4 player CP design w/ removable player 3 & 4 wings...Updated!!!

[jmelan]

Please tell me what you think about my proposed CP design.

[jmelan]

wood frame under CP

[Hoagie_one]

pretty smart idea.  How are you going to attach the panels?

[jmelan]

I knew I should have included that.  I found some tapered connectors (http://outwaterhardware.com/catalog/form06.asp?pg=products&NU=Y&pn=CON-2020) that I plan on using, 2 on each side. 

I am going to use a router to cut a groove into the side of the CP to mount these so that the wings will fit flush with the CP.  I may have to add some type of additional support if these aren't strong enough

The wings will attach by lifting up the hinged CP top and sliding the wings down into place

[Hoagie_one]

awesome...i may have to borrow this idea for a project.

[GGKoul]

56 x 22 is HUGE!!

I suggest reducing the CP width.  My 4 player CP is 48x21 and its more then enough room for all players. 

For the wood support.  I would add 1 or 2 wood posts the slide out from the main control panel that will be used to support the wings.

So you would fold up the wings, then extend the posts from the main base to support the wing.

[GGKoul]

Also, not sure what the 3 groups of 3 buttons will be used for.  But I assume one set will be used for Mouse buttons and/or a 3 button missle command config. 

I suggest putting them above the trackball.  I find it feels for comfortable when playing Golden Tee PC or missle command type games.

[jmelan]

56 x 22 is HUGE!!

I suggest reducing the CP width.

[kinu64]

Bigger is always better.  In Most cases.  Very nice Layout.

[NoOne=NBA=]

My only two complaints if it were mine are:

1) You are asking for a backache if you use the 4-way for long.

2) The distance to the monitor is pretty far away for my taste.
If the monitor is big enough, this might not be a big issue though.

I would also do a mockup of the wings before you put the art on them etc... to make sure that the people playing them are going to be OK with the joysticks angled like that, rather than having up face the monitor, like the real arcade games had.
Some people don't mind the angled joysticks, but others find them very disorienting.

[jmelan]

1) You are asking for a backache if you use the 4-way for long.

I was worried about that.

[GGKoul]

I should have mentioned the monitor size before.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I was worried about that.  I just don't know the best way to fix it.  I would like to keep the dedicated 4-way.

You might think about putting the 4-way where the three buttons are, to the left of the trackball now.
That will put it closer to the front, and still keep it out of the way of the P-1 stick.

For most trackball games you can map the existing P-1 buttons, so actually using the mouse buttons would only be necessary in rare cases, or for navigating Windows.

I should have mentioned the monitor size before.  I plan on using S-Video to a 27 inch television (flat screen to enable better visibility for players 3 and 4, depending on the cost).  Would this be a sufficient size?

The current viewing distance should be fine then.

My rule of thumb is that I like to be able to see the whole screen at once, without moving my eyes or head, so too far away is preferable to too close.
There is the other end of the spectrum though, where you have this tiny monitor in a huge cabinet that looks funny.

At the current distance, a 19"/21" would probably be too small.

[tetsujin]

1) You are asking for a backache if you use the 4-way for long.

I was worried about that.  I just don't know the best way to fix it.  I would like to keep the dedicated 4-way.

How about getting rid of the three buttons below the 4-way and moving the 4-way down?  You could align the trackball a bit closer to the level of the P1/P2 game buttons and use P1 buttons for trackball games...  That'd be a start, at least.

56" is really large, as others have commented...  I don't know if you can make the panel significantly smaller without doing something unpleasant to the trackball...  but you should try to take bits of inches off wherever you can, I think.

[jmelan]

Alright, that's three votes for getting rid of the trackball buttons on the left.

[jmelan]

Ok, here are some updated diagrams

The CP is now 54" total width instead of 56".

[NoOne=NBA=]

Can someone with experience tell me if all players having access to a pause button is good or bad?

All depends on who has to pee at that moment I guess. 

And you have room for a spinner on the other side if you want it.

[Scott84]

WHy not move the trackball north, above the 1player 2 player, so you reduce space?

[jmelan]

And you have room for a spinner on the other side if you want it.

There does seem to be a nice spot for it there...the decision on a spinner was more based on me already far exceeding the original budget for this thing than preference.

[Paul Olson]

My 2 player CP is 37" wide, and it is a great size for fighting games.  I wouldn't want it to be closer.

Paul

[GGKoul]

Ok, here are some updated diagrams

The CP is now 54" total width instead of 56".

[jmelan]

Just looking at P3 & P4 joystick alignment. You should make Up on both joysticks point at the monitor...

That is how I have them currently set up, correct?

I had seen many threads on joystick alignment previously.

[GGKoul]

Just looking at P3 & P4 joystick alignment. You should make Up on both joysticks point at the monitor...

That is how I have them currently set up, correct?

From looking at the picture above.  P3 & P4 are angled.  By pointing UP on P3 & P4 towards the monitor, you would have to mount P3 & P4 like you have P1 & P2 mounted. 

[jmelan]

OK, I understand now, so a better joystick alignment would be something like this (see below).

[NoOne=NBA=]

I would keep the buttons angled because the player will be angled.
That's how the real arcade machines did it.

That said, there are still two camps on this subject, the people who like the joystick to match their angle (like you originally had it), and the ones who like the stick to match the player movement (like you currently have it).

I would play with both on your mockups, and see which one the people YOU play with prefer before committing to either in the artwork.

[Flinkly]

well first off, i'd move the center panel items up about an inch or two, and take off that much from the front of your cabinet.  it would reduce the huge size of the panel between you and the screen.  other than that, you need to keep most of that large size for the 4 player ability. good luck, cause i thought about doing this kind of thing myself, but it just seemed like too much trouble for what it was worth.  and in all reality, i'm not going to have 4 people over playing on my cab at once. but to each his own...

[jmelan]

I would keep the buttons angled because the player will be angled.
That's how the real arcade machines did it...

Great ideas, thanks.

[unclet]

Nice layout, however, I must agree with you when you stated you have concern about how close the Player2 joystick is to the trackball.   If I was flipping the trackball playing Birdie King, then my right forearm would smash the joystick.   Although it all depends how you flip the trackball though ..... I go from the side instead of directly straight on.

I would recommend moving the joysticks for Player1 and Player2 to be closer to the six buttons and having the lone button a bit below the joystick (see pic below).  This would give you more room to flip the trackball and possibly even let you reduce the width of your control panel a bit more.   



 

[unclet]

Maybe even move the trackball closer to the front of the control panel edge as well and move the 4-way joystick (assuming that is what the red circle represents) to be lower so you do not have to reach so far.

This configuration seems to save you depth space on your control panel which can be reduced now.

Now a spinner would fit nicely opposite the 4-way red circle joystick. 

Maybe you could get an E-Stik from Ultimarc (which is a joystick you can set to be an 8-way, a true 4-way or even a diagonal for Q-bert, Congo Bongo, Zaxxon, etc.. games) and use this joystick instead of one of your current 8-ways .... this will free up more room since you would only need 2 joysticks now, instead of 3....

Am I basterdizing this idea too much ..... I guess I will be done now.   Maybe some of my dieas make sense.

Good luck ... I am interested in seeing how this progresses...

PS: Would side pinball buttons and/or a pause button be a nice additions?     ok ... done now!

[jmelan]

Unclet,

[unclet]

If you just remove the front part of each wing, then you can have room for side pinball buttons no problem (see pic)

Also, if you want to keep the joystick and button spacing, then I would still recommend moving the joysticks/buttons up a little bit and the trackball down a little bit.   This will give you more clearance for trackball flipping.....

Good luck

[jmelan]

First part of CP is finished as well as UAII cab.  Artwork is under 1/8" lexan and was printed by Scott at MAME marquees.

Player 3 and 4 wings are next...if cab survived the hurricane (live right outside N.O).

[AceTKK]

that's a cool design, I think it will work out nicely.  You're going to have to figure out a way to add support for the 'wings'.  Unless those friction clamps are extremely sturdy the force of players pushing down or even resting their wrists on the add-on panels might be enough to cause damage.  I think some kind of retractable sliding tray might be the best way to go.

-Ace-

[jmelan]

thanks,

i have reinforced the inside of the control panel box and will probably try a few things to see what works best.

i am currently away from home due to the hurricane and will post the details of how things work out when i get back as long as there is not significant water damage

[Nannuu]

I knew I should have included that.

[jmelan]

http://www.constantines.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=813

These look to be the same parts (2020-4). 

I have not ordered any yet, I am not sure when I will get a chance to at this point.  I will probably not be home much for the next 3 months due to the hurricane.

[Hoopz]

http://www.constantines.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=813

These look to be the same parts (2020-4).

I have not ordered any yet, I am not sure when I will get a chance to at this point. I will probably not be home much for the next 3 months due to the hurricane.

Glad you made it out safe as I hope your family and friends did.  It would be a shame to have to start over with the cabinet, but at least you are safe.  Good luck.

[jmelan]

well it has been awhile...

arcade ended up in New Orleans in storage for many years, but I was finally able to get it shipped out to where I am now. finally finished the 3rd and 4th player wings and figured out a rather simple and secure way to attach them

as I was constructing the wings, I simply clamped them on to the exising CP and drilled 1/4 holes through both. 

they are now attached using 1/4 inch bolts and wingnuts - takes about a minute to remove or attach each one.  using molex connectors for the wiring to connect/disconnect the wires.

realistically, i have space for the full CP now, so they will just remain attached

[Titchgamer]

Cool idea.
Wish i could do this on mine.
But I rarely have 4 players in my house!!

[jmelan]

yeah, I have 2 kids now, so prompted me to finish the player 3 and 4 extensions so we can all play and no one gets left out!

the joysticks are arriving today, will post up the completed pics pretty soon as well

[Rockstead]

well it has been awhile...

I don't know what I like more, the Pedestal which is designed really well and looks great, the follow-up post from 11 years ago, or you completing the addition of your build for your kids.