Odd joystick location on a 4-player CP

[Dink]

Custom Arcade (http://www.custom-arcade.com/) sure has an odd joytick location for player 2 and 3.  It would be impossible for me on a fighter game.

[SNAAAKE]

was it like a screw up or something or the custom arcade guy is just plain dumb .

GOD KNOWS .

[cdbrown]

I'd never be able to play on that thing - it's just way too wierd.  The player on the left even has the joystick on the wrong side (which I have seen on other examples but won't see on mine).  I guess someone wanted it that way.  But that's what you get when you try to fit too much on one panel.

[Kitbasher]

Maybe he has a friend\family member who is left handed?  My brother, sister and mother are lefties, but as my brother is used to a right handed archade game layout.  The other two don't play games, but sure point out when things are designed for right handed users.  In a family of five, I am the only right handed shooter, my father, the other right hander is blind in his right eye.  That means I may look at things a little differently.

[SNAAAKE]

you can sure be left and right but what is the DEAL wiht this up/down thing . W T F already .You have a joystick right above those red buttons.That is just too damn stupid and I woulnt even take that panel for free if he gave it to me(okay i will take it then built a brand new CP out the parts..HEH HEH )

[spidermonkey]

The guy from Custom Arcades is a regular poster on the "Arcade at Home" cabinet building forums. His username is G-Rock. Apparentlly the regulars overthere are also questioning him about the odd layout too. He replied  saying that he built the cab for a customer and that is the layout that the guy requested . Looks mighty awkward if you ask me   The post is titled "Black laminate creation" www.arcadeathome.com  Click on forums and scroll down to the "Building cabinets and control panels" forum.
S.M.

[Dave_K.]

This is a perfect example of how to give the customer what he ordered but not what he wanted.

I bet you didn't realize that black row of buttons across the top was specifically made to play Stargate...think about it...think real hard...ok thats enough thinking for today.

[hyiu]

well.... you never know... maybe someone really wants a panel like this ?!?!....

we shouldn't say the layout is stupid or bad until we know how exactly he's using it... right ??...... maybe he has his reasons....

[Brax]

Reasons.... ok let's see.

The yellow controls are for Lefties, the green are for Righties, and Red and Blue are for all the people in the world with one arm and 10 fingers on that hand! That way you can move the joystick and hit the fire buttons all with one hand.

Seriously. As a business owner I'd have a serious problem with that. I'd strongly recommend an alternative. If my customer STILL requested that layout, I'd happily do it, but I sure wouldn't advertise to the world I did it. Everyone else would think you were a buffoon. It could actually hurt your business... I've always seen his work as kind of mediocre, and after seeing that kind of work, it just makes you go.. huh?

[Mameham]

 Cdbrown mentionded "thats what happens when you try and put too much on one control panel"... yeah... I hate the "everything on one" control panels...

  Hell, I even feel Mameham is getting a little crowded -

 http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mameham/index.htm

 and it's only got 2 eight ways, 6 buttons each a spinner and a half assed trackball... ( soon to be replaced with my 2600 Wico Hack... awesome! )

 If you really must go for an all in one cabinet I recommend cocktails... like Mamehac -

 http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mamehac/index.htm

 That's got two wheels, a 4 way side, a track ball side and easily has enough room for a couple of 8 ways and a spinner... only reason I don't do that is because I've got Mameham so I don't need to...

 ( Mamehac's just a photo gallery right now... haven't gotten around to writing it up yet... )

[rampy]

You guys totally missed another reason to set it up that way... dual stick games like robotron and uh... robotron.. and ... lemmee see yeah that's the ticket...

Although I agree it's not my cup of tea either...

Rampy

[hyiu]

do you mean.... robotron... and crazy climber... and smash tv... and.... and.... and..... and.....  

oh.... and ..... karate champ.....

ok.... think too much.... exhausted.....
       

[SNAAAKE]

do you mean.... robotron... and crazy climber... and smash tv... and.... and.... and..... and.....  

oh.... and ..... karate champ.....

ok.... think too much.... exhausted.....
       

hey man..you okay in there?
Nothing bothering ya?Had lunch today?I can understand the side effect of not being around your cabinet and not be able to play games if thats the case .

[Kilgore]

Of course playing Robotron (and uh...) with one joystick oriented 45 degrees from the other will make the game play much more enjoyable.  

You guys totally missed another reason to set it up that way... dual stick games like robotron and uh... robotron.. and ... lemmee see yeah that's the ticket...

Although I agree it's not my cup of tea either...

Rampy

[elfman12]

Cdbrown mentionded "thats what happens when you try and put too much on one control panel"... yeah... I hate the "everything on one" control panels...

Hate's a strong word, isn't it?    I know alot of people don't like ambitious panel design - many panels get way too  cluttered. (and much of that dislike is well founded, and it's important to learn from other's experience) However, there IS a perfect design out there, and many of us are in pursuit of it! Well, actually it depends on what games will be played on the cab, obviously, but I think that 90% of any person's needs can be handled by a single panel.

My 9-year old daughter and her friends will be playing my current cab project (when it gets finished - if ever!) and having swappable panels is totally out (way too heavy/complex for them). So, I'm trying to get the panel to where it's just as comfortable for me playing the ball-top 4-way on all the old classics as it is for 4 screaming 9-year olds playing The Simpsons 4-player. Adding to that, a good place for the trackball and spinner, and dual trigger sticks.

Yup, sounds like alot, but there HAS to be a way to get it to fit on a 4'X2.5' control panel! I may not hit on it the first time, nor the second or third, but that's why it's worth it to keep trying... and not dismiss it out of hand. (not saying that you were, it's just that there are those who knee-jerk on this subject)

[The Man]

can anyone actually play Robotron with two microswitch joys?  I could never do it for crap.

Sorry to get off topic.
TM

[rampy]

I play it that way... but not necessarily well =P

Of course playing Robotron (and uh...) with one joystick oriented 45 degrees from the other will make the game play much more enjoyable.  

Is it really? no seriously... I wondered about the playability of that for 2 stick games on a 4 player cab...

*shrug*
rampy

[Jakobud]

Geez.....you know as I browse through all the example pages sometimes I find wierd stuff like this control panel and just say "What the f*** was this idiot thinking?"  I mean, come on.  There is a good reason that you have never seen control panels like this in real arcade games....I sware I have seen some arcade projects from BYOAC that are made by people that have no sense of ergonomics at all.  Wierdos!

jakobud

[m3talslug]

Whats wrong with using microswitch joysticks?  I play robotron with dual supers and I do just fine.  <-- what other choices do you have?  Leaf switch joys?

can anyone actually play Robotron with two microswitch joys?  I could never do it for crap.

Sorry to get off topic.
TM