Control panel design done - Any suggestions?

[D5A1AC]

Hi everyone, I've just finished designing where I would like my controls to be on my panel. I have 6 buttons per player, a 1p start and 2p start, a shift button, two j-pacs and I plan to buy a coin slot.

Take a look at the pic - do you have any suggestions or do you think this design will be fine?



Thanks for your help.

(And yes that is cardboard, I plan to mount my controls {when I get them} onto a cardboard sheet and play like that for an hour or so to check that it's comfortable)

[dema]

I'd move the shift button further from the 1p joystick the way it is you could be hitting it while you're moving and creating all sorts of gameplay nuisances. If you don't have more room than the dimensions you've laid out, then I'd personally put the shift button in the top middle of the control panel. That way it would balance out the layout, wouldn't get in the way, and both players could have access to it (assuming it's needed for certain player 2 controls).

[D5A1AC]

Alright, thanks ill do that

[countchocula8]

why not do this:

1 2 3 4
4 5 6

that way, you will have the 4 neo-geo buttons while preserving the streetfighter layout without having to remap your buttons in mame.
i've just finished my cp (pictured) and this setup is quite comfortable.  lemme know if you want the image actual size and ready to print.

goodluck

[BurningDog]

With the buttons laid out like that, do you have to reach over the bottom row of buttons to play to play 1-3 button games?

[NoOne=NBA=]

What are you planning to play with your current 6-button layout?
It will do Neo-Geo, but won't do Street Fighter well.

If you want both, I'm partial to the layout below.
It lets you play 1/2/3/4 button games on the bottom row, and 6-button on the bank of them.

   4 5 6
   1 2 3
4

[ahofle]

I have 3 rows of buttons (two on the bottom) and I don't have that problem.

[countchocula8]

With the buttons laid out like that, do you have to reach over the bottom row of buttons to play to play 1-3 button games?

u have to reach over, but my fingers naturally arch over them so that is not a problem. at no point am i touching the 456 buttons.

i like this more than

  456
  123
4

because you dont have to remap the buttons for capcom games (unless you dont mind kicks above punches)

[D5A1AC]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. countchocula8 I will have a think about your design, although it will mean buying an extra button or two  . NoOne=NBA= I don't have any huge preferences over any games, I enjoy neogeo games but I play all kinds of games.

I was hoping to achieve the most friendly design that would work comfortably with most games. Maybe I should think about doing a 3X2 grid with an extra button for neogeo. I'll have a think about it but I might not add the extra button as it adds to the cost - I know two extra buttons isn't that much more but if you add just a little bit here, then a bit extra over there then suddenly you have spent $100 in extra features that aren't crucial. It's an alright idea though.

Thanks again everyone 

[NoOne=NBA=]

I don't have any huge preferences over any games, I enjoy neogeo games but I play all kinds of games.

As it sits, you are limiting yourself to 4-button games anyway.
The two buttons on top of those four are pretty much useless.

Almost every 6-button game used the 2x3 layout.
Having a 4+2 layout is just going to frustrate you in those games.

[AceTKK]

yea, the original design is no good.  What happens when your buddies come over and are so excited about playing Street Fighter 2?  Do you want to explain to them that they can't relive their greatest gaming memories because you botched the layout?  The 3x2 (+1) layout is so popular because it's logical, and it works well for pretty much everything.

-Ace-

[D5A1AC]

Okay. I have decided that I am just going to go with the 2X3 layout and get used to playing neogeo games that way. I mostly play metal slug and I hardly ever use the 4th button anyway. Does anyone have any suggestions for the way the 2X3 is layed out? I have seen the horizontal layout, an "arched" layout and a sloped layout. Can anyone make any suggestions on this?

Thanks for your help.

[paigeoliver]

Is that drawing supposed to be to scale? It doesn't look to scale at all. It LOOKS like you traced the joystick bases and then traced the underside of a leaf switch button for each button and that you traced them kind of big.

[D5A1AC]

yeah its to scale, atleast according to the dimensions on ultimarc. I just remembered that the J-stick was 8X9.1 cm and i cut out a cardboard template for the buttons. I did some transform>perspective in pshop as I took the photo on a slight angle, That may have distorted it a bit.