 4-way, so that will soon be added to my panel. $12 for one game.

Chris,  I really wouldn't know what to do if I were you.  The easiest solution would be to build a frame on your cabinet, extending the cp a few inches on both sides, and a couple inches outwards as well.  I found doing this was the least expensive route (and most convenient) for my cabinet.  Of course, mine was in an ugly state when i received it, so I had no problems bastardizing it... Your cab, on the other hand looks like it's in pretty good shape.  You may not want to go my route for preservation/authenticity sake. (Plus, my cab looks a little funny, like it has wings and is going to fly away or something, and may not be appropriate for a living room ).


Good luck!

-mike

[telengard]

I am the happy owner of a very basic MAME cabinet (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/celamantia/mamecab/images/CP_new.jpg).  Lately, though, something just seems missing... games like TRON just aren't as fun, and I never really could get into Star Wars with a trackball.  I don't know when I started feeling this way...

Oh, yeah, now I remember.  It was the moment I saw 1UP's rotating control panel!

Heh, you are a very brave person.  That looks like *so* much effort.   And I'm
not resourceful/smart/patient enough to build something that cool  
With all the stuff he's built/engineered he should start a business!   <hint>    

I think that panel is a great idea, but I wanted to have the ability to do
as many panels as I like and also something I could manage.  I've been
buying controls like a madman and have at least 10 more panels planned.
I just need to come up with a way to store these things.

Now, I keep thinking of all the things I don't have... true 4-way joystick action for Pac-Man and Donkey Kong... yokes for Star Wars and Spy Hunter... wheels for Pole Position and other driving games...  trigger sticks for Tron and Assault... plus my trackball being blocked by a spinner and being too close to the glass, making Golden Tee and World Class Bowling affairs of the thumb...

Sounds like me.  I didn't have a lot of room and also didn't want things getting in the way.
I currently have a single trackball setup, defender panel, tron panel, single 8 way w/ restrictor,
and a dual 8 way.   I'm waiting on all my pole position parts and Oscar wheel to begin work
on that panel setup.  There are so many more I want to make.  I've managed to pick up
a galaga joy, nintendo joy, konami joy, gauntlet joy, and want to make panels w/ these too.
In a way I wish I could have made a more modular setup rather than swappable panels.
I'd have an easier time storing etc.  Maybe mame cab mach 2!    

I was so proud of my control panel when I first built it a few months ago...



Now, it's just not enough!

The design of my cabinet precludes me from duplicating 1UP's rotating design, so I'm contemplating a few options:

- Remove the internal latches and make the control panel removable

This is a possibility; I'd have to add removable connectors for the spinner and trackball, but that's no biggie.  The question is how do you latch a removable control panel?  Do you use visible external latches, or do you just move the latches to wherer they can be accessed through the coin door?  Is anyone here using replacable panels?  If so, are you happy with them, or would you do something different now?

I use thumbscrews and rivet nuts on mine, but I would have prefered latches through the coin door myself.
Takes only a few seconds.   Mr Salty's is an ideal setup IMO, but he had a defender cab which is
one of the few cabs  that have a  wood control panel block.  Most I've found are metal like mine.
I had to work with what I had since I stink at woodworking.

- Remove the trackball and spinner, and cut a rectangular bay in the middle of the existing panel

This would be easier if I didn't have that one button so close to the spinner.  It was there to make Tron playable without a trigger stick... but this may be the way to go.  I could build modules for a trackball, a yoke, a wheel, a spinner, and a 4-way stick... the Tron trigger stick would be out, 'cause I'd need the spinner module in too....


- Toss the existing control panel and build a frame that is designed to take a series of modules

This is of course the most flexible, but potentially expensive.  Has anyone here gone the fully modular panel route?  Are you happy with it?

I believe I saw this somewhere once, and I remember thinking to myself, this doesn't look
very sturdy as I pictured a game of Robotron.  One thing I *definetly* didn't want to do
was to have to "baby" the machine.  So it had to be sturdy.  I'm not rough with it, but I didn't
always want to be worrying about stuff getting loose etc.

- Sell my basic cabinet on eBay and start a new cab from scratch from 1UP's design

This would certainly be the most dramatic option, although I'm not sure if a cabinet as basic as mine would fetch much...


- Be happy with what I have and don't screw with a working cabinet

Certainly the safest route.  I could always play 4-way joy games with buttons instead of a joystick.... (color me excited!)


I know I can sift through the projects and find examples of some of these panels, but what I really need is insight and hindsight, and just plain old opinions.

Anyone have any thoughts?

--Chris

From the looks  of your panel, personally, I'd go with swappable panels.

[hyiu]

yeah... from what I see on your pic, I think the easiest for you would be swappable panel...

are you using the panel clamps ??.... when I build my cab, I used 4 panel clamps to hold it down.... (and its very tight and good...) I have a keyboard drawer below, so, I pull out the keyboard drawer all the way, reach under and release the clamp.... you can open the coin door and release the clamp...

and to change panel... you need to unlatch the panel clamp, then unplug the wires....
(now... this will probably take a minute or two.... not like 1up's rotating panel....) but frankly, I don't think I have the skills to put 1up's plan together.... I mean... I need a cab that does not shake and stuff when I'm a little rough on it....)

I thought about modular panel also... but then... you'll need your cutting and measurements to be very exact for everything to be put together, and nicely fit and well....

replacement panel will the the easiest to do, although you lose efficiency when you are actually doing the panel switch....
(and probably, you don't want others to try swtiching but yourself.... which I think is ok....)

good luck to you...

[Chris]

are you using the panel clamps ??

Yeah, there is one clamp on each side... holds it down quite nicely...

Due to the design of the front of the cab, it's not possible to reach the clamps through the coin door.  I would probably need to modify the panel in front of the control panel to open.  This was originally a Super Contra cabinet, though, and that front panel is attached to the sides via tongue and groove, so I'd have to figure out how to get that out gracefully...

I have also considered adding holes or grooves to the existing panel so a single control module could be attached to the exising panel... this would work well for controls that need a raised module like a yoke or steering wheel, but wouldn't be good for much else....

[ErikRuud]

Yeah, I could see how it's tough to sit there and justify all of additional control types when you  sitting there with $30 worth of two joysticks and a handful of buttons that play thousands of games vs. a spinner & optics at around $100 to play less than a dozen (um, 3 in my case!  ) and a trackball that will cost you at least $20 for a hack and a thousand man hours for another half dozen games.  That dozen, though, is pretty much what takes up at least 70% of my game playing, though!

My spinner cost approximately $20.00.  $10.00 for a serial mouse, and $10.00 in parts from the hardware store.  One hour or so of work, and I have a spinner.  My track ball cost me another $20.00 on clearance.

They both work great.

[Chris]

My spinner cost approximately $20.00.  $10.00 for a serial mouse, and $10.00 in parts from the hardware store.  One hour or so of work, and I have a spinner.

My spinner hack also cost about $20, but it took a lot longer than an hour!  Heck, it took weeks just to track down a good knob!  I finally found a 1.25" solid aluminum "Hi-Fi" knob at an ancient electronics store... it had been on the shelf since 1973 and still had it's original $1.50 price tag, and that's what I paid for it!  I almost didn't want to open it!

I find it ironic that a knob that was manufactured before almost all arcade video games except maybe Computer Space and Pong is now part of a MAME cabinet...

[ErikRuud]

Well the hour or so, did not include time spent buying the components. That would add 2 more hours.  The knob that I used came from Ace Hardware.  It is not at all authentic, but it is large and it does work well.

[Chris]

What kind of knob did you get?  I only see a trackball on the CP at your page...

I went all through the electrical section of Home Depot.. I had bought a $6 solid brass dimmer switch knob, but since it didn't have a set screw I couldn't get it attached to the shaft properly....

--Chris

[Chris]

Okay... as I noted on another thread, my biggest layout mistake was to put the spinner in front of the trakball and the trackball so close to the glass.  Another mistake was the Player 2 start being so far from Player 2.

I'm nt sure I really like the idea of a swappable panel, nor a fully modular one, so here's my thought: a new control panel that fixes the old flaws, with mounting points for an add-on module.

Here is the original panel on top and my current redesign on the bottom:



The large rectangle in the middle represents the footprint of an add-on module for a yoke or steering wheel, secured by thumbscrews.  The joysticks will have removable Oscar restrictor plates, solving the 4-way joy problem.

Any thoughts or comments?  I'm still not happy with the spinner placement at all, but at least it's out of the way of the trackball now...

--Chris

[ErikRuud]

The spinner was added later, so it is not in the pictures.  The knob I am using came from Ace Hardware.  In the section that has the little drawers full of nut, bolts and other fittings.  There was a drawer of knobs and handles.  The knob is about 2 inches across with a slghtly convex top, little round nubs around the perimiter, it stands about an inch high, and the under side is tapered down to about 3/4 of an inch.

Almost all the parts came from that one aisle at Ace hardware.  Two flanged ball bearings, several large fender washers to add some weight, a large bolt for the shaft, and three nuts to fit the bolt.

I have enough parts to build a second spinner, but I have not done it yet.

I will try to get a photo posted soon.

[mikenotbob]

How about putting the spinner where the exit button is, and shifting that row of buttons over a bit?

Might be more comfortable...

[Chris]

How about putting the spinner where the exit button is, and shifting that row of buttons over a bit?

Hmmmmmm......

That's an interesting thought.  Of course, my wife is left-handed, but I can't  think of any spinner games she plays...

I do need to have a button in thumb's reach of the spinner for Tron, since I don't have a trigger stick... player 2's buttons would be in reach from there....

Let me play with that in Visio.  Thank you for the idea!

--Chris