Joystick Ever Go on the Right Side?

[djll]

Hey again.  The cabinet I'm building is being converted from an older game.  I decided to keep the metal control panel and just cut some more holes.  The only possible way to do this though is to put the joystick on the right side of the buttons for the first player and the joystick on the left side of the buttons for the 2nd player.  Would this be really akward?

Secondly, what size do I make the holes for the joysticks?  The same as the buttons?  And what exactly should I drill out for the buttons?  1 1/8''?

Thanks

[TazMan]

I believe for most of the fighting games it was joystick on the left buttons to the right.

Depending on the CP size - you could potentially end up bumping elbows with player 2.  Right hand holding joystick on player 1 side, left hand holding joystick on player 2 side = possible elbow collision.

I do recall on Ikari Warriors though you had buttons to both the left and right - that is, playable for both left and right handed people - You could hold the joystick with either hand and still use the buttons.  

If you're ordering from Happ Controls, they actually have mounting diagrams for most of their products on their website.  Or to be safe, just wait until they arrive before drilling routing anything

YMMV,
Rob

[Minwah]

I've seen the opposite - P1 stick on the far left and P2 stick on the far right (probably on general jamma cabs I think)...but I've never seen the way you mention.  I think I'd agree with TazMan - your hands/elbows will probably get in each others way.

[m3talslug]

I would ALWAYS put joysticks on the left.  <-- regardless of "lefthanded or righthanded" players.  

I think it is an arcade standard to have the Joystick on the left.  If you deviate from that, it makes it hard to play at regular arcades.  <-- I have yet to come across a left handed arcade (joysticks on the right). BTW, I'm lefthanded and I use joysticks on the left

[djll]

I just really don't know what to do then.  The CP I want to use is from an older game and already has two buttons on the way left side and the way right side.  So the only places to stick extra buttons are on the insides or I can squeeze buttons on the outsides.  I could put a joystick an inch or two away from the outside of the buttons, should I do that?

[TazMan]

IMHO, You might be better off using the dimensions from that metal cp and cutting a new one from wood.

That way it would be "hole-free" and you wouldn't be limited to setting up the controls how you want.

[Chris]

I just really don't know what to do then.  The CP I want to use is from an older game and already has two buttons on the way left side and the way right side.  So the only places to stick extra buttons are on the insides or I can squeeze buttons on the outsides.  I could put a joystick an inch or two away from the outside of the buttons, should I do that?

Do you have pictures?  What is the original game?

--Chris

[AGarv]

Just be careful how and where you mount your 4-way joystick; I've come to find out that many (if not most?) people play pacman with their RIGHT hand, and my 4-way wico is mounted on the left side of my machine's panel, as opposed to the center or right.  People can wind up in a very awkward position when playing some of the classics.

[djll]

The original game is depth charge, which I doubt you will find anything about on the internet.  I'll take some pictures soon.

[TazMan]

Would that be the 1977 version by Gremlin?

CLICK HERE

[djll]

Yep, you found it.  Me and someone else were looking on Klov for it last night but we couldn't find it.

Can you see the controls from that picture?

[Mike]

I see what your saying about the control panel. My suggestion would to be go ahead and do it for now. For this simple reason, You are not buying anything to do this. Your not out anything if you don't like the way it feels. Plus until you build something and start playing games on it, it's tough to figure out what games you'll end up playing and what future controls you'd like to add. I'd throw those joysticks on there and play it for a while. If you like it then your all set if you don't you can move everything over to a new control panel set up how you think you will like it better. As far as the hole for the joystick on a metal control panel the size of a button should be more than large enough. It is really easy to figure out hole size on a metal control panel just put a ruler on the joystick and move it from one side to the other and measure how far apart the outter edges are when they are moved in each direction this is how big the diameter of the hole needs to be.

[djll]

Thanks a lot for you help everyone, especially mike.  I'm only 16 years and and a really generous guy gave this cabinet to me!  I'm painting it now and waiting for the parts to come in the mail.  I've made some graphics in Photoshop, how much does it cost to have them printed as decals?

[eightbit]

Printing costs depend on size and what material you want to print on.

[djll]

Yeah, but just give me some costs of decent looking material that covers a square foot or so of the side of a cabinet.  You know what I mean, just some estimates.

I was planning on borrowing a drill bit that could drill a 1 1/4" hole through metal from my neighbor because he's a carpenter, but he doesn't have one.  He says I'd have to take it to a machine shop.

I'll post some pics of my panel and tell me what you think I should do.  The pictures won't stay up to long I'm sure because of my free webhost's limit on BW.  Could someone mirror them or host them please?

http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230131.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230132.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230133.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230134.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230135.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230136.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/apemanttt/PC230137.JPG

How long did it take those of you who built custom panels to build them?


Oh, one last thing, does this Roberts person or whoever sell horizontal push buttons?

[SNAAAKE]

OUCH !.
You sure you can cut 4 more holes right in there?
I suggest you go wood and get rid of that metal panel.again OUCH !..you think you can do everything but you really cant(atleast i cant).i had a bolt stuck in a cabinet and it was a total b!itch just the cut little bit of metal(used dremel).

[eightbit]

Wood is easier and more forgiving. I spent hours figuring out the layout. Maybe 10 minutes drilling with the drill press.


Edit: I forgot to mention a suggestion given many times here is to mock it up on cardboard first. Its quick and easy and if you get someone to stand next to you and simulate playing you can get a general idea if its going to work.

[CthulhuLuke]

Ok, having the joystick on the right hand would be like throwing a baseball left handed, it just wouldn't work ya know.  I mean I can pull off 720s with my right hand, but doing Kof super moves consistently, no way.  I remember my friend saying a while ago that the reason why it's layed out like that is because some japanese science people figured out that your brain is better at seeing colors and round shapes on your right, and is better at directional type of things on your left.  Although this wouldn't make too much sense if you're right-handed/left-handed.
    -Just a few thoughts, also, Apeman, I would NOT keep my layout like that for one main reason,  have you ever sat for dinner with a left handed person to your right?  Ooo, your elbows will get soooo sore like that.
     -CthulhuLuke

[djll]

Well, I guess I will go with a spacious wood panel.  I'm going to extend it outside of the walls if possible. Does anyone have any plans or models for any panels that I can check out?  How long did it take most of you to make the wood panels?

I really wish I could do 4-player, but I already bought the 2-player iPac board.

[eightbit]

IMO- That small of a cab would be tough to pull off a 4 player. Not that it hasn't been done.

[Animeka]

I just built a cabinet with a metal control panel, conversion from an old arkanoid cab. I was planning on doing a wood CP but I decided to give metal a try. Me and my friend went to a local metal shop, and they charged us 30$CDN (20$US) for 3 panels...

Just bring your current panel to the metal shop, they'll make a new one for you for cheap! You can even have 2-3 made and have swappable panels

You won't have to worry about hole locations if you can make them yourself where you need them

I'm going to get mine powdercoated in black, it gives a very durable finish...

Just my 2 cents... CDN$

Marc

[spidermonkey]

"Wizard of Wor"  had the joysticks on the right. I know their are a few others that I can't recall.

[eightbit]

Many one joystick games had mirrored buttons on either side of the joystick so you could use the joystick with either hand.