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MAME Control Panel Poll!

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cscon115:

Just tossing this out.

I hope the discussion may help someone decide how to approach their first Mame. The discussion has to do with (of all things) building your own arcade controls.

When you finally decided to Mame a cab, how do/did you decide on the control panel layout. Do you want a series of cabs, each custom to certain types of games. For example, cab 1 might have two joysticks and two buttons per joystick and this cab would only house a few games. Cab 2 might have a spinner and buttons, Cab 3 might have trackballs, etc.

Or do you only go with one cab with a series of control panels that can be removed and replaced to fit the game you are playing.

Or do you go with the mega 4 player, every possible combination, 4 joystick, 800 buttons, three trackballs, 2 spinners, steeringwheels, bridge of the Enterprise design.

;D As a college professor - you will need to explain your answer to get full credit. ;D

Was your decision made by space limitations? Money / Cost? Your spouse? Your favorite game? Was your decision made by the angle of the panel (is there a standard?) If you could do it over, what would you change? Pictures and Diagrams of your control panel(s) are encouraged and may be worth extra credit.

Please focus your comments to why your way is best and try to limit the comments on why another way is stupid. I am genuinely interested in how people decided on their layouts.

nipsmg:

I went with the megapanel.

Basically, I wanted this as self contained as possible, and I'm not nearly talented enough with wood to do the amazing rotating panels that some people hvae done.. so I made a franken panel.

I think that switching panels (and finding a place to put them while not in use) is more of a nuisance then just having everyting in one panel.  And I really like my layout.

http://arcadia.gerety.net/gallery

MYX:

My first was just a desktop to see how I liked certain ideas. Glad I did this. I have decided to do one main controller to hit a majority of games. Then I will have a couple of simpler CPs that are more single game or genre oriented. It will be similar to Knievel's CP. But it will be a tad smaller w latches so I can change it out.

ahofle:

I went with a Frankenpanel as well, although I *REALLY* spent a lot of time custom designing it towards the games I like to play.  I have yet to see another CP that is good to play both Tron and Toobin for example.  ;D  Also there are only 3 players, which gives a little more room for things.  I'm very happy with the results.  If I was more talented with wood working I'd have tried a rotating or switchable CP.  And if I had a bigger house, I'd have gone with multiple cabinets.

More Cowbell:

Mark me down for a frankenpanel. Now that my cab is done, I don't want to quit so I'm thinking about another cab just for driving games.

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