Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: My CP layout: opinion needed  (Read 1579 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
My CP layout: opinion needed
« on: April 12, 2005, 12:53:01 pm »
I have a static and pre-cut control panel top that is a 14" by 24" rectangle.  I am trying to layout the following:
*Two 8-way setups with 7 buttons each
* A 4-way setup with some butons (3?)
*A trackball setup with three buttons (should they be on both sides?)
*a 1-up and 2-up button and a corresponding coin buttons.

Here is what I have so far... any ideas on improving the layout?

Scott84

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 717
  • Last login:May 17, 2022, 08:24:59 pm
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2005, 12:58:07 pm »
The 7 buttons look a tad close to the controller.
"Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man
affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in
darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to
repetitive music." -- Marcus Brigstocke

GGKoul

  • Cheesecake Apprentice
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4707
  • Last login:May 26, 2024, 02:06:23 am
  • I was once a big man!! -4700 posts later...
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2005, 01:04:31 pm »
Get a 8/4 way T-Slik Plus and remove the 4 way joystick

Then centre the trackball.

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2005, 01:08:26 pm »
I have a J-Stick that is switchable, just not switchable from the top.   Why should the trackball be centered?

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2005, 01:09:07 pm »
The 7 buttons look a tad close to the controller.

How far should it be from the controller?

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2005, 01:36:49 pm »
 How does this look?

The Man

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 112
  • Last login:August 27, 2009, 03:41:49 pm
  • I'm easy like Sunday mornin!
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2005, 02:50:15 pm »
How does this look?

I would split the difference with the Trackball and 4 way.  There are more 4 way games than trackball games.  After you removed the 3 buttons from your first pic they Track and 4 way would look better closer to the center (Track left of center and 4 way right of center).  I think the only time the trackball would be in the wrong place would be for golf games and then that is just something you would have to get used to.

That is just my opinion I could be wrong and often am!
TM

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2005, 03:08:47 pm »
How's this? Better? The purple buttons are for the 4-way stick and the trackball, but should they be on the right of the 4-way?

Scott84

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 717
  • Last login:May 17, 2022, 08:24:59 pm
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2005, 03:14:58 pm »
One problem you should look out for is to make sure that the joysticks are not in the way of using the trackball.
"Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man
affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in
darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to
repetitive music." -- Marcus Brigstocke

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2005, 03:25:33 pm »
One problem you should look out for is to make sure that the joysticks are not in the way of using the trackball.

Do you think the latest design has interference with trackball issues?  I was thinking of an idea like this one (attached), but I think the trackball buttons might interfere with the 8-way sticks.

tommy

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2005, 03:47:46 pm »
Make a card board mock up of the control panel and install all the controls , see how you like how there placed.

NoBonus

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 688
  • Last login:January 07, 2007, 06:48:58 pm
  • "Now that's a fine example of California's Gold"
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2005, 07:30:06 pm »
That's the next step, but I am trying to find something to start with.

mclaught

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 51
  • Last login:April 20, 2006, 08:09:11 pm
  • I'm a llama!
Re: My CP layout: opinion needed
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2005, 11:13:04 am »
How's this? Better? The purple buttons are for the 4-way stick and the trackball, but should they be on the right of the 4-way?

I would switch the 4 way with the trackball. IMO, trackballs are to be rolled with the right hand and your left hand is used to fire. (Think Centipede). Conversely, I think joysticks are made to be used with your left hand. Of course, it's all a matter of personal preference, but since you already have your 8-ways set up on the left, I would think you would want to use the same configuration for the 4 way.