Swappable Panels, Box Top or panel?

[coasternuts]

I am working on two possible designs for my cab.  I can't decide.  Ultimately I'm thinking I will end up with 5 panels:

1)  Trackball with 4-way joystick
2)  Tron Trigger, spinner,  + joystick(4 or 8 way, not sure.)
3)  SNK Rotarys
4)  PP driving panel.
5)  4  8-way joys, to play DnD, Gauntlet,  Smash Tv.

If I go with design 1, box top, I think it would be more work, a lot of space, and not as "intimate" 

If I go with design 2, just panel,  I don't think panels 4 and 5 are going to fit.   Any pointers, ideas, help...I'm stuck!!

Thanks.

[Lilwolf]

I have your first option.  But that was how the gauntlet cps are done. 

If I had a choice, I would probably go with the second though.  Should be more stable in the end.  (no worry about sliding side to side) and you should be able to have a few - fewer clamps

[paigeoliver]

If you drop the concept of actual 4-player support (this will never get used unless you are under 22, or you have 3 children), then the second way will be best. Just make the Smash TV setup.

As for the steering wheels, just buy a populated Badlands control panel, it will have 2 360' wheels mounted on a metal plate designed to bolt on to panels like that. Add a pair of Happ/Atari kit pedals to the bottom of the cabinet and you will be set for 2 player driving action.

[sodapopinski]

If you drop the concept of actual 4-player support (this will never get used unless you are under 22, or you have 3 children), then the second way will be best. Just make the Smash TV setup.

Its hard to get four people to stand and play
Me and my friends play four player all the time with gamepads and the tv, but to get all of them to stand is unlikely. I opted against 4-player as well.

[Flinkly]

i'd say go with the second idea just because of asthetics.  i'm trying to work a driving panel into mine too, and i'm going that same route.  good luck with al that though, sounds expensive.

[GGKoul]

I have a 4 player setup and it rarely gets used.  My next design will be a straight 4 joystick Smash TV setup with the 2nd player joystick being Groovy Gamers 4/8 way topfires.  So I can play smash TV, battlezone and karate champ properly.

[coasternuts]

Of course my wife agrees going with the simpler panel as she only likes to play Ms Pacman.   

Thanks for the comments.  I need to cross reference my CP dimensions with Smash and others to see if I should widen my cab a little.

I still think two player Smash would be nice.

[paigeoliver]

Of course my wife agrees going with the simpler panel as she only likes to play Ms Pacman.   

Thanks for the comments.  I need to cross reference my CP dimensions with Smash and others to see if I should widen my cab a little.

I still think two player Smash would be nice.

You can get a 2 player smash layout on any panel. Splat and several others had that layout on 23" wide panels.